All Is Silence - Deserted Lands #1

Chapter 18 - Part II

Lizzie hopped in the back, but stared out over Seattle.

So be it. Zach took the Convention Center exit and followed the signs.

Inside they found an exhausted city councilman sitting at a table as people filtered by. He didn’t know anything. Zach wasn’t sure if the city badge on the man’s jacket was to keep people calm or impress them. Keep them calm, Zach decided. There was no glory in this job. The people milling around the check-in station seemed to cling to this evidence that structure remained like a drowning man clings to a life vest.

“Please, sign your names, give us your addresses.” The councilman glanced at the newcomers, his voice scratchy and monotonous. “Any special skills? Knowledge of medi—”

“Whoa.” Lizzie stopped him. “We’re on our way to Salt Lake.”

Zach watched Lizzie go into puffer fish mode—spiny all over. “Lizzie.” He put his hand on her arm; she shoved it off. Whatever.

“We just stopped for information.”

“Miss, please.” The councilman sighed deeply and drank a slug of coffee out of a ceramic Starbucks cup. He continued, his voice still pleasant, “I’m Devin Miller. We’re not trying to keep you. We want to know who’s alive and get contact information—to try to make some order out of this mess. We need to help each other if we are going to survive this tragic occurrence.” He recited it like a prepared speech.

“And how could you help us?” Lizzie arched an eyebrow.

Finally Mr. Miller broke from his politeness, “Frankly, Miss. I don’t know if I can. Either fill it out or don’t.” He handed them each a quarter sheet of paper with contact information for the City of Seattle.

Lizzie deflated. When she spoke again, her voice sounded small like a scared girl, “How many people survived?”

Her tone shook Zach. He preferred the puffer fish. Lizzie had always been the tough one. Now he realized how much he relied on that toughness to keep himself stable.

“About 40,000 in the greater Seattle area. But we don’t know how many of those are healthy and mentally stable. A lot of the people who got sick and recovered can’t seem to care for themselves. We’re temporarily housing them in the Key Arena. So far we’ve been able to keep them fed, but clean... that’s another thing.”

“Yeah, it’s a challenge.” Lizzie motioned to Spike standing awkward next to Nev. “This is Spike. Our Dog-man”

Zach watched in amazement as Lizzie shifted into helpful-adult-mode. That was a new one for Lizzie.

“We’ve been working with him and, well, it’s like training a dog.” Lizzie patted Spike’s shoulder. “But he’s learning a lot.”

“Hhhmmm… Dog-man.” Miller looked at Spike, clean and docile today, with hope in his eyes. “So, do you want to sign in? If you decide to stay, we have student housing open over at U.W.”

Zach took the pen. “I’ll sign. I don’t bring a lot of skills to the table. I can shovel manure!”

“And you cook,” Liz added.

“My food ain’t half bad when you’re starving.”

“It’s good. And I’m not starving.” Nev squeezed his shoulder, and signed one herself. “If we stayed I could finally get into U.W.”

“Yeah,” Lizzie said, “but we aren’t staying. Still a lot of miles between here and Salt Lake.”

The councilman’s eyes narrowed. “You’re headed south? Watch out in Tacoma.”

“You heard anything about any new outbreaks?” Zach asked.

Miller shook his head. “What’s left of U.W. Medical Center says we’re safe.”

“Rumors going round about a second wave,” Zach said.

Miller shrugged. “Lots of rumors.”

Lizzie’s phone rang. A sinister guitar riff ringtone echoed.

Zach knew the song. “Secret Agent Man.” He sang along.

Lizzie grinned at Zach, “My dad’s new ringtone.” She shushed him and answered.

A few seconds later her voice raised, “You’re shitting me?” Her fingers raced to her hair, twisting and pulling, face like she’d seen a ghost.

“What’s wrong?” Zach asked.

“Find a doctor.” Lizzie begged Zach. “Or nurse or something. Please.”

Zach turned to the councilman. Miller flipped through his sheets. He withdrew one and pointed at a cell number next to a name and the letters: ARNP. Nev had her phone out and dialed the number.