cpatricia.unnaturalexposure-第30节

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bird　in　a　yard　next　door　as　hundreds　of　awed　Tangiermen　spilled　out　onto　the　streets。
　From　the　porch；　I　peered　out　the　screen；　watching　the　medical　evacuation　team　climb　out　of　the　helicopter　as　children　hid　behind　parents；　silently　staring。　The　five　scientists　from　USAMRIID　and　CDC　did　not　look　of　this　planet　in　their　irtflated　orange　plastic　suits　and　hoods；　and　battery…operated　air　packs。　They　walked　along　the　road；　carrying　a　litter　shrouded　in　a　plastic　bubble。
　'Thank　God　you're　here；'　I　said　to　them　when　they　got　to　me。
　Their　feet　made　a　slipping　plastic　sound　on　the　porch's　wooden　floor；　and　they　did　not　bother　to　introduce　themselves　as　the　only　woman　on　the　team　handed　me　a　folded　orange　suit。
　'It's　probably　a　little　late；'　I　said。
　'It　can't　hurt。'　Her　eyes　met　mine；　and　she　didn't　look　much　older　than　Lucy。　'Go　ahead　and　put　it　on。'
　It　had　the　consistency　of　a　shower　liner；　and　I　sat　on　the　glider　and　pulled　it　over　my　shoes　and　clothes。　The　hood　was　transparent　with　a　bib　I　tied　securely　around　my　chest。　I　turned　on　the　pack　at　the　back　of　my　waist。
　'She's　upstairs；'　I　said　over　the　noise　of　air　rushing　in　my　ears。
　I　led　the　way　and　they　carried　up　the　litter。　For　a　moment；　they　were　silent　when　they　saw　what　was　on　the　bed。
　A　scientist　said；　'Jesus。　I've　never　seen　anything　like　that。'
　Everyone　started　talking　fast。
　'Wrap　her　up　in　the　sheets。'
　'Pouched　and　sealed。'
　'Everything　on　the　bed；　linens；　gotta　go　in　the　autoclave。'
　'Shit。　What　do　we　do？　Burn　the　house？'
　I　went　into　the　bathroom　and　collected　towels　off　the　floor　while　they　lifted　her　shrouded　body。　She　was　slippery　and　uncooperative　as　they　struggled　to　get　her　from　the　bed　inside　the　portable　isolator　designed　with　the　living　in　mind。　They　sealed　plastic　flaps；　and　the　sight　of　a　pouched　body　inside　what　looked　like　an　oxygen　tent　was　jolting；　even　to　me。　They　lifted　the　litter　by　either　end　and　we　made　our　way　back　down　the　stairs　and　out　onto　the　street。
　'What　about　after　we　leave？'　I　asked。
　'Three　of　us　will　stay；'　one　of　them　replied。　'We　got　another　chopper　ing　in　tomorrow。'
　We　were　intercepted　by　another　suited　scientist　carrying　a　metal　canister　not　so　different　from　what　exterminators　used。　He　decontaminated　us　and　the　litter；　spraying　a　chemical　while　people　continued　to　gather　and　stare。　The　Coast　Guard　was　by　Crockett's　truck；　Crockett　and　Martinez　talking　to　each　other。　I　went　to　speak　to　them；　and　they　were　clearly　put　off　by　my　protective　clothing；　and　not　so　subtly　stepped　away。
　'This　house　has　got　to　be　sealed；'　I　said　to　Crockett。　'Until　we　know　with　certainty　what　we're　dealing　with　here；　no　one　goes　in　or　near　it。'
　He　had　his　hands　in　the　pockets　of　his　jacket　and　was　blinking　a　lot。
　'I　need　to　be　notified　immediately　if　anyone　else　here　gets　sick；'　I　said　to　him。
　'This　time　of　year　they　have　sickness；'　he　said。　'They　get　the　bug。　Some　take　the　cold。'
　'If　they　get　a　fever；　backache；　break　out　in　a　rash；'　I　said　to　him；　'call　me　or　my　office　right　away。　These　people　are　here　to　help　you。'　I　pointed　to　the　team。
　The　expression　on　his　face　made　it　very　clear　he　wanted　no　one　staying　here；　on　his　island。
　'Please　try　to　understand；'　I　said。　'This　is　very；　very　important。'
　He　nodded　as　a　young　boy　materialized　behind　him；　from　the　darkness；　and　took　his　hand。　The　boy　looked；　at　the　most；　seven；　with　tangles　of　unruly　blond　hair　and　wide　pale　eyes　that　were　fixed　on　me　as　if　I　were　the　most　terrifying　apparition　he　had　ever　seen。
　'Daddy；　sky　people。'　The　boy　pointed　at　me。
　'Darryl；　get　on；'　Crockett　said　to　his　son。　'Get　home。'
　I　followed　the　thudding　of　helicopter　blades。　Circulating　air　cooled　my　face；　but　the　rest　of　me　was　miserable　because　the　suit　didn't　breathe。　I　picked　my　way　through　the　yard　beside　the　church　while　blades　hammered；　and　scrubby　pines　and　weeds　were　ripped　by　the　loud　wind。
　The　Blackhawk　was　open　and　lit　up　inside；　and　the　team　was　tying　down　the　litter　the　same　way　they　would　have　were　the　patient　alive。　I　climbed　aboard；　took　a　crew　seat　to　one　side　and　strapped　myself　in　as　one　of　the　scientists　pulled　shut　the　door。　The　helicopter　was　loud　and　shuddering　as　we　lifted　into　the　sky。　It　was　impossible　to　hear　without　headsets　on；　and　those　would　not　work　well　over　hoods。
　This　puzzled　me　at　first。　Our　suits　had　been　decontaminated；　but　the　team　did　not　want　to　take　them　off；　and　then　it　occurred　to　me。　I　had　been　exposed　to　Lila　Pruitt；　and　the　torso　before　that。　No　one　wanted　to　breathe　my　air　unless　it　was　passed　through　a　high　efficiency　particulate　air　filter；　or　HEPA；　first。　So　we　mutely　looked　around；　glancing　at　each　other　and　our　patient。　I　shut　my　eyes　as　we　sped　toward　Maryland。
　I　thought　of　Wesley；　Lucy　and　Marino。　They　had　no　idea　what　was　happening；　and　would　be　very　upset。　I　worried　about　when　I　would　see　them　next；　and　what　condition　I　might　be　in。　My　legs　were　slippery；　my　feet　baking；　and　I　did　not　feel　good。　I　could　not　help　but　fear　that　first　fateful　sign；　a　chill；　an　ache；　the　bleariness　and　thirst　of　fever。　I　had　been　immunized　for　smallpox　as　a　child。　So　had　Lila　Pruitt。　So　had　the　woman　whose　torso　was　still　in　my　freezer。　I　had　seen　their　scars；　those　stretched；　faded　areas　about　the　size　of　a　quarter　where　they　had　been　scratched　with　the　disease。
　It　was　barely　eleven　when　we　landed　somewhere　I　could　not　see。　I　had　slept　just　long　enough　to　be　disoriented；　and　the　return　to　reality　was　loud　and　abrupt　when　I　opened　my　eyes。　The　door　slid　open　again；　lights　blinking　white　and　blue　on　a　helipad　across　the　road　from　a　big　angular　building。　Many　windows　were　lit　up　for　such　a　late　hour；　as　if　people　were　awake　and　awaiting　our　arrival。　Scientists　unstrapped　the　litter　and　hastily　loaded　it　in　the　back　of　a　truck；　while　the　female　scientist　escorted　me；　a　gloved　hand　on　my　arm。
　I　did　not　see　where　the　litter　went；　but　I　was　led　across　the　road　to　a　ramp　on　the　north　side　of　the　building。　From　there　we　did　not　have　far　to　go　along　a　hallway　until　I　was　shown　into　a　shower　and　blasted　with　Envirochem。　I　stripped　and　was　blasted　again　with　hot；　soapy　water。　There　were　shelves　of　scrubs　and　booties；　and　I　dried　my　hair　with　a　towel。　As　instructed；　I　left　my　clothes　in　the　middle　of　the　floor　along　with　all　of　my　possessions。
　A　nurse　waited　in　the　hall；　and　she　briskly　walked　me　past　the　surgery　room；　then　walls　of　autoclaves　that　reminded　me　of　steel　diving　bells；　the　air　foul　with　the　stench　of　scalded　laboratory　animals。　I　was　to　stay　in　the　200　Ward；　where　a　red　line　just　inside　my　room　warned　patients　in　isolation　not　to　cross。　I　looked　around　at　the　small　hospital　bed　with　its　moist　heating　blanket；　and　ventilator；　refrigerator　and　small　television　suspended　from　a　corner。　I　noticed　the　coiled　yellow　air　lines　attached　to　pipes　on　the　walls；　the　steel　pass　box　in　the　door；　through　which　meal　trays　were　delivered；　and　irradiated　with　UV　light　when　removed。
　I　sat　on　the　bed；　alone　and　depressed；　and　unwilling　to　contemplate　how　much　trouble　I　might　be　in。　Minutes　passed。　An　outer　door　loudly　shut；　and　mine　swung　open　wide。
　'Wele　to　the　Slammer；'　Colonel　Fujitsubo　announced　as　he　walked　in。
　He　wore　a　Racal　hood　and　heavy　blue　vinyl　suit；　which　he　plugged　into　one　of　the　coiled　air　lines。
　'John；'　I　said。　'I'm　not　ready　for　this。'
　'Kay；　be　sensible。'
　His　strong　face　seemed　severe；　even　frightening　behind　plastic；　and　I　felt　vulnerable　and　alone。
　'I　need　to　let　people　know　where　I　am；'　I　said。
　He　walked　over　to　the　bed；　tearing　open　a　paper　packet；　a　small　vial　and　medicine　dropper　in　a　gloved　hand。
　'Let's　see　your　shoulder。　It's　time　to　revaccinate。　And　we're　going　to　treat　you　to　a　little　vaccinia　immune　globulin；　too；　for　good　measure。'
　'My　lucky　day；'　I　said。
　He　rubbed　my　right　shoulder　with　an　alcohol　pad。　I　stood　very　still　as　he　incised　my　flesh　twice　with　a　scarifier　and　dripped　in　serum。
　'Hopefully；　this　isn't　necessary；'　he　added。
　'No　one　hopes　it　more　than　me。'
　'The　good　news　is；　you　should　have　a　lovely　anamnestic　response；　with　a　higher　level　of　the　antibody　than　ever　before。　Vaccination　within　twenty…four　to　forty…eight　hours　of　exposure　will　usually　do　the　trick。'
　I　did　not　reply。　He　knew　as　well　as　I　did　that　it　might　already　be　too　late。
　'We'll　autopsy　her　at　oh…nine…hundred　hours　and　keep　you　for　a　few　days　beyond　that；　just　to　be　sure；'　he　said；　dropping　wrappers　in　the　trash。　'Are　you　having　any　symptoms　at　all？'
　'My　head　hurts　and　I'm　cranky；'　I　said。
　He　smiled；　his　eyes　on　mine。　Fujitsubo　was　a　brilliant　physician　who　had　sailed　through　the　ranks　of　the　Army's　Armed　Forces　Institute　of　Pathology；　or　AFIP；　before　taking　over　the　mand　of　USAMRIID。　He　was　divorced　and　a　few　years　older　than　me。　He　got　a　folded　blanket　from　the　foot　of　the　bed；　shook　it　open　and　draped　it　around　my　shoulders。　He　pulled　up　a　chair　and　straddled　it；　his　arms　on　top　of　the　backrest。
　'John；　I　was　exposed　almost　two　weeks　ago；'　I　said。
　'By　the　homicide　case。'
　'I　should　have　it　by　now。'
　'Whatever　it　is。　The　last　case　of　smallpox　was　in　October　I977；　in　Somalia；　Kay。　Since　then　it　has　been　eradicated　from　the　face　of　the　earth。'
　'I　know　what　I　saw　o