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

down to a last few dozen people. No surprise, since her group had been near the back of the line with everyone needing to gather together and make their way over all the way from the Norsons' house.

“Any hint about what she wants to talk about?” she asked.

Borden shrugged. “My guess is where we go from here.” Glancing at where Gorstrom was having Brant help her find a place atop the barricade where she could make her speech, he snorted. “I'm guessing whatever bigwigs are left in charge have plenty of plans there. We'll just have to see whether they're going to be helpful to Stanberry.”

Fair enough. Ellie spotted Hal and his family emerging from a tent, and Nick and Tallie beyond them waving, and excused herself to rejoin them.

Showing her customary efficiency, Gorstrom was ready to begin her speech right as the last people in line for vaccines emerged from the tents. By that point pretty much the entire town was assembled outside the barricade, probably the first time many of them had ventured out of town in weeks or even months.

Even in the quarantine camp people were crowding the fences to listen in, ignoring Gorstrom's aides over there who were calling out that the administrator would be talking to them as well once she was done talking to the town.

The stately, professional woman hardly needed to wait for silence, since an expectant hush had already fallen over the crowd. Even so, she let the tension build for a few seconds, perhaps gathering her thoughts, before speaking through her megaphone in the clear, well enunciated cadence of an experienced orator.

“Ladies and gentlemen of Stanberry. This should come as no surprise since we just got done administering vaccines to everyone here, but so there is no confusion, let me make it clear that the widespread production of this vaccines marks the beginning of the end of the Zolos pandemic.”

That announcement was met with a nearly deafening cheer from the crowd. On Nick's shoulders, Tallie was bouncing up and down and waving her arms so enthusiastically that she nearly knocked him off balance, and at Ellie's side Ricky jumped and pumped his fist in the air. Hal pulled Ellie into a brief, spontaneous kiss, while his siblings hugged each other and spun in a dizzying circle.

Gorstrom waited patiently for the jubilation to die down on its own before continuing, her smile audible in her tone. “The vaccine is being distributed as quickly as it can be produced, and I'm pleased to say that all the quarantine camps and most of the population centers have already received it. We estimate that in less than two weeks, the entire country will be safe, and Zolos will be eradicated within our borders.”

That led to a shorter but no less enthusiastic cheer, although people quickly quieted to hear what she would say next.

“So what comes next?” she asked. “How do we come back from such a devastating disaster, one that has claimed almost three quarters of our population?” She paused a few seconds, as if waiting for someone to answer her rhetorical question, then continued. “First off, let me reassure you that the nation's leadership is intact and on top of managing this crisis. The President and his cabinet, as well as the Joint Chiefs of Staff and others in critical government roles, were all kept in a safe location and were not exposed to Zolos. The same applies to most of the state governors and their staffs. Our relief and rebuilding efforts are well organized and proceeding smoothly.”

This announcement was met with a wave of relieved murmurs among the crowd, and even more cheers.

“Furthermore, while there has been some chaos during this crisis, it is mostly small in scale,” the administrator continued. “I know there have been fears in other towns we've visited of imminent invasion from other countries while we're weakened, and perhaps some of you have also feared this, but let me assure you that no such threat exists. The other countries of the world are also receiving the vaccine as quickly as it can be produced, and we're all working together to recover from this pandemic.”

The federal official looked solemnly around the packed square. “With Zolos in our rearview mirror and everyone more or less cooperating, our administration's number one priority is getting this nation back up and running as quickly as possible. Which, while it may seem like a daunting task after what we've all suffered in these last months under the looming specter of the virus, is not as hopeless as it may seem.”

She waved at the buildings behind her, mostly obscured from view by the barricade she stood on. “The nation's infrastructure, the power, water, sewer systems, and everything else that allowed us to enjoy our previous standard of living, are all mostly intact. Most were even responsibly shut down before the situation became too dire, so they just need a little work to be brought back up and running again.”

A low, hopeful murmur spread among the citizens of Stanberry. Ellie was certainly happy to hear that news, although part of her wondered if it wasn't a bit too easy.

Gorstrom surprised her as she continued her speech. “I know that after the nightmare we've all suffered, that probably seems almost too good to be true. And to be perfectly blunt, unless we make some necessary but difficult adjustments it might be.”

The murmurs turned confused and disappointed, and the government official hurriedly continued. “Tragically, our population has been reduced to barely over eighty million people, spread fairly evenly throughout the country. There just aren't enough people in any one area to keep the infrastructure there operational, and with so few people in those areas it wouldn't be productive to try. On top of that, there are key industries that are critically lacking in available workforce, and not enough people in the areas they operate in to recruit from.”

“Am I hearing this right?” Hal murmured to Ellie as Gorstrom paused