“And that’s not weird enough?” I ask.
“Well, not if they stopped once they were asked. So long as they aren’t harassing anyone, it’s all personal belief,” says Sid.
“But they use the hospital. They never let us touch modern medicine, but theyuse the hospital.” I fume with frustration. “That shows they’re inconsistent, doesn’t it?”
“Like I said, I think your story makes sense,” says Amy. “But the hospital is about the only thing they do use, and I can understand making an exception from their standpoint.”
“The hospital…” The one place on the island with regular contact with the Astolians. If there’s any dirt to be had on them, it’s there. “Do they keep records there? Of the people who visit them from outside Salt Spring?”
“Legally, they’re required to keep documentation for all their patients,” says Amy.
“Then that’s it! If there’s something shifty going on, won’t it show up in their records? Maybe there are patterns.” I’m not sure what we might find, but we have to start somewhere. “They couldn’t bring any obvious medicine back to Astolia, like April’s needles. What if there are conditions they let go untreated? Stuff like that?”
“There might be, but isn’t it going to be the same problem as with the government?” Sid says, looking between me and Amy. “Those records are private, so without a good reason to look at them, no one is going to—”
“Pasteurization.” Amy’s eyes have gone wide. “I know what we can tell the hospital. Or at least, if we combine it with Kayla’s story, we might have a compelling case.”
“Really?”
She sets her pen down, flaring her fingers out in excitement. “A few years ago, there was a salmonella outbreak in Astolia. We must have had half a dozen casescome over, all at once. Afterward, the hospital concluded it was due to unpasteurized goat’s milk.”
“Itwouldbe goat’s milk,” I say.
“The hospital contacted the Reinventor’s Guild, asking us to put together some tools that would help Astolia set up basic pasteurization. I even wrote a support document all about the long, ancient history of heat-treating wine, so that they wouldn’t get their panties in a twist about the technology aspect, but it didn’t matter. They said they didn’t have the funds for the proposal. Back then, I believed them. I mean, all they’ve got are goats. But that probably wasn’t the reason, was it? They couldn’t let people suspect they learnedanythingfrom us.”
“Yes! That’s exactly what would have happened.” It’s official. I love Amy Sullivan.
“But would that be enough? Walking up to the hospital and saying Kayla thinks they’re creeps and you agree, because they won’t pasteurize their milk?” Sid asks.
“Maybe,” says Amy. “It’s worth a try.”
“And I think I know who we need to hit with our story to get results,” I add.
“You do?”
“Sure.” Desk Lady. The hero this story needs. I don’t even mind Doctor Tremblay and his loose lips anymore, because he’s clearly primed the whole hospital to bend the rules. “When you need someone to break confidentiality, you go to the gossipiest bitch you know.”
***
WHEN WE GOinto town at last, it’s for a double feature. Buy a new table, take down a cult. Ever since coming to this island, I’ve struggled to know what my purpose is here or what I wanted, especially once April’s needs were taken careof. It’s incredible how much braver I feel now that I want something again. Beth-Anne. I’m doing this for Beth-Anne.
No, I’m doing it for me. Because I want to see her. Because maybe I don’t have to let go of everything in my past.
Sid and I walk toward the hospital together, my pace slowing as I near the drive until we’re at a standstill. The last time I visited, the world crashed in on me. Statistically, I know the odds are low that the Grand Astrologue will be here again, but he was once. Once is enough to give me pause.
Sid squeezes my hand. “Do you want to start by going to the exchange? Work our way up?”
“No,” I say. “I was thinking… Actually, I was thinking I would rather talk to Pat alone.”
His eyebrows fly upwards. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
Not really. But I nod anyway. “I’m trying to get her to gossip with me. You might kill the mood.”
“Take that back. I can be a gossipy bitch if I like,” says Sid, but his sad smile says he knows the real reason I want to do this alone. I need to prove to myself that I can. “I’ll be waiting outside.”
His fingers slip from mine and I break into a run. A slow, purposeful walk would be more dignified, but it’s starting to rain. In a way, I’m grateful. I’m eager to get beneath any roof, making the warm hospital sound like a good idea right now.
When I reach the door, I notice that pine boughs have been tied to the doorframe, along with sprigs of holly, red berries burning bright in the grey December rain. The sight puzzles me, until a faded memory from all the children’s books I used to flip through with April surfaces in my mind.Christmas. It’s Christmastime.
