SCREECH
Newkirk heard the screech come from above seconds before a bat flew into his face. Startled, he let out a cry and waved his arms about, trying to smack it away from him. He flailed, swatted, and cussed before the bat flew away.
His heart pounded from the encounter. But he forgot about it soon enough. An occupational hazard. There was a job to do, after all.
Didn't think about it when he got a fever. Or when he started vomiting. And by the time he was foaming at the mouth and hallucinating, it was too late to do anything.