The Gathering by C. J. Tudor

Author:C. J. Tudor [Tudor, C. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-09T00:00:00+00:00

30

Athelinda hurried across the settlement. Snow fell heavily around her. The main street was deserted. Most of the Colony were inside at this time of day, sleeping. The place she was visiting was on the outskirts of the settlement. Here, the buildings straggled out. Most of this area had fallen into dereliction, sliding down the mountainside toward the river. A small stream cut through. Only a couple of lopsided houses and one other, bigger building remained.

It was here they took those like Merilyn. Larger than some of the other dwellings, it offered space and privacy. It also meant that the rest of the Colony didn’t have to confront what was happening inside. An old sign, half faded, still read: Hospital.

Athelinda reached the door and, with a heavy heart, raised a fist and knocked three times. After a moment, the door eased open. A young red-haired woman peered out. Henny. She was a nurse here in the Colony. Not formally qualified, of course. That avenue was closed to her, as any form of employment or education was to all Colony members. But Henny had a passion for biology and medicine, and she had taught herself through stolen and donated medical textbooks.

The Colony was allowed to claim basic medical supplies—antibiotics, painkillers—so long as they registered each year with a medical facility nearby. That was how Athelinda had made contact with Dalton. The doctor had been useful in more ways than one. Henny did the best she could with the rudimentary tools they had available, but it was blood—human blood—that had kept Merilyn from deteriorating for so long.

“Miss Athelinda.” Henny bobbed her head. “Thank you for coming.”

“Can I come in?”

“Of course.” Henny held the door open wider and Athelinda stepped inside.

“How is she?” Athelinda asked. A pointless question. She would not be here if things were well.

Henny’s lip trembled and she shook her head. “Not good, miss. That’s why I called for you.”

Athelinda nodded. “Let me see.”

Henny led her through the main ward. A hole in the ceiling let in small flurries of snow. A couple of candles set on tables provided a vague, flickering illumination. Beds still ran down either side of the ward, the mattresses moldy and waterlogged. Abandoned medical trollies had been pushed to one side. They reached a door on the right. A private room. Henny nodded and Athelinda pushed the door open.

The stench hit her first. Ripe, rich and sickening. The smell of rot and decay. It felt stuffy and warm, despite the fact that a window was open and the temperatures outside had dipped below freezing. The room was febrile with putridity.

Merilyn lay on the bed, plastic sheeting beneath her to soak up the bodily fluids that seeped from her loose and cracked skin. In places it had broken down completely, revealing the blackening flesh beneath. Her scalp had shifted on her skull, giving the impression of a badly fitting wig, and her eyes had gone, just deflated yellow sacs. Merilyn had been this way for almost five years.

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