THE BATTLEFIELD OF LOVE
Episode 12's. The New Infections Spread
"You need to get back as soon as Fred, Dallas is only 100 miles from Norman. The city has been isolated...." I'm worried about DEFCON 4, Dallas and LA. No one was able to leave the city before undergoing a full medical checkup.I called Fred right after a while we finished the briefing.
"I knew...I'll try to come back this afternoon. Our schedule has been compromised. I'll try to find a flight schedule." The flight from Dallas to El Paso takes about an hour and a half. I hope he can come back soon.
I worked back then with a bad feeling. The media is already noisily reporting on the extraordinary events in Dallas and LA. Who is not worried, the army has been sent there, and of course the panic is extraordinary.
By noon the worse news came. The first parasitic infection was found in Dallas. It's even on television.
Panic happened yesterday. The frightened people started to stow away the food. Shopping malls were raided like we were going to prepare for war.
Including Mom who seems to be worried too. He called me asking if we needed to be ready. He took what he could buy at his place to work for home food preparation.
"Mothers buy canned, flour, and foods that can last a long time...What else do you need?"
"Buy bottled water, if somehow the tap doesn't work." I thought about what we should buy. This time at least he thought of us.
The lies are scattered. From them having blood-sucking fangs until they can make bite marks and instantly make you turn into a zombie in an instant.
And all of us in the hospital were terrified, even though this was military facelitas. It is one of the safest cities with a minimum presence of 8,000 active military personnel.
"Have you got the ticket?" I tried calling Fred again at lunch.
"Not at all. Full flight, I'll get it in the morning. I think rather than nothing." He couldn't go back what if there was a sudden case explosion.
"Fred, you should stay at a hotel near the airport. If there's chaos in the city center, you can get to the airport quickly... I'm worried about you. If the city is isolated you won't be able to get out."
"Dallas and Norman are three hours away baby, don't worry too much..."
"Toxoplasmosa gondhii can be carried even by Fred pigeons, we do not know the medium of spread. They have already established DEFCON 4 status for Texas and California. The military personnel are already there. So this isn't a joke. There's already one patient in there, the suspect might increase again...!"
"Dear calm down, I'll be back tomorrow. If the Normal city had been isolated by the army I don't think anyone would have been able to get out."
"They let the asymptomatic ones out, what if one of them had not shown symptoms and arrived in Dallas. And then..."
"Jennifer, you have to learn to calm down okay!" He stopped my words. "I'll be back, it's still fine... They're not gonna close one city because of one."
I don't know. I don't know.
How this will end. Will they find treatment. Orders from the CDC are still worrying they suggest putting patients in a coma before they find the right treatment.
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James was visibly standing in his room. I saw him walking around here and there when I wanted to bring his patient consultation registration schedule.
"Doc, are you okay?"
"Full flight Fred just got a ticket tomorrow when I asked him to come back today. I'm worried too."
"Fred's in Dallas, too?"
"Yes, and there's a patient. It must somehow fall the next victim."
"You want to get Aunt here?"
"Yes, ..but I haven't been able to reach Dallas. Flight schedules to Dallas are full. So is the exit schedule. Dad can be back by noon tomorrow. If he doesn't get on schedule he'll be driving alone with my brother tomorrow...But I think it's better they get out now don't have to wait for Dad." Exactly what Fred is going through, he can only come out tomorrow.
"I think it's better...
"Do you have any information about this disease?"
"There's information circulating, this parasite causes the death of parts of the brain and causes different behaviors in humans." That's for sure, the part that controls human behavior must be broken replaced with the instinct part.
"There's no way to control the parasite yet..."
"Absolutely not yet. CDC is reportedly looking for a source of transmission, it seems we can only fumble now. They have already banned the consumption of raw and undercooked meat which may be a source of transmission. Or with wild cats and dogs, wild animals. It seems we should be prepared with a sudden assignment... You've been on assignment."
"Getting back to Kandahar."
"Afghanistan?!"
"Yes, six or seven months I guess." I saw the clock in my hand. "You have to accept the patient control check agreement there are 6 people this afternoon."
"I knew... Give me fifteen minutes to call Arnold and ask them to come in." We tried to be calm because there was nothing we could do. Trying to work hoping everything will be okay and we can meet them.
Afternoon and evening I passed by with concern while monitoring the news developments in the media. Until midnight there was nothing, I could sleep after calling Fred and he calmed me down that everything would be fine tomorrow.
But at four o'clock in the morning my phone suddenly rang about a scary notification. Four more victims appear to be suspected of suffering from the same disease.
Now what will happen?!
Dallas will also be in isolation like Norman and LA?
How was Fred's flight?