The cleanup took a while, but soon the hall was silent and clean, as if Dr. Pazzo and Dr. Schneider had never been there. Nella and Frank waited through another four days of the same routine, blood tests, meals and new hospital clothes. At last a doctor in normal scrubs walked up to them. "Where's your mask?" Frank asked. The doctor grinned.
"Don't need it. Will you open the door Dan?"
The soldier appeared and Nella was mildly surprised to see his face. He was middle aged and a great scar raked across his face and neck. He opened Frank's cell first.
"Dan? It was you?" Frank shook his hand and the larger man pulled him into a hug. Frank looked over at Nella. "Thank you for- for everything."
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything, but if I'd had to shoot you-" the soldier swiped at his eyes. He walked over to Nella's door. "I told Frank he should be more social and that he didn't need to hide you away." He swung the glass door open. "Yet here we are, meeting for the first time. Sort of." He stuck out his hand and Nella shook it. This was the large man that had helped defend Frank the night Terry had gotten nasty. "My wife was so upset when she heard you were in quarantine. She wasn't the only one. I'm so glad you and Frank are okay." He pulled her into a hug.
"Come on Dan, I've been waiting a month to kiss her," laughed Frank.
"You and everyone else," growled Dan and then released her.
The doctor cleared his throat. "You are healthy and free to go. I understand if you need a minute, but there're some people who are pretty anxious to see you downstairs." He clapped Dan on the back. "Let's give these folks some space."
They walked down the hall toward the elevator. Frank and Nella were alone on the floor. No glass wall to separate them, no doomsday hanging over them.
"You want to stay another night? I hear the food is first rate here."
Frank grinned and walked toward her. "Eh, I give it three stars. The beds are too hard. But the view is excellent."
"You peeked." She wrapped her arms around him.
"I did," he said.
"I missed you." Her chest was too tight and she felt her breath catch inside and swirl as gravity flipped.
Frank didn't stop to answer, kissing her mouth, her neck, her cheek. She could feel the hum in his chest sing it's old familiar, yearning tune as he hugged her.
The phone in Nella's room began ringing. Nella pulled back an inch. Frank reached behind her and pushed the glass door closed. "Don't even think about it," he said.
"It's probably Sevita," Nella said.
"I don't care if it's the Governor himself. It can wait," said Frank and kissed her shoulder, backing her into the glass.
"She'll just come up here if we don't go down." Nella pushed him gently away.
Frank laughed and gave in, letting her loose. "Okay, okay," he looked around the hallway and Nella watched a shudder ripple through him. He took her hand again. "Let's go home."
They stepped off of the elevator and it took Nella's eyes a moment to adjust to the bright summer light pouring into the windows. For a second all she saw was a shadow of Frank lost in a halo of sun. A great roar like an ocean wave and a sudden downpour of pattering rain hit her at the same time. She threw up an arm in front of her face and blinked. Her eyes adjusted and she saw the lobby filled with people applauding. Sevita was poking her cameraman. Frank nudged her with an elbow, "Look," he whispered, "It was the Governor."
Sure enough, the Military Governor surrounded by a cadre of grim looking soldiers stood in the center of the lobby. "Do you think we're getting arrested?" Nella asked.
"Good thing you know an excellent lawyer," Frank grinned, pulling her farther into the crowd. Cheers came from all sides and people reached out to touch her, to shake hands with Frank, to clap them both on the back.
They reached the center of the lobby, the crowd separating and making a ring around them and the Governor. "Dr. Rider, Mr. Courtlen," he said, "It's taken a while, and interviews with a surprising number of people, but I believe I have now heard almost the whole story regarding the New December Plague and your role in preventing it. As head of the provisional government, I cannot condone your decision not to notify the authorities. However, as someone who has lived through the same harrowing events over the last decade that the rest of you have," the Governor looked around at the crowd and Nella was pleased to see both Immunes and Cured comfortably mixed, "I can understand why you acted the way that you did and why you feared tipping your hand too early. Without the heroic actions of you and your friends, today would have dawned on a terrified and violent City. You have safeguarded one of the last Plague-free zones in the world. And for that, we honor and thank you." The Governor paused as an explosion of applause engulfed them. "There is nothing we can offer you that would even approach what we owe to you. But I understand from some of your friends-" the Governor nodded at Christine who was blushing in the back of the crowd, "You've been planning an exploring expedition to the lost parts of the world. And that you intend not to return. I can't allow it."
He stared intently at Frank. Nella felt Frank's hand tighten around hers. The Governor continued. "This City needs you. It needs to realize that we all need to work and live together, Immunes and Cured. And you exemplify that. So you must return. Therefore, I am appointing the two of you as ambassadors for us. To contact other surviving communities and to distribute the Cure to anyone that still needs it. To set up trade routes and peaceful interaction between us and, if that fails, to explore and rediscover the regions that have been lost to us.
In the harbor there is a sailboat, outfitted by the military and supplied with doses of the Cure, our own provisions from the Farm and a wide variety of trade goods provided by the people around you. You are free to leave when you choose and to return when you choose. But I and the people of the City, hope you will return quickly and often." The Governor shook their hands and departed, riding a whirlwind of cheers. The lobby slowly emptied after dozens of well wishes and hand shakes, until only Sevita and Christine remained behind.
Sevita hugged Nella. "I'm so glad you're okay," she said, "But I'm going to miss you. You have to come back and see the baby." Nella was surprised to see Sevita crying.
"You're getting soft," she said, "Don't worry, it will be a few days, we've got to pack after all."
Sevita shook her head and smiled. "No, we did that for you."
Nella laughed. "Here's your hat, what's your hurry?"
A step behind Sevita, Christine spoke up. "There is one more thing to do before you go." She handed a small envelope to Frank. "I thought I better pick it up from the jeweler, since you were- indisposed."
Frank grinned and thanked her. He glanced around. "Not here though. And definitely not in hospital pajamas."
"We thought you'd say that. And we thought you might be tired of hospital food," said Sevita, "so we'll meet you on the boat in an hour." Christine put her arm around Sevita's waist and gently pulled her away. They walked out of the hospital into the bright, bustling afternoon.
"What was that about?"
"You'll see," said Frank with a grin.
The Boat
After the Cure Page 60