Isolation , Jones, Nathan [top 20 books to read TXT] 📗

last few months, it just sort of felt like there had to be a catch. Some other shoe that had yet to drop. He was probably just being pessimistic, and he seriously hoped he was wrong, but . . .

A relief convoy bearing a miracle vaccine seemed almost too good to be true.

“Okay,” Borden said, looking a bit overwhelmed in spite of his insistence they move forward quickly. He began looking around and his eyes fell on Ellie. “Mrs. Westmont, can you coordinate with the relief workers to sort out the quarantine camp?” She nodded her agreement, looking pleased he'd thought of her, and he turned to Nick next. “Statton, if you could get in touch with Ms. Griegs and Denny about whatever the relief workers need from the survivors.”

“Sure,” Nick said. “Although since we're immune our biggest job will probably be staying out of everyone's way.”

“You can start gathering numbers for us, Mr. Statton,” Gorstrom cut in smoothly. “Like I said, pretty much any information you can get about the Zolos-immune residents will be helpful. Even medical information, for our medical staff . . . after the vaccinations are administered we'd like to give everyone physicals, make sure nobody's got potentially serious ailments they weren't aware of.”

As the formidable woman continued organizing the colossal task ahead, Nick couldn't help but admire just how much work went into the job. He hadn't even considered the fact that relief workers would need to get vital information about the people they were helping before they could even begin providing aid.

It gave him a new appreciation for the work Ellie had done with the camp, since he hadn't seen firsthand just how much effort was required.

Nick borrowed a notebook and pen from one of Gorstrom's staff members, then stepped over to an out of the way spot and got on a free radio channel with the leaders of the survivor camp. It took a frustratingly long time to get information recorded over the radio, especially since first he had to tell them the information he needed and wait while they chased it down. But he couldn't exactly go out there and get it in person, for obvious reasons.

Although . . . couldn't he?

If everyone was getting the vaccine anyway they'd all be immune, so there'd be no more worry about everyone who was potentially a Zolos carrier keeping their distance. And the relief workers would probably be all over the two camps and the town anyway.

Maybe so, but until he got the go-ahead to take that step he should probably stick to radio communication. Even if it made him want to throw the radio at the nearest brick wall the tenth time Denny or Betty ran off to ask questions for him. And judging by their tones, they were getting fairly frustrated too.

While he was doing that the relief workers set up a field clinic along the road outside the barricade, starting to get everyone in town lined up and organized to prepare to administer the vaccinations. They were helped by Ellie and Borden and the other town leaders, who did their best to organize the growing crowd. Nick got to enjoy a front row seat to the excitement, which gave him something to do while waiting on information from the Zolos survivors.

After a few minutes he felt arms wrap around his shoulders from behind and hug him enthusiastically. “Can you believe this?” Gen practically shouted in his ear. “This is amazing!”

Nick grinned and turned to wrap his arms around her, on the spur of the moment lifting her off her feet and spinning her around while she laughed.

“I can't believe this!” she said when he finally set her down, staring at the convoy with wide eyes. “Can this really be happening?”

Nick wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Unless a bunch of serious seeming people are playing a practical joke on us, I think so.”

“Nobody could be that cruel.” Gen was nearly dancing in place, grinning in wonder. “A vaccine,” she continued, bumping his shoulder with hers as if trying to pass her eagerness onto him. “We can finally leave the Zolos-vulnerable area. We can go wherever we want!”

He couldn't help but chuckle at her ebullient mood. “You have some place in mind?”

“Anywhere! We could find a babysitter for the kids and go to some tropical beach for a bit, just the two of us.”

Wildly impractical as that was, it was certainly a nice thought. Nick leaned in and kissed her gently. “Let's worry about getting the vaccine first.” He paused, waving the notebook he held. “That is, after I jot down some information for Gorstrom, the relief administrator.”

“Don't mind me,” Gen said, resting her head on his shoulder. “I just wanted to keep you company.” But it was obvious she still wanted to talk about this amazing development, and to be honest he couldn't blame her.

So he put off the work for a bit longer and settled down on a comfy patch of grass nearby with his girlfriend, watching as the relief workers set up the vaccine tents. “You're right though, this all did come completely out of left field,” he murmured. “I can't believe there was a vaccine and it's not all over the radio network.”

She shrugged. “Well we were close to the furthest south reliable contact on the network after St. Joe, and we haven't heard anything from them for weeks. Since even before Jay showed up. If the relief convoy is making its way north from there, we're probably close to its first stop in the area.”

That made sense. “I bet our guy on the radio in town is going nuts telling everyone about it. People are probably throwing impromptu celebrations in a dozen towns right now.”

Gen grinned at that thought. “Maybe Vaccine Day will become a national holiday. We'll build statues to whoever it was who managed to get it made and distributed so quickly.”

“I'd certainly like to shake their hands if I ever