Dark of Winter: Prepper Book Two

Chapter IV: Dr. Who?

Forty minutes of invigorating fresh air has somewhat cleared my head. The skies have grown increasingly sombre as I've plodded along toward the hospital. The dirty cotton-batten fluffs overhead are borne northeast with some urgency and I hope that doesn't indicate that I am in for a drenching. I think that I am now legitimately hungry, or I still have the munchies, either way I need food. All the walking has also caused me to work up a bit of a sweat, I unzip my coat to allow more airflow in an effort to cool down.

Approaching the hospital I immediately notice quite a lot has changed since my last visit. The parking lots are still full of makeshift living quarters for the remnants of the reservists battle group. Smoke meanders skyward from the stovepipes that poke up through the tent ceilings. Two piles of shredded Elephant Grass, as high as houses--fuel for the biomass boiler--now accommodate a large portion of one of the parking lots. But more noticeable is the six foot  high chain link fence, topped with barbed wire that encompasses the entire area. They have also added checkpoints with pairs of armed guards occupying the little sandbag and plywood fortifications. I make my way to the nearest one.

"What can I do for you, sir?" one guard asks politely as I approach.

"I need to see my wife."

"Does she work here?"

"She's a patient."

"I'm sorry sir, the hospital is on lockdown, full quarantine."

"I need to see my wife," I say, robotically repeating my previous assertion. "She's been stuck in there for months, I just need to see her."

"I understand sir, but we cannot let you in, sir. Strict orders, no exceptions."

"Where's Hartt?"

"Pardon, sir?"

"Corporal Hartt, he's here isn't he? Get me Corporal Hartt." The guards exchange glances and then look back at me. "Please," I beg. "Please, just give him a call, if I can just talk to him for a minute."

"No sir, I can't do that."

"Sir, just go home," the other guard chimes in. "Once they lift the quarantine they will be notifying people and visits will be allowed at that time."

"I haven't seen her in months, do you get that? Months! I'm not fucking going home until one of you gets me Corporal Hartt," I yell, losing my composure. I throw my hands up in exasperation and in the process expose the large .45 calibre handgun on my hip. It's not a good move on my part.

"Gun!" one of them yells and their demeanor changes instantly as their guns come up to bear. Whatever sympathy they might have had for my situation has instantly evaporated and I am reduced to little more than an irrationally irate loser and a threat. I leave both my hands high over my head. Fucking idiot.

"Get the fuck on the ground, now!" one yells while the other moves cautiously to flank me. I do exactly as I'm told, which in the end leaves me face down on the sopping wet ground with a pair of understandably angry soldiers pointing guns at me. It's turned out to be an inordinately shitty day.

* * * * *

"What the fuck did you think you were doing?" Hartt asks snipping the plastic zip ties that bind my wrists. "And why do you smell like a fucking drug den?"

"I got high at the dentist," I reply. Hartt just stares back at me like I'm speaking gibberish. "And drunk," I add and smile so I can point out the new dental work.

"So you get drunk and stoned and come here to yell at some soldiers?"

"You make it sound so much worse, putting it like that. My sole intent was to see Kate. I gotta see her Hartt, it's killing me knowing she's here and I can't see her. The last time I saw her, I mean really saw her and spoke to her was before NorthWynd."