Quinn
REGISTRATIONS TOOK ALL AFTERNOON and into the evening, andneedless to say, the quarantine center was loud and hectic with peopleeverywhere. It was organized chaos. Once a family of refugees wasregistered into the database, they were ushered to their assigned sleepinghall in groups, where they were then given new clothing.
By late afternoon, half of the refugees, those who were well enoughwithout needing help, had already showered and changed, wearing thetypical matching sweatpants and sweaters in all assorted colors, lookingclean, fresh, and more alert. Now they were wandering about the place,most in the common hall testing out the cozy sofas and armchairs and thechildren, hugging their plushies, sitting on the beanbags or the soft carpetedfloor watching an animation movie, staring at the screen in wide-eyed bewilderment.
I noticed Klein and Les and their men outside examining the building, discussing as they pointed here and there. They looked intrigued with the
structure of the center. Since Robert, Darell, Kent, and some of their men volunteered to help out, the moment Klein and Les had heard about them,
they tracked the men down, and now they huddled around and were discussing in detail the buildings, and more so, the different departments up at the lodge.
Apparently, the kitchen staff, Gladys and Irene and their people, hadbaked some chocolate chip cookies, and they and the children, Jonah andcompany, came marching out carrying trays of the baked goods. Themoment they were inside the hall, they were swamped, mostly by thechildren, and soon, many were munching on the cookies, including Lillywho decided to follow Jonah around like a little duckling.
Jonah and his clan, as well as the other volunteers, also acted as guidesand taught the refugees how to use the nifty gadgets within the buildings,too. Many of the women were sitting in groups, asking the volunteers what
living up in Norsewood Lodge was like and what sort of future they could expect once they became a citizen.
That seemed to be the hot topic of discussion here, the perks of being a citizen. Status cards were also shown here and there, along with oohhs and
aahhs, and many were wondering aloud what sorts of blessings they wouldhave. They couldn't wait to find out.Since the frenzy was finally dying down and registration was over, dinner
finally commenced, with those able dining in the hall and those still too
weak, the Sleeping Hall 1 patients, had theirs in beds.
As expected, it was damn noisy and while some were wolfing down their plates of seafood paella and bowls of soup, enjoying the meal tremendously and eager for seconds, others were staring at theirs and crying as they ate
slowly, savoring every spoonful.
I hoped it was tears of joy. But it could be that the food, so delicious and different and abundant as it was, reminded them of their starvation prior,
and perhaps, their loved ones back home, struggling where surviving was
concerned.
Most people here had families and or relatives and friends back home. If
they decided to become Norsewood citizens, they'd be leaving those important people behind. Then again... I smiled. No. No one should have their important people left behind.
Before heading up to Norsewood Lodge to have my own dinner, I leftAldric-who was surrounded by men, his fans, begging to shake his handand asking him many questions-and headed into Sleeping Hall 1 to seehow the patients were faring.
There were around two hundred and seventy here, and half of those were
the ones used as experiments back in the dungeon. They all had intravenous
drips attached to them, and already, Grant as well as Tiffany and the healersand in-training nurses, armed with the Health Check Tablets, were
examining the patients. The severe ones took priority and must be treated
immediately.As I entered, I noted some were being fed chicken rice porridge by theirloved ones while those who had no relative were aided by either the nurseor the volunteer.
