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

to be working closely with the relief workers to organize everything, so Gorstrom had insisted that she and Borden and the other town leaders get their vaccinations first. Which made sense, but it didn't make her feel any less bad as she thought of all the hopeful people in town, waiting for the nightmare of this pandemic to finally be over for them and their loved ones.

Although she supposed she could still empathize with them, since Ricky and Hal and his family and Gen and the Norsons hadn't been afforded any special consideration, so they were somewhere in the line of those waiting; she wouldn't be able to truly feel like they were safe until she knew for sure they'd all received the vaccine.

Ellie wasn't sure how medical personnel fit into the military, but aside from the uniform the nurse who'd be giving her the vaccine wore, his manner reminded her a lot of Betty Griegs. He was currently going down a list of questions with her, the usual stuff like her medical history, allergies, and any medical conditions she suffered.

It didn't take him long to determine that for the most part she was perfectly healthy and there was nothing preventing her from receiving the Zolos vaccine. He reached into a crate and pulled out an unopened package, confirming she'd be the first in town to get the vaccine, and began cutting away the tape sealing it shut.

A few minutes later, he approached holding a syringe. “Here it is, ma'am,” he said with a warm smile. “Just a bit longer, and your Zolos fears will be over.”

Ellie stared at the miracle in the nurse's hand with a mixture of wild hope and trepidation.

The Zolos vaccine. If all the reports about there being almost no probability of the virus mutating were true, that syringe represented an end to the nightmare they'd been through for the last few months. An end to the looming specter of death hanging over her and her family and all their friends.

On the other hand, part of her felt like it was too good to be true. “This vaccine was rushed out pretty quickly, wasn't it?” she asked nervously as the man went about the usual routine before administering a shot. “Has it been properly tested? Any bad side effects?”

“Nothing you wouldn't see with any other vaccine,” the nurse said, giving her a reassuring smile and not even slowing in his preparations. “As for whether it's been tested?” He snorted. “If you count me and a few thousand other medical professionals and soldiers with the first batch . . .” He raised his hands and wiggled his fingers. “Nothing's turned green or fallen off yet.”

She subsided, letting him do his job, and soon he was warning her, “There'll be a slight pinch.”

Ellie usually looked away when she got a shot, not exactly squeamish but not really interested in seeing it, either. But this moment was momentous enough that she felt like she should witness it, so she watched has he gently inserted the needle and pressed the plunger.

And that was that. The nurse set aside the syringe, bandaged the injection site, and seconds later she was on her feet and being ushered out of the tent.

“Now don't immediately run out and give the first infected you see a big hug,” he said as a last word of advice. “Your body should already be at work creating Zolos antibodies from the vaccine, but it takes time to build up an immunity.”

Ellie considered asking whether that applied to contact with the military nurse himself, as well as the rest of the relief convoy. But obviously they didn't think there was a danger, or they would be employing more safeguards during their vaccinations.

That, or they hadn't considered the risk, and were inadvertently getting half the people they vaccinated infected with Zolos. But she didn't believe such clearly professional people would make that kind of oversight.

Shoving that worry aside, she made way for the next person waiting for their shot and went in search of Gorstrom.

Ellie found the relief administrator talking to Borden, who bore his own bandage signifying he'd received the vaccine.

“I understand your position,” the older woman was telling the man patiently as Ellie approached, “but nevertheless, your town will cease all scavenging activities immediately. I'm afraid I must insist.”

Borden didn't protest, but his expression clearly showed his displeasure at this mandate.

The relief administrator sighed, taking on the tone of someone explaining the obvious. “I know your town has been struggling for resources, Mr. Borden, but let me stress that we are not in a nationwide shortage. The sad reality of Zolos killing so many people is that resources are plentiful, enough for everyone and to spare until the US can get back on its feet.”

Her tone became firm. “But we need you to leave it to the officials to gather those resources and make sure they're fairly distributed. Otherwise there will be shortages as people try to hoard supplies. Not to mention inevitable conflict from scavengers trying to take things that are already owned, or fighting each other over prime spots.”

Borden's irritation abruptly gave way to discomfort, and Ellie felt a guilty itch between her own shoulder blades as she thought of Nick's scavenging efforts and the fight it had provoked with Jay.

Gorstrom seemed to sense what the acting mayor was thinking, judging by her knowing expression. “We'll discuss what your town's been through during the crisis in detail when we have the time,” she said, not unkindly. “But until then, I need your assurance that you'll pull your scavengers back.”

“All right,” he said grudgingly. “But only if I have your assurance that you can keep us adequately supplied. If we find ourselves starving while you disappear again for weeks on end, we'll have to make hard choices about what it takes to survive.”

“You have that assurance.” The administrator's expression turned dire. “But even if we were to be out of contact for a while, I would be