The Strain Page 9

  He reached for the handle.

  Locked.

  “Odd.”

  Dean peeked through the glass. He couldn’t see anything. There was a section of hall just before the fire doors, and they were closed. Before the door was the portable decontamination chamber, which looked more like a slender porta john.

  He backed up to peek in the windows that were once a nursery. He spotted El way in the back. He knocked on the window, but she didn’t respond and Dean tried the door again.

  “You have to ring the buzzer,” Roy stated.

  Dean looked over his shoulder, Roy stood a few feet back. “Okay, thanks.” He looked at the door and spotted the intercom. “I see now.” He pressed it. “Will we get a key or card?”

  “No.”

  Dean chuckled out a laugh. “That will make it tough if we have to rush in there.” He looked back through the glass.

  “Dean, have you spoken to Ellen at all?”

  “Not since she came up here.”

  “It is decided, that no one goes in the ward. No one. Any healthcare worker will be staying in there. We’re setting up a secondary decontamination area for anything brought out.”

  “So, El is staying in there for the duration?” Dean asked.

  “She is. Right now she’s alone. We’re finding someone to help her in there. Andrea may volunteer.”

  “That’s a little extreme,” Dean said. “This thing isn’t airborne. If we’re that worried, we do a secondary quarantine for three hours for anyone going in and out. We know the bacteria dies if it doesn’t attach.”

  “That’s very good idea and exactly what I am going now. Hence why I am keeping my distance from you. But you have a meeting to go to. You cannot afford the three hour wait.”

  Dean exhaled. “That’s true.” He looked back through. “Why isn’t anyone coming?”

  “She’s busy in there. She’s the only worker. I’ll tell her you stopped by.”

  “Okay, thank you.” Dean nodded. “Tell her I will stop up as soon as the meeting is done.”

  “I will.”

  Dean backed away from the door. As he left, Roy moved out of his way. Hating to do so without speaking to Ellen, Dean left. The meeting was starting and it was too vital to miss.

  Roy stood in the hall, waiting for Dean to leave. He debated on locking the stairwell door, if that was even possible. As he readied to return to the nurses’ station, he saw Ellen emerge from the fire doors.

  She wore a face mask, a blue cloth sterile overall and gloves. She waved as she approached the door.

  Her voice come through the intercom. “Sorry it took so long. I had to put all this back on. You rang?”

  “No. Not me,” Roy said. “Dean was here. He came to see you. He said he’ll be back after the meeting. But he had to go.”

  “Did you tell him we sealed the wing?”

  “I did. He was a little unhappy about that.”

  “Roy,” Ellen said sadly. “Did you tell him?”

  “No. His mind needs to be clear for his meeting. Plus, I thought it would be best if he heard from you,” Roy said. “That you are now infected.”

  THIRTEEN

  Joe snuck one in before the meeting. All the talk about time trips had him longing to see Robbie again. On his way to the office, Joe choose the next stop.

  Again, he went from daylight to night and Robbie was at the Social Hall. The starters were playing. Joe wished for another location, a quieter time to speak to his son. Instead, he settled for watching Robbie lead the band, sing and get those in the audience excited. He knew when it was, it was before Robbie lost his arm, because after the accident, Robbie was more reserved on stage, almost as if he was waiting to screw up.

  Joe stayed for several songs, watching and smiling. Robbie spotted and waved. Joe snuck out after that, carrying that memory with him.

  It would get him through the day and hopefully the meeting where Frank would be present.

  After a knock, the door opened and Henry popped his head in. “Sorry, Joe, am I late?” He stepped inside.

  “Henry, why are you here?”

  “For the time meeting.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Joe, I want to go and you invited me. You told me everyone has to bring an idea.”

  “Do you have an idea?”

  “I thought I would.” Henry pulled up a chair. “But I honestly couldn’t come up with a way to get ten thousand pills here, so I’m here for the drawing. Hopefully I’ll get picked to go.” He sat down. “Who’s all going to be here?”

  The door opened and Jason stepped in.

  “Oh,” Henry said. “For the record, Joe, I don’t think it’s fair to include Jason in the drawing.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because he’s the godfather of time, he can go anytime he wants.”

  “Rest assured, Henry,” Jason said. “I have no desire to do this trip.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Unless it’s something pretty fun.”

  Henry groaned.

  “We don’t even know,” Joe said. “What kind of trip this will be or when we’ll go. We have to decide on that.”

  A knock on the door, brought in Danny. “Hey, Joe. Henry … Jason.”

  “Shut the door,” Joe told him.

  Danny, staring down to his phone, just pointed back and when he did, Hal and George walked in.

  “Swell,” Henry sulked. “The odds got worse.”

  “What is he talking about?” Hal asked.

  “Pull up a chair and don’t worry about him,” Joe instructed.

  “How are you doing, Joe?” George asked.

  “I’m better, George. Thank you.”

  Just as George reached back to close the door, it was stopped when Frank came in.

  “Am I late?” Frank asked.

  “No. Dean’s not here,” Joe said. He looked at Danny when he heard a huff. “Problem?’

  “Yes and no,” Danny answered. “I’m just irritated with Dean. He asked for a new phone. I get him one and he gives it to Alex.”

  “He gave a phone to Alex?” Joe asked. “That’s against our rules.”

  “Yeah, I know. He then whines about it…”

  “Fuckin Dean,” Frank said.

  “Frank,” Joe warned.

  “And I get him another phone,” Danny said. “I’ve been calling him …. He doesn’t answer. So why does he need a phone if he doesn’t answer.”

  “Fuckin Dean.”

  “Frank!”

  “What!”

  “These meeting are confusing enough with everyone here, without you adding your asinine comments.”

  “There you go picking on me again. I’m not in the mood, I’m tired,” Frank said.

  “Well, get in the mood and you wouldn’t be so goddamn tired if you weren’t running around the Killer Baby region at three in the morning.”

  Frank looked immediately at Hal. “Did you tell him?”

  “No, I didn’t tell him,” Hal defended.

  “How do you know he was at the Killer Baby region?” Joe asked Hal.

  “He told me,” Hal said. “He’s always there and he was restless because he’s been … unemployed.”

  “Yeah. You fired me.”

  “Fucking Dean,” said Danny.

  Everyone looked at him.

  “What?” Danny asked. “He won’t answer the phone.”

  “You said it’s another new phone.” Frank said. “Right?”

  “Right.”

  “Did you switch over his contacts” Frank asked.

  Danny shook his head. “It’s an older model. I couldn’t do it.”

  “There you have it.” He held out his hand.

  Joe asked. “There he has what?”

  “There he has his answer as to why Dean isn’t answering.”

  “And that is?”

  “He doesn’t recognize the number. No one answers a number they don’t recognize.”

  “Danny didn�
�t put contacts in his phone,” Joe argued. “He’s not going to recognize any of them.”

  “Then he’ll never answer the phone.”

  “Father,” Hal said. “If I may.”

  Before Joe could reply, Jason held his arm out to Hal in halting manner. “No. Shh. Let them go. I live for these moments in the meetings.”

  There was a silent pause.

  “Darn it.” Jason snapped. “Thank you, Hal, you ruined the moment.”

  Hal’s mouth opened in a gasp.

  “Hal didn’t ruin it,” Frank said.

  “Thank you, Frank.”

  “I ended it by proving my point to my father.”

  “Proving what point?” Joe asked.

  Jason smiled and stepped back.

  “On why Dean isn’t answering the phone.” Frank replied.

  “Because he doesn’t recognize the number?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s stupid. He’s the town genius and scientist. He needs to answer every call.”

  “No he doesn’t.”

  “Yes, he does. What if it’s an emergency?” Joe asked.

  “And what if it’s a telemarketer.”

  “A telemarketer?”

  “Yes.” Frank nodded.

  “A telemarketer in Beginnings?”

  “Yes.” Frank nodded again. “Or Bowman. Either or.”

  “Frank, why in God’s name would there be a telemarketer in Beginnings?”

  “To get business,” Frank replied. “They call you…”

  “Frank.”

  “You think, ‘oh I don’t know this number but what’s the harm in answering’ …”

  “Frank.”

  “Then you answer and they fucking have you on the phone trying to sell you something.”

  “Frank …”

  “And they won’t take no for an answer,” Frank continued. “They’re crafty like that.”

  “Dear God,” Hal said and looked at Jason. “Are you happy?”

  “Very.” Jason smiled.

  Frank continued. “But they aren’t as crafty as a bill collector. Which, you know, it could be that.”

  “A bill collector?” Joe asked.

  “Yeah, maybe they’re calling Dean.”

  “A bill collector is calling Dean and he’s avoiding their call?” Joe questioned.

  “Yeah. You never know. Like I said, they’re crafty. You answer the phone and they’re like, ‘Oh hey there Joe’. Not Joseph, that’s how they trick you, you think they’re a friend because you don’t think a bill collector would call you by your nickname.”

  “Frank.”

  “But they do. They say, ‘Hey Joe’ and you’re like, ‘Hey. Who’s this?” And that’s when they get you and tell you they’re fuckin collecting money from some stupid credit card that … oh!” Frank’s eyes widened. “Oh! That’s it.”

  Joe ran his hand down his face. “I’m afraid to ask. What’s it?”

  “Fuckin ten years since the plague. Bet Dean didn’t pay any of his credit cards and they’re calling about that.”

  “Frank!” Joe yelled. “There are no bill collectors calling Dean about a credit card. There are no telemarketers trying to sell him something. Want to know why?”

  “Why?”

  At his loudest, Joe yelled. “There are no telemarketers or bill collectors left!”

  “Uh, Joe,” Danny said calmly. “That’s not necessarily true.”

  Joe swing a look Danny’s way. “Excuse me?”

  “Well, several of the businesses came to me about auto deductions,” Danny said. “Getting people to subscribe to their business. Like Ben from Fabrics. His shop is offering a five Danny Dollar a month subscription and you can borrow any purse or hat in the store. As many as they want.”

  “Like Netflix,” Frank said.

  “Yes.” Danny nodded. “So he’s been calling people to get them to subscribe.”

  “I’m afraid to ask,” Joe said. “Bill collecting.”

  “Ben again. People owe him, what can I say.” Danny shrugged.

  “Ha!” Frank barked. “See. I was right. It’s Ben calling Dean. Thank you Danny for proving my point. I wasn’t emotionally ready to have my father yell at me some more. Bad enough I lost my job, but he’s been mean to me.”

  Joe cleared his throat and spoke solemnly. “And I … I am very sorry about that, Frank. I am. My behavior was uncalled for and I should never have been that mean to you. I’m sorry.”

  Joe’s apology brought silence to the room.

  “Father, did you just …” Hal said. “Did you just apologize to Frank in front of us all?”

  “I did.”

  “Wow, Joe,” Henry said. “That was really nice. Frank? Are you going to say something?”

  “Thanks,” Frank replied. “You didn’t need to. You already did.”

  “What do you mean?” Joe asked.

  “A few years back.” Frank said. “You told me if you ever were as mean to me as you were with Uncle Jerry’s death that you were sorry. And you wouldn’t mean it. Remember”

  “I do.” Joe nodded. “As if it were yesterday.”

  The door opened. Dean walked in. “Hey, I am so sorry.”

  “About fucking time,” Frank said.

  “Dean?” Danny asked. “I’ve been calling and calling. Why didn’t you answer?’

  “I didn’t recognize the number,” Dean answered.

  “Ha!” Frank blasted. “I called that one. Not you, Dean, I didn’t call you. Danny did. You wouldn’t answer my call.”

  “I know your number, Frank.” Dean replied. “I’d answer.”

  “You know, Frank’s number?” Hal asked. “I don’t even know Frank’s number by heart.”

  “That’s because you probably didn’t put it in your phone,” Dean said. “If you had put it in, you’d remember it.”

  “Yeah,” Henry added. “He’s the only person in Beginnings with the number, 555-5555.”

  Frank smiled. “I asked for that number.”

  Danny held out his hand to Dean. “Give me your phone, I’ll put numbers in it for you.”

  “Uh …” Dean cringed. “I left it in the lab.”

  “Oh my God,” Danny snapped. “You are so irresponsible with technology.”

  Joe held his hands up. “Before we bash Dean, let’s get this meeting started. Okay?”

  “I’m fine with bashing Dean,” Frank said.

  “Me, too,” added Henry.

  George who had been silent spoke up. “I’d like nothing more than to take time to bash Dean, but … I’m with Joe. I’m really curious as to how we’re going to do this? I mean, I get going back in time for antibiotics. Our scientific community feels old world antibiotics will beat the future bacteria. But how in God’s name are we going to get …” He looked it his tiny notebook. “Roughly ten thousand pills?”

  “That’s what we’re here to discuss,” Joe said.

  “Ten thousand is high,” Jason added. “I mean, theoretically we could nab it with one of those seven day course packs. One pill a day for seven days. Maybe luck out and that is the strain of antibiotic that will do it.”

  “We need a backup,” Dean said. “Penicillin and one not from the penicillin family.”

  “Still,” Jason said. “Less than a hundred people. Ten thousand is high. We’re basing that on a hundred people, twenty-one days, three pills a day.”

  “It’s still old world antibiotics,” Joe said. “Now how do we get them? Obviously, we need to get them from that time and bring them here so they are good. The time machine comes into play. Who has ideas on how to do this?” Joe asked. “Dean?”

  “Oh, I’m waiting to go last, Joe, thanks,” Dean said.

  “Jason?” Joe asked.

  “I’m pretty sure my idea is part two to Dean’s.”

  “What if …” Hal suggested. “We don’t go the antibiotic route.”

  “We need the antibiotics,” Joe said.

  Hal lifted a hand. “Hear
me out. What if we take a different route? What if one of us go back in time…”

  “I’ll do it,” Henry said.

  “Any one of us but, Henry,” Hal continued. “And found Chaka. Go back. Not far. Close enough to the future time trip. Whoever it is, and I vote you, Dad, tells Chaka about the flower. Chaka has said that if he knew Robbie was near it, he would have stopped him.

  “Not to be a downer,” Dean said. “Robbie’s heart had problems.”

  “I’m well aware, Dean, thank you,” Hal retorted. “It’s not my intention to save my brother it’s my intention to save the lives in our time. Patrick for example.”

  “I understand where you’re going,” Joe said. “You’re trying to figure out …”

  “Oh!” Frank raised his hand.

  Joe continued, “the best way to get Robbie not …”

  “Oh! Me!” Frank waved his hand.

  “Not to touch the flower. What, Frank? What?” Joe asked.

  “Thank you. I was thinking on the same lines as Hal. Trying to stop the need for the antibiotics. Obviously Robbie touching that flower is the start of it all. Instead of chancing Chaka messing up how about we just stop Robbie from going to the future.”

  “How?” Joe asked.

  “Well, the night before we went back a bunch of our people were kidnapped. I put on Hank’s Ninja outfit and throw Robbie in the warehouse with the others.”

  “Would we still go through?” Hal asked. “Without Robbie. We were chasing Fort. If Robbie wasn’t there, I don’t know that we’d go without him.”

  “Hmm.” Frank moved his lips back and forth. “You have a point. Okay, how about I go back, put on Hank’s Ninja outfit and when Robbie is walking home, I break his leg.”

  “What!” Joe blasted. “You want to break his leg.”

  “Yeah. Break his leg. Then he can’t go.” Frank said. “We feel bad, but we still go. Robbie doesn’t touch the flower, all’s well that ends well in fucking Beginnings and … I don’t get blamed for killing Robbie.”

  Everyone groaned.

  “If I can,” George said. “I’m no quantum expert, but stopping Robbie from going or even touching the flower may not do it. How do we know that if Robbie doesn’t go, Jimmy doesn’t fill in and he touches the flower? From what I heard of the story, Robbie was injured, Hal brought him back. We don’t know that the arrow that struck him wasn’t tainted with that flower pollen.”