Chapter 72 - Beaten Down Mullinix
"How bad is he?" Medoferro asked Ari Coblein, "I need information before I talk to Insegniferro in a few minutes."
"He’s hallucinating still," Coblein said, "As for a cause, I’m still in the dark."
"Any ideas, Miranda?" Medoferro asked her, "You’ve been helping all afternoon."
"He needs specialists," Miranda said, "I’ve only gone through basic training, not to mention the years I spent assisting my sister."
"And if you consider doing what you did yesterday," Suvorov said, "I’ll smack you myself."
"No worries there," Medoferro said, "I don’t think it would work now anyway, even if I was suicidal enough to try it."
"I’m not sure what to do for him," Coblein said, "My suggestion is to go back to Mullinix Centre. Let the medicos there look at him."
"Either there or Skolnik," Miranda nodded, "Skolnik has a full Medico Collegium too."
"What about Polonion?" Medo asked them, "It is closer."
"There are only four major Medico collegiums," Miranda said, "Mullinix Centre, Connoer, Mullinix Oasis and Skolnik. Most other cities have only a clinic with general practitioners, unless there is a great need for a specialist of some sort in an area."
"That means it is either Skolnik or Mullinix Centre," Medoferro said, "Ok. Let me go talk to Insegniferro about what it is best to do."
"The line is ready, Mullinix," the young operator told him, "Insegniferro is waiting for you."
Medoferro nodded and walked into the room, sitting down in the chair and moving his neck a little. He and Insegniferro waited for the heavy door to close before they actually spoke.
"Is there any change Medo?" Iggy asked him, "I’m assuming you’re still alone."
"Yeah," Medo told him, "There’s been movement today. None of it good."
"What happened?" Iggy asked.
"He’s hallucinating," Medoferro told him, "Pretty bad. I had to restrain him today when he attacked Miranda."
"What did he do?" Iggy asked him.
Medoferro spent a few minutes recounting the story, sending shivers down Insegniferro’s spine. This was not something that either of them had expected to begin happening.
"What is Coblein recommending?" Insegniferro asked him, "Or is he?"
"Coblein thinks we should come home," Medoferro told him, "Miranda says either there or Skolnik. I’m not sure which one to listen to, as Coblein hasn’t particularly impressed me yet."
"Either place has great Medicos," Iggy said, "Do you think it’s that bad yet?"
"I can’t take him to Polonion," Medo told him, "If we have to make an appearance there I’ll have to do it alone. It would be dangerous to him and to others. If I hadn’t been able to restrain him with a power wall he could have hurt Miranda pretty badly."
"I have faith in you being able to do it," Iggy said, "But the press would eat it up and make it worse than it is."
"I don’t think that’s possible," Medo reminded him, "It’s already pretty damned bad, Ig."
"If you come back here then we’re going to have problems," Insegniferro said, "I’m betting the Siraqis got wind of him being sick somehow, that’s why they agreed to do the conference so quickly."
"I’m open to suggestions," Medo said, "If I go to Skolnik directly, Spiketon will get pissed. He’s already been rather disagreeable about arrangements."
"I can smooth that over," Iggy promised, "But people would still talk."
"Where is the conference again?" Medo asked him, "It’s in the border villages north of Skolnik, right?"
"Yes," Iggy said, "I told you that the other day."
"Iggy," Medoferro said, almost irately, "Everybody has told me a whole bunch of stuff this week in about a hundred different ways…"
"Ok, ok," Iggy said, conceding the point, "I get the picture. What are you thinking?"
"Miranda knows that area," Medo said, "Her sister is supposedly a pretty good Medico, handling most of that area. Good medicos have good facilities."
"Well," Iggy said, thinking about it, "It would cover the conference. You could just claim that you decided to go early and prepare. What about specialists though?"
"Skolnik is only twenty miles away," Medo said, "We’re Mullinix. I have a feeling we wield enough clout to get them to travel that far."
"I like it," Insegniferro nodded, "I just wonder what happens if he doesn’t get better in time."
"Then either you make the trip for it or I do it," Medoferro said, "We’ll cross that bridge in a few days."
"When are you going to depart?" Iggy asked him.
"Tonight if we can," Medoferro said, "I don’t want to delay any further. I’d also prefer to make it under cover of darkness in case we lose control of Massy."
"Simon and Roland are already there," Iggy told him, "I’ll let them know you are on your way."
"I’ll do that," Medo said, "Miranda will probably want a message sent to her sister. Is there anything new on Cirrus?"
"I had it out with LaPorte a bit last night," Iggy said, "We’re going to have to deal with that mess soon. I’m dead sure he’s lying to me."
"Great," Medo said, "Just what we need. Another mess."
"I’ll worry about that one for now," Iggy told him, "There’s not much we can do until we get past this conference."
"Right," Medo agreed, "No argument here. I’m going to go tell the others and start them preparing while the operator gets us a link up to Simon or Roland."
"You’re doing well, Medo," Iggy told him, "Keep it up."
"Thanks," Medo said, a smile coming over him, "I hope that I can go back to being an apprentice soon."
"No offense," Iggy chuckled, "But I do too. I’ll talk to you tomorrow from the border villages."
"By the way," Medo said, before the connection was cut, "Thanks for sending Miranda and Stacy up here. I needed that."
"I know," Iggy told him, "Take it easy, Medo. Try to get some sleep tonight."
"Sleep," Medoferro chuckled, "That’s a rich one. I’ll sleep when he gets better."
"Might want to try it," Iggy told him, "It could keep you sane."
"I’ll try tonight," Medo said, "Miranda forced me to bed last night, but I didn’t sleep well. Reaction headaches are a bitch and I’m still recovering from yesterday’s."
"Be careful with that," Iggy told him, "I don’t need to have you downed from being stupid. You are to relax for the entire trip up there. Kick back and shoot the breeze with Miranda. She’ll enjoy it almost as much as you will."
"I will," Medoferro agreed, "Take it easy. Let Marina or Marianna give you a good back rub or something."
"I’ll consider it," Insegniferro told him, "Talk to you tomorrow."
"Count on it," Medoferro agreed, cutting off the line afterwards.
He walked out and gave instructions to the operator to get either Simon or Roland up in the border villages. The operator winced, as making a connection that far off the beaten track was a royal pain. He went off to perform his duties, however, leaving Medoferro with the group that had been waiting for him.
"We’re going on to the border village," Medoferro told them, "I’m guessing your sister has decent facilities, right Miranda?"
"Yep," Miranda nodded, "She has to. She services everything between her and halfway to Hulkensuxor."
"He needs specialists," Coblein protested, "Not facilities."
"He’ll get them," Medoferro told the Medico, "Skolnik is twenty miles away. We’ll get the specialists we need to come up there."
"I’m all for going home, Medo," Miranda said, "But why not just take him to Skolnik."
"Because we want to hide his illness as long as we can," Medoferro told him, "We still have that conference to think of. Iggy and I still think they got wind of the illness, which is why they insisted on doing so quickly."
"Why on earth would they do that?" Miranda asked him, "That makes no sense."
&n
bsp; "It makes perfect sense," Ballfur told them, "They want trade concessions and figure that if Massy is sick during the negotiations they’ll get them."
"Exactly," Medo confirmed, "We’re leaving tonight so we can get Massy help sooner rather than later."
"I take it we’re skipping Polonion then?" Suvorov asked them.
"We’re going to go ahead and use the conference as an excuse," Medoferro told him, "Give Spiketon our regrets and let him know we’ll do a visit when we can."
"I have the connection," the operator said, "It’s dodgy tonight though. Best use it while I can hold it."
"Thanks," Medoferro said, "I’m going to go talk to them. Any messages I need to relay to your sister, Miranda?"
"Might want to have them tell her what you know," Miranda said, "And let her know I’m coming along."
"Will do," Medo nodded, "How long until sunset?"
"Ninety minutes," Ballfur said, "Planning on leaving tonight?"
"I want to go under the cover of darkness," Medo nodded, "That way if Massy starts raving it will be easier to cover up."
"We’ll be ready," Stacy said and turned to Suvorov, "I’ll go get the guards ready if you handle the convoy setup?"
"Deal" Suvorov nodded, "Let’s go."
"That leaves us to get Massimaferro," Ari said, "Care to give me a hand, Miranda?"
"Sure," she nodded, "Do we get to ride in the Mullinix carriage?"
"Yes," Medoferro nodded, "You get to ride up with me if you like."
"Cool," Miranda smiled, "See you in a few."
Medoferro smiled and walked into the sound room, waiting for the sound to come in and see who he got.
"Who’ve I got here?" Medoferro asked into the microphone.
"Roland is chewing out some carpenters," Simon said, "So you’re stuck with me you loony. What’s up, Medo?"
"It’s been a long week, Simon," Medo told him, "How prepared are you guys?"
"We’re getting it together," Simon said, "It will go faster when the people Roland requisitioned show up."
"We’re about to throw a kink into your plans," Medo said, "We’re coming early."
"Shit," Simon said, "We’re not ready yet."
"Doesn’t matter," Medo told him, "Massy is badly sick, guy."
"I heard you did session for him," Simon said, "How bad is he?"
"Getting worse and hallucinating," Medo told him, "I can’t take him to Polonion. The official story will be that he’s a little under the weather and we’re going to rest and prepare for the conference."
"The truth is somewhat worse I take it," Simon said, "What do you need from us?"
"Tell Miranda’s sister we’re coming," Medo told him, "She shouldn’t be hard to find, she’s the main Medico in town."
"Going to crash her place for Massy," Simon said, agreeing, "I’ll find her and let her know. So when are you coming?"
"Tonight," Medoferro told him, "I need to get Massy out of here and into better care. I had to restrain him this afternoon when he tried to kill Miranda."
"Wait," Simon said, "Miranda is with you?"
"Iggy sent her and Stacy with some books for me last night," Medo explained, "Good thing too. I need the people. I’m pretty well alone in decision making right now."
"I’m sure having Miranda there is helping you," Simon chuckled, "I’ll get things set here. Any idea on when to expect you?"
"Before dawn," Medo said, "Other than that it is pure guessing. They’re getting ready to move. We’re going to make it a darkness trip to make sure that nobody sees Massy like this."
"Be careful," Simon warned him, "And be safe, buddy. See you in a few hours."
"Right," Medo said, "You too."
The line cut and Medoferro went out to begin helping the best way he could. He just didn’t know if it would be enough.
The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension Page 75