She looked down, she was covered by a blanket and the oxygen tank set on the seat next to her.
She looked over to the man driving the truck, he was hard to see, it was dark and the only lights were the dashboard. He was older, at least she thought he was. His voice was thick, raspy and deep, yet somehow comforting.
“You okay?” he asked. “I didn’t see any injuries. If you think you can breathe, you can take off that mask.”
Kit did and sat up.
“Take a deep breath,” he said, then shifted the gear, jarring the truck.
She did and coughed, but it wasn’t hard, or deep.
“Try breathing without it. Sorry about the mess. Wasn’t expecting a search and retrieve tonight. And also, sorry about the speed but…” his arm extended across her and he pointed.
It was far, but there was a glow on the horizon.
“That’s gonna bring a shit load of radiation. We just need to get to the shelter.”
“My son,” Kit said.
“Was he on the plane?”
Kit nodded. “He was seated right by me. One row.”
“I didn’t pull you off that plane, they loaded you in my truck.” He said. “I can tell you they were taking everyone off that plane. Hurt, alive…” he cleared his throat. “Casualties.”
Kit lowered her head. “I have to find my son.”
“You will,” he said. “What’s your name?”
“Kit.”
“Kit, I’m Harland. I’ll be happy to talk to you, explain everything once we get into town and get you situated. In Maltese.”
“Maltese?”
“Colorado.”
“We’re in Colorado?” she asked. “We were flying east.”
“Maybe they changed course because of events on the ground. Warnings broke on the news just after midnight. Folks out east are probably sleeping through this.”
“My God, what is happening?”
“Still trying to figure that out.”
Kit looked out the window. “I saw nuclear explosions.”
“From what I heard, two went off near Cheyenne Mountain, one north of Denver, and two weapons that caused minimal damage exploded over Denver as well. They’re thinking chemical and biological. I was hunkering down. Moving what I could to my shelter when the fire chief came to my door. He asked if I was in the mood to go help a plane full of dignitaries and special personnel that were crash landing on Elliott. By the way, your pilot did a great job putting down that plane on the highway. Could have been a heck of lot worse. There were a lot of survivors.”
Kit exhaled. She searched within herself for the mother son connection. Also that sibling connection. Her emotions more than likely jaded her intuition.
“I’m not a dignitary,” she said. “I’m not that important.”
“I beg to differ. You’re more important than a dignitary. You’re a survivor, unfortunately it’s just the beginning for all of us. And…” he pointed ahead. “We’re here.”
The town of Maltese was for the most part dark. There were a few windows with artificial light, but not many. A couple emergency spotlight poles, the type construction workers used at night, were just outside the main road that led into town. It was hard to gauge exactly what the town looked like.
Harland told her in preparation for the bombs, they shut down and protected the grid, they wouldn’t get things running again until things calmed down. Just because Colorado Springs was hit already, didn’t mean another hit wasn’t coming.
Kit didn’t think like that. In her mind when the bombs fell, they fell, there would be no more bombs and war would be over.
“Where are we all going?” Kit asked Harland.
“It depends. Everyone is suppose to stay indoors, out of sunlight and preferably in shelters until radiation reaches tolerable levels. Critical injured were moved out to the hospital here and in Elcort. The fire station has a set up for those who have minor injuries. Our school basement is a shelter. Some of us are offering to take folks in.”
“So my son is in one these places, my brothers as well.”
“Yes and the more time that passes, the more people that will find their way to the small towns from Colorado Springs. We’re pretty good here. Joe Miess, the science teacher, thinks the mountains may serve as protection. But that’s only theory.”
He pulled the truck in front of the hospital. “They aren’t gonna let you stay here. If they do, it’ll be to help out. If you don’t find your family in here, you have to pick your battle. The fire station, or the school. Time is running low and they aren’t gonna let you out easily until the radiation falls.”
“What about you?”
“Me, well, I’ll let these good folks at Central Medical handle the immediate problems, then I’ll relieve them and do the later. I’m headed home, taking my doses of potassium iodide and staying in until I can cover up enough to be safe. A sick doctor isn’t any good to sick patients.”
“You’re a doctor?”
“I am.” He flipped down the sun visor and pulled an orange card from the strap. After opening the door for interior light, he looked down at the card.
It was the first time she really got to see him and Harland looked every bit like he sounded. Very down to earth, strong, salt and pepper hair, probably in his sixties, He looked more like a rancher than a doctor.
“So far so good,” he said of the card.
“What is that?”
“Personal radiation detector card. Works like a mood ring. Lets me know when the radiation is heavy in the air.” He smiled. “Those guys at the crash site were passing them out left and right.” He put the card in his front pocket. “Let’s go look for your boy.”
Kit couldn’t have asked for a better person to go into that hospital with. The frazzled nurse knew Harland well and made time to talk to him.
“We have maintenance blocking windows and moving everyone into the halls,” she said. “We have the staff right now. I thought you were hunkering for a few days at least.”
“I will,” Harland said. “Cindy, how many from the crash came in?’
“Seven,” Cindy replied. “Seven critical, one person is fine, he was just helping folks.”
Kit heard ‘he’ and immediately thought maybe it was Zeke, or one of her brother’s.
“Elcort Medical took in seventeen critical. I think about a dozen went over to the fire station,” she spoke as she walked. “The rest were divided between the elementary school here and the one in Elcort. I did hear they took some folks to Schriever. Sorry I can’t help out more. Wish I could. I can only confirm what’s here. You’re welcome to look for your son,” she said to Kit. “We have two in surgery now. The remainder are in triage.”
“I can take her,” Harland said. “The two in surgery?”
“Both women,” Cindy replied.
“Thank you.” Harland placed his hand on her shoulder then showed Kit the way to Triage.
“How’s that card looking?” Kit asked.
Harland pulled it out of his pocket. “Same. Not shading yet.” He pushed the doors open. “I’m going to guess these people in the halls are from the plane. It’s only five so this gives us some time.”
It took all of thirty seconds to know that none of those people in the hall were Zeke, Mark or Regis. A part of her felt relief, but the other grew more concerned.
“I have an idea,” Harland said. “It could save us time and eliminate a place. Obviously they’re communicating with Elcort. How about I find Cindy, we try to reach out and maybe we can see if your son and brothers are there. Maybe they got some names. It’s a long shot, but worth a try.”
“Yes, that would be great.”
“What are their names?”
“Zeke Meyers, Regis and Mark Rolland.”
“I’ll be right back.” Harland walked away.