THE BATTLEFIELD OF LOVE
Part 118's. Atlanta
Atlanta, a metropolitan city that is one of the safe cities on the east coast of the US, while New York, Miami, Miami, Virginia and Philadelphia Boston at the northern and southern ends fell into the black zone and are still in the process of cleaning up.
Georgia, Alabama, Carolina and Tennessee with major cities such as Nashville, Charlote and Raleigh in the north were designated full green zones and are now the most important economic and production hubs on the east coast after New York in the north and Miami in the south fell.
I arrived in the city and saw human civilization running, cars still running, people still working downtown, it felt like a great hope was ahead of me.
"It's like a normal life." We passed through an airport that was still operating, although it was filled with military personnel as well.
"Yes, the large agricultural land that supplies food is mostly in the middle of this east coast. Most of the refugees are relocated here and they're working on farms for military supply and the needs of many districts asking for help."
I can still see the cars passing by here. Food shops are still open, although economic activity is certainly in government control and many people ask for job assistance in exchange for food and makeshift salaries but much better than the pioneering city that eats as it is in accordance with the harvest and what which we got.
"We got a salary here?"
"Yes, the government is giving us a salary in this town." It's not much, but since the emergency conditions set money so worthless because nothing can be bought and bank assets frozen, can only rely on coupons and military.
But in this different green zone area, money is still valuable but the price of all goods is controlled by the government and the military, and can be obtained with coupons if you don't have money, he said, no one can take advantage of everyone's misfortune.
"It feels like being able to buy something again is fun." I smiled happily, yes returning to civilization was fun.
"You're right."
And we arrived at CDC Headquarters at Roybal Campus, Atlanta. Reporting for our duties, receiving the room where we live which apparently is in the adjacent building complex so we can walk to work and of course receive our allowance.
"Tomorrow we are directly on duty, apparently the doctors who were summoned from the surrounding region have also come today. The material that I have been propagating, you already understand all the material is not."
"It has. Unfortunately I'm not a doctor, if I were a doctor I would've led the class myself."
"They must be asking you, because you're watching the patient 24 hours. There's some time I have to take the time to deal with other concerns."
We walked around the city for a while, heavily guarded by police and the military to maintain order. Most of the people here are women and children, the men work on farms outside the city, to get coupons for their children and wives and a little money in these still difficult times.
Luxury malls are all closed, to save energy plus people do not have the ability to buy, which there are only sellers of clothing from garment factories, homemade food, and so on, in a similar area a simple market spread across several corners of the city.
We spent a little bit of our money on something we wanted. This year we never bought anything. Getting a simple sugar salted sweet doughnut is a luxury.
Late in the afternoon, transport buses returned workers and entered the city. There was the same view as our place in Hot Spring.
I looked at my food in amazement. They even have sausages, and good meat and salads.
"Eat, why do you see your food that way."
"It's a fancy meal." James smiled.
"Yes two months ago I went to Atlanta I did the same thing, looked at my food and was grateful." She laughs. "But not all public kitchens are like this, our common kitchen is special, because we work on the front line."
"It's very much to be grateful for, but in Hot Spring alone used to still have food, never sleep hunger makes me grateful, I heard a lot of sad stories of refugees who came."
"Doctor James, you're finally back here." A beautiful female doctor, from her suit, her name tag hints she works here. And it seems that his position is quite high.
"Michelle, nice to see you again. Ita I'm done transferring responsibilities to a surrogate doctor like I said."Oh yes, this is my assistant, nurse Jennifer Gothard, who I asked to join as my assistant, Jen, this is Michelle, assistant professor Hank Johnson who developed the antiparasitic drug.
"Hallo nice to meet you Miss Michelle."
"It's nice to see you too Miss Jen."
"You're the one who handled it the first time, let alone these two people. We really need you here, even though this medicine journey is still long, we're very happy that someone is healing for the first time."
Beautiful doctor friendly. He accompanied us to dinner the first time. But the one thing I caught was that she was fascinated by James like any other woman. I've been used to capturing such views around James since El Paso. I even remember once
"Michelle is fascinated by you." He grimaced to respond to me. He was also probably used to being admired like that.
"Leave it."
"How many women know you here?"
"Ehm is actually quite a lot."
"I was expecting, I should have sold your phone number just to get extra pocket money."
"You're a brash assiten."
"We'll split the two, then." He even laughed.
Susan said I should tease her. I was confused because I was used to being around him. I'm afraid she'll be uncomfortable if I tease her. I don't really know how to start at all. It feels too comfortable like this.
How can I start teasing people who feel like my own brother.