Chapter 3 The warning.
5 days later.
Virgil still hadn't really talked to anyone and it was beginning to worry Scott he seamed to be spending as much time as he could helping Brains to sort out the reports from the probes, he decided to talk to grandma may be she could help.
"I'm worried about him grandma he said I don't even think he is sleeping properly,"She sighed and looked at her oldest grandson,
"I think it may be something to do with the girl he left behind,"She said.
"Kathleen Lawrence?"
"I think he's groan quite attached to her in that short time,"She said again with a sigh."Your father fell for your mother in much the same way, but he has a strong sense of responsibility and knew that he was needed here as well,"
"But he's feeling the guilt of leaving her behind,"Scott sighed."In a city that probably won't be there for much longer,"Grandma nodded.
Jeff Tracey had been at his desk and heard the conversation between his mother and son and he wondered why it hadn't occurred to him what was wrong with Virgil sooner. He also knew that right now at least there was nothing that could be done, but when it was over a smile appeared on his face.
I was later that day that Brains came rushing in to the room.
"Wwe got aat least 72 hours MMr Tracey,"He said "after that II Can't grantee how long before failure,"
"Sure Brains?"Jeff asked.
"Is there no way we can fix it?" Gordon asked quickly. "Or give any extra time?"
"No!" Brains said. "Tto try and interfere with it now wwould only make the situation far worse. Iit would be to dangerous tto aattempt it and it would not give any more useable time,"
Jeff watched Virgil leave the room having a good idea what was behind it,
"Right then boys you had better start preparing the equipment you'll need just in case,"He turned to the communication console at his side,"I'll inform the governor," He watched as his sons went about their jobs.
Kathleen sat at the end of her shift writing up her notes on her patients ready to hand them over to next shift. She also liked to stay on until the next shift arrived so she could also tell them face to face about any complications, a fact that her superiors had noted with approval. She had been working double shifts for the last three days, a fact that she was grateful for while she worked she didn't have to think about Virgil too much. Not that she blamed him for how she felt, but it had been heart breaking to wake up and find him gone. But she had known that it couldn't last so she had grabbed what she could that night knowing she was making a memory to last a lifetime. She had only wished they could have had a little while longer together. She did wonder what had called him away so suddenly. She knew that she loved him but there was no reason to think that he felt the same way about her after all the money that the Tracy's had why should he choose a penniless doctor? Her only wish now was that they would at least find out what was happening over the anti quake device, just as she was finishing her notes,
"Dr Lawrence, "A nurse came into the room." I think you ought to see this,"She switched on the TV in the corner, and into the room came some of the next shift all stood and watched. The governor appeared on the screen looking pale and afraid and began to talk,
"It has been brought to my attention;" He began pain, fear and concern sounded in his voice." By the experts of international rescue, using data that was complied by the late Professor John Lawrence and also using new data from the recent earth quakes in this area that the anti quake device is failing," Kathleen heard the gasps of fear all around her. A tear sprang to her own eyes,
"How long have we got?"She whispered.
"We have to evacuate all areas of the city,"She could hear the press asking questions in the back ground and one voice asked
"Sir how long do we have?"
"We have at least 72 hours before total failure,"He answered,"but we have been warned that the quakes that we feel will get stronger as time goes on,"
"What will happen to the city after failure?"
"The expert at international rescue was unable to tell for definite," He said sadly." But in all likely hood the city will probably fall into the sea," Gasps ran thorough the room "All areas in the pacific are being put on tidal wave alert and their costal areas are to being evacuated,"
"Will international rescue help with the evacuation?"
"Not unless they are needed,"He said."We have been given enough time to do this our selves if everyone remains calm, all local hospitals are asking for all staff to report in the same goes for the police and fire departments,"
"Right ladies and gentlemen," A voice said from the doorway, Kathleen looked up from the telly and saw the chief of internal medicine," We have a job to do and he said we must remain calm ourselves so that the patients don't panic. The National Guard will be here shortly so patients need to be sorted into categories, "Every one nodded and left to go to their posts, as Kathleen walked by he stopped her." There is a phone call for you line 3,"
"Thank you Dr Murray," He held Kathleen's eyes for a moment and said.
"No thank you,"He then walked away shouting out orders as he went. Sighing she went to the reception and picked up the phone.
Virgil went to his room and found the number for the hospital where Kathleen worked. He wanted her away from there, it took a while to get through, but at last he heard her voice, with being at the hospital there was no visuals, he really wished he could see her.
"Dr Lawrence here,"He just imagine her standing in the white coat
"Kathleen,"
"Virgil,"There was surprise in her voice,
"I want you out of there now," He said he knew that fear was in his voice.
"I can't just leave,"She said "I have responsibilities, even if I could I wouldn't people here need me I can't let them down,"Virgil closed his eyes
"Just promise me you'll get out as soon as you can,"Kathleen closed her eyes feeling tears on her cheeks.
"When I'm able I will, "She said softly,"but I can't promise anything,"
"Please be careful,"He begged.
"I will,"She said, she saw Dr Murray signalling to her,"I've got to go,"He hung up the connection and felt like throwing the console across the room, he should have brought her with him when he came back and to hell with what his father would have said.
Jeff sat in the main room having listened to the conversation between the two of them, he suddenly felt very proud of the young girl, she had stuck to her guns, now all that had to happen was for them all to survive the next few days,
"That seemed like a private conversation to me,"Jeff looked up and saw Scott standing there with a look of disapproval on his face,
"I know!" Jeff said not in the least bit repentant, "but it told me a lot about her character," Scott nodded.
"I'm going to talk to him,"
"Thank you Scott,"Scott sighed and made his way to his brother room, when he arrived he found him on the bed with head in hands,
"Want to talk about it?"He asked
"I should never have left her there alone,"He said sadly,"I should of brought her back here and to hell with what dad said," Scott sighed and sat down next to his brother on the bed.
"Do you really think she would have come?"He asked."It strikes me that she has the sense of responsibility we do,"
"If I had to I would have picked her and carried her," Scott smiled.
"And then she would be probably been very annoyed with you," Virgil sighed.
"At least she would be safe;"Scott looked at his brother and smiled at him,
"Look I can imagine that we'll be out there before all this is over,"Virgil looked at him,"And at that point we'll both find her and bring her back here kicking and screaming if necessary,"Virgil nodded,"Deal?"
"Deal,"Virgil said starting to feel some what better, knowing that he could rely on Scott's support, little realising that he didn't really need it.
"Come on we've got work to do."Scott said and then added with a grin,"You know how much Alan and Gordon will moan if we leave it all to them,"Virgil smiled and stood and went with Scott and got on with sorting out so they would be ready as soon as they were needed.
It was a tough time in the hospital, there was so much to do and very little time in which to it with the earth quakes getting stronger more casualties were arriving. Thankfully this hospital was pre quake device so it could stand the shakes better than newer hospitals which was the main reason why they were the ones receiving new injuries. Virtually all the resident patients had now been removed and some of the staff with families had been allowed to leave and help their own families pack. It had been 24 hrs since the warning had been given. Now Kathleen felt exhausted she had managed to get a few snatches of sleep but most of the time newly arriving patients had disturbed her rest,
"Dr Lawrence and Dr Warren could you come hear please,"Dr Murray said. When Kathleen and the other doctor arrived."I've had a request for us to provide two doctors for one of the train's service out of the city, as they prefer to put doctors on broad now in case anything happens on the service,"Kathleen started to protest."No Dr Lawrence you will be going, you've been here for over 42 hours with no real rest and you are exhausted,"She couldn't really argue with him over it because she knew it was true.
"When dose it leave?"She asked,
"In two hours so you should have time to go home and pack a few things,"He turned to leave them."Before you leave report to the reception and they'll have a full first aid kit for to take with you," He turned and looked at both doctors,"And good luck to the both of you,"
"And to you to,"Kathleen said, then she muttered "Looks like you got your wish Virgil,"