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

meet them.” Nick's radio crackled with Denny's voice giving him some information he'd requested, and he motioned to his notebook apologetically and began scribbling notes.

As he jotted down the information the survivor leaders fed him over the radio, Gen watched the flow of people funneling into the impromptu field clinic. For the most part her eyes followed Gorstrom, who was always the center of a hive of activity as she organized what seemed like a thousand details.

“Is it just me, or does Gorstrom make you think of Ellie in 10 years?” she abruptly asked.

Nick couldn't help but chuckle at that, although he kept his eyes on his work. Now that she mentioned it, there was a distinct similarity. “Well, you know that old saying about everyone having a doppelganger somewhere in the world.”

She grinned at him. “You really think there's a Nick lookalike walking around out there?”

This time he laughed outright. “An average height guy in his 30s with brown hair and red in his beard? Throw a stone anywhere in the country and you'll hit a Nick lookalike.”

Gen laughed too, idly brushing her fingers over the stubble on his cheek. “Yeah, what's up with so many guys having red in their beard? Blond, brunette, whatever . . . I thought that was a super rare hair color.”

“Not in beards, I guess.” Nick lifted the radio. “Hey Denny, we have anyone questioning the newcomers to get their info?”

“Getting to it,” the man replied. “Half the camp wants to find places to gawk at the convoy, and the other half keeps coming around asking if they're going to get a vaccine, even though they're immune. Not to mention everyone seems to think giving the relief workers their information is a waste of time. And then there are those who are leery of giving out their personal information, even to people who probably have the best intentions.”

Nick frowned. “A lot of us have family and friends out there we haven't been in contact with since our phones went out. Remind them that if the relief workers know who and where they are, it'll be easier to find out the fate of loved ones and get messages out about their own fate.”

“Good point.” Denny chuckled. “If I'm being honest, I was kind of thinking it was a waste of time myself. But I would like my grandparents and cousins to know I'm still kicking, and find out if they're okay.”

They settled back into the dull routine of running down info. During the frequent waiting periods Nick and Gen watched the unfolding action of the relief workers distributing the vaccine.

“It's kind of surreal,” she said as they watched a specially marked supply truck drive up to the impromptu field hospital, and armed guards began carefully supervising the unloading of crates of vaccine. “Even when Jay was threatening us, our town was really quiet and peaceful behind the barricades. All these soldiers and relief workers tromping around takes some getting used to.”

Nick nodded. “They look like they're settling in to stay at least a few days. Things might take a while to get back to normal.” If they ever do, he silently added, wondering what would happen to this quiet refuge and all the people who'd come here for help once the fear of Zolos was gone.

“Okay, Statton,” Denny said ten or so minutes later. “That's everything I can think of to tell you about our residents, unless you want to know what they ate for breakfast this morning. I'm signing off to go wrangle the crowds watching the excitement . . . if the relief workers need any other information, or you think of something else, just give me a ring.”

“Okay, thanks.” Nick clicked the pen and tucked it into the spiral of the notebook, then nodded to Gen. “Let's go figure out who to give this to.”

They politely intruded on the bustle around the field hospital, searching for someone to talk to. It was weird to be around a bunch of people they knew had probably been exposed to Zolos recently, and not have to fear catching the virus or becoming carriers anymore.

Their world had completely changed in less than an hour.

Finally, one of Gorstrom's aides noticed their efforts to get someone's attention and came over. Nick briefly filled the woman in on the task he'd been given as he handed her the notebook.

“Thanks,” she said, idly checking the information he'd jotted down. She raised an eyebrow after a few seconds. “This is in database format.”

“Yeah, I figured that'd make it easier for you when you plug it into your system, assuming you have one.”

“No kidding,” the relief worker grumbled, running her eyes down the columns. “And yes, we do have a running network complete with databases. And you have no idea how long I spend sorting out pages full of scribbled information all jumbled together in no particular order.” She shook her head wryly. “Most people are happy to help, but the quantity of their help is usually much higher than the quality.”

Nick smiled at that, and Gen laughed.

The relief worker started to turn away with a vague wave to acknowledge his work, then paused as a sudden thought struck her. “So you know data entry?”

He shrugged. “Sure, although my background is programming.”

She gave him a thoughtful look, uncapping the pen he'd tucked into the notebook's metal spine and jotting something down with the other information he'd provided. “Good to know,” she said to his and Gen's curious looks.

Nick couldn't see how his previous profession was good to know, although he supposed bureaucrats tended to want to have every single bit of information recorded and put in its place.

Shaking his head, he turned to Gen. “Come on. Let's go get Billy and the other Zolos vulnerable people back at the house and get you in line for your vaccine.”

Chapter Fifteen

New World

Ellie felt a bit bad being bumped up to the front of the line for the vaccine.

But she was going