Cal learned a lot, how to do an IV, change a bandage, however, the tooth loss was one of the last things he learned.
He was sitting at a table with Jake and Ricky, sipping on broth when he noticed Jake fiddling with a tooth.
“What are you doing?” Cal asked.
“It’s loose, man,” Jake replied.
“Did you hit it in the accident?”
“I don’t think so. It’s just loose.”
Ricky looked up from his meal. “It’s the radiation. It causes your gums to recede and your teeth to fall out.”
“No way,” Cal said.
“Yep.” Jake removed his fingers from his mouth and between them was his front tooth. “Just came right out.”
Cal cringed.
Jake dropped the tooth and it ‘clinked’ against the plate.
“Don’t…” Cal winced. “Pick that up.”
“I lost three yesterday,” Ricky said. “See.” He flashed a smile to show the spaces.
Immediately Cal checked his teeth. They felt strong, but he prepared for the worst. He only hoped he could handle it as nonchalant as Jake and Ricky. Their reasoning was that it was better to be toothless and alive then dead with perfect pearly whites.
Cal told that to Louise who, although tried to put on the face of being strong, cringed with a simple sip of water because her mouth hurt so badly. Her gums bled and her lips were swollen.
She was alive and her chances of living increased every day she held on.
That day Cal stood from the cot was the day that the doctor believed Louise was going to die. She had a ninety percent chance. But she made it through that day, and each day increased her odds of survival.
Louise shunned Cal at first.
Leave me alone.
Let me die.
Don’t look at me.
Then she relented, accepted his help, and welcomed his care over that from a stranger.
Cal was bound and determined to see her through.
Before it all, Louise was a strong woman, outspoken and full of life. It broke Cal’s heart to see her so weak. He didn’t baby her or pamper her, he pushed her to fight.
She was fighter before and needed to be one now.
Louise would get there, Cal was certain.
She wasn’t his only patient on this day. Cal had a third of the floor. Nearly twenty of his patients had to be aided in eating.
Louise was always first and foremost. He fed her even when she fought him on it. He made sure she ate and had water. If he couldn’t be by her side, he had Ricky or Jake be there. When of course, they weren’t out making runs, looking for supplies. As soon as they could, they went out.
Cal was envious. Even though he was getting better, he still lacked a lot of strength.
On this day, he washed and smelled fresh. He sported the cap that Jake had found for him and wore a clean shirt.
Louise noticed and said he “smelled good” but wasn’t feeling much for food. A few sips of water and she forced a smile of gratitude as Cal moistened her lips.
She wanted to try to sit up, but Cal asked her to wait one more day.
“Will I make it one more day?” she asked.
“Of course,” Cal replied. “You made it this far, right? You’re strong. You’ll beat this thing.”
“What’s going on out there, Cal?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“With the attacks. What’s going on? Who did this?”
Cal opened his mouth to reply but stopped. He didn’t know. He honestly didn’t know. In fact, he hadn’t thought of the logistics of what had happened and who did what. His knowledge of what occurred was limited to what was happening in that gym. He was certain he didn’t want to know and didn’t want to face that reality yet. Because if things were that bad in the little West Virginia middle-of-nowhere high school gym, he couldn’t imagine how bad it was everywhere else.
CHAPTER TEN
San Antonio, TX
A wonderful warm meal was served on the plane and Madeline sipped on an alcoholic beverage which calmed her nerves. She had no idea where she was even after they landed. She had sat on the plane hours after they landed until it was night and had then been escorted out and placed in a windowless room off a large hanger. There inside was a cot, fresh towels, a change of clothes that consisted of tan drawstring pants and a long sleeve T-shirt. In the room was a small powder room with running water. A notebook and pen set on the folding TV tray table next to a lamp. It was simple, plain, and she was in that room for days. The only human contact she had was twice a day when they brought her a meal.
Then finally, they came for her. It was the first time she had seen daylight in a while and her eyes hurt and had to adjust. They placed her in a car with heavily tinted windows and when she arrived at her destination, she learned the location.
Had it been a mistake?
She wasn’t expecting her final stop.
Madeline knew it to be one of the finest, if not the finest hotel in San Antonio. They rushed her from the door into the hotel. The lobby had extremely high ceilings, tall windows, and white square pillars. The green block carpet mixed with marble set off the eloquent furnishings.
Immediately she was placed on an elevator and taken to the highest floor. She paused before entering the room. She may have been stepping into a grand hotel, but the brand-new, shiny lock added to the exterior of the door told her she was to make no mistake, she was still a prisoner.
The soldier nudged her into a huge suite with a window overlooking the city
A timid housekeeper stepped forward. She was American.
“Madam President.” She nodded. “They have taken the liberty of providing you with suitable clothing. You will find them in the closet and dresser. Should sizes be an issue, let us know.”
“Who?” Madeline asked. “Who is doing this?”
“Enjoy your stay. I will check back tomorrow. I am to tell you, someone will be here in an hour to speak to you.”
“Who? Who, dear?”
She rushed out, and the soldier followed. The door closed, and Madeline heard them locking it. Just to double check, she tried the handle, it wouldn’t budge.
The conveniences were there and Madeline took advantage. She showered, scrubbing her skin until it was sore. She found an outfit that fit, and when she emerged from the dressing area, she was greeted by a younger Asian woman, well dressed with a staunch demeanor.
“American President,” she said. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am agent Fen Shu, I am the head of the organization that is much like your CIA.”
“I am surprised they sent an agent. I would expect a military leader or ambassador.”
“Why is that?” Fen asked. “I am in charge and overseeing all ground base operations. I am the ambassador, if you will.” She paced slowly, her hands folded behind her back. “You are wondering now why you are where.”
Madeline nodded.
“We are not savages. You are a leader and deserve fitting accommodations. But you are in our custody.”
“A prisoner of war,” Madeline said.
“How can you be a prisoner of war?” Fen asked. “What war?” She walked to the large window in the living room of the suite. “Look out. It’s a beautiful day. I see no signs of war.”
“Maybe not here.” Madeline walked near her. “Out there are signs. Cities hit with nuclear bombs. Your soldiers with a massive land invasion.”
“Yes, we have arrived, but we didn’t start this thing.”
“The hell you didn’t.”
“The hell we did,” Fen argued. “Your people did. Your people opened the door when they decided to divide the country, to render it powerless, even just briefly. That act of terror was an invitation. One we took. And we are here to make things right.” Fen walked away from the window.