The Iris Epidemic

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“...ok! “ Dave began suddenly. 

“ are you sure you want to do this Mr. Iris?”

Well yes?, this is the reason why i'm here.”

“Are you sure?” he repeated

“Ye…” 

“Are you really, really sure Mr. Iris? This is a choice between possibly getting infected sooner since you will be around the sick and possibly becoming the sick and dead your self! But I mist say your town is very desperate for your help.”
Dave interrupted quickly.

“Whats the differences overall?” i sighed.

“Either it's gonna be sooner or later no matter what path i choose if im going to get infected.. at least i would get to say i have tried”

Dave nodded. 

“Good Answer . Well where can i begin.” 
He trails off in thought as he casually and slowly wanders around the table with the candles.

I wandered over closer to the table and him as i watch him let his fingers trace the edge of the table around to the opposite side of me, coming afterward with a sudden thud on the table. 

I remember jumping out of my skin that moment. It was already dark and dungeon like with a man living in there, so, the sound of Dave quickly putting down his hands with files of paper on the table was not necessary. but I guess if he got a chuckle out of scaring me abit, i suppose i would let it slide this time.

I raised my eyebrow and gave him a look of confusion. It was quiet for a moment.

“Here's the deal..” He began finally useing a low tone momentarily.

“ Around 9 months ago there was incident on one of the sicilian ports. The port was accompanied by 12 ships from the Black Sea. They were bringing over some of their food and supplies to trade.”

“indeed i have heard of such thing. Many were talking about it several months ago.” i said as i stood there shifting my arms to the back of me and clasping my hands professionally, getting alittle bit of a shiver again.

“I must of not heard the whole story by the sounds of it.” I mention because at the time many would keep low about the topic, trying to keep quiet while knowing something went terribly wrong. But to my surprise I realized I let the most important information that should of been heard, left unnoticed.

“ Oh yes I'm afraid so.. There was signs of the this illness i have spoken of last night on most of these ships. It was told that most sailors were dead when people finally found them. There was a few crew members were still alive but, let me tell ya, they weren’t in amazing condition…”
Dave described. 

“ Thats horrible….” i managed to say while just imagining the sight those people saw with the dead sailors on the ships. They didn’t deserve to die, not all of a sudden. But little did i know it was just the damn beginning of this terror.

“Explain the condition to me a little more. The signs.” i continue on the conversation.

“It’s been said that the few that were found still alive had many black boils that oozed blood and puss. They didn’t last long after being found.. Many have been saying that infected people don’t even last a week now, almost having to start piling bodies outside of town. Its just spreaded into this town and nearby towns rapidly this summer.” he explained as he started to flip through the files that he put on the table unnecessarily loud for my taste. I wandered around the table beside him and looked down at the files.

The files seemed to be handwritten notes with documentatons of the incidents. This was because back then, photo based proof was not even a thing. Writing was the main communication other than speaking to each other face to face and  reading illegible handwriting notes and scripts was a thing i got really good at, specially when i got letters from patients later on. Tons and tons of letters from many desperately needing help, trying to find hope for theirselves or their loved ones and even their children. But remembering this writing in the files, i remember it being somewhat legible to read, specially being in a half candle lit room. 

“ Joseph Dever. The baker in town? I swear everyone knew the old fellow. I use to go on my tuesday mornings and get fresh baked bread and pastries for that evening or even the week...” Dave started to speak again.

“ Yes he is a nice sweet old man, i actually was thinking of stopping by and.”  

“Well. he is dead now.”

“Pardon me?” i looked over astonished and shocked as i was once again interrupted.

“Just 3 weeks ago, i went to go get bread as usual and the bakery was closed, i know him to be a hard working man that is always there in that shop every weekday, so, i found it very old for him to not be there and the bakery to be closed. I never heard from him for weeks until one of the doctors gave me this list.. Just a week ago..” Dave smoothly starts to speak about Mr. Dever, while sifting through multiple of handwritten pages until a sheet of a listed names and dates were revealed. He dragged his finger down the list of names slowly trying to point out The Mr Dever’s name. As he did this i couldn't help but notice more names i was familiar with.
 
“Jordan Vandars, the good standing officer in our rustic town i just had a decent chat with last week. A shame how a good man can be gone so quickly. Another was Kelsey Chimes, oh man, even though i remember very few memories with her, she was one of my old childhood friends. She would, along with the few friends i had growing up, would always come over to the farm to run around and try to see who could climb up on top of the hay bails the fastest. As time went on and we got older, her and her parents moved away to another town to find work, only to come back years later to find a better opportunity in her hometown. Even then, after she left that first time, we never really spoken since.

Lastly, my good friend Mr.William Cidar, that i swear i should've went to go see him before i heard he was ill. I thought it was just the case of the common flu but, i guess i was wrong.
He was the only Leatherman i went to see for my horse’s saddles and anything else that had to do with leather. He was a great man, always complained about the old folks in town that would come to bug him as he tried to work but was always kind to them as a gentleman should. He was quite funny as well, always making jokes and laughing along at himself if they are dumb ones. He lived life to the fullest he could… but i'm sure he didn't see this coming for him though, i didn't either.

“ I guess young boy Charlie will have to step in to help out the business more.” Dave piped up after noticing my finger placed over Mr. Cidars name.

I just quietly looked at the name and slowly straightened up my stance. William had the young apprentice working with him for the past year and i know he would want Charlie to help out and be part of the business. 

“This is a log of People that were killed by this Illness isn't it?”

“I'm afraid it is Mr. Iris.” he said softly.

“And sadly that won't be the end of it… this is why we need your help. The people in this town need some hope, even if this illness is lethal to us…”

“It sounds like a plague…” i added. “The Pestilence..”.