by David Allen
“It will have to do.” Mr. Henrich said. “Put a clean sheet on it.”
It was 4:15 AM. The men helped Scott get settled as best they could before they made their exit, leaving him alone with Jerry.
“I’ll speak to the nurse on the way out,” Mr. Henrich stated. “I’ll make sure they get him on a strong antibiotic right away, and if anything gets worse, to call and tell me immediately.” Mr. Henrich moved toward the door, then stopped. “My wife will come in the morning. I’ll take care of everything at the school for you two.” He scratched his balding scalp. “Since Scott’s incident with Tony, the school’s spirit hasn’t been the same — a lot of tension.” He looked deep in thought for a second, then stiffened. “We must take utmost care.” He looked directly at Jerry. “We cannot have any more incidents. The board is already questioning me about Janet and the accident. Anything more and they will replace me.” His gaze moved to Scott. “Take good care of him, we’ll all be praying.” Mr. Henrich stepped through the door. The sound of his footsteps slowly faded away.
Jerry turned and looked at his delirious friend. “No more incidents?”
Scott looked so helpless and weak. Jerry shook his head and turned to gaze into the room. It was bare. A folding chair leaned against one cracked wall. He grabbed it and unfolded it with a squeaking lurch. He sat down, then stood up and walked to the door, restless. He looked up and down the corridor. The same lady bustled back, pushing a cart.
“We’ll get him on an IV as soon as the nurse can see him.” she called. “I’m sorry, but a woman is in labor right now, and only Kathy is here.”
“The doctor isn’t here?” Jerry asked, concerned.
“No, he hasn’t been to this island for a couple days now. He’s due to be back from the outer islands later this morning.
I have to go, keep an eye on him and give him some hydration if he wakes.” She wiped her hands on her apron, cocking an eyebrow at Jerry. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Where can I get water for Scott?” Jerry looked back in the door, “There isn’t a sink or water in there.”
“In the washroom.”
“Where’s the washroom?”
“End of the hall, to your left.” She reached into her cart and pulled something free from a bag. “Here’s a paper cup.”
She turned and rushed the cart away. Jerry sighed, and glanced back at Scott, still the same, limp and sleeping with an occasional twitch. Jerry walked down the hall to the bathroom.
Jerry returned with a cup of lukewarm water and tried unsuccessfully to help Scott drink. Most of the liquid ran down his cheeks and to the pillow. It wasn’t easy making an unconscious person drink. Jerry set the cup on the empty counter. He felt tired. He yawned, cupping his head in his hands. His back hurt sitting in the rigid chair. What was taking them so long, anyway?
Shouldn’t the nurse have come by now? He leaned the chair backwards so that only two wobbling legs supported him. His eyes closed.
“Don’t go.” A voice rasped. Jerry’s eyes jerked open. The chair came to the floor with a small crash. “Janet.” The voice was mournful and feverish. Scott’s eyes were closed and he wore a pained expression. He moaned and his body twitched. “Please wake up, I don’t want to bury you.” Scott’s head moved, his body jerked under the sheet. He moaned again.
Jerry leaned forward watching, his mind racing. What was Scott dreaming about? What was he saying? Bury whom? Scott’s face was red and a bead of sweat ran down his neck.
“Under...” He gasped for air. “The palm tree.” He moaned softly and collapsed into the pillow, a look of dread on his face.
*****
Scott’s eyes opened. The light came into focus. A strange humming sound. A palm tree. A coconut shell to dig with. No, that wasn’t where he was. That was a fan he heard. He was… he was… he wasn’t sure where he was, actually.
His mind became slowly aware of the pain in his foot and lower waist. He had never seen this place before. Scott jerked up, and looked around. Bare concrete walls, a fan blade beating above him. He had never been here before, he was sure of it. There was someone leaning against the wall in a rusty chair.
“Jerry? Is that you? Where am I?” he demanded. Scott sat up, fearful.
“Calm down. I’m here.” Jerry held out a hand to calm him. Scott searched the man’s face. Seeing Jerry, his mind calmed.
He sank back into the bed, breathing hard. “Jerry, where am I?” He sounded panicky.
“You’re at the hospital, remember?” Jerry’s voice was soothing. “You woke me up because you were hurting and you passed out when we got to the Henrichs’ apartment, Remember? We brought you to the hospital, because you’re really sick. That’s where you are right now.”
Scott relaxed as the information registered. It was all rushing back. Nothing like waking up in a strange room after a nightmare. “I’m thirsty,” he croaked. His throat felt dry and hot, his skin was damp.
“Here.” Jerry held a cup of water to Scott’s lips. “I tried to give you some earlier. You weren’t cooperating, though.”
Scott drank the whole cup. “I’m cold.”
Jerry seemed surprised “You’re burning up with a fever, man! It’s hot in here.”
Scott shook his head. “Have the doctors seen me?”
“No, they should come soon.” Jerry looked anxiously toward the door. “There’s someone having a baby, and there’s only one nurse. I haven’t even seen her.” He turned back from the door and looked at Scott. “How are you feeling?”
“Not the best, but better with water, at least I’m here at the hospital.”
“You’ll be fine, man.” Jerry stood up, then turned. “What were you talking about just now?”
Scott stared at Jerry blankly. “What do you mean?”
Jerry took one hand from the chair. “You said, don’t go, don’t go, or something like that, and then something about burying someone under a tree.”
Scott’s face looked blank for another second, then suddenly changed. “I must have had a nightmare. This fever is doing stuff to me.” His tone was defensive.
“It sounded like more than a nightmare to me.” Jerry’s voice sounded suspicious. “You were talking about Janet. Does that help you remember?”
Scott cringed. His mind whirled. A coconut shell, sand and…no, no, it was fading. He felt his muscles tighten. “No,” he said tonelessly.
Jerry looked perplexed. “I’ll go get more water.” He turned toward the door.
As he exited, he almost ran into a pretty older woman.
“I’m so sorry. I’m nurse Kathy.” She moved to the side. “There was a woman with a baby, so I couldn’t come until right now.” She looked like she had been through a long night. “How are you?” She stepped to Scott’s bed. “What’s your name?”
A few minutes later, she carefully cleaned and bandaged Scott’s foot. Jerry stood to the side, watching. Steps approached from the hall, and soon after, the aid came in. She stood for a second, looking at Kathy.
“What can I do?”
Kathy looked up from Scott. “Go get a IV drip ready right away, and get a full 10 CC’s of antibiotics.” The hospital aid bustled out quickly.
“We’ll do what we can for you, Mr. Scott.” Kathy gave a tired smile.
“Thank you,” Scott replied weakly. “My foot feels better already.” His bandaged foot was propped up on the bed frame.
“I’ll be back to put the IV in.” Kathy disappeared through the door.
Jerry watched her leave, then walked across the floor, head down. He turned to Scott, renewing his questioning. “You were talking about Janet, Scott. I heard you say her name.”
Scott looked at him, and his lower lip began to tremble. “I’m scared, Jerry, I don’t know what to do.”
“What do you mean?” Jerry put his hand on the side of the bed. “Tell me.” Scott’s mouth opened and closed as he struggled for words.
“Things can’t get worse then they are
already, Jerry. I’m so confused. I keep having flashbacks of the accident, and every day I remember more. I feel so guilty.”
“Why do you feel guilty?” Jerry leaned closer. “If you can trust anyone, you can trust me, Scott.” His eyes were sincere. “You need to talk about it.”
The room was silent for a second, then Scott began to cry. He slowly recomposed himself.
“I buried her Jerry, but I forgot about it because it was so horrible. When they began looking for her after the wreck, it was like I couldn’t remember, so I didn’t tell anyone.” He began to cry again.
“After the accident, when I swam to the beach, she was dead. I dragged her to shore but it was too late.” Scott’s voice broke. “I buried her under a palm tree. Now I remember, but I don’t know what to do.”
“Scott, Scott, it’s okay.” Jerry’s words broke through Scott’s mind. “You didn’t kill her, she drowned. You did the right thing to bury her.” He put a hand on Scott’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about anything. Just get well, Scott, and I’ll take care of this for you.”
Scott looked up at Jerry. He looked drained, but relieved to have it off his shoulders.
“I thought you would think I had killed her.”
Jerry looked shocked. “Nonsense, it never crossed my mind. I knew something was up, but not like that. You loved Janet more then anybody I knew. I would never think that. Now just relax. It sounds like the nurse is coming back with your IV.”
The sound of wheels moving along the hallway increased. “Coming through.” The hospital aid pushed the metal rack through the door. “We just called the other nurse. She’ll be in to help.”
After the aid left, Scott leaned up on his pillow, not satisfied. “Jerry, you can’t take care of this. It’s my problem, not yours.”
“How can you?” retorted Jerry. “All you can to do right now is let go of it, and put your energy into getting well.” He was firm. “Everything will be okay.”
Scott sighed and let his head fall back. He was too weak to argue.
A new nurse arrived at the hospital a few minutes later. Jerry looked up as she walked into the room.
“I’m Kiera.” She stared at Scott for a second, then studied her clipboard. “I’m going to be your nurse. Hmm, it says infection.” She looked up and glanced at the IV. “Oh, there it is.” She seemed confused. She looked at her papers again, then walked out the door.
Jerry looked at Scott and shrugged. “Not the most friendly.”
She returned with a bag. Inside was a yellow plastic cuff, which she tightened around Scott’s arm until his veins bulged.
“Hold still.” She held up a large needle. “I’m going to start your IV. This might hurt a little bit.” Scott let his arm go limp as she held it up. He winced as the needle went in.
“There that’s it. You’re good.” She taped around the insert. “No more sticking you with needles.”
Jerry watched, wide-eyed. “I’d be more scared of that needle than the sickness itself. Good job, Scott.” He tried to lighten the mood.
Scott laughed nervously from the pillow.
The nurse returned with a syringe. “I’m going to give you your antibiotic now.” She connected the syringe with the IV input. “This may hurt a tiny bit.” She injected the liquid into the IV. Scott’s eyes widened and his arm muscle clinched. “Relax, it’s okay,” Kiera whispered.
“It feels like battery acid.” Scott breathed a short harsh breath. “Oh, that’s really painful.” He shot a pained glance at the nurse. His muscles tensed. The nurse continued until the syringe was empty.
“There.” She held the syringe up to the light. “It’s doing its job now.” She turned on her heel and walked out.
Scott turned toward Jerry, his eyes watering. “I feel weird. I’m not feeling good now.”
Jerry leaned over. “How aren’t you feeling good? She just gave you medicine.”
“I’m dizzy, and my arm is burning.” Scotts voice began to slur and his head slid down onto the pillow. “It’s just —” His eyes closed and he fell silent.
“Scott, talk to me, Scott.” Jerry grabbed his arm and shook it. “Scott.”
Scott made a dim moan. Jerry jumped backwards. For crying out loud! How much could happen in one night? What had the nurse given him? He turned from Scott to the door with two quick steps, then hurried down the hall.
“Nurse, nurse!” Jerry’s voice was sharp. “You better come now! My friend is unconscious. His arm was burning after you injected him!”
She looked up defensively from her clipboard. “I just gave him his antibiotic. Is he not responding, or just sleeping?” She looked at Jerry through narrow eyes.
“Yes to the first, no to the second, unless you mean sleeping unconscious.” Jerry’s voice reflected a touch of anger.
“He was brought in to this hospital unconscious.” Kiera consulted her clipboard again. “This is most likely just a relapse.” Her tone was sharp, but defensive. She was already walking toward Scott’s room.
She looked more worried as she began to examine Scott. He was limp and breathing faintly. His arm was red where she had injected him. “Stay right here, I’ll be right back with Kathy,” Kiera commanded. She turned and hurried from the room.
Jerry paced halfway between the door and the bed. Mr. Henrich had said to call him if anything got worse. Should he? He would wait until the nurse got back. He glanced at his watch. 7:30 AM. It had been a roller coaster night. His eyes were tired but fear for his friend kept him awake.
The two nurses came hurrying in. Kathy did a quick examination of Scott, then began to say something, changed her mind, then pulled Kiera into the hallway.
“Please stay here.” She spoke to Jerry in a no nonsense tone.
Jerry stopped and stood still. Why did she say that? He cocked his ear. He could hear muffled voices in the hallway, rising and falling. Only a few words were distinct. “You didn’t dilute …antibiotics? Direct injection?” He could hear the younger nurse’s plaintive tone. That was it. Jerry stepped out into the hall. They had given Scott something bad. He knew that much. It was time to explain.
The two nurses stopped abruptly and turned toward him.
“I asked you to stay-”
“No! You need to explain!” Jerry cut the nurse off mid-sentence. “What did you give him? I have to know. I’m going to call Director Henrich right now. His wife is a nurse and she’ll be arriving shortly.” Jerry let his sentence tumble out.
The nurses exchanged glances, then Kathy spoke. “We made a mistake. We didn’t dilute the antibiotic before we injected him. Normally it takes 100 cc’s of solution to 10 mgs of antibiotic. We are sorry, but we don’t know what his reaction will be.” She took a deep breath.
“Well, so far it seems really BAD!”
The younger nurse shrank back.
“Getting upset will help no one.” Kathy’s voice was even. She stepped forward firmly. “You need to get control of yourself, otherwise I’m going to ask you to leave. We need clear thinking right now.”
Jerry stopped himself and stood shaking. “What should I tell Henrich?” he muttered.
“Tell him that Scott’s unconscious, and ask if his wife knows anything about this drug’s overdose effects, and stay calm.” Kathy looked from Jerry to Kiera. “We will give him the dilute solution, and monitor him closely.”