Apex Predator (28 page)

It took several minute, but the seizure activity finally subsided.  The group breathed one collective sigh of relief; all but Jen.  She knew that the Valium would depress the respiratory drive of a patient who was already having breathing difficulties.  So far he continued to breath.  Ok, she thought, let’s see how this goes.  She turned to some of the soldiers.

“You guys go get me some towels,” she ordered.  “Get ‘em wet, and make it quick.”  Turning to SSgt Brown, “we need to bring the fever down.  That Valium isn’t going to work forever.  Hell, I’m surprised it worked at all.  You guys start getting his clothes off.”  They did.

Privates Jackson and Jefferson ran into the room, pouring water bottles over a couple of surgical towels.  Jen directed them to place them over Father Albright’s chest, arms and legs.  She wished they had ice, but this would have to do.

Throughout the rest of the day, Jen and her nurses-in-training would continue to monitor and care for Father Albright and the little girl.

SSgt Brown asked Mike and Sgt Procell to join him on the roof.  Mike found the roof flat, covered in pea gravel, and surrounded by a 2 foot wall.  Mike was sure that the wall was more for looks than anything else.

He could see the surrounding area.  There was a stand of trees about a quarter mile south.  The land east, west, and north was flat, and mostly empty.  The highway passed in front of the building traveling to the eastern and western horizons.  There were few buildings visible.  He could make out something like a farm house or barn a mile or so north.  There was a gas station about half-a-mile west of them.  That was about it.  He knew from the map that the interstate ran east-to-west about half-a-mile south of them.

There was absolutely nothing alive that he could see.  The trees swayed gently as the breeze rattled their branches.  He could see the first few leaves falling from their lower branches.  Mike couldn’t help but feel like he was standing on the bridge of a ship floating in a gentle current.

“What do you think gentlemen?” SSgt Brown asked.

“Nice,” replied Mike.

“Good,” replied the NCO. “This is the new guard post.  We have better vision here, less chance of being surprised.  We keep the same guard rotations tonight as last night.  We just do it from up here.  We get into trouble, everyone moves up here.”

He looked to Sgt Procell.  “Sergeant Procell, I want you to move the MRE’s and two cases of water up here permanently.  We eat the civilian food until we run out.  If we have to evacuate, we abandon the stores down there.  Make sure everyone keeps there rucks inside the citadel.”

“Roger,” replied the young NCO.  “I’ll get my guys on it.”

“Mike,” SSgt Brown turned to the civilian.  “You mind walking the roof first?  I’ll send Jackson up in a few hours.”

“No problem Sergeant Brown,” Mike replied.  He walked to the edge of the roof, and began a slow circle.  The world goes to shit and I’m still a damned security guard.  Fuck it.  He continued his small patrol.

“Hey Sergeant Procell,” Pvt Jefferson called from the citadel.  “Check this out.”

Sgt Procell could hear the dog barking before he turned the corner.  He did not expect to see the big German Sheppard in such a frenzy that it was almost foaming at the mouth.  The dog was on its back legs with its massive front paws on the front fence of the citadel.  Two of the children were unsuccessfully trying to calm and quiet the dog they had named Duke.  The other dogs were huddled in the corner.  Sgt Procell noticed that all three were sitting in puddles of their own urine with tails tucked and heads down.

“What the hell happened?” the NCO asked.

“Fuck if I know,” answered the young engineer.  “They were just sitting there playing with the kids and then those three ran whimpering to the back corner, pissing the whole way.  Then this one went fucking ballistic.”

“Kids,” Sgt Procell said. “Why don’t we get away from the dog?”

“But he’s scared,” replied one of the kids.

“I know he’s scared,” the NCO said impatiently.  “Get away from him before he bites you.”  The children backed away from Duke.  “As the matter-of-fact, let’s get some chow.  I bet Duke and the others want some dinner too.”  He led the children out to the reception area.

“What’s all the noise?” asked Lt Cruzan.

“I’m not sure sir,” replied the young NCO.  “Something’s got the dogs spooked.  The big German Sheppard is flipping out, and the other dogs are in the corner pissing themselves.”

“Shit!” he cursed.  “If it’s not one thing it’s another.  Shut that mutt up!  I don’t care if you have to kill him, just shut him up.”

“Yes sir,” he replied as he continued towards the food.

The group sat down to eat dinner.  Nerves were on edge.  Everyone knew the sound of the dog barking would eventually bring zombies.  SSgt Brown considered shooting the dog.  He dismissed the thought for now.  He knew that the kids would shut down if he shot the dog.  A few minutes after they sat down Duke stopped barking.  He settled into growling loudly now and then, but at least the barking had stopped.

“Jen,” SSgt Brown asked.  “How are the patients?”

Jen had been expecting and dreading this question.  She finished chewing the food in her mouth.  “The little girl seems to be doing better,” she reported.  “She’s started making some noise.  She hasn’t opened her eyes, but her neurological status is improving.”  She shoved another bite of peanut butter and jelly sandwich into her mouth.

“How about the priest,” Lt Cruzan demanded.

Jen swallowed her food and collected her thoughts.  “I think he’s dying,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“How sure are you,” the officer asked.

“Pretty fucking sure,” she shot back.  She stood up and walked to the priest’s room without another word.

No one spoke for the remainder of dinner.  SSgt Brown finished eating and walked to find Jen.  “Don’t say it,” she announced before he could talk.  “I know.  I’m fine.  He’s just pissing me off.  If he thinks he can do better, get his snot-nosed ass in here and let him save these lives.  If not, he needs to get the fuck off my back.”

“You’re right,” he responded.  “I’ll talk to him.  He’s just frustrated.”

“We all are,” she raised her voice.  “Tell him to get in fucking line.”  SSgt Brown didn’t know what to say.  He just turned and walked out.

Jen checked the priests vital for the fifth time in ten minutes.  Shit!  His heart rate was in the 30’s and he was gasping for breath about eight times a minute now.  She couldn’t get a blood pressure, and he actually felt cold now.  Jen was sure it wouldn’t be long now.  She considered removing the IV, but decided to leave it in until this last round of antibiotics finished.

She couldn’t help but think how his death was different from other deaths from sepsis she’s seen.  His pulse and breathing should be up at least for a while.  Usually a body fights to keep itself alive until the very end.  His body seemed to have given up hours ago; like it was just waiting for the inevitable.  It didn’t matter anyway.  She didn’t have access to any of the crash cart drugs she was used to.

Theresa walked in a few minutes later.  “Is this what it’s like when someone gets sick and dies?” asked the girl.

“Not exactly,” replied the ER nurse.  “It usually takes longer.”

“So why did he go so fast?” asked the young girl.

“He must have been sick before we rescued him,” Jen replied.  “Maybe he had some kind of heart condition or something.”

They both watched as the priest gasped one last time.  Then the air escaped from his lungs.  His mouth hung open, and his eyes became empty as they gazed unseeing at the ceiling.  Jen placed the stethoscope on his chest.  She could hear neither a heartbeat nor breathing.  She looked at Theresa, then her watch.

“Time of death,” she announced, “2015…  Shit, what day is it today?”

“I don’t know,” replied the girl.

“It really doesn’t matter,” Jen stated.   “Go find me a sheet or something to cover him with.  While you’re out there, let Sergeant Brown know.”

The girl agreed and left the room.  Jen didn’t know what exactly to do.  She’d seen enough people die that she wasn’t particularly bothered by death.  She wasn’t particularly religious, but she knew some nurses who were.  She’d known nurses who would pray with a family or even by themselves over a recently deceased patient.  What the hell, she thought.

“Dear Lord,” she quietly began.  “Please deliver your servant into your loving embrace.  Grant him peace from the horror that has befallen your land.  Comfort him in your grace.  Lord, please help your children find comfort and safety in your arms.  And, Lord, guide us to safety and protect us from this new evil…uh…Amen.”

“I’m not sure that’s regulation last rights.”  It was SSgt Brown.

“How long were you there?”

“Long enough to hear your prayer,” he replied.  “I didn’t know you were religious.”

“I’m not usually,” she replied.  “I mean, I believe, but I haven’t really talked to him in a while.”

“I can understand that,” the NCO replied.

Theresa returned with a blanket and more of the OR towels.  The two women cleaned the priest’s body, dressed him back in his collar, and wrapped him loosely in heavy blanket.  The two left the body on the table.

Jen would talk to SSgt Brown about disposal of the body.  She knew the priest needed to be burned or buried in the next eight or so hours before it began to smell.  He agreed to have the priest’s body burned outside in the morning.

Kerry was in with the injured girl.  She was holding her hand a stroking her face.  “She’s been squeezing my hand a little,” she reported with a smile.

Jen stepped to the table.  “Sweetheart,” she said.  “Can you hear me?”

The young girl moaned, and moved her arms, as if she was trying to curl up.  Jen looked at her nurse trainees.  All three were smiling.

“Alright girls,” she said.  “I think I’m going to end today on a win.  Same as last night, except this time wake me up.”

The two girls agreed.  Jen went to the back, where she found SSgt Brown.  He agreed that they might have finally caught a break.  He turned in for the night.  Jen climbed to the roof.  She wanted to see Mike.

He was there, with Pvt Jackson, walking the perimeter, looking for zombies.

“How’s it looking out there?”

“Not too bad,” he reported.  “I think I’ve seen about ten or fifteen zombies all day.”

“Nice,” she replied.  “You think we’re pretty safe here?”

“I think so.”  He leaned in and kissed her, and sent her back down the ladder to get some rest.

Alicia Baker had a terrible headache.  She couldn’t seem to remember what happened.  She remembered being in a truck with those soldiers.  What else?  Wait.  Did she fall?  Yes, she fell.  That jerk Scott had let her fall out of the truck.  Did she get knocked out?  She tried to stretch.  OW!  Her side hurt.

She reached for her sore side.  She felt something strange.  What is this?  It was plastic, and seemed to be connected to her.  She tried to grab it.

“No sweetheart!” Theresa ordered.  “Don’t take that out.  You need that.”

What is that?  Is someone talking to her?  She could hear a voice.  It was a girl’s voice.  Is she talking to me?  Yes, I think she is.  What is she saying?  No?  No, what?  She felt a hand on her hand.  It was gently pulling her hand away from the plastic tube.  Oh, don’t touch.  Ok, she’s telling me not to touch this thing.

“Can you hear me?” Theresa asked.  “What’s your name?  Can you open your eyes?”

Can I open my eyes?  I think I can.  I don’t know why not.  C’mon eyes.  Open!  She opened her eyes.  She could see someone.  Who was it?  Was it the girl that was with them in the truck?  Yes, the teenager that was with the others.

Theresa was so excited.  The girl was finally awake.  She had opened her eyes.  She had tried to say something, but her voice was really hoarse.  Wait!  Jen wanted to know if she woke up.  Theresa ran out of the room totally empty handed.  She passed the Lieutenant as she rounded the corner.

“She’s awake,” was all she could manage as she passed.

The Lieutenant turned and marched into the little girl’s room.  He could see her lying on her back, rubbing her eyes.  “Good morning young lady,” he began.

She opened her eyes and looked at him.  She recognized him.  He was the leader of the soldiers.  Why is he here?  He doesn’t like us.  Oh, he tolerates us, but he really doesn’t like us

“Hi,” she croaked.  He could barely hear her.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.  The girl seemed to stare at him with an odd look.  Her head cocked to the side.  Her facial expression turned to a look of terror.  She raised her hand, pointing at him.  She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

“It’s ok young lady,” he said.  “You’re safe now.  No one’s going to…”

He couldn’t finish.  A cold arm wrapped itself around his neck from right to left.  The other hand shoved his head forward.  He tried to spin, but couldn’t break free.  He struggled to no avail.  He tried dropping to one knee.  That only caused him and his unseen assailant to tumble to the ground.

He shoved both palms into the ground and tried to push-up.  The attacker was too heavy and too strong for him to move.  He reached over his head and grabbed his attacker by the hair.  He pulled it towards his right shoulder in an attempt to throw it off balance and loosen its grip.  This was the exact wrong thing to do.  It brought the monster’s mouth closer to the young officer’s neck.