“What about the survivors, Trish? Aren’t they going to help them? There has to be survivors.”
“Again, not a lot of info is being given out. There are people moving, and we’re told, a lot of them on foot. Because their vehicles aren’t working, but again, we just don’t know. I’m so sorry to have to tell you this. We’re all glued to the TV, hoping for more news, more concise information. There are so many conflicting reports and information. Also, there has been heavy cloud coverage. We think it is debris from all the bombs west, the government is testing it for radioactive fallout. They don’t know when the skies will clear. It has made the temperature drop.” Wang said, shaking her head sadly.
“I’ll be back later to see how you’re doing. For now, rest Mr. Wrivier.” Dr. Wang announced.
“I’ll get you something to eat, Mr. Wrivier.” Nurse Trish said.
“Call me Hogan, please. I’m not really hungry.”
“I understand, Hogan, but you need to put something in your stomach. You’ve been out of it for four days. We’ll take out the feeding tube shortly, and I want you to try to eat. Just try to eat a little, I’ll get some jello for you. I’ll be back to take out the feeding tube and I’ll bring a tray.” Trish said and laid a hand on his shoulder. He nodded absently and watched the women walk away. He couldn’t see beside him, the curtain blocking his way. He could hear someone coughing. Wiping at the tears that were sliding down the side of his face, Hogan’s brain was going a thousand miles a second, trying to think about what he could do. He had to get out of this place, he had to go find his wife and girls.
How? He was sure the truck was gone. Maybe rent a car and head home? What would it be like? Nuclear fallout? Was Denver hit? There would be no power, but would his wife and daughters still be alive? Safe? He had to get to them. Sitting up, he tried to swing his legs around, to stand, but he was so weak, he could only move them slightly. The pain from his leg sent a sharp, burning pain, up to his brain. His head began to swim, and he laid back quickly, becoming nauseated. His mouth watered and he swallowed rapidly. His hand hunted for the water and he grabbed it, sipping the cool liquid.
“You okay Hogan?” Nurse Trish asked, walking in with a tray of food. She sat it on the rolling table, beside the bed.
“Just got dizzy. I was trying to get up.” He panted.
“Oh, you need to stay put. It will be another day or two. Your brain was shaken up a bit. You try getting out of that bed too soon and you’ll kiss the floor.”
“I’ve got to get out of here, I’ve got to get home. Find my wife and daughters.”
“They’ve set up barriers and roadblocks, no one can get across it. They’re letting people come east, but no one is allowed to head west. If you went, you’d be sent back.” Trish said, her soft eyes filled with compassion.
“What? That’s crazy. Aren’t they going to help those people?” Hogan nearly shouted.
“The government said they will send people in when it’s safe.”
“But it won’t be safe for decades, what about the people who survived?” Hogan said angrily, his eyes looking around, for a way to escape. He could hear the monitors beeping wildly now.
“I don’t know. We’re not being told much. It’s almost as though everything on the news is being censored. They’re all just repeating the same thing, like the news anchors have the same script and they’re reading off that. There are preparations that are starting. The government is beginning to set up refugee centers, for those who do come east. Apparently, there are tens of thousands of people on the move.”
“Jesus, where are they going to put them?” Hogan wondered.
“FEMA is appropriating land and putting up some tent cities. The local news says they expect millions, not thousands of survivors to head east, if they can get here.”
“Millions? Where in the hell will millions of people go?” Hogan was nearly breathless. Millions? If Katrina was bad, how in the hell was FEMA going to deal with millions of displaced Americans?
“I don’t know. The local news stations are speculating that the millions will have to disperse throughout the eastern part of the country. A lot of farmland has been destroyed in the west, oil and natural gas lines as well. We have power here, but a lot of areas are without power that aren’t even near the dead zones. So, not only the people from the stricken areas, but also areas that are affected by the weakened or destroyed infrastructures. Damned near all of Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota are without any power. Most of Texas as well and all of Oklahoma. From what the news says, it doesn’t look like those states will see any kind of stability or power for a very long time. Military bases were targeted as well, but the government isn’t saying which ones.” Nurse Trish said. Hogan could hear the fear in her voice.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t think they can fix this; I don’t think FEMA can fix any of it, nor the government. It’s just too big, too widespread. Our country’s crops are gone, if not all of it, most of it, as well as the land that it was grown on, the storage facilities, railroads and so on. How are we going to feed millions of refugees coming over our way, when our
