Freyja's Fire - Chapter 8 - A'mara Books

8

(Tharnday)

Erion Sands

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The camp had expanded overnight, Rachel realized as she emerged from her tent late morning. Marie was helping Bridget dress and get breakfast so Rachel could investigate the situation with the sailors. The extra half-dozen tents were on the ocean side of the camp. She guessed that the one with the red cross on it was the doctor’s office. She went in and saw that Doctor Rod was on the radio.

“Good thing it’s you,” Doc said, looking relieved.

“It’s just a radio,” Rachel said.

“Are there any others here – except the ones which I brought?” Doc asked. Then he turned back to the radio. “Astra, I need you to find the large canisters of streptomycin, ciprofloxin and doxycycline. Send one of each by fast courier immediately.”

“Okay. Guide me through your mess,” Astra’s voice begged.

Rachel looked at Deby, the midwife, taking in her slightly rounded abdomen. “I suppose you’re right about the radios. I figured they would be such an obvious benefit to everyone here.”

“Have you never heard of the Prime Directive?” Deby asked.

“Is that some kind of sci-fi thing?” Rachel asked.

“Yes,” Deby replied. “It was very important that no matter where the Enterprise went, the crew never interfere with the culture they visited. So, showing native Velantians radios could cause problems. It’s going to be hundreds of years before they can develop the radio.”

Rachel nodded.

“So, only those of us who have been to Earth – in our modern times – are allowed to know about the radios – or the repeaters on Mt. Vasana and Mt. Vendar,” Deby explained.

“Good thing Astra is in Castel Velantia then.” Rachel remembered the discussion about who would go with them on their holiday.

“Yes. Someone can leave Castel Velantia within the hour, it is hoped. Even the fastest horses will take a few days to get here.”

“What about Stella? She’s not from our time.”

“She’s okay – she has seen enough of our modern technology - and understands the danger like no one else.”

Getting the feeling that Deby had heard a story she hadn’t, Rachel nodded again, feeling a cramp tighten her abdomen uncomfortably.

“Found them,” Astra’s voice informed everyone of her success in Doc’s messy office.

“Praise the Lord!” Doc replied. “Send them as quickly as you can!”

“Yes, Doc,” Astra replied. “As quickly as I can!”

“Thank you!” Doc replied before putting the radio away again. Then he turned to Rachel. “I wish we had carrier pigeons!”

“That would be a good idea!” Rachel said. “A lot faster than horses! I will mention it to Breyind and Adrick. I can’t imagine anyone objecting.”

“They would be able to fly over the mountains rather than have to run around them,” Deby agreed.

“Lots of streptomycin, cipro and doxycycline,” Rachel said, looking at Doc Rod. “What do they have?”

“Plague,” he answered looking grave.

“What kind of plague?”

“The plague!”

“Like ring-o-ring-o-roses plague?” Rachel asked, feeling the dread course through her. “Killed a third of Europe plague?”

Doc nodded. “The very one. Black Death. I have enough medication here to start the sailors on it, but without more, they are very likely to die. They have the pneumonic type – from sneezing or coughing on each other. The most severe form – and the fastest.”

Rachel shuddered.

“Undoubtedly, if I were to examine the bodies of the dead sailors, I would find at least some of them with black fingers and toes – where the moniker ‘black death’ came from. Fortunately, in the 21st century, we are able to cure it quite easily.”

“They burned the ship last night, didn’t they?” Rachel asked.

“And the bodies. Yes. It does help to prevent further spread,” Doc replied. “Though I really would have liked to have examined one or two of the deceased first.”

“I think you need to leave camp – you and Katja,” Deby said. Take the children back to Castel Velantia.”

Doc nodded, looking concerned.

“But what if we’ve caught it?”

“You haven’t come into contact with any of the victims, so it’s unlikely,” Doc explained. “But I agree with my wife. You need to leave at once.”

“Excuse me,” another voice said as a fuchsia-robed woman came in.

“Yes?” the doctor invited.

“I’m Sister Klara. I advise the children be removed from camp.”

“I was just saying as much to m’lady here,” Doc replied.

“Good! I can invite them to our convent. It is much closer than Castel Velantia.”

“I can’t risk you like that,” Rachel argued.

“We cannot risk you either,” Doc added. “Go with the good Sisters.”

Rachel nodded, even as another cramp squeezed her abdomen.

“Your baby is on his way. Let’s go now. We can stop at any point, but we must leave Erion!” Sister Klara insisted more emphatically.

Rachel nodded and went with the Sister.

♥

“I’m not leaving!” Aurelia argued. “I was a child when we were sent away ‘to be safe’- it’s not happening this time!”

“Me neither!” Gemina agreed.

“Why?!” Adrick demanded. “You two should be leaving with Rachel and Katja and the children!”

“We are not children!” Aurelia complained.

“Plague does not care if you are or are not!” Adrick replied.

“There is more work here than the people here can handle,” Gemina reasoned. “Admit it my cousin, you could use our help!”

“Yes,” Adrick said, shifting his gaze. “We can. Some of the guards are already showing symptoms of Plague. Doc doesn’t have enough medicine for everyone – not until the courier gets here from Castel Velantia.”

“There’s no one in Erion with this medicine?” Gemina asked.

“The medicine is from the Other World according to Doc,” Adrick replied.

“I will stay as well,” Sister Naemi said, joining them. “I will teach you ladies how to become nurses, if you would. You must promise to wear Doc’s masks, but you can help me look after our patients.”

“Thank you,” Gemina replied.

“I will tell Breyind to leave without you. He won’t be happy, Gemina.” Adrick left.

Sister Naemi handed the masks to Gemina and Aurelia. “Come, help me attend the patients.”