Mother Nature was making it difficult, and everything was getting increasingly serious, but there was no time to waste. This part of the world was dying fast, and he had to save what he could and that was in a hospital twenty miles ahead.
*
Tim reached the hospital exit as hundreds of cars were jammed on the highway, streaming away. Many of them were headed back toward the valley and more misfortune. The fallen bridges, the rock showers, and the broken fault with the lava pouring out made that direction a trap. The highway going east out of the valley had been cut after the first quake many days ago.
Off the highway the going was slow. He spent most of his time driving through front yards, parking lots, and sometimes back yards, doing anything that worked.
At dusk he arrived at the hospital.
*
Tim parked the van, then made his way to the intensive-care ward where Arty was located. Getting there was as bad as on the highway. People were everywhere and there was complete confusion. At first he tried to be considerate, but it got him nowhere so he pushed and shoved with everyone else. It was still slow so he got really aggressive. The last tactic worked and he finally found the ward. At the ward entrance an armed guard blocked his way.
“I’m here to see my brother,” Tim announced.
“I’m sorry Sir, no one can be admitted unless on staff,” said the guard.
“But—”
“I’m sorry Sir, I have my orders,” interrupted the guard.
“Where do I find someone in charge?”
“Take the first left down there,” pointed the guard. His tone was helpful. “The ward nurse is down there.”
Tim hurried around the corner and to the desk. The nurse sitting there was talking on the telephone, business like. He waited impatiently for a minute or so, but the nurse didn’t even look up.
“Excuse me Mam,” he finally said, “but I came here to see my brother. He’s in intensive care.”
He got no response from the nurse.
“Mam, excuse me.” Tim had raised his voice slightly and bent over the desk resting his hands on the outside edge. “My brother, Arty Randell, I’d like to—”
“I’m sorry young man, visiting hours are over,” she cut in not even looking up.
“But, I’ve come a long way, and—”
“Tomorrow, 8:00 AM, no exceptions,” she interrupted again and then went right back to her telephone.
“Lady! I’ve come all the way—”
“I told you, 8:00 AM, no exceptions,” but this time she at least looked up and the volume of her voice rose.
“From Mountain Cove,” he finished.
“Everyone from Mountain Cove thinks they’re special.” She had a tired look on her face. “Tomorrow!” her voice went up a lot.
Tim backed away and gave the nurse a salute, and she gave him the finger. He returned to the soldier, but found it hopeless because the guy had his orders. The nurse he had sparred with came around the corner and bore straight at him. He was in big trouble for sure.
“Run like hell,” the soldier said out of the corner of his mouth.
“Look Sonny,” bellowed the nurse, “I told you out! You and your sister are getting to be a pain in the ass.”
“I don’t have a sister,” Tim stated.
“Figures the little brat was lying,” said the nurse angrily. “I knew there was something wrong with her story.”
“What did she want?” Tim asked curiously. “What did she look like?”
“She wanted to see her brother. She said he was her brother, but it seems he’s your brother also, and you have no sister. One of you is lying young man.”
“What did she look like?” Tim asked impatiently.
“A young girl, fourteen, sixteen maybe, tall, thin, medium blond hair, shoulder length, pretty green eyes."
“Ann!” Tim exclaimed. “Do you know where she is? How long ago did you see her? Where—”
“Hold on, slow down. She was here a couple of hours ago, and I’m sure she’ll be back in the morning. Anyway, she’s been here the last four or five days. Who is she, this Ann?”
“A friend of the family. I thought she was dead.”
“Well, she’s one hell of a dirty mess, and not real informative. You should take better care of her.”
“I will, when I find her, but be informed,” Tim said annoyed, pointing his finger at the nurse, “she’s been through a hell of a lot. She saw her family killed, Mam!”
Tim was about to educate the nurse on what was happening away from her desk, but bit his lip.
He was already moving because Ann was close by. She had come to the one place where she knew he might show up. Tears were forming in his eyes and his heart was racing. He ran from person to person describing Ann to everyone. He was talking so fast, some of the people were looking at him like he had flipped.
At the cafeteria counter the clerk thought she had seen a girl fitting Ann’s description, half an hour ago. She had no idea where the girl had gone though. The clerk called one of the waitresses over. Her name was Myra. She knew about the girl, and said the girl had been hanging around for a few days, and had no belongings or money. A couple of the cafeteria staff had been feeding the girl. Myra said as far as she knew, the girl had been sleeping in the storeroom in the ladies room down the hall.
Tim rushed the distance to the wash room and skidded to a stop, thought about it a moment, then rushed into the crowded lavatory. Women yelled and some screamed, but Tim didn’t hesitate. He pulled open the store room door in the back, turned on the light and looked around. A pair of tennis shoes, he recognized, were sticking out from under some old table cloths spread out in the far corner. He went over, pulled the top of the covers back, and underneath was Ann. He just stood looking at her, afraid to move or say anything. He remembered the look in her eyes the last time he had seen her and he was scared the look might still be there.
Someone grabbed him from behind, and he turned around to face Myra.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing buddy?” she hissed at him.
“Ah, I was looking for my friend.”
“Well, you little pervert, get the hell out of my restroom because my customers don’t care what your excuse is.”
“But I’ve found her,” Tim said, as he turned back toward Ann and stepped aside, so the woman could see Ann. “I thought she was dead,” he said, pointing to Ann.
“Oh lords, I’m sure glad someone found that poor girl. I didn’t know what to do with her? I didn’t want to turn her away, but my boss was getting on me about her. I’m glad you finally got here. I think you had better get out of here though. Do you have any place to go?”
“Yes, yes, I can take care of her okay,” he said, as he bent down to shake her. He couldn’t believe she had slept through all the commotion.
“Hey wake up, it’s me. Ann, come on it’s me, Tim.”
She was awakening, but at first didn’t recognize him. He pushed her dirty hair out of her eyes. The second time she looked at him; her expression showed she did know it was him. There was no smile, but a kind of relieved look.
He looked directly into her eyes. Although they weren’t happy eyes, they had life in them again. He let out the breath, he had been holding in since she had first stirred, with a big whoosh.
Ann simply stared at him and made no attempt to get up. Tim finally pulled her by the hands to make her come forward. Only then did she stand. Tim put his arms around her and hugged her tight. She didn’t hug him back.
“You feel funny,” she said.
“Shuuuu, I’ll explain later, but let’s get out of here.”
“Where can we go?” Ann asked, pulling out of his hug.
“I’ve got Mom’s van outside.”
Ann looked at him and was about to say something, but turned and began to pick up the cloths she had been sleeping on. Myra said she would take care of cleaning up, and they could go.
*
On the way d
own to the van Tim tried to figure out a way to explain to Ann all that had happened. She was real distant, so it was difficult to find a start. Only after they had reached the van and gotten inside did he try.
“It’s so good to see you again, I was so worried,” Tim said.
“I’m happy to see you too,” Ann said flatly.
“I was really worried, I mean after all that shit with—” He stopped short because it wasn’t what she needed to remember.
How stupid of me.
“There’s an awful lot to try to explain, so could you just listen, and when I’m finished, you can have your turn, okay?” Tim said.
Ann didn’t say anything.
He started at the beginning—when he had run away from the helicopter. Tim tried to explain as best he could. Ann was silent the whole time, but he hoped when he was finished, she would believe him about what had happened.
“Tim, what’s this all about?” she whined, after he was done.
“I told you, it’s the truth, I swear.”
“Oh sure? I thought I was the one that was cracking up, but this B.S! My god Tim, we’re all alone!” Ann shouted. “We don’t have anyone left, except Arty and, oh, you’re going to rescue him. Tim, he’ll die if you even move him a foot.”
“No, he won’t, I explained that.”
“Right Mr. Whatever can save him.”
“Ann, Mr. V.”
“Tim, I talked to Arty’s doctor, and you think this Mr. V knows more than a doctor, you bet?”
“I can’t convince you sitting here, arguing, so I’ll just have to show you. Will you help me get Arty? If you’ll help me, I will guarantee he will be all right. I need your help, okay?”
“You’re nuts Tim. You know, you scare me. You really do. I don’t know what the hell you’re wearing, but you’re weirding out.”
“Ah ha! You think that’s weird. Hit me, as hard as you can.”
Ann didn’t reply.
“Go on, hit me as hard as you can, come on, it won’t hurt.”
Ann hit at Tim with her fist, but not too hard, so any results would be hard to judge.
“Come on dammit, how can I prove what I’m saying if you won’t cooperate?”
“I don’t feel like playing silly games, okay?” Ann said annoyed.
Tim was totally frustrated. He needed to convince Ann, somehow, before he could go on with his rescue plan. He wanted to make sure she understood what was going on before he attempted to get Arty. It would be bad if Ann freaked out or something at the wrong time.
He picked up the pellet rifle he had taken with him and loaded a pellet in the chamber, then began to pump up the pressure. Ann was silently watching him. She had fired the weapon many times and knew its power. When it was ready, Tim put his left hand over the muzzle and pulled the trigger.
There was a muffled pop. Ann’s eyes shot wide open, and her hands flew up to her mouth.
Tim turned his left hand toward her and opened it. The pellet was sitting in his palm.
“Want to listen a little better this time, or do you think it was some sort of trick?”
“Why did you want to scare me like that?” Ann cried, mad, her fists balled up.
“I wasn’t trying to scare you; I was trying to get your attention. I need your help.”
“For some crazy scheme. You’re going to kill Arty, and I won’t be a part of that!” shouted Ann.
“I’m trying to help Arty. If I get him back to Mr. V he can walk again.”
“Oh Tim, listen to yourself, this is crazy talk.”
“And this?” Tim held up the pellet. “Can you explain this?”
“No, I can’t explain that.” Ann pointed at the pellet.
“Look, I love Arty more than anything in the world, you know that. I would never do anything to harm him, please believe me,” Tim pleaded. “Can’t you do that?”
Ann was silent, looking around the van, noncommittal.
Tim frustrated, adjusted the palm weapon in his right hand down to minimum and pointed it at the back door of the van. “You don’t believe me,” Tim said, and fired. A weak shaft of pink light connected with the back door. It didn’t do much but produce a burnt smell.
Ann looked quickly at Tim who was just smiling. He offered her a simple shrug, as to say, now what?
“I don’t know,” she finally said, “but I’ll go along with you for now. Weird Timmy, really weird.”
“It’s going to get even weirder.”
*
Tim went over the plan he had devised to slip Arty out of the hospital and into the van. They would do it after midnight when things were at a minimum pace in the ward. It took him until 2:00 AM to go over the plan a few times, assemble the gear, set it up, and instruct Ann as to her part.
“Tim what’s this all about, really? Everything is so strange. I don’t have a home anymore, and I don’t have anyone left. What am I going to do? I’m really scared.”
“For starters, you still have me, and we have a new home.”
“A hole in a mountain,” she screamed, pounding her hands into her lap, “where no one but a machine lives! I want things like they were!”
“It will never be like that again, I’m sorry.” Tim tried to sound calm for her benefit.
“Don’t say that, and don’t patronize me!” she shouted again.
“It’s true Ann.”
“Well, we can go away. We can go to, ah someplace that’s—God there’s got to be someplace we can go?”
“I already explained where we are going. We’ll be safe there.”
“There must be lots of safe places. I don’t want to live inside a mountain. I’m scared, and I don’t want to go back there.”
“Arty needs his chance; he’s suffered too much already. I have to do this for him, and after you can make up your own mind. It will be one hell of an adventure, I promise. Remember all the crazy things we use to talk about doing? They are now possible.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” Ann said with an annoyed tone in her voice.
“The daydreams, the fantasizing, the adventures, it may all be possible. Think of that for a little while.”
“Are you nuts Tim? Fuckin ‘adventure’! What about all our family and friends?”
“Ah, what family and friends?” Tim returned.
“Oh how cruel! How could you say something like that?” she snarled.
“It’s the truth dammit! There is no one left to care about, just Arty.”
“God, I don’t believe how selfish you are. ‘What about me’?” She was in tears. “I need someone. My family—” She broke into sobs.
“I care. You’ve got me.” Tim said as he reached out to put his arms around her, but she pulled away.
“Fuck you! I’ll find someone else. You’ve got your brother, and a computer to worry about,” she said sniffling. “You can’t possibly have time for anyone else.”
“You can’t mean that? I care a lot about you. We’ve been friends a long time,” Tim sounded hurt.
“Oh, you bet Mr. ‘big’ adventure, you bet,” she hissed.
“Hey, I’m smart enough to make the best of a situation, that’s all.
“Bullshit Timmy. You’re glad all this happened. Now you won’t be bored anymore. We all paid the big price, but Tim-good-times doesn’t care, he—”
“Shut up!” Tim cut her off.
“Ho, ho, big shot. You can run the rest of the world, but leave me alone. I’m not interested in your grand plan.”
“Enough, it’s time to go. Will you help me?”
“Don’t have anything else to do, but just this one time, understand!”
“Shitty attitude.” Tim commented.
“It’s a shitty world, in case you haven’t noticed,” Ann said snottily.
Tim was silent as he opened the van door and stepped outside.
*
They entered the hospital after leaving the van below the window to Arty’s ward. Tim was carrying a back pack
with all Mr. V’s goodies in it.
As they approached the guard at the ward door, Tim asked, “Why do they need a guard at the door?”
“Some people try to pull the plug on the guys in here to get the bed for someone they know,” Ann explained.
“I wonder how far I would go for you or Arty?” Tim commented, thinking how he had already killed for Ann. He quickly adjusted the stun weapon in his left hand to a low setting, but returned the right hand for maximum.
They stopped in front of the soldier guarding the ward. Ann was crying softly, and Tim was holding his right arm which he had put in a sling. Luck was with them because it wasn’t the same guard as earlier.
“Where do I find the doctor in charge?” Tim asked pleadingly, as Ann increased her crying a decibel or two.
“What’s the problem?” the guard asked.
“We got a call our brother was dying, and to come quickly,” Tim announced. “How do we get in to see him?”
“You’ll have to check with the duty nurse around the corner there.” The guard pointed. “I can’t let anyone in without permission. I’m sorry.”
Ann began to cry harder and then sank to the floor. Tim bent over her and tried to comfort her, pretending to try to pick her up with just his one good arm while grimacing with pain from his supposed bad one.
“Please help her, my wing is temporarily out of order,” Tim said to the soldier. “I hope she isn’t having another fit. She fell off a horse and hasn’t been the same since. Can you help her to the nurse?”
Ann was playing the part perfectly. The soldier scooped her up and headed down the hall.
When he turned the corner, and was out of sight, Tim entered the ward. It was about fifty feet long with ten beds running down both sides and an isle in the middle. To his left, two nurses and a doctor sat in an enclosed cubicle drinking coffee, watching a number of screens. The ward was real dark so Tim was able to sneak by them unnoticed. At the foot of each bed was a chart with the name and records of each patient. Tim found Arty, second to the end on the window side. He put down the backpack and turned on the communicator. Next he removed two small packages. One he placed on Arty’s neck and the other on his chest. Now he would have to wait a minute or so for instructions.