After the Cure, Deirdre Gould [the beach read TXT] 📗

had gotten nasty. “My wife was so upset when she heard you were in quarantine. She wasn’t the only one. I’m so glad you and Frank are okay.” He pulled her into a hug.

“Come on Dan, I’ve been waiting a month to kiss her,” laughed Frank.

“You and everyone else,” growled Dan and then released her.

The doctor cleared his throat. “You are healthy and free to go. I understand if you need a minute, but there’s some people who are pretty anxious to see you downstairs.” He clapped Dan on the back. “Let’s give these folks some space.”

They walked down the hall toward the elevator. Frank and Nella were alone on the floor. No glass wall to separate them, no doomsday hanging over them.

“You want to stay another night? I hear the food is first rate here.”

Frank grinned and walked toward her. “Eh, I give it three stars. The beds are too hard. But the view is excellent.”

“You peeked.” She wrapped her arms around him.

“I did,” he said.

“I missed you.” Her chest was too tight and she felt her breath catch inside and swirl as gravity flipped.

Frank didn’t stop to answer, kissing her mouth, her neck, her cheek. She could feel the hum in his chest sing it’s old familiar, yearning tune as he hugged her.

The phone in Nella’s room began ringing. Nella pulled back an inch. Frank reached behind her and pushed the glass door closed. “Don’t even think about it,” he said.

“It’s probably Sevita,” Nella said.

“I don’t care if it’s the Governor himself. It can wait,” said Frank and kissed her shoulder, backing her into the glass.

“She’ll just come up here if we don’t go down.” Nella pushed him gently away.

Frank laughed and gave in, letting her loose. “Okay, okay,” he looked around the hallway and Nella watched a shudder ripple through him. He took her hand again. “Let’s go home.”

They stepped off of the elevator and it took Nella’s eyes a moment to adjust to the bright summer light pouring into the windows. For a second all she saw was a shadow of Frank lost in a halo of sun. A great roar like an ocean wave and a sudden downpour of pattering rain hit her at the same time. She threw up an arm in front of her face and blinked. Her eyes adjusted and she saw the lobby filled with people applauding. Sevita was poking her cameraman. Frank nudged her with an elbow, “Look,” he whispered, “It was the Governor.”

Sure enough, the Military Governor surrounded by a cadre of grim looking soldiers stood in the center of the lobby. “Do you think we’re getting arrested?” Nella asked.

“Good thing you know an excellent lawyer,” Frank grinned, pulling her farther into the crowd. Cheers came from all sides and people reached out to touch her, to shake hands with Frank, to clap them both on the back.

They reached the center of the lobby, the crowd separating and making a ring around them and the Governor. “Dr. Rider, Mr. Courtlen,” he said, “It’s taken a while, and interviews with a surprising number of people, but I believe I have now heard almost the whole story regarding the New December Plague and your role in preventing it. As head of the provisional government, I cannot condone your decision not to notify the authorities. However, as someone who has lived through the same harrowing events over the last decade that the rest of you have,” the Governor looked around at the crowd and Nella was pleased to see both Immunes and Cured comfortably mixed, “I can understand why you acted the way that you did and why you feared tipping your hand too early. Without the heroic actions of you and your friends, today would have dawned on a terrified and violent City. You have safeguarded one of the last safe zones in the world. And for that, we honor and thank you.” The Governor paused as an explosion of applause engulfed them. “There is nothing we can offer you that would even approach what we owe to you. But I understand from some of your friends-” the Governor nodded at Christine who was blushing in the back of the crowd, “You’ve been planning an exploring expedition to the lost parts of the world. And that you intend not to return. I can’t allow it.”

He stared intently at Frank. Nella felt Frank’s hand tighten around hers. The Governor continued. “This City needs you. It needs to realize that we all need to work and live together, Immunes and Cured. And you exemplify that. So you must return. Therefore, I am appointing the two of you as ambassadors for us. To contact other surviving communities and to distribute the Cure to anyone that still needs it. To set up trade routes and peaceful interaction between us and, if that fails, to explore and rediscover the regions that have been lost to us.

In the harbor there is a sailboat, outfitted by the military and supplied with doses of the Cure, our own provisions from the Farm and a wide variety of trade goods provided by the people around you. You are free to leave when you choose and to return when you choose. But I and the people of the City, hope you will return quickly and often.” The Governor shook their hands and departed, riding a whirlwind of cheers. The lobby slowly emptied after dozens of well wishes and hand shakes, until only Sevita and Christine remained behind.

Sevita hugged Nella. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said, “But I’m going to miss you. You have to come back and see the baby.” Nella was surprised to see Sevita crying.

“You’re getting soft,” she said, “Don’t worry, it will be a few days, we’ve got to pack after all.”

Sevita shook her head and smiled. “No, we did that for you.”

Nella laughed. “Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?”

A step behind Sevita, Christine spoke up. “There is one more thing to do before you go.” She handed a small envelope to Frank. “I thought I better pick it up from the jeweler, since you were- indisposed.”

Frank grinned and thanked her. He glanced around. “Not here though. And definitely not in hospital pajamas.”

“We thought you’d say that. And we thought you might be tired of hospital food,” said Sevita, “so we’ll meet you on the boat in an hour.” Christine put her arm around Sevita’s waist and gently pulled her away. They walked out of the hospital into the bright, bustling afternoon.

“What was that about?”

“You’ll see,” said Frank with a grin.

 

The Boat

Sevita and Christine drove her to the docks to meet Frank. Nella had the windows open, enjoying the first fresh air she’d breathed in months. The day was warm and bright and more people than normal wandered the streets on errands. Sevita drove slowly, afraid to hit anyone and unwilling to part with Nella any earlier than she had to. When they puttered past Dr. Carton’s mansion, Nella sat up. The house was dark, as it had been when they had snuck in, but the front door was hanging open as well.

“Sevita, did Dr. Carton move?” Nella asked.

Sevita glanced back at her in the mirror. “Ms. Jacobsen and I decided he would be better off with someone to take care of him. I know that’s your area Nella, but you were so wrapped up in this whole mess- he had a stroke. For now he’s at the prison, just because the medical care there is better than the hospital’s. He’ll go with Ann to Harbor House when she goes.”

Nella nodded and let Dr. Carton and the mansion drop out of her thoughts as it disappeared behind them.

 

 

She shifted the flimsy fabric of her dress over the jagged red scar on her shoulder. Nella hadn’t worn a dress this impractical since college. Still, it felt nice, like she was floating in the warm breeze of the docks. Christine had insisted that she wear it, just for this once. The short sleeve kept slipping and exposing her old wound and Nella was self conscious. She heard Frank’s quick, light step behind her and hurried to cover the scar again.

“Don’t,” he said and kissed the rough raised skin. “You look beautiful.”

Nella blushed and turned around. “It’s a nice boat Frank.”

He looked up at it, hung with little lanterns and flying a bright white flag. “It’s more than I ever thought we’d be able to find.”

Sevita appeared at the top of the ramp and waved.

Frank slid an arm around her waist and walked beside her. He was transformed; happy and easy and utterly beautiful. He looked down at her. “I didn’t think I’d ever be standing here you know.”

“Are you sure you want to go? It could be years before we come back.”

He looked back toward the City and the black shell of the Barrier closing it in. “There’s things I’ll miss, but I’m sure. But if you aren’t ready-”

“No, I’m ready,” Nella said, “When I walked here from the university, the City seemed so big. And so empty. You’d think it would seem the same after a month locked in a room. But it doesn’t. It feels tiny and vulnerable and ancient. Like there’s too much shared memory to really start over. It’s time to spread out. To be explorers again.”

Christine and Sevita were waiting for them on the deck. An impossibly full table was sitting in the center, a lit lantern flickering just a little in the breeze. Sevita was busy filling glasses. “Welcome home,” said Christine smiling.

Frank turned to face Nella. “So, is my boat nicer than the other guy’s?”

“Definitely,” laughed Nella.

“Do you think I have a chance?”

Nella looked at him, confused. “A chance at what?”

Frank reached into his pocket. “Sevita warned me that I’d better do this properly. So, almost-Dr. Nella Rider,” Frank knelt on the wooden deck and held out a glittering thing, but Nella’s eyes were too blurry to see what it was, “will you marry me?”

“Oh! Yes.” And she didn’t know if the ship were rocking or she was as he lifted her off her feet to kiss her. “Yes, Frank Courtlen, esquire-”

“Esquire-as-was,” he interrupted.

“As-was,” she laughed, “I’ll marry you. I never want to us to be apart again.”

 

 

Ned Glist wiped his face as he left the hot parking lot and entered the cool cement prison. He walked up to the young guard slouching next to the metal detector.

“Look,” he said gruffly, “I been all over town. Someone told me that Dr. Carton was here. I’ve got a delivery for him.”

“Yeah, he’s here, in the infirmary. Go down the hall and make a left after the door,” said the guard.

“Well, don’t you want to wand me or check it or anything?”

The guard shook his head. “No prisoners here anymore. Just waiting on orders for my next rotation.