Page 52 of Lucie
Chapter Twenty-Five
Infected
“No! No, no, no!” Lucien held up his hands, as if his denial would change Iain’s mind. But he knew the man wouldn’t make such a declaration if he didn’t believe it was true. He confronted the physician. “How? How could she have been infected?”
Iain shook his head. “The virus has approximately a twenty-four hour incubation period.Which means that at some point at around this same time yesterday, she came in contact with a contaminated person.”
“Who?”Yulendemanded, his voice breaking. “At this time yesterday, we were fighting the Bloods. She stayed on her horse the whole time. She never fought one-on-one against anyone.Atty?” He took her by the arm and turned her around to face him. “Did you touch anyonelast night?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I didn’t touch anyone.”
“The virus is passed through bodily fluids, like blood or saliva,” Iain explained. “Did you come in contact with any of that?”
Attyshook her head again in denial. At the same time, the memory of something he’d witnessed came to him. “Yes, you did,” Lucien corrected her. “That arrow that Iainpulled out ofDurrow’sback and handed to you. I saw you wipe the blood off of it on the man’s shirt before you put the arrow into your quiver. Then you wiped your hands off on your pants because you don’t wear gloves like the rest of us.” He pointed to her stained breeches.
Yulenlooked atJohna. “Didn’t you sayDurrowhad already had the virus?”
“Yes.”
“But you couldn’t tell if he wasDamaged, right?”
“Right.”
“Is it possible someone who’sDamagedis still contagious?” Echo wondered aloud. The others waited for Iain to respond.
The doctor shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s possible.”
“Wait.”Paaspointed at him. “You pulled that arrow fromDurrow. You handed it to Atty. You haven’t had thevirus. How come you’re not showing any symptoms?”
“Probably because he’s always dousing himself with that damn alcohol,”Renkenremarked.
Lucien glanced at his mother. Her face was pale, her expression like stone. But her eyes reflected her worry and growing sickness. She glanced over at him, and he could almost hear her speak to him.
I’m sorry, Lucien.Forgive me.
Then she unexpectedly sneezed. At the same time, Lucien felt his body go cold.
“Dear God. The squirrel.”
“The what?”Yulenquestioned. “What about the—” His face also went deathly pale, and he looked at his wife. “You sneezed while you were cooking the squirrels. You averted your head, but your saliva still could have landed on the meat. Plus,you carved the meat and served it to us.” He gave Lucien a terrified look. “She touched the meat she gave us.”
“She may have contaminated the meat,” Iain confirmed the battle lord’s worst fear.
“And you, Lucien, andAttyhaven’t had the virus,”Renkennoted.
“OrJohna.Johnahasn’t had it, either,” Lucien reminded them.
“So, by this timetomorrow, the rest of us could be showing symptoms,” Iain predicted.
Mastingroaned. It was followed by a loud sigh from the battle lord. “We knew this might happen,”Yulenregretfully admitted. “We knew that by bringing you with us, and away from the safety of the compound, we were taking that risk.” He bowed his head. “Iain, if you get sick, there will be no one capable enoughto tend to the others.”
“Don’t write me off so easily,” Iain said. “I may not get it.”
“There is that chance,”Renkencommented. “The doc washes his hands so often, he smells like a damn brewery.”
Lucien kept his attention on his mother. Now that her secret was out, she wasn’t trying to hide her increasing discomfort. In fact, she was now leaning againstYulen, who had a protective arm around her shoulders to help keep her propped up.
“Cole, inform the men we’re camping here tonight, but they need to move off the road and out of sight. Allow them to pitch their tents, and they can remove their heavier armor. A small fire is okay as long as they keep it trenched and shaded.Tinsdale, your men will take first shift guarding our perimeter.As soon asGrimsyand his squad returns, have him report to me. Iain, you’ll spend the night in our tent tonight. I want you byAtty’sside at all times from here on.”
