Fox Hunt; Chapter 11

The camp is surprisingly quiet. Those I do happen to see as I dodge between the barracks don't seem too interested in anything around them, and the few nurses and doctors I see with them are too focused on them to notice me. I know I'm nearing the other side of the camp when I spot the fence between the barrack rows. Once I was there, I could slip out over the fence and be gone without anyone here being any wiser. And without any serious exposure. Three more barracks and then I'm in the clear. I check to make sure no one is paying any attention before I start across the next gap.

"What are you doing?" A voice demands. "Where are you going?"

I increase my speed. I just needed to clear the gap before they reach me.

"Hey!" It exclaims. “Stop!”

Without thinking, I stop, freezing in place.

What was I doing?

A hand lands on my arm. "What are you doing in here? Who let you in without a mask?" The voice asks in rapid fire.

I look over at its owner. A man stands beside me, brown eyes hard as he studies me, expression obscured by his mask. His dark hair is streaked through with gray.

Before I can respond, his eyes widen in what I think is shock. "You didn't go through the front check, did you?"

I want to say I did, but I'm sure he won't fall for it. I shake my head. "I. . . I was being chased by a couple of boys." I'm not sure why I'm telling him the truth. "I saw the signs for the camp and didn't know where else to go."

His eyes seem to soften as he releases my arm, his free hand digging into the pocket of his lab coat. Pulling out a mask he offers it to me. "Here."

I silently accept it, releasing my shirt so I can fit the mask into place, pressing the edges into my face to create the seal.

"Come on," he says turning away and motioning for me to follow. "Let's get you a pre-treatment. Hopefully, that will curb any exposure you had."

After a moment's hesitation, I trail after him. I had already lost enough time; I needed to get back on the road, yet some rational part of me says I shouldn't pass on the pre-treatment. I didn't have Tiberius's surety I couldn't get the sickness. I quicken my pace to catch up, sure to stay close to the man I'm following.

Some of the staff glance our way, but most of the patients ignore our passing. Those that glance up wave at the man, who waves back. It's not until I can see the solitary main tent between the barracks inside the camp and the outside bunks for the staff that he speaks to me again.

"I'm Dr. Madison, by the way, but everyone here just calls me Mason." Dr. Madison glances over his shoulder at me. "What's your name?"

"Sylvaine," my name slips from my mouth before I can stop myself.

"That's a pretty name," he leads me into the main tent.

It's surprisingly open inside and could pass for a bunk were it not for the canvas sides and roof and dirt floor. Two tables are stationed by either entry, the four nurses to station them are gathered by the third, circular table in the center of the room. Though one of them starts to rise, she settles back down into her chair when she notices Dr. Madison.

There are surprisingly few tent poles, yet it seems rather sturdy. I doubt it could support the over-headlights if it weren't. An area with dirt floors seemed counter-intuitive in a place run by doctors and nurses, but considering the only medical supplies, mainly being bottles of pills and small paper cups, are in a locked cabinet, I suppose this was one area they weren't concerned with being a clean room. The table beside that cabinet holds bottled water and individually packaged foods. This tent felt incredibly out of place.

"Yeah," Dr. Madison drawls, "It was supposed to be converted with the rest of the camp, but they never got that far. They said they'd come back to convert it, ten years ago, and now it just feels like it would be wrong to convert it." He falls silent and I glance over in time to catch his shrug. "Anyway, pre-treatment."

I trail after him toward the medicine cabinet, trying to ignore the curious glances of the nurses. I remain silent as he collects the various pills in a small paper cup. Once he's done, he hands the cup off to me while he locks the cabinet. I study the pills, pulling my mask free as he moves toward the table next to the cabinet.

"Water?" He asks.

I can see him hold out a bottle of water from the edge of my vision. I study the pills a moment longer before looking up, reaching for the bottle. "What are they?" I ask.

"Mainly pre and antibiotics. There are some supplements that have shown to be helpful in slowing and preventing the sickness."

I glance down at the red pill that is most likely the antibiotic. "Azithromycin or amoxicillin?"

Dr. Madison's head cocks ever so slightly to the side. "Azithromycin. Are you allergic to one of them?"

I shake my head as I crack the bottle open. "Is there any zinc or vitamin C?"

Dr. Madison studies me for a moment as I slip one of the pills into my mouth. "Vitamin C. Why so many questions?"

"Just curious. Tiberius was a doctor. He made me memorize. . . " My mind comes to a screeching halt. Was. Why had I said that? Why was I telling this man anything? I quickly pop another pill into my mouth, looking anywhere but at Dr. Madison.

"Considering I know all the medical personnel within a good ten-mile radius, I won't bother asking if you're from around here, though there are two more important questions I feel I should be asking you." Silence hangs in the air as I take another pill before I can bring myself to look at him. He watches me carefully, eyes unreadable, mouth hidden beneath the mask. "Are you in any trouble, Sylvaine?" I manage to shake my head. "Do you need a place to stay?"

I blink in surprise. "What?"

"Well, we're always more than happy to accept help and I get the feeling you won't need much training." As if sensing I'm about to respond, he holds up a hand. "I'm not asking for an answer now, just consider it and at least agree to stay the night. Sleep on it."

I can't deny that the thought of a night out of the forest sounds like an absolute delight. But I know I can't stay here. He knew my name. I had slipped out Tiberius's name. If they were looking for me, just my name would be enough to confirm that it was me here. If it wasn't, my slip with Tiberius would dispel any doubt.

I let my gaze level with Dr. Madison's. "I'll consider it."

The corners of Dr. Madison's eyes crinkle. "Wonderful. Come with me. We'll get you a bunk for the night and maybe I can convince you to share Dr. Tiberius's thoughts on the pre-treatment with me?"

"Uh, yeah, sure."

I follow Dr. Madison out of the main tent, toward the bunkhouses for the staff. I only half listen as he talks, already planning my leave. There are lights along the paths leading between the staff bunks and the main tent. I could slip out of the bunk and around it into the forest. I'd just have to time it right. Anyone going in or out of the bunk I'm in or those next to it would be able to see me. When I left, I didn't want anyone to realize until morning.

Dr. Madison leads me along to the second to last bunkhouse, opening the door to wave me in. I'm introduced to the head nurse of this bunk, who is on their way out for their shift. Her friendliness seems honest enough, though she seems to think my consideration is a yes.

He shows me to an empty bunk at the back of the bunkhouse, pointing out the bath and shower room for the bunk. My eyes find and note the backdoor practically hidden from view by the row of bunks, pointed out only by the dimly lit exit sign above it.

I'm setting my backpack down on the bed when a bell sounds.

Dr. Madison glances back. "And that would be our dinner bell. Don't worry. I'm not going to throw you to the wolves tonight. I have some paperwork that I have to finish, so you're more than welcome to eat with me and the other nurses in the main tent," he offers.

It was only logical to say yes. The fewer people who saw me here, the better. That would make it easier to slip away without drawing attention. I nod. "Thank you. Maybe I could get a piece of paper so I could write down the pre-treatment? Tiberius had a few rules to go with it."

I wasn't going to stay, but that didn't mean I couldn't do something to help. Tiberius had always seemed to have luck keeping the sickness out of our town. Maybe his rules could help Dr. Madison here. Besides, it was the least I could do to thank him for the kindness he was showing me.