Chapter 35

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There seemed to be a crowd gathering at the hospital. At first Gary thought they were all here to either donate blood, or because they needed medical attention themselves. Then he saw sheriff Duncan with a worried look on his face.

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Gary: What's wrong?

Duncan: It's mayor Bowen, she had some, complications.

Gary: What kind of complications?

Duncan: The mayor has Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis.

Gary: You mean Lou Gherig's disease?

Duncan: Yes. It also killed Stephen Hawking and Catfish Hunter, and may now kill my friend.

Gary: I'm sorry to hear about this. I know what this disease does to people, they have little control over their own bodies, can't even swallow properly.

Duncan; She's not that far gone yet. She keeps a loaded gun in her desk drawer, she's made it clear she'll kill herself before she gets that far. Maybe I'm selfish, but I don't want to lose my friend.

Gary: I hope she'll be okay.

Duncan: Thank you. And don't take this the wrong way, but you look like hell.

Gary: Yeah, I really need a nap.

Duncan: We can handle the hospital now. Get some sleep, you won't do yourself any good like this.

Gary: Before I forget, someone was down at the incinerator, but I didn't get a good look at this man or woman. Whatever they were burning, they ran off in a hurry.

Duncan: I'll check the security cameras, hopefully they didn't go off during the power shortage. But you should really get some sleep.

Gary: Yeah, you're right. Too much sleep depravation, who know's what I'll start believing.