The Iris Epidemic

Call Of The Raven

"Its not your regular illness. It seems to spread rapidly and
It sounds like there is a high mortality now after seeing that lost and many other places being infected. It's also causing a lot of distress. A Lot that we dont need here..."

"Hmmmm.. that's something new.." Dave started to mumble to himself for a moment before speaking up again and closing up the file of papers, after to look at me.

" remember that thought Iris... that may come in handy..... oh! Yes the uniform! "

"Dave sprung up with energy suddenly and motioned at me to follow. I followed the energetic man back near the stairs into another room in the dark dungeon of a place.

This place was darker then the main room where i could not see at all. So i just tried to follow Dave's energized chatter through the darkness.

"ah, here we are!" he said dramatically as he lit yet another candle beside a wardrobe with old clothes and cloaks.

The clothes were also very dark but that was the in fashion back then I'm afraid.

Dave Took out a big black dusty cloak out of the wardrobe and looked back at me. He looked up and down as to see if i would fit into it but after a moment turned back around to put it away to find another cloak.

"My god, your tinier than i thought" he laughed a bit.

Which was true. I was fairly small for the average Farmer both height and body mass.

"Got it" he pulled up what was gonna be my cloak out and tossed it to me.

I unraveled it and looked at it for a min before i holded it up on the table nearby and was given a wide brimmed black hat. I mean it when i say a wide brimmed hat because what i noticed later was it was a signature look for the profession. The more and more Doctors i was introduced to that was in the uniform, the more the i learnt about how the clothing came to be for this Job.

"Take this as well.." Dave said while closing the wardrobe and carrying a pair of boots, gloves and a well sanded down stick almost a got starter to start on making a cane.

"Thanks.." i said softly, taking the boots and gloves from him.

"What's the stick for?" i asked looking over onces again while putting both of the pairs down with the cloak and hat.

" oh yeah know , so you don't get infected. You can use it to poke people and guide them. "

I looked at him again in shock.

" like peasants?? I would never." i said sternly.

"Hey. I never said they were. It just saves ya from it spreading and you touching people. Honestly, you will need it" he spoke sternly back at me.

I eventually sighed and took this stick that he was holding.

" could be a beating stick too! Beat off all the desperate sick people " Dave added on with a chuckle.

At the time i didn't understand why he had such a humor for those poor victims. It came with time that i found out for myself that's how you dealt with what's to come. You learn to be numb most of the time because there was no way in saving those poor souls...

I ended up getting my uniform neatly folded and put in a bag Dave lended me to make it easier to carry home. Dave went on his way of speaking about how they haven't figured out a way to cover the face effectively in order to get away from the sickness. To avoid breathing it in. He mention the attempt of using different ideas such as just a cloth tied over the mouth and nose, another being a poor made mask that doctors would still get sick with. What i noticed is there was no use of any herbs or trying to cover the eyes? If it can spread quickly, whos knows if it can be absorbed from the ears or the eyes. Hell, if it was that advanced i thought that i wouldn't be surprised if it seeped into the pores of our faces, maybe even on the top of our heads. Who know back then, right?

Whatever was the case i felt like it was another task i needed to take on. Maybe i knew some things that others didn't? I wasn't gonna know until i got up a tried it myself. I glanced over at Dave and he still continued to chatter.

"... you think that leather mask would of done the trick to help us and that but it didn't.. we lost three of our doctors because of its effectiveness."

"well, how about a full face mask to make sure even the ears are protected. I don't think it was the leather being your issue there." i suggested

"hmm. I guess a fill mask would be a thing to try. We have only done masks for only half of the face.. ugh i don't how we didnt think of that!" Dave sighed Dramatically.

It just seemed like common sense then. Because why exempt the fact that the face is exposed but cover the rest of the body.

"it just makes sense to cover the whole face of you already covering the whole body. I'll think of ideas for the mask, probably be a good idea if you let the other doctors know and see if they will come up with some ideas too." i explained to Dave as i grabbed the bag off the table to get ready to go.

"Will do Mr. Iris. I'm sure many will be glad that you got some experience under your belt and have some ideas".

" It's not actually practice experience though on studying in books the best i could but i'll do what i can to help." i reassured him and nodded

Dave smiled

" That's what i like to hear. Welcome to hell my friend... i will see you with the sun starts to rise tomorrow morning to get started!" i shook his hand and nodded

"have a good rest of your evening" i said and i left to go back to the main room and upstairs back to the lighted up and friendly tailor shop.

I wandered through the store again weaving through the displays as before until i got to the front entrance and exhaled deeply.

Tomorrow you will be a Doctor. I thought.
Will the books i study be enough?
Will i die before i even get a chance?

All i knew what all these answers weren't gonna be solved just standing the staring at the sun going down. It was time to go home and rest.

I sighed a last time and started to go my way home,Until i had to stop. At the time, I was thinking of what i could do for first steps to help out. Surprisingly,out of the corner of my eye i saw a raven perched on a post on the community billboard. He was just looking at me... dead in the eyes.

It was then my first sudden flicker of light lit up in my mind and i mumbled under my breath.

"The mask..."