After the Virus by Simon Archer

Author:Simon Archer [Archer, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-14T22:00:00+00:00

21

I let out a long, low whistle. If this was an engineered disease, that meant that someone had created it and unleashed it on the world, or, worse, it had gotten out by accident. I wasn’t sure which was worse, really.

“With everything down,” I said after a moment’s silence. “I can’t think of any real way to see if any of the rest of the world is still talking.”

Estelle nodded, then said, “I’m hoping that the CDC might still have some line on the outside world.” She left unspoken the shared thought that it was entirely possible no one was left there, either.

“Might be nice to know if help is coming,” I observed. Of course, it might not be help, but I would have expected to see the enemy already. Unless they were waiting out the virus’ half-life or something.

“That’s a big if,” Estelle said, then reached up and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Thank you for this, Henry. As a doctor, I want to hold on to any hope that I can, but there aren’t any guarantees with something that has so many unknowns.”

I glanced back at the kid sleeping behind me and nodded. “I understand, doc. Still, if there’s anything I can possibly do, I’ll do it.”

“You and Jackie are doing quite a bit,” Estelle said, leaning her head back against the headrest. “Have you been together long?”

“A few days, now,” I admitted. “I met her while I was trying to find someone alive. We were checking out the same hospital, in fact.”

The doctor laughed softly and gave me a sidelong look. “She showed me where you had a lot of the pharmaceuticals. Rather looked like you grabbed everything you could, and the manual was a nice topper.”

“It was right there, and I had no idea what most of those things were used for,” I said, shrugging. She sounded amused, rather than reproachful, and probably understood that neither of us was addicts of any sort. “We haven’t even had a chance to sort through that mess.”

“Once we get back, I’ll help,” Estelle said. “I know my way around a dispensary.”

“Cool, thanks,” I said. Up ahead, the sign for the Newnan exit drew closer. I tapped the brake and let off the gas to coast down the exit ramp. “Time to make another call.”

“I’ll check on Tommy,” the doctor said.

I just nodded and turned my attention to the radio while it powered up. After a minute or so, I took the microphone, clicked send, and said, “Atlanta one to Homestead, do you copy?”

There was a moment of silence, during which my heart sped up significantly. Then Jackie responded, “Loud and clear, Atlanta one. How goes the trip? Over.”

“So far so good,” I looked questioningly at Estelle, and she shrugged. “No change. Over.”

“Better than the alternative,” Jackie sent back. “Poop Machine is fed again and changed again. Pick up some more diapers on your way back. Lots of them. Maybe roomfuls. Over.”

I laughed softly and shook my head, then replied, “Will do, Homestead.

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