“We brought them.” Jeff indicated the crate floating beside Zach on an antigrav lift. “Limit one per person, no exceptions. I know the instinct of a parent is to short themselves to feed the kids but I promise there’s enough nutritional load in each package. It may not be the most delicious meal anyone here ever ate?—”
“We’re pretty desperate,” Rebba cut in. “I’ll take charge of the food distribution and we’ll keep track of who’s been fed and who hasn’t, as far as the people waiting for the doc. I do want to see her myself, just real quick, but it can wait till everyone else is done.” She pointed at two of the women in line. “Calla, Karina, you’re on kitchen duty with me.”
Tamsyn stepped forward. “I brought synthcaff, enough for one cup a piece for the adults.”
“Bless you, honey,” Rebba said, grasping her arm and giving it a squeeze.
“And I’m donating a piece of candy each for the kids,” Mike said.
“Wonderful!” Rebba was beaming. “Let’s get it all set up in the kitchen area.” She shepherded Tamsyn and Mike away, along with the two women she’d designated to help her.
Keep an eye on them, Jeff told Cody before he went to stand with Melly, who was already working on her first patient, the woman with the infected gunshot wound. The Chalmers group had triaged themselves it seemed, with this woman being first and a baby with a worrying cough next, others waiting patiently for the doctor’s attention. Jeff’s duty here was to guard Melly and nothing else until Cody returned with Tamsyn and Mike. He could tell Melly was a bit surprised he stood at her back and didn’t offer to help in any way but she refrained from comment and worked steadily, cleaning the wound, administering various healing medications and antibiotics and then sealing the area closed. She was efficient and professional, yet projected warmth and genuine interest in the patient, which Jeff observed was quite effective. By the time the injured woman was escorted away from the treatment area by her husband, she was smiling and talking eagerly about having her survival ration and synthcaff.
He'd known his beloved was a good doctor but watching her at work under these less than ideal conditions was deeply satisfying. Her competence and calm spoke to the same elements in his personality.
The others came from the kitchen area and Melly put them to work, interviewing the waiting patients, cleaning up from her previous treatment, laying out fresh supplies for the next person and so forth. The three of them made a good team, lucky for the Chalmers group.
Jeff had no qualms about leaving Cody as the solitary guard, Zach having gone off to do sentry rounds inside the perimeter of the compound as ordered. He walked to the table where Ned Chalmers sat, nursing his precious ration of synthcaff and said, “We need to talk. Is now a good time?”
The leader of this ad hoc band of civilians acted startled and a bit wary but nodded agreeably. “As good a time as any. What’s on your mind, captain?”
“Not here.” Jeff indicated a table in the back corner of the hall. “I’ll get myself a cup and join you there in a minute.”
As Ned got up to move, Jeff went to the kitchen and Rebba insisted on pouring him a generous portion of the hot beverage. “I can’t tell you how much we appreciate everything you’re doing for us,” she said.
“I wish we could do more but my resources are limited.” He sipped the steaming brew. “Tell me again where your group was bound?”
“My brother-in-law’s ranch, way up to the northeast. You know, your Tamsyn said she actually knows Jareth. Said he was in a ranchers’ group with her.” Rebba summoned the ghost of a smile. “Small world, even now, ain’t it?”
“And you believe he’s doing okay up there and has room to take in all these people with you?”
“He is, I’m sure. He offered before the outbreak got so bad but like fools we listened to the government and hung on in Taillor. It was hard to believe all the rumors and crazy stuff people were saying, especially when the government and the news media were reporting things were under control.” Rebba brushed away a tear. “And then overnight everything changed and we had infected on our own street, some of my neighbors…” She bit her lips and fell silent briefly. “I wish I could do it all over and head out for Jerath’s at the first sign of trouble. But really, who expects dead people to come back to life and try to kill you?”
“Certainly not me,” he agreed. “When we landed at the spaceport and got attacked for the first time, it took a while to accept what we were seeing. I’ve got to talk to your husband for a bit but let me know if there are any problems.”
She grabbed his arm as he turned to go and the synthcaff sloshed in the tin mug.
“Sorry,” she said, grabbing a rag to mop up the little bit of hot liquid which had spilled on his arm. “Are you going to try to talk him into leaving here?”
Jeff couldn’t decide if she was in favor of the idea or not so he answered cautiously. “I’m going to discuss possible options and outcomes, yes.”
“Thank the Lords of Space,” she said on a near sob. “I know we can’t survive here but he was so relieved to find this place he doesn’t want to risk the road again. But we won’t make it long if we stay here.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Jeff said, moving away. Good to know he had an ally in Mrs. Chalmers. He was acutely conscious of time passing. He was only going to spend the one night here and if the civilians didn’t decide to go with him in a convoy in the morning, there wasn’t anything else he could do for them long term.
Chalmers was waiting patiently, savoring his synthcaff and Jeff silently thanked Tamsyn again for the idea to share it. Talking over a hot beverage set the cordial mood much more nicely. He slid into the seat opposite the man, with his own back to the wall and said, “Seems like you have a good group here. I was chatting briefly with your wife in the kitchen just now and she was telling me a bit about what happened to you in the city.”
Ned shivered. “Yeah, it was a fucking nightmare and I’m surprised any of us survived. No offense but the military wasn’t to be found anywhere. We were all on our own.”
“None taken. My men and I, and the doctor, arrived after the city was abandoned. What did you do for a living before the outbreak?”
“I was chief accountant at Myriad Industries.” This was said with quiet pride. “My wife was an admin at the school district. Our oldest daughter is a teacher there and our youngest is an admin with the planetary customs agency. My son worked at a major food distributor.” He waved a hand at the group across the hall. “Most of the rest had similar jobs or were stay at home moms.”
“Any military experience?” Jeff asked.
“No. The guys with the rifles were hunters when the seasons were open, so we lucked out they had weapons. Came in handy a few times for sure.”
“Really outstanding you managed to get the group here,” Jeff said, meaning the compliment.
