will be to sleep in when she gets back, and to see Jack.
With six miles and a shower under her belt, Lynn is once again back at the barracks and frustrated that the Internet is still down. With nothing much to do in the barracks, she decides to head into work early. Finished dressing, she heads back out into the desert as the sun crests the eastern horizon over the gulf just a few miles away. With another omelet filling her up, she walks into work noticing again the lack of personnel around.
“Did you hear that Sergeant Vosel was attacked by Private Edwich last night?” One voice from the group says.
“I heard he killed him,” a second voice says.
“I’ve heard of several attacks over in zone two and that some of the medics were attacked,” says yet a third voice.
“I have a friend over in an MP squad that says they had to round up several people who were just running around attacking others at random. I don’t know if I believe it or not, he’s full of shit sometimes,” one of the voices speaks out.
“And what’s up with all of these sick calls?” The first voice asks. “I don’t want to cover yet again.”
“I’ve actually heard some of those on sick call have died.”
The conversation doesn’t exactly stop but the volume dies to the point where Lynn can only hear an occasional murmur and wonders if she is going to have to cover another shift.
After responding to a few more messages and making sure everyone is doing what they should be doing and where they should be, Lynn stands up, stretches, and heads outside for a break. There has been no sign of Captain Braser and she is quite thankful for that. The assault of heat greets her as she steps into the bright mid- morning sun. Lynn sees her friend standing by the corner of the building having a smoke and walks over.
“Sergeant Connell,” he says and nods, inhaling on the cigarette between his fingers, as Lynn steps up in front of him. Dressed in the same digital uniform with Sergeant First Class Stripes on the front and standing a good six inches taller than her, she has to tilt her head up slightly to look him in the eyes.
“Sergeant Drescoll,” she says, noticing the bags under his slightly bloodshot brown eyes. “Stay up late?” She asks.
“Yeah. Had to cover an additional shift last night,” Drescoll says taking the cigarette from his mouth and exhaling; the smoke drifting away from the two of them.
“Me too. It looks like more of the same tonight although I haven’t seen the Captain yet.”
“God, I hope not. I’m exhausted from last night and just want to sleep,” Sergeant Drescoll says in response. “I heard rumors over at the office of some attacks last night. I mean, our own people attacking each other.”
“I just heard the same thing inside,” Lynn says glancing back toward the building entrance.
“I also heard they’re going to start quarantining those who report to sick call with the flu. I hope that’s not the case; there are enough out as it is.” Lynn merely nods at this wondering how long they’re going to be short staffed and how far behind this is going to put the redeployment.
“You know,” Drescoll says stubbing out his smoke, “I also heard there are a lot of people dying from this shit.”
“Well, that’s already in the news,” Lynn replies remembering the news articles she read and commented on with Jack.
“No! I mean from the vaccinations,” Sergeant Drescoll says with emphasis. “You get yours yet?”
“No, I was planning to get it after lunch or work.”
“Hmm, I’d wait as long as I could if I were you. Well, back to the grind,” he says crushing his cigarette butt in the ash can and starts off across the sandy strip towards his building.
“See ya later,” Lynn says, heading back to her building.
With her hand on the door handle, its heat radiating into her palm, she hears a shout from behind her. Turning to look over her shoulder, she sees Sergeant Drescoll standing mid-way between buildings looking at her.
“What?” She says shouting back.
“Lunch?” He calls back.
“Sure,” Lynn answers opening the door and steps into the darker and cooler building, wondering if there is anything to what Drescoll said.
The same rumor from two different sources, but rumors were rumors and she has tried to stay away from the rumor mill during her fourteen-year career; thus far being mostly successful. Even so, Drescoll worked in Intel and so may have more of a clue than others. And, he wasn’t one to pass on rumors or talk just for the sake of hearing himself. Shrugging it off but keeping it in some small part of her mind, she settles into her desk to finish some paperwork before lunch. The others inside have also settled into their seats working on their assigned tasks.
Finishing up her lunch with Sergeant Drescoll, Lynn and he step out from the dining facility with the sun hammering down; the heat instantly bakes them and causes a sheen of sweat to quickly appear on their foreheads. A squeal over the loudspeaker mounted on a pole close by them greets them as well indicaing a coming announcement. “Attention all personnel. The Cape Town Flu vaccinations are temporarily suspended at this time. Repeat. All Cape Town flu vaccinations are suspended at this time.”
“I guess that takes care of that,” Lynn says after the echo of the blasting loudspeaker silences.
“Guess so,” Drescoll says. “Glad I waited.”
“Me too,” Lynn responds and they part company, each heading back towards their respective areas.
On her way, Lynn wonders again at the validity of the rumors. The military loves their shots so wouldn’t cancel a vaccination unless there was something very wrong.
Back at her desk, there is an email from brigade stating that the flu vaccinations are suspended verifying the loudspeaker announcement. With the other personnel out sick, there is actually quite a bit to do and the day passes by quickly. There has been no sign of Captain Braser and most of the others in the office left at 1600. At 1700, Lynn logs off her workstation and heads out of the now almost empty building. An odd feeling settles over her,
The suffocating heat still permeates the outdoors but is cooling somewhat as Lynn finishes her dinner and heads back to the barracks.
Her “roommate’s” bunk is just inside the door to the left sharing the private space with her own against the left hand corner. Her roommate is lying on the lower bunk. Just as the door begins to close, the loudspeaker squeals once again. Knowing retreat has already sounded, Lynn turns to hold the door open and listens, “Attention all personnel. Anyone experiencing flu symptoms are to report immediately to zone 2. Repeat. Anyone experiencing flu symptoms are ordered to report to zone 2. If you notice anyone with flu symptoms, you are to notify security immediately. That is all.”
