Oil is thicker than blood

3.1 We never know the worth of water until the well is dry.

Jack wakes up. His alarm clock is ringing. Thick smoke comes out of the device. He sighs.

He smashes the alarm clock repeatedly, but it keeps ringing. Katlyn wakes up and looks annoyed.

"Can't you turn it off?"

"I am trying"

"Well, remove the oil or something."

Jack picks up the clock, opens the attached canister, and turns it upside down. The oil stains the carpet, but the clock stops ringing.

"I guess that worked."

Katlyn lays back down. Jack walks out of the bedroom to his kitchen. He puts a kettle on the stove and boils some water.

While he is waiting for the water to boil, his eyes wander through the kitchen. In the corner is a blender, still in the box. After Jack threw the last one away, Katlyn insisted they buy a new blender. Jack still doesn't understand why. Neither of them ever uses it. It remains in the box on the corner of the kitchen counter.

When the kettle is done, Jack fills two water bottles and packs them in his backpack. He sighs. He straps on his smoke mask and walks outside.

The smoke in the city gets denser and tighter by the day. In contrast to a year ago, He doesn't see anyone without a smoke mask. Not that he sees many people. The smoke is so dense that he can barely see a meter ahead.

After a short walk, he arrives at work. Natalie is sitting behind the reception desk.

"Good morning Natalie. Any new cases came in."

"We have a new case you might find interesting."

Jack raises his eyebrow. "Do tell"

"A homeless person came in with multiple lung cysts."

Jack sighs. "I am not surprised. The smoke out there is horrible these days."

He thinks for a moment. "If she is homeless, how does she expect to pay for her stay?"

Natalie smiles. "Apparently, she gave the paramedics a golden ring when she arrived. Told them it was the last valuable thing she had."

"A ring?"

"Yes, a golden wedding ring. It had diamonds and stuff. Really expensive. Worth millions if you ask me. She gave it as collateral for her stay and treatment here."

Jack looks at her. "Has a diagnostician already spoken to her?"

Natalie nods. "She needs surgery. The dean wanted you to do it. I don't know why."

Jack smiles. "Okay, I'll go talk to her."

Natalie leans to Jack and whispers. "I hear from the nurses that she is really difficult. She complains about the food, the bed, everything. Has yelled at some of the staff."

Jack smiles. "I can handle it."

Jack takes the elevator to his office and meets a familiar face in the hallways.

"Hi, Edwin. Nice to see you again."

"Hi, Jack. There is someone I want you to meet." Edwin says.

"Sure. But first, can I talk to you about some things?"

"Of course."

Jack gestures to Edwin to follow him and walks to his office. Edwin follows him.

Jack closes the door.

"Yesterday, when you took the airship back to the hospital, was there someone there with you?" he asks.

"Yes, a masked woman."