by DK Land
With fear in her eyes, Shauni said, “Pupils are fixed and dilated. All vitals are normal, Doctor Roberts.” She turned to Audrey. “How about that one, Audrey?”
“Same here,” came the reply. “Pupils, fixed and dilated. Vitals, normal.”
Gerard Slocum looked up from the third boy. “They are all identical!” He turned toward the wall with tears in his eyes, and his fists clenched in rage. “We have six boys that are brain dead! What… in the hell… can we do?”
“Alright, everybody,” said Dan Roberts sternly. “There’s nothing more that we can do for these poor little guys. Let’s get the electrodes off, and hook them up to the next three patients.” He turned to Gerard. “Where the heck is Jefferson, with those other EEG machines?” Then he turned to the nurses. “Tammy and Samantha… would each of you attend to three of the flatliners, please? I want constant vitals taken, and continue checking pupils. If there are any signs of cardiac arrest or anything else, I damn sure plan on taking any measures we can to keep these children’s bodies alive until we get to the bottom of this thing.”
Just then, Jefferson came through the double doors of the ward pushing a large cart carrying two EEG machines. He smiled halfheartedly, and said, “Hi, everybody. Did I miss anything?”
Everybody looked. Nobody smiled.
Chapter 5
It was nearing sunset, and Sheriff Harold Wheaton was back at Mabel’s Coffee Shop. He was sitting in the back booth, talking with Mayor Paul Sorenson. It was obvious that the mayor was not happy.
“Harold, we can’t have something like this happening now!” he said between his teeth. “The kickoff for the summer season is supposed to begin in three days with the Memorial Day weekend Boat Parade, for God’s sake! How in hell are we going to keep the tourists coming to Medesha once they find out we’ve got a full blown flu epidemic going on?”
Harold sat with his elbows on the table, and his face in his hands. It had been a long and trying day, and Harold knew he was becoming short fused. “Now, damn it, Paul!” he said with frustration. “I know that this situation is very serious. But, I think you’d better keep things in perspective here.”
“What do you mean, ‘keep things in perspective’?” he asked.
“Paul! I know that the summer season is important to the whole community, but I think those sick kids over at the hospital are a helluva lot more important.”
The mayor sat back and waved his hand at Harold. “Oh, for Pete’s sake, Harold! Kids get the flu all the time. The flu isn’t any big deal anymore. A few days of rest and all those kids will be fine. Meanwhile, we’re gonna be losing our shorts, if the summer folks find out about this.”
“Paul!” said Harold. Then, realizing that he was speaking louder than he wanted, he looked around, and lowered his voice. “Paul, have you even been over to the hospital today? Have you talked to any of those worried, heartsick parents?”
“Harold, you know how busy I’ve been, trying to get the town ready for this weekend. I haven’t hardly had time to wipe my own butt for the last three weeks, for cripe sake!” Then he leaned forward and held up an index finger. “I was able to stop by the Sadler place to give them my condolences. Now, that is a true tragedy. Those poor folks, losing their only son like that.”
Harold frowned, “Yes, it is a horrible thing. But, did you know that Dan Roberts feels that it might be possible that Willy Sadler was also coming down with this strange flu, and that could be what made him so weak that he couldn’t save himself from drowning?”
“No! I didn’t know that!” said the mayor, with raised eyebrows. “I haven’t talked to Dan today.”
“Well, then.” Harold looked around to make sure nobody was listening in. “I guess you don’t know anything about Dan Roberts’, and Gerard Slocum’s theory about this weird disease.”
Both men were leaning forward, almost nose to nose, across the table.
“The doctors feel,” Harold continued, “that this whole sickness thing with those young boys is something called a ‘Tin Lizzie.”
The mayor’s eyes bulged as he said, “Oh, for gawd sake, Harold! None of these kids are even teenagers. Not a one of them even owns a car.”
“Paul!” exclaimed Harold. “I voted for you in the last election, but I swear, if you don’t get your head on your shoulders where it’s supposed to be, you’re gonna lose mine and a lot of other people’s votes next time around.” He continued more calmly, “The doctors aren’t blaming this disease on some damn car, Paul. They seem to feel that this disease was manufactured, you know, like a car in a factory, and it’s being controlled by somebody.”
“Huh?” said the mayor, in complete confusion. “That’s impossible!… Isn’t it?”
Harold managed a thin smile. “Paul, I’m the Sheriff of this community. You’re the Mayor, and a hardware store owner. Dan and Gerard are the doctors. If they say it’s possible to have a disease that somebody can boss around like a pet dog, then I guess we have to take their word for it. But, the point is, if that’s what this thing is, then we need to find out who is behind all of this, and why they’re doing it. It’s the doctors and nurses job to combat the disease itself.”
The diner had emptied of customers, and Mabel and Tandy were standing behind the lunch counter. They both were leaning on the counter with their chins in their hands, watching, as the two men in the back booth continued with their animated discussion.
Mabel said, somewhat sarcastically, “Wouldn’t you think that the city council meetings should be held at City Hall, not at the local diner?”
Tandy replied, “Well, you can’t really call it a city council meeting. The other three councilmen aren’t here.”
Mabel glanced over at Tandy. “Now, you know that those two men are the ones that really run this town. The other three guys usually just go along with what these guys say, anyhow.” She picked up a sugar container, and banged it rather loudly on the counter. “Gentlemen,” she announced with a smile. “I pronounce this council meeting adjourned! Mabel’s Coffee Shop, and part time City Hall, is officially closed for the day.”
Both men stood up from the booth and began walking toward the front of the diner. Mayor Sorenson said, as he reached for his wallet, “I’m really sorry, Mabel. Harold and I have been discussing the plans for this weekend’s festivities, and I guess time just got away from us.”
She smiled as she punched a few buttons on the cash register. “That’ll be five and a quarter. It’s not that big of a deal, Paul. Tandy and I have had a pretty long day, and we just need to get off our feet for a while.”
“I bet you’re looking forward to this weekend also,” he commented. “Don’t you and Tandy start working part time through the summer, once all your summer help starts?”
She smiled broadly, as she looked over at Tandy. “Oh, yes we do, and it’s not a moment too soon, either. We’re both planning on a lot of R and R this summer.” She winked, and said, “Maybe that big ol’ law enforcement officer will even let me ride around with him in his squad car a few times this summer.”
Harold laughed, “Well, I guess that shows how difficult Mabel thinks my job is. She plans on getting her R and R by riding around with me.” He smiled at the Mayor. “Boy, a guy just can’t get any respect around here anymore, can he?”
Paul chuckled as he opened the door to leave. “You just better be careful, Harold, or she’ll have you wearing that apron and frying up burgers behind the counter over there.”
Harold grinned as he waved goodnight to the mayor. “Not a chance, Paul! Not a chance!”
After Tandy had left for the evening and Mabel was locking the back door to the diner, Harold said that he was going to drive over and check on the situation at the hospital.
“Would you mind if I rode along with you?” asked Mabel. “After all, it’s right on my way home.”
“Right on your way home?” smiled Harold, as he pointed at the ceiling. “If I’m not mistaken, I believe you live right up there.”<
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She smiled sweetly and placed her arm in his, as she led him out the front door. “Yes, I know, and you can drop me off when you’re done at the hospital.”
As they pulled up to the hospital, Harold mentioned, “I hope that Jefferson and Shauni are still here. I’d like to get a chance to question both of them about the Sadler boy before this case gets too old.”
“Now, you just be nice to those two kids,” cautioned Mabel. “Don’t you go saying something that you’ll regret later, Harold. Mending fences is not one of your strong points, ya know.”
He looked down at her, as they walked through the front door of the hospital. “Yes, Mother! I’ll try to be a good boy.”
Shauni was at the nurse’s station, drinking from a small milk carton with a straw. “Hi, Daddy! Hi, Mabel!” The stress that she’d been under was showing clearly on her face.
“Hi, Sweetie,” said Mabel, as she walked over to give Shauni a hug. “Honey, you look just awful! You need to go home and get some sleep.”
Harold said, “Hi, Shauni. Mabel’s right. You really look like you could stand to get a few hours of sleep. How has it been going around here?”
“Oh, Daddy!” Shauni replied. “It’s been the worst day of our lives! I think it’s been the worst day in the history of Medesha!”
“Honey!” he said with deep concern. “What’s been going on? Have things gotten worse?”
“Daddy!… Oh, Mabel!” She stood up, and ran like a little girl, into her father’s arms.
Harold put his arms around her, and patted the back of her head. “Honey, what’s happened?”
Shauni pulled herself away, and tried to regain her composure, as she began to explain. “It’s this disease! It’s just insidious! We have all fifteen patients lying in comas! Fifteen! And nine of those poor little kids are showing no brain activity at all.”
Mabel put her hands to her face. “Oh, my!” She looked over at Harold. “Oh, Harold! No!”
Harold was dumbfounded. “What do you mean? No brain activity?”
“Daddy,” Shauni said, as she calmed down to almost a whisper. “Nine of those little boys are dead! Their bodies are still functioning. But, their brain scans show no electrical impulses.”
“Is there any possibility that any of them could eventually recover?” he asked.
“All thought patterns are completely gone, Daddy. They’re in what would be called, a vegetative state. Nobody can recover from a condition like that.”
“All of this, because of the flu?” asked Harold.
“Oh, this thing isn’t the flu, Daddy! It has all the symptoms of the flu. But, it’s not the flu!” Shauni said through gritted teeth. “Some thing didn’t cause this! Some body caused this!”
“Where are the doctors, and Jefferson?”
“Dr. Slocum is sleeping in the Doctor’s Lounge, and Dr. Roberts went home for a few hours,” Shauni said. “Jefferson took some of the fluid samples from all of the patients, and went home to test them in his lab. He has some equipment that is more sophisticated then what we’ve got here at the hospital.”
Harold raised his eyebrows, and glanced at Mabel. She returned his look with an expression that clearly said, “Don’t even think about questioning Jefferson’s motives.”
Just then, a small boy wearing blue hospital pajamas came walking down the hall from the direction of the ward. He was rubbing his eyes, and crying softly. “Mommy!… Mommy!… I want my Mommy and Daddy!”
Shauni turned and looked at the little boy, in complete astonishment. “Jacob?” She looked over at Harold and Mabel, then back at the little boy. “Jacob!” she exclaimed. She ran to him, and went down on her knees in front of him, and hugged him. “Jacob, Honey! What are you doing?” She placed her hand on his forehead. “How are you feeling, Jacob?”
“I’m okay, Miss Nurse,” he whined. “My head hurts a little. I want my Mommy and Daddy, please?”
Shauni continued to console the small child. “Oh, Sweetheart! Your Mommy and Daddy are home sleeping right now. But, I’m sure that they will be here right away in the morning, once we tell them that you’re feeling better. Here, why don’t you sit here on Mabel’s lap, while I go talk to the Doctor for just a minute? You know Mabel, don’t you?”
He smiled slightly, as he said, “Uh huh. She always makes me smiley face pancakes, when we go to her place to eat.”
As Mabel sat holding Jacob, Shauni motioned for Harold to follow her for a short distance down the corridor. When they were out of earshot, she turned to her father and said, “Daddy! This is just freaky!”
Confused, Harold said, “What’s freaky? The little guy seems to be getting over the flu, doesn’t he?”
Shauni reached for Harold’s shirt pocket, and pulled him closer. “Daddy! You don’t understand!’ she whispered. “Just twenty minutes ago…” She hesitated, as she looked over toward the young boy, in an attempt to verify that what she had just experienced had actually happened. “Daddy!” She repeated. “Just twenty minutes ago, that little boy…” She again looked toward Jacob. “That little boy was pronounced ‘brain dead’!”
“Uh!” said Harold, as he stood by himself in the corridor, watching Shauni racing toward the Doctor’s Lounge. He turned and walked slowly back to Mabel and Jacob.
“What did she say, Harold?” asked Mabel, with the beginnings of fear in her eyes. She knew that Shauni’s reaction to young Jacob’s sudden appearance in the corridor indicated that something of vast significance had just occurred.
Harold just continued to stare at the boy sitting on Mabel’s lap. He finally met Mabel’s eyes, and said simply, “When Shauni and Gerard come to take a look at Jacob, I’ll explain what’s going on.” When he realized that he had no clue what was really going on, he restated himself. “I mean, when Shauni and Gerard get here, I’ll tell you what Shauni told me.”
The hurried rush of footsteps in the corridor announced the arrival of Shauni and Gerard Slocum. Gerard was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he approached the young boy, Jacob. He gave a cursory glance at Mabel and Harold, and merely nodded his head to acknowledge their presence. He focused his attention on Jacob as he knelt down in front of the boy, still sitting on Mabel’s lap.
Dr. Slocum smiled nervously as he said, “Well, hi there, young man!” He placed his hand on Jacob’s forehead. “You’re up wandering around awfully late, aren’t you?”
Jacob smiled back at Gerard. “Uh huh. I woke up, and couldn’t find my Mommy or Daddy.” He pointed at Shauni, and continued. “Miss Nurse said that they were home sleeping. Can’t we wake them up, ‘Dot-ter Jarred’, so they can come and get me? I wanna go home to my bed.”
Gerard chuckled as he placed an electronic thermometer in the boy’s ear. “I’m sorry, little guy. But, your Mommy and Daddy have to get their rest so they can come to the hospital in the morning to see you.” He held his arms out to the boy. “Why don’t you let me carry you back to my office, so I can listen to your heart?” He looked at the thermometer, and over at Shauni. “Temp is normal.” He picked the boy up and started walking down the corridor.
* * *
In a darkened room, one lone shaded light bulb shone down on a gurney where an old man dressed in coveralls lay, apparently sleeping on his back. The old man had numerous wires attached to his head and arms. To one side of the room, more than a dozen metal spheres, the size of bowling balls, sat lined up on a shelf. Each individual sphere sat on a small metal platform with red, yellow, and green diodes glowing and blinking. Many of the spheres appeared to glow slightly as if there were a powerful heat source within their interiors. Three of the spheres appeared cold and dull.
From the shadows of the opposite side of the room came the barely audible sounds of an excited voice.
“It’s working! It’s working! They’re going back! One by one… they’re going back!
Chapter 6
“I mean it, Tandy. You should have been there,” said Mabel, as she leaned on the counter with
one elbow. “It was like a modern day resurrection. One by one, in about ten minute intervals, those poor little kids began waking up and asking for their moms and dads.” She hesitated and grinned, “Well, a couple of ‘em asked for ice cream first.”
Tandy stood at the prep table, next to the grill with her hands deep in a mound of hamburger. “I don’t understand just what took place, Mabel. How could those kids have awakened when the doctor’s machines said they were brain dead? Isn’t that what you said? They were ‘brain dead’?”
“Exactly!” said Mabel. “Both Shauni and Gerard said the same thing. Why, Doctor Slocum had even signed some kind of paper that stated the time of ‘Brain Death’. I guess it’s some kind of preliminary form before the official ‘Death Certificate’ is completed.” She looked down at her wrist-watch and chuckled. “When Harold and I left the hospital five hours ago, there was a major pillow fight going on, and Shauni was busy on the phone calling the other nurses in to help referee the whole thing. It was just comical. That hospital had gone from the atmosphere of a funeral home to a gymnasium in just a couple hours.”
Tandy laughed. “It still doesn’t make any sense. Don’t you think that there might be a possibility that those machines might not be working right? I mean, how can a person go from being dead to having a pillow fight in a couple hours? Something’s just not right.”
Mabel said thoughtfully, “That’s exactly what Harold and I were discussing on the way home. It doesn’t seem to add up… but, ya know? If this town ever needed a miracle, we had a bunch of ‘em last night.”
Then, more solemnly, Mabel continued. “The only sad part about this whole affair is poor little Willy Sadler, and J.T. Zimmerman. Willy drowned in the creek, and J.T. is still in a coma.”
Just then, the cowbell announced the first customer of the day. The door opened and Sheriff Harold Wheaton walked in.