DAY 51: Red Evening

"The body will be bathed three times."  Stu placed three bowls next to the training mannequin.  "The first bowl is water and Sidr leaves; Dr Mara should be one of the handlers, but follow whoever has that bowl.  You should probably take the second bowl - there's camphor with this water.  Only pilgrims are exempt; their souls are ready, water is all their body needs."
Marsha reached for the clean water bowl.  "I need to see everybody-"
"They still need to be prepared for burial."  Stu blocked her reach for the water.  "The final bather is also helping secure and dress the bodies, and I don't have time to teach you everything they do.  Take the camphor bowl and repeat every motion the first bather does.  If the body is sick enough for someone to see, they will need more than water anyway."

Marsha nodded.  "That works for me.   How many do they have so far?"
"When I called her, she said there were 43 so far, and 8 familes intend on retrieving their loved ones in the morning.  You won't have much time to look, certainly no official examination."
Marsha pulled the CPR mannequin towards her, pointing out areas for Stu to examine.  "We're looking for signs of respiratory infection: flu-like symptoms under the eyes, nostrils, even ear canals.  The cuticles have a unique symptom - keep an eye for purple and white under the nails."
"And what do I do if I find someone?"
Marsha took his hand in hers, startling her.  He turned his hand over to see the oversize thumbtack Marsha had placed in his hand.  "I've got tons of these, and labels in my other pocket to keep them straight.  You know how to use that?"
"Yes.  Are you sure this will work?"
"Well, it's a needle in a haystack.  But somewhere in that mass of the infected are people who chose to die that way.  And this is our best chance of finding them."



inspired by Discover Magazine article, "Fast Proof of Nerve Gas in Syria"

DAY 50: Red Morning...

Andre's coughing woke him up, and nearly cracked his ribs.  He looked to the bed on his right, and saw the sheet over Emil's head.  A hand was exposed and cut at the wrist, the blood draining into a bowl on the floor.  Andre was happy for him.

Andre's nurse, wearing a face mask, arrived to attend him.  She gave him a snow-white cloth to cough in, while she took his temperature.  The sputum was black, shiny as a carapace.  "Can you sit up?" she asked.
Andre nodded, and began the slow ascent.

The nurse returned with the captains, bearing street clothes; they also wore face masks and gloves.  "Put these on," the short captain ordered.  Andre stood up and accepted the clothes; he was stoic and slow as they watched him dress.  At one point, bending to put on the paints, he audibly groaned.  The nurse motioned to assist, but the tall captain held out his palm, keeping the nurse in her place.

Finally, Andre finished dressing.  He straightened himself up and offered a salute.  The tall captain put some papers and a bus pass in his hand.  "Go, and bring the judgement of God to his people."

Andre shuffled out of the room.  He left the building and began shuffling down the sidewalk, to join the others at the bus stop...


inspired by Discover Magazine article, "Hunting a Killer Virus"