From A Distant World They Came Part 2
Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2011
by Kellie Hastings
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The flattened silhouette laid motionless beneath the sheets as Dr. Ned Johnston pondered over what to do. He couldn’t fathom the reality of something with such ruthless intentions. Leery, he rolled back the sheets to examine what was left of Mr. Hampton.
His ghostly pale skin was of the same color following embalmment, and his sunken chest was now resting beneath skin itself, skin he could literally grab onto.
“My goodness,” Ned moaned. “Is this the results of their so called amazing discovery? Is this what’s to rid the world of disease? I think not.”
For him, this whole scene was like something out of a science fiction movie, only he was right there along with the rest of the cast.
Ned shook his head while eyeing the door.
Have to get rid of him he thought. I better get a gurney. He would take him down to the morgue, informing the nurses that his heart had given out. They were expecting his passing and wouldn’t be suspicious. But he would have to inform Jim to remain discreet, and he would have to come up with a convincing reason as to why.
~
He knew this little charade would not last long, and all it would do for any of them now, was bide time.
The steely gray doors swung open, the hinges creaked as he pushed the gurney through them. He shivered as his mind visualized the many compartments inside, compartments designed for the dead only. He hated this place, he hated the smell, and he hated the reality of knowing that the dead were housed here, only one floor below the living.
Jim Barns was busy with another body as Ned approached with uncertainty.
“Any time for this one,” he mumbled softly, “it’s sort of urgent. I need to know what killed him other than infection.” Jim’s eyes scrutinized Ned’s face as he peeled off his blood-covered gloves. He walked over and lifted the sheets.
“Damn it Ned, what happened to him? There’s not much left.”
“I need as many tissue and blood samples you can muster up here, along with body fluids. And I need for you to be discreet about it. Can you do that Jim? No one’s to know about this, not yet.”
Rubbing his chin, Jim frowned.
“Will anyone be looking for him? And the nurses Ned, what about the nurses who treated him? Do they suspect anything? Is it contagious?”
“No family that I know of,” Ned replied.” And the nurses expected his passing. We know it’s not contagious for tests have been done. Only one nurse has seen him this way, Nurse Lorraine, and I’ve sent her home. As of now, she’s not a problem, but who knows how long she’ll last. Hopefully long enough to get my finger around this. Oh, and one more thing Jim. So far he’s the only one.”
Jim’s sighs of relief eased the build up of tension in Dr. Johnston’s body.
“Alright,” Jim replied, “I'll keep him on ice a little longer, and the samples will be ready by noon tomorrow.” Ned straightened his white lab coat as his gray eyes gazed at the wall of metal. He frowned. “How many,” he asked.
~
“How many what,” Jim replied. Ned’s eyes studied the metal compartments. “How many are there in here, how many steel compartments?”
“Twenty, twenty five,” Jim muttered, “why?”
Ned shrugged his broad shoulders.
“Just curious that’s all, just curious.”
“Any clue as to what we’re dealing with here?” Jim asked.
“The man was admitted a few days ago,” Ned began, “with boils the size of golf balls. Two days later he was covered. Today, it seemed they burst from the inside, and now there’s nothing left of him. Poor guy never knew what hit him.”
“Sure it’s not a reaction from something, or a bite maybe?” Jim asked.
“Damned if I know. The samples will be thoroughly tested though. I’ll make sure of it.”
Ned’s frown softened as he lowered his head to gaze at the cement floor beneath him. Riddled with old stains and scuffmarks, he shivered as his dark hair fell forward. He looked up and turned to leave. “Thanks Jim, I knew I could count on you.”
“Hey Ned,” Jim called. He turned around. “You owe me one you know.”
“Ye,” he smiled back, “I know.”
Anticipating the worst, Ned made the phone call to Arizona while his eyes scanned through the files of confidential information, information he wasn’t ready to convey. The receiver became heavy as the first ring came and went. He couldn’t sit straight, or think straight as he waited for the other end to pick up. The arrival of the second ring was interrupted as images of Mr. Hampton returned; the broken boils, the lack of blood, and the sunken chest.
He couldn’t shake it as his mind struggled with the reality of what was at stake here.
What was he going to say he wondered, what the hell was he going to say? Sweat began its descent downward as Dr. Johnston wiped his brow. He waited as the droning of pre-recorded verbiage rambled on through the endless options. He entered the extension number.
Look for parts 1 to 9 here on SearchWarp
It's been a pleasure sharing with you my fiction
Kellie Hastings copyright 2006
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