Lethal Seasons (A Changed World Book 1) (12 page)

“For the first few years, each time the virus retreated, people believed that might be the end of it. Then each summer, as the virus resurfaced, a collective depression fell upon the country.”

History of a Changed World
, Angus T. Moss

“It's good to get to know one of our neighbors,” Nick said. The tractor bumped along at a sedate pace. At this rate it might take over an hour to ride back around.

“I pretty much keep to myself,” Harley grumbled.

Nick looked him over. The old man was too thin. His clothes were worn and dirty. He needed help. “Well, maybe you can stay with us till the horses are fit to travel.”

“I'd be fine bedding down with them. I been worried sick about them.”

“There was one that didn't make it,” Wisp said.

“Was he a gray?”

“Yes.”

“That's old Chester. He don't move very fast.” Harley sighed. His lips tightened, and he blew out a shaky breath.

“A tree came down on him. I'm sure he was killed instantly,” Nick offered.

“Good to hear he didn't suffer.” Harley wiped at his eyes. “I figured if they were okay they'd find their way home. As soon as my leg got a little better, I was going to go looking for them.”

Nick looked at the bloody bandage that showed below the cuff of Harley's pants. “How bad's that leg?”

“It's fine. Where are we going?”

“The high school.”

“Huh. That's where you folks got your settlement? I heard there was somebody setting up nearby.”

“It's a good space,” Nick said. “We've got power and water, storm shutters, and it's not too far from the train station.”

“And you're all eating that train station food aren't ya?” Harley asked with a tone of disgust.

“Actually we're trying to grow our own.”

“Are ya now?”

“But you know we're a bunch of city folk. Maybe we can barter with you for some help,” Nick suggested.

“Don't know what you got that I might want,” Harley said cagily.

Nick glanced at Wisp, hoping for a hint.

“Clean sheets, fresh baked bread, hot coffee,” Wisp said.

“You got coffee?” Harley asked eagerly.

“Sometimes,” Nick admitted. “We trade with a settlement that specializes in tea and coffee.”

“Don't suppose you folks got any whiskey?”

Nick chuckled. “Haven't found a source for that yet, but we do have some beer.”

“Oh, what I wouldn't give for a good cold beer some nights! You boys got yourselves a deal.”

*    *    *

By the time the tractor bumped across the campus to the meadow, the horses had been brought up from the river. They stood clumped together, facing a group of people with buckets and rags. As the tractor approached, all four horses raised their heads to look. Then they called out in high pitched whinnies.

“That's my boys!” Harley said. “I'm coming!”

Nick helped him down.

Martin came over. “They won't let us near them. The one in the middle is hurt.”

Harley ignored him and headed right over to his horses. He patted necks and shoulders, clucking and murmuring to them. Once he got them settled, he accepted the help of a couple of people to wash off the mud and treat the injuries. With him close by, the horses were more amenable to strangers approaching them.

Nick saw Angus on the edge of the crowd. He and Wisp walked over.

“Amazing creatures, aren't they?” Angus asked with a pleased smile. “I'm so glad we were able to help.”

“Harley's house has been destroyed,” Nick said as Martin joined them. “I get the feeling he might not want to stay here with us. But he's willing to barter some farming expertise for beer.”

Angus laughed. “Excellent! We will have to tell our brewers to work harder!”

“He can't go back if it's not safe,” Martin said.

“What of the neighborhood?” Wisp asked. “Are there no habitable houses in the area?”

Angus looked out over the school grounds. “When I started this place, most of the people were fleeing. Running away, running to, God knows where. The school still has plenty of room for people. We haven't needed to look into alternative housing.”

“What of the other neighbors?” Wisp asked. “Up in the woods.”

Martin spun to look at him. “Who?”

Wisp shrugged. He pointed toward the line of trees on the far side of the fields. “I felt them as we came down into the valley.

Martin frowned. “I wasn't aware there was anyone up there.”

“Well perhaps they don't want to meet us,” Angus said.

“Harley might know of them,” Nick said. “He said he’d heard of us. Must talk with someone.”

“Everyone should be warned of the mercenaries,” Wisp said.

Nick looked at Martin. “He's right. We should make the rounds and tell anybody we find that they can take shelter with us.”

“Take shelter?” Martin barked. “You want to bring half the countryside in? We'll have enough trouble taking care of our own.”

Wisp raised a hand to interject. “If they are content to remain in their homes despite a comfortable med center in their midst, there is every reason to believe that they will wish to remain in their homes regardless of the situation. However, if you warn them of the armed men, offer assistance, or food in exchange for warning, you may make new allies.”

“Well said!” Angus said. “We need to do that, Martin. Let's put together a nice friendly group, some women, a couple of youngsters. We will not look too formidable that way. Wisp can tell you where these people are. We can make contact, introduce ourselves. We see plenty of strangers at vaccine time. It never occurred to me that some of them might live around here. “

Martin looked nonplussed. “Angus I don't think—”

“We have to,” Angus said firmly. “If what Nicky has told us is true, these men are brutes. I can't even call them animals,” Angus gestured to the horses. “Because I would be insulting these noble creatures. We cannot beat them by force, so we must be smarter.”

Wisp whirled around to look back at the horses.

“What?” Nick asked.

“Fear.”

One of the helpers ran to Angus. His clothes were wet and muddy. “It's Jean,” he burst out. “She's sick.”

“Prejudices changed. Race and religion and all the other points of contention were no longer at issue. It came down to whether you appeared healthy or not.”

History of a Changed World
, Angus T. Moss

Wisp felt the fear spread like fire in dry grass. There was a helplessness behind it. He understood that. Despite the vaccines, a portion of the population succumbed every year. He had doubts that any of the medicines worked. It might just be a placebo to calm a terrified country.

Jean was taken to the infirmary with Angus clucking at their heels like a mother hen. He soothed the panic and sent people back to work. The distraction of Harley and his horses had been a welcomed one. Wisp felt people fall back into the ruts of their most recent concerns. This group worried about food, that one about illness, and the one around Martin worried most about attack.

That was something he could help with. Wisp slipped into the woods. For the rest of the day, he walked the far perimeter of the school. It felt good to be out on his own again. There were few people in the area beyond the school. He avoided contact and just made note of who was where. They all seemed to belong. None of the people he observed had the feel of a scout. A hunter here, a hermit there and luckily for Harley, a possible moonshiner. Solitary people, but none with ill intent.

It was full dark when he made his way back to the school. He ghosted past Martin's guards. That needed a little work. As he approached the front of the school, he saw Nick sitting on the steps.

“Where did you go?” There was concern in his question, but no accusation.

“To check the neighborhood. I didn't find anything alarming.”

“Good. Hungry?”

Wisp nodded. “I've got something for the kitchen,” he said holding up a sack.

“Susan will be excited.” Despite his words, Nick seemed unsure.

The cafeteria had just a few people lingering over coffee. It was later than he’d thought. Nick brought Wisp back into the small office off the kitchen. “Susan, have you met Wisp, yet?”

Susan's smile froze when she saw his tattoo. “Um.” She was startled. Her eyes darted to Nick for a clue.

“He's got a contribution for you,” Nick's tone was light and encouraging.

“Oh? What is it?” She eyed the sack uneasily.

Wisp stepped over to a counter and dumped out the contents. He'd foraged as he moved through the woods. It was second nature. This time he took more than he would have for just himself. “Mushrooms, cress, Lamb's Quarters, wild garlic.” He identified each item as he sorted it out of the sack. “There's a house not far from here that had a large vegetable garden. It's all gone to seed. There are some small plants struggling. I think you could dig them up.”

“Wonderful,” Susan poked through the bounty. Her alarm had been dissolved with the gift of food. “This will be a nice change. We've had tomatoes and peppers up to here. Seems to be the only thing we're doing right.”

“I'll go take a look at that garden tomorrow,” Nick offered. “We can harvest anything that's ready and try to gather some seeds.”

“That would be great. Thanks so much. Take Lottie with you. She's the closest we've got to a farmer.” She raised her eyes a little hesitantly to Wisp. “Thank you, too.”

“Got any dinner left?” Nick asked quickly cutting off her uneasiness. “He hasn't eaten.”

“I'm sure we've got something.” She jumped into action happy to be in her usual role of kitchen goddess. She filled a plate for Wisp and joined them when they settled at a table.

“Any word on Jean?”

“Angus says it must be a new strain.”

“From the horses?”

“They aren't sick,” Wisp said between mouthfuls. The food was well prepared. They even had salt.

“Then she brought it with her?”

Nick glanced at Wisp. He was uneasy. “The mercenaries?”

Mouth full, Wisp shook his head before swallowing. “I did not sense illness in any of them, but it is possible that they could have been carriers. Or the children. Or any of the people from Riverbank. That was an open settlement. I know that they were bartering freely with people from High Bluffs and Cold Water.”

Susan sighed. “So it could have come from anywhere.”

“Even me,” Nick admitted. “I'd been to High Bluffs and Clarkeston. The fire there could have been scared people burning out some sick folks. It's happened before. I figured it was the mercenaries.” He shrugged.

Angus joined them. He was deeply saddened and underneath a thread of fear. “I sent a message to the vaccine center.”

“Looks like bad news,” Nick said.

“They haven't responded yet.”

“That's unusual.”

“Very.”

“How's Jean?” Susan asked.

“She's doing well. Low fever and some dizziness. I think she must have some immunity to this one. Otherwise we could be looking at a very mild virus this year.”

“Is that too much to ask for?” Susan said sharply. “Every year we wait in terror wondering when it's going to wipe us all out. We deserve a break!”

“I'm so sorry to say that nature doesn't much care about us, Susan. Someone was messing around with natural systems. Now those systems are only trying to get back to what was normal. We don't get a lot of say in that.”

“It isn't fair.” Her voice was soft, but there was a burden of sadness below it. Tears stood in her eyes. “Excuse me, I need to plan something nice for Wisp's gift.”

“Gift?”

“I was foraging.”

“Excellent.” Some of Angus' spark returned. “You walk through the woods, and you see things you can use. That's marvelous. Did you visit with any of our neighbors?”

“No. I just observed on this trip.”

“Well done.” Angus patted the table. “Although I think that we will wait before we contact any of them. With several flu cases—”

“Several?” Nick asked.

“Seems that some of the children were running mild fevers that no one noticed until Jean got sick. We have six people in the infirmary now.”

“Six. And no response from the vaccine center.”

Angus shook his head. Sadness settled around him again. “A cup of tea, I think,” he said as he wandered off.

“Not good,” Nick said.

“He's very worried,” Wisp said in an undertone.

“He's not the only one.”

“The virus pared down the population in unexpected ways. The acutely ill were the first to go, as expected. It was when the chronically ill succumbed that statistics started to skew. In a matter of years, the remaining population was healthier than at any point in time—no diabetes, heart disease, asthma or other long term conditions.”

History of a Changed World
, Angus T. Moss

Nick could feel the tension in the air and wondered what it felt like for Wisp. Angus had called for a Council meeting in the cafeteria at breakfast. Between the new flu cases and word of the mercenaries, everyone was on edge. Meetings for the entire settlement were usually held in the small amphitheatre. The fact that he'd called it elsewhere just added to the worry. Nick looked around for Wisp, but wasn't surprised not to see him. He could probably feel this much tension from the other side of the fields.

Angus walked to the front of the room with a cup of tea in hand. He looked weary to Nick. “If I might have everyone's attention, please?”

Silence hit the room like a held breath.

“I wanted everyone to know that the new symptoms are posted on the newsboards in the hallways. Please come to the infirmary if you're feeling even a little off. This might be a very mild version this year, but we need to keep an eye on it anyway. That may be why we haven't received any vaccine as of yet. We'll stay on top of that.

“Also, Martin is looking for a few more volunteers for the Watch. Please let him know if you have some time to contribute.”

He paused to smile around the room. “We have a few guests in house. Harley,” Angus gestured to the man. Nick was glad to see that Harley was cleaned up and had a stack of empty dishes in front of him.

“Lily, and her brother William who is recuperating in the infirmary.”

Nick located the little girl in a group of children. Her hair was clean and braided, and she wore clean clothes. She smiled when she heard her name.

“And Wisp who does not seem to be with us at the moment.” Angus looked over to Nick.

“He's shy.” Nick said for lack of a better explanation. “And maybe a little claustrophobic.”

“Ah.” Angus gave him an understanding smile. “Well, let's try to make them all welcome. That's all for today” Angus bowed with a flourish and headed for Nick's table.

Nick sipped the last of his coffee. Angus sat with a grunt. “Ah Nicky, we need to talk.”

“Here?”

Angus looked into his teacup. “Probably not.”

Nick waited. He didn't have an office, so it would have to be in Angus's. The fact that he hadn't already said that was odd.

“Do you know where Wisp is?”

“I’m guessing out in the field house. With everybody so keyed up,” Nick shrugged, “Probably giving him a headache.”

“What a shame. He didn't get any of this lovely breakfast?”

“I don't know.” Nick could feel something off in Angus.

“Well, let's bring him some.”

Nick followed Angus as he collected a plate of food and a mug of coffee. Then they went out into the heat.

“What's the storm report for today?” Nick asked as he eyed the fluffy white clouds on the horizon.

“Oh, well, I haven't looked at that.”

Nick shot a surprised look at Angus, but the man had walked away. Angus always checked the storm reports. It was one of the things that made this settlement safe.

As they approached the field house, Wisp stepped out the door.

“You knew we were looking for you,” Angus said in greeting.

Wisp dipped his head in acknowledgement.

“Let's go back inside out of this heat.”

Angus lead them down into the building that once held equipment storage, locker rooms and offices. He took them to a small office that had a desk and several chairs. He put Wisp's breakfast on the desk. “For you, Wisp. I didn't know if you'd eaten yet.”

“Thank you. No, I haven't.”

Nick noticed that Wisp smelled of a soap he didn't recognize. It was a small thing, but everyone in the settlement used the same soaps and shampoos, whatever they could barter for. Wisp smelled different.

“Thank you for your patience, Nicky. I know you have questions.” Angus sat with a groan again.

Nick wondered if he was ill. That was a very worrisome thought. It wasn't until he questioned it that he realized how Angus' personality touched every aspect of the settlement. If he were to fall ill or worse, things might change radically. There wasn't anything set up to deal with that possibility. Nick felt a rush of annoyance followed by dread. They were fools playing at grander things than they understood. If the settlement lost Angus, would they be able to keep the dream going? That sobered Nick as he took a seat next to Angus. “No problem. I knew you'd get to it eventually.”

Angus folded his hands and stared at them. Nick looked to Wisp.

“Angus,” Wisp said in a soft voice, “speak the bad news, so we can help you make a plan.”

“I don't know if I can.”

Nick's heart started beating hard. “It's that bad?”

“The vaccine center is no longer on the ether.”

Not what he was expecting, but perhaps equally as dire. “Maybe it's just a glitch in the ether.”

“That's what I hoped yesterday when it disappeared.”

“What do you think it means?” Nick asked.

“In the short run, it means we may not get any vaccine this year. But if the flu is this mild, we might not need one. In the long run...” He shook his head looking lost. “I just don't know. Is it gone? Closed? We have a good stock of medicines for now, but if the ether dock is gone, how will we order more?”

A shiver ran up Nick's spine. The settlement seemed fairly self-sufficient. They had independent power and water as long as the current mechanisms didn't break. But they were still somewhat reliant on the train food, and totally reliant on the medicines from the vaccine center. Everything from antibiotics to bandages came from them. It was one of the givens in the new normal. Like the fact that anyone with chronic disease like diabetes or emphysema didn't survive the flus. The remaining population was the healthiest it had been in recorded history, which also might be coming to an end. Was anybody keeping those kinds of records anymore?

He thought of the dusty packs of food at the High Meadow station and the unlit lights on the rail lines. The food was good indefinitely. It made sense to redistribute it to an active station. But a worm of fear gnawed at him. He didn't know where that food was manufactured or by whom. What happened when there were too few hands do that work?

“You want us to find out what happened,” Wisp said. Nick looked over. His plate was empty. He wondered how long the room had been silent.

“I don't know how.” Angus knotted his fingers together. “I don't know what to do.”

“You don't know where the vaccine center is?”

Angus slumped in the chair with a deep sigh. “I contact them on the ether. Post an order, and it shows up at the train station. I haven’t had any contact with a person there in years.”

“I know where my brother's lab is,” Wisp said. “He is a biologist. He may be able to give us the information.”

Angus perked up. “You know that his lab is still active?”

“I know that he is alive.”

“How does that help?” Nick asked.

“Khi is owned by the army. If he is alive, he is being used for his abilities. Therefore, I assume he is working in a lab.”

“The army?” Angus' blue eyes had their shine back. “That's excellent. Yes. If we could get in touch with him. Does he have an ether-dock?”

“Biobots aren't allowed to use the ether.”

Angus huffed out angrily. “Honestly! Humanity as a bunch can be absolutely ridiculous.”

“Where's his lab?” Nick asked.

“Southwest of here near a town named Laurel.”

“I know of it. That'll take a couple days there and back.” Nick turned to Angus. “Wisp and I will head out to Laurel right away. We'll check in with his brother and find out what's going on. Maybe they're just changing systems or something.”

Angus reached over and squeezed Nick's arm. “You're too good to an old man! Nicky you have saved the day again. I have hope.” He stood up with a good deal more energy than Nick had seen all morning.

After he left, Nick looked at Wisp. “You up for this?”

Wisp nodded. “He is a good man.”

“He is.”

“Will the loss of the vaccines be so hard to bear?” Wisp asked.

“Many of us think that it is all that keeps us alive these days.”

“That is not true.”

“How can you know that?” Nick asked.

“How can you think that the vaccines are distributed equally across the country? There are settlements that never see them. And yet they survive.”

Nick stared at him. Obviously Wisp had seen more of the country that he had. “You've traveled?”

“The whole country. It is easier to avoid being found if you don't stay put.”

“What about Riverbank? They said you'd been around for awhile.”

“No one in that settlement hunts biobots.”

That simple statement chilled Nick. It put him back in the early days when the riots tore apart cities, and mobs killed anyone who looked a little odd. With the indiscriminant felling of people across the land, biobots had gotten loose. Some, like Wisp, went to ground. Others took revenge on the people who had held them as slaves. Or so it was reported. Horrible atrocities were chalked up as biobots out of control. In retrospect, Nick wondered if any of the crimes had been committed by them. News, like statistics, became more and more unreliable in those days.

Wisp looked away with a frown. “Trouble.”

Nick didn't even have time to respond before the storm siren went off. He ran to the door, debating whether he should stay here or go over to the main building. Harley passed him in the hallway leading in the horses. They were being stabled in a locker room for the time being.

“You guys have got this stuff pretty well under control, don't ya?” Harley asked Nick in passing.

“We've got people to keep an eye on the weather,” Nick said.

“It's a good thing.” Harley said with a wave. The horses snorted nervously. Their hooves clattering loudly against the tiled floor.

By the time Nick looked back outside, his decision was moot. Hail pounded the sidewalk in front of the doors.

“You are relieved that it is hailing?” Wisp asked.

Nick jumped. He hadn't heard him arrive. “Better than tornados.”

“This will delay our departure.”

Nick nodded absently, his mind already packing and prepping for the trip. “We'll need to change trains twice. The south branch doesn't go all the way to the southern line anymore.”

“You know the trains very well.”

“It's what I do. I travel a lot. How did you get across the country?”

“Walked.”

“That must have taken a long time.”

“Years.”

Nick was shocked. He'd spent weeks wandering before he found Angus's settlement. That had seemed like a lifetime to him. But Wisp had spent years walking across the land avoiding people. It seemed very lonely.

The hail stopped as abruptly as it had started. Chunks of ice covered the grass and the sidewalks glistened in the sun. Nick went outside. Steam started rising from the grass as the hail melted in the fierce heat. He headed back to the main building to pack. An old van pulled in front of the building, battered by the hail. It had a broken windshield and several new dents. Two more vehicles pulled in behind it.

Martin met them on the steps. The crew that had gone to Clarkeston to fight fires had returned. Seeing strangers in the crowd, Nick wondered if they were visitors or new residents.

That would keep Martin busy while he got ready to travel.