He was startled awake by a muted thud from the next room. The noise was followed by footsteps, like someone running, and then another thud further down the corridor. Connor reckoned it was either Elder Cunningham or Elder Price moving around at- What time was it? He brought the clock closer to his face. Four in the morning. He still had two more hours till he had to wake up, but Connor knew that it was useless to try and get back to sleep.
After being excommunicated from the church by the mission president, the former district leader had a lot on his mind. All his worries about how they were going to get by without any funding or help from the church morphed into horrible visions at night. Night after night, he dreamt of his missionaries dying of Ebola, or them getting eaten by lions, or shot by general butt-effing-naked. Connor would gladly trade his overly realistic nightmares with his former spooky mormon hell dreams. At least nobody he cared about died in his hell dreams.
Connor scrubbed his face with his hands and pushed himself upright. No more sleep means more time to research and plan. He was the only one who was allowed a computer, being the district leader and all, for communication purposes. Despite people's misconceptions about Uganda, the place is advanced enough to have decent network coverage.
Elder Thomas was still sound asleep, so Connor quietly carried his laptop out into the common area. He heard another noise coming from the end of the corridor, where the bathroom was. Sounded like a cough, and then a groan. Connor was about to knock on the bathroom door when the toilet flushed and the door swung open to reveal a bedraggled Elder Price.
"Jesus fuck!" Kevin jumped back, his hand flying to his heart, "You could've given me a heart attack, McKinley!"
"Sorry," Connor scratched his head sheepishly, "is everything okay? You were in there for a long time."
Connor noticed that Kevin was covered in sweat, hunched over himself, "Sorry for hogging the toilet. It's all yours."
"Are you okay?" Connor frowned, his mind going back to his Ebola nightmare.
Getting sick in a remote Ugandan village is not only inconvenient, but common ills can become life-threatening with the lack of advanced medical facilities. There was only one small clinic in the village, and the only equipment Gotswana had was an x-ray machine donated by the church a couple of years ago. The nearest hospitals were in Kitgum, a mere three hours bus ride away, but they barely have enough beds and staff to care for the locals.
"Uh huh. Yeah, no, I'll be fine. Probably just a stomach bug," Kevin shrugged tiredly.
"Okay well, let's make sure you hydrate before you go back to bed. C'mon," Connor put his arms on Kevin's shoulders and steered him to the kitchenette.
Connor dug out a sachet of electrolyte powder from their dwindling supplies and emptied it into a glass. He poured the jug of filtered water into the glass and stirred, the clinking of the spoon against the glass echoing loudly in the quiet hut.
Kevin was slumped over the dining table, with his head pillowed on his arm. He must be feeling really awful. Connor tapped on his hand with the glass, "Here, bottoms up and then you can go back to bed."
Kevin made no attempts to get up from his position. He shook his head slowly, "I don't think I can drink anything right now."
"How long has this been going on?" Connor tried to think back to how he was yesterday.
Yesterday was the missionaries' day off. Connor was the only one left in the hut for most of the day, while the rest of the Elders embarked on a hiking trip the next village over. Connor vaguely remembered seeing Kevin at breakfast. Or had he? He was too engrossed with writing his emails to notice what everyone else was doing.
"Two, three days, maybe?" Kevin raised his head with a grimace.
"What?! That…that's not good," Connor frowned, "and you still went hiking with the guys?"
"I didn't," Kevin took an experimental sip of the orange flavoured water, "Arnold and I, we hung out at Mafala's place yesterday. Ugh, this is gross."
"It's the only flavour we have left. Actually, I think this is the only packet we have left," Connor answered absentmindedly.
They did not even have any medicine left, what was he going to do? What if Kevin got sicker? What if the others also came down with whatever Kevin has? What if it was something more serious than plain ol' stomach flu, like appendicitis? What if it WAS Ebola?!
"Maybe we should get you to the hospital."
"There's no need. I'll be better in the morning, hopefully," Kevin took another small sip of his drink, "I just need to sleep it off."
They needed more supplies. More money. Where was Connor going to get the money from? What if staying in Uganda was a mistake? What if everyone got sick and died because of him?
"Stop worrying so much, I'll be fine. We'll be fine," Kevin reached across the table and squeezed Connor's shoulder.
"What? How do you-"
"I'm gonna go back to bed. You should too," Kevin swayed as he pushed away from the table and made his way back to his room.
After Kevin went back to his room, Connor kept the still-full glass of electrolyte drink in the fridge for later. Now was not the time for wastage. Then, he started on his to-do list. Organising things into lists help to clear his mind and keep him focused.
1. Keep Kevin hydrated.
2. Get Gotswana to take a look at Kevin.
3. Take stock of their remaining supplies and medicine. (Note: Buy thermometer)
4. How much money do they have left?
By the time Connor got to number twenty on his list, he could hear alarm clocks start to blare, signalling the beginning of another long day. The Elders shuffled out from their rooms and started about their daily routines.
"Morning, Elder McKinley"
"Good morning, Elder Neely."
"Hey, did someone see my name tag? I swear I left it on the table last night."
"Morning!"
"Good morning, Elder Church."
"Uhhh guys? I think we're out of eggs."
"Morning Connor, did you even sleep? You went to bed later than I did."
"Good morning Poptarts, and yes, I did sleep."
"Yeah well, you look like shit."
"Davis, I found your name tag!"
"Where?"
"We need to buy more eggs. And milk."
"Elder McKinley, could you pass that bowl please?"
"Under the sofa, Davis."
"Thanks, Neel!"
"Morning guys, what's for breakfast today?"
"Elder Cunningham! How's Elder Price doing?"
"What's wrong with Price?"
"Uhh, he's sleeping. I think he still has a fever though."
"Still? What do you mean still?" Connor pressed. Why had he not notice this last night?
"Oh man, is he sick? I'd better stay away from him then, I don't wanna catch whatever he has."
"Shut up, Church. You're such a prick."
"Ow! Thomas!"
"He must have gotten it from one of the kids. Told ya kids are germ magnets."
"Just shush, you guys."
"Well he was pretty warm yesterday. Mafala wanted to bring him to the clinic, but Kevin said he just needed to sleep it off. He said it was just a bug," Arnold shrugged, looking worried.
Connor underlined point number two on his list three times over and circled the word 'thermometer', before leaving the crowded kitchenette to check on Kevin. Retrieving the now cooled electrolyte drink from the fridge, Connor strode over to Kevin and Arnold's bedroom. He knocked softly on the wooden door, before pushing it open and sticking his head inside. Kevin was curled up under his thin blanket, even though it was beginning to get unbearably hot as the sun rose. Only the top of his head was visible. Setting the glass on the bedside table, Connor kneeled on the floor shook the sleeping form lightly, "Kevin? Hey, sleeping ugly, wake up."
"Hmmm?" Kevin made no attempt to move, "fuck off."
"Hydration time. C'mon," Connor tugged at the blankets, finally revealing the pale face of the almighty Kevin Price.
"If I drink that, I'm gonna puke," Kevin sighed.
"You need to stay hydrated."
"Did you not hear what I just said?" Kevin pushed the glass away from his face.
"I'm going to go get Gotswana to come to the hut. He could set up an IV or something," Connor stood up and brushed dust off his knees.
"Okay."
Connor was busy running through his to-do list in his mind, he did not register Kevin's reply at first. Wait- Okay? OKAY?! Kevin Price was agreeing with him, to be seen by a doctor. This must be something serious. He had to get Gotswana here right now!
"I fucking hate this," Kevin buried his face in his pillow and curled a little tighter into himself, "this shit hurts."
"Alright, alright. Just hang on. I'm gonna go get Gotswana and he's gonna make you feel better," Connor was most definitely panicking at the sight of Kevin in pain.
"I'm not five. Just go already."
Connor took one last glance at Kevin before slipping out of the room. The rest of the Elders were finishing up their breakfast, and ready to continue laying the foundations for the new school wing they had planned to build.
Connor clapped his hands twice to get everyone's attention, "Alright guys, I've put up the new chore chart for the week on the chalkboard. Elder Church and Elder Michaels, you two will be taking over Elder Price's duties until he's feeling better, okay?"
"Why do I have to- Ow! Stop hitting me, Thomas! This is physical abuse!"
Connor checked his watch, he should be able to find Gotswana in his clinic at this time.
"Great! That's settled then! Get to work, Elders!" Connor walked over to Arnold, "Hey, Elder Cunningham? I'm going to the clinic, could you help me to watch over Elder Price?"
"Of course! Of course I will, Connor," Arnold smiled reassuringly.
Connor nodded his thanks and took off in the direction of Gotswana's clinic.