There was a strict protocol for dealing with Polio. Nobody was entirely certain how it spread, and nobody could be certain that it wasn't pneumonic... although very few doctors thought it was. Nonetheless, it was proven that it could be passed from person to person, and also that being exposed to other illnesses could do dreadful harm to the victims, as their immune systems tried to fight off two infections at once.
So the law had been laid down—anyone contracting polio immediately went into complete quarantine, in a hospital dedicated to that purpose. Ideally, they would be isolated even from other polio sufferers, but that just wasn't possible.
Within a few minutes, Molly and Rebecca were in an ambulance, heading out of the city. Rebecca had Molly on her lap in the back, with Gozzlin for company. The pediatrician looked at the mother's drawn and pale face.
"Rebecca... there's no reason to think that Molly won't just have a bad week or so, then get better. Most polio patients do, you know." There was no reaction. He continued, "Going to the hospital is both for her protection and others. We don't know all the ways the Polio spreads... but physical contact is one of them... and getting a cold from somebody else can also intensify the illness." Rebecca said nothing, stroking her sleeping daughter's forehead. Molly tensed and whimpered, before relaxing again.
"Is she going to die?" Rebecca asked. There, she had said it. Gozzlin looked at her, then sighed.
"Rebecca....I can't tell you. The specialists will know more, but the simple fact is that although we can quote numbers, we can't tell for certain in any given case. Molly's young, and very healthy and active for her age, which is encouraging... but I can't tell you anything more." Rebecca nodded, numbly, and said nothing.
Less then thirty minutes later, the ambulance came to a large building, built far away from any neighbors. The Buildings grounds were green and well tended, with the occasional nurse or wheelchair bound figure in the sun. Rebecca shuddered as she saw them, then the ambulance had pulled into a covered garage, and she had to get out.
An orderly was standing by a gurney, and looked at them both.
"Is she Molly Cunningham?" He asked, Rebecca nodded. "Place her on the gurney, please....I'll take her to the examination room."
"I can't come along?" Rebecca asked unbelievingly.
"I'm sorry ma'am, the wolf replied, "But that is in a quarantine section of the hospital... only staff and patients are allowed."
"But she's my daughter!" Rebecca said, louder then she intended.
"I know ma'am... but right now she's our patient, and this is the best way to help her. Please?" Rebecca stepped forward and put Molly on the gurney, tucking her in.
"Mommy...." Molly murmured in her fevered sleep, and Rebecca kissed her on her forehead.
"Sleep tight, baby... you'll be all better soon." Becky whispered, her voice catching on the last word, and then watched as the orderly quickly, but skillfully, maneuvered the gurney out of the room. Gozzlin took her by the elbow and steered her into the waiting room, empty with books and chairs. He paused, then nodded to himself.
"Rebecca, you wait here and I'll go talk with her attending physician." He watched as she sat down, still in shock. It was a pity that there were no receptionists... but the hospital didn't have enough nurses to waste on such duty. Still, it didn't' look like Rebecca was going to go anywhere. With one last look at his friend, the doctor headed out into the hospital corridors. He knew the way. Rebecca was a single mother with one child, but Dr. Gozzlin had many children as his patients, and he had had to make this trip before.
"C'mon baby... give Baloo just a little more speed." Baloo muttered, gunning the Sea Duck through the air. After he had left Louie's, Baloo had taken the most direct route home, plowing straight through a thunderstorm on the way.
"Papa Bear" Kit said, "That storm cost us a lot of fuel... we may not be able to make it to Higher For Higher." Baloo grunted.
"We'll be able to make the harbor, Little Britches... and we can get an air taxi from there and let somebody pick up the 'Duck later." Kit blinked, and paled. It must be worse then he thought, for Baloo to so cavalierly speak of letting someone else pick up his beloved plane.
"Baloo...what's wrong with Molly?" Kit said.
"Ah... nothin Kit." Baloo said, and even more so then usual, it was plain that he wasn't telling the truth.
"Baloo...." Kit said,
"Kit just mind the course!" Baloo snapped. Kit blinked, more surprised then hurt. For Baloo to blow up over that- he got ready to say something else, and then saw Louie, sitting behind Baloo, shoot him a warning gaze and shake his head. Kit sighed, and then bent back over the map.
"Come to heading 217, Papa Bear.... That'll cut about ten minutes off of our course." Baloo nodded, but said nothing, as the plane continued through the sky.
"Mmph." The younger Doctor grunted. "Well, I wish I could tell you you're being a Chicken Little, Gozzlin... but it's Polio, alright." Molly was already being taken to her room, while the two doctors looked at the tests. "Good thing you don't' do an Ostrich.... this stuff moves fast once it gets started." Gozzlin nodded.
"What do you think we should do?" Gozzlin asked. Salk looked at the chart and then over the walls, filled with case studies.
"Mmmmmm...." He paused. "Hopkins thinks that icewater baths might help." Then he paused, chewing a fingernail. "I don't. If the fever is the body trying to burn the virus out, then cooling her off is the worst thing we could do. There's a few other..." He paused, then murmured, "first, do no harm." He turned and looked at Gozzlin. "We don't do a damn thing, Gozzlin. Just the ordinary course, treating symptoms, make certain she has enough water and food, avoid possible secondary contaminants, that sort of thing... but there's nothing out there right now that I'd consider safe... hell, nothing I'd consider more then wishful thinking that we could see our way to using." Gozzlin nodded, unhappily.
"I know, but you people get all the newest information.... You know that Ms. Cunningham is in there right now, expecting us to show up with a blue pill that will make everything okay." He paused, "Well, the best we can give her is the truth. You want I should handle this?" Salk shook his head.
"Comes with the territory, Doctor. " The two men looked at each other, then walked to the waiting room.
Rebecca waited, for the second time that day, and if the first time had been bad, this was a foretaste of hell. When the door opened, and Gozzlin emerged, followed by a medium sized Mongoose. Gozzlin stopped.
"Ms. Cunningham, this is Dr. Salk... he's one of the specialists here, and I thought he should talk to you."
"It's a mistake, Doctor, right? Molly can't really have polio, I mean she's been so healthy and I make certain she eats right and gets plenty of sleep-" She paused, drawing in a shuddering breath. Dr. Salk started to speak.
"Ms. Cunningham, I'm afraid that your daughter does have Polio, and is a very, very sick little girl." He raised his hand before she could say anything. "First of all, although it is true that people who start in poor health have a higher chance of contracting the illness, that is by no means a law... even the healthiest person can get polio."
"Can... I mean, you can cure her, can't you?" Salk wanted to lie to her... but every doctor knew that to lie was only to delay, and ultimately, make the truth worse.
"There is no 'cure', for Polio, Ms. Cunningham... at least not in the sense of a medicine or serum." He paused, "But many people become cured when their own body fights off the infection, and our own treatments are geared at given them as much help as possible, by keeping them rested and fed.... over fifty percent of those who contract polio have no long term ill effects."
"Then she'll get better?" Rebecca asked, "I mean, if she's already in good health, and everyone has a fifty percent chance of getting better then she should be in-"
"Ms. Cunningham... I need to be honest with you... there is no way to tell at the onset of the illness how bad it will be, or what the outcome will be." That stopped her. "But it is vitally important that we give her all the help that she can get and that is why your daughter must be isolated, not only for the safety of those around her, but for her safety as well."
"But I can-"
"No, Ms. Cunningham." Salk was kind, but implacable. "Even the slightest sniffle could take away the strength your child's immune system needs to fight this sickness off.....Everyone at this facility has been carefully screened, and the rooms have filters and positive air pressure systems, to insure that there is no contamination. All clothes, effects and other items are burned once they have been used." He paused, "In fact, there is no cleaner facility for a thousand miles around. You daughter is in the best hands."
"But... she'll be scared, I mean, can't I even hold her!" Rebecca's voice had scaled upwards as the thought sank in. Gozzlin lightly touched her, and Rebecca brought her voice down.
"Rebecca," Gozzlin said, "You can stay in the visitor's building, and you can see Molly... but the quarantine must remain, or else we could be responsible for causing permanent damage to your daughter."
"But all these measures... you wouldn't be taking them if there was no hope... she'll be okay, won't she?" Rebecca didn't notice the tears beginning to flow down her cheeks. Gozzlin looked at her kindly.
"Rebecca, whatever is humanly possible, I tell you before God, will be done." Rebecca gave a short nod, then sat back down. The two doctors waited a while longer, and then left the room, signaling a nurse to keep a watch on Rebecca. Then they headed out to the room where Molly was going to be staying.
"God...." Salk said, "that must be the thousandth time I gave that talk... it never gets any easier." The older doctor looked at him.
"Well, Doctor, let me give you a clue... if it ever gets easy, you need to get another career." Gozzlin answered.
Molly had been wheeled down a big white hallway. The bearcub looked fearfully around, but she hurt so bad, and she felt sick and tired and itchy all at the same time. Moving her head around as much as possible given the tight blankets, she saw a room going by with big cans in it.... there was a ladies head sticking out of one of the cans, gray hair trailing and framing a listless, lifeless face. The big can was giving a wheezing and groaning sound, that you could hear even as it receded behind the stretcher. Molly whimpered.
"mommy....": She said. The orderly brushed her forehead,
"Don't worry, you'll see your mommy soon." He said.
Then they were at a room, it smelled funny, not funny nice like Dr. Gozzlin's room, and there was a big bed with rails in it. The big man picked her up in his hands, gentle but not the way mommy did, and put her into the bed before pulling up the covers. Molly wanted to look around, but the light started to hurt her eyes, and she scrunched them shut. Pretty soon there were other sounds, and then she heard Dr. Gozzlin say,
"Hello Dangerwoman... how are we doing." Molly tried to say something, but she started to cry instead.
"Hush, Molly...." Molly couldn't stop crying. "I know you're scared, but Dr. Salk here is a real good doctor, but he needs your help to make you better... could you help us answer some questions." Molly wanted to keep crying for mommy... but mommy said that it was important to help the doctor, so she tried to stop crying and answer the other man's questions.
The more Dr. Salk heard, the less he felt there was a chance of mis-diagnosis.... and in fact it sounded like the sickness was beginning to advance. He patted Molly on the head, and waited until the bearcub subsided into an uneasy sleep... which in and of itself was not a good sign, indicating that the sickness was already sapping the child's strength.
The Sea duck had made it back to H4H... even if it had to glide the last mile. Baloo didn't even tie the plane up, as he bounded up the steps. Wildcat was waiting for him with a piece of paper.
"They took Mollycat here.... I got the address from the phone lady cuz Ms. Cunningham kept crying and forgetting the address."
"Good, Wildcat... get a car and we'll... wait a minute, you, me and Louie will go, but Kit stays."
"WHAT?" Kit yelled from where he had come up without Baloo hearing him.
"Britches... you can't go." Baloo said, getting a little loud himself. "It isn't safe!"
"Well that never stopped you, and I bet if I was sick Molly would want to visit me!"
"Well you ain't sick and I don't intend for you to get that way... you're going to stay here and..." Baloo got an idea, "answer the phone... yeah, a lot of people who know Beckers will be trying to get a hold of her, and she ain't home right now."
"Balooooo....." Kit started, but then Louie came up.
"He's right, Cuz... and I'd better stay here too." He paused, "We can head out there later, but right now, Baloo and Wildcat need to go, and we need to hold the fort." Louie caught the thanks his friend sent him as Kit relented, watching as Baloo and Wildcat headed to the car. Then, as the car vanished, Kit rounded on Louie.
"OK Louie... why is Papa Bear so scared." Louie paused, then decided that in this case, the truth was the best policy.
"Kit.... Molly's got Polio... and that's real bad business." Kit blinked, he'd heard about Polio.
"Molly's... not gonna d-die?" He bearcub finally said, Louie looked at him.
"Don't think so Cuz... she's a fighter, but that's why Baloo doesn't want you to go right now, and I don't blame him. This thing likes people when they're closer to Molly's and your age then mine and Baloo's." Kit looked around at H4H, looking more dingy then he had remembered in a long time, everyone who had given it life now gone.
"C'mon Cuz..." Louie said, "You'an me can get the place tidied up, maybe make a few calls and get a free pilot who wants his tab lowered to bring in the cargo we dropped..." With that, Kit and his friend walked into the offices, and began, listlessly, to work.
Baloo was better at flying then driving, but still, he broke all records going to the hospital... and then spent more time muttering on the way to the sanitarium, where Molly had been transferred. When they finally got there, Baloo and Wildcat got out and headed for the main waiting room, where they found Rebecca sitting in a chair, twisting her purse in her hands.
Baloo stopped at the door. He'd never seen Becker's look so bad... The gray bear walked forward.
"Any news, Beckers?" She started, not having noticed Baloo.
"Oh Baloo... they say I can't see her for now, that she needs to be isolated." She paused, drew a shuddering breath. "It's certain, now that it's polio." Baloo sat down beside her, while Wildcat sat down in the other chair. "I...I need you to go get something from home, could you?" Rebecca asked, "I'm going to stay here and stay with Molly until she gets better or-"
"Now she's gonna get better, Rebecca, you don't go fretting yourself about that.... Me'an Wildcat an Louie will get everything and bring it here. Little Britches wanted to-"
"Don't you dare let him come, Baloo... not and risk getting it himself!" Rebecca snapped, eyes belying her tone. Baloo nodded,
"Don't worry about that, Beckers, I'll keep Kit away until the doctor says it's safe.... he's worried about Molly, like us all." Rebecca nodded,
"He's like that," She said. Then she brought herself back to the subject.
"Baloo, the doctor says that this could last a week, or more before they know how it's going to come out.... could you and Louie run H4H?"
"Sure thing, Bosslady... don't you worry about it at all..."
"Thanks...." Rebecca looked at Baloo. "Molly's so scared Baloo... and she's all alone in there and I want to see her, but I can't...." Baloo put his hand over hers. Wildcat spoke up unexpectedly.
"Don't worry, Miz Cunningham... Mollycat knows you love her. Even if you're not there, she knows that... she's smart that way." Rebecca blinked.
"Thank you Wildcat." Baloo sat with Rebecca for a while longer, then got a list of what was needed and headed out. As much as Becky might need companionship, she didn't need any headaches about getting the stuff she needed to stick with Molly. Once they got back to the apartment, Baloo let himself in, looking around at the carelessly scattered financial documents lying where Rebecca had left them. He grabbed clothes for Rebecca and Molly, as well as her doll, Lucy and several children's books that Rebecca had asked him to bring.
Wildcat was looking around the apartment and sighed as they got ready to leave.
"I hope Rebecca's gonna be ok, Baloo." Baloo stopped, then realized that once again the mechanic had hit the point... Looking around the apartment again, Baloo thought about how Beckers two major interests were Molly and H4H...and H4H was dedicated to making a life for Molly... if something happened to Shortstuff.
No.
Nothing was going to happen to her. She was going to get better, and run around wearing her Dangerwoman costume until he thought Rebecca was going to scream and Kit was going to hide... That was the only thing that was going to happen.... by this time next week, they'd all laugh at themselves for even thinking differently.
Baloo turned the lights out and left the apartment, heading back to the hospital. By the time he got there, Rebecca had fallen asleep, exhausted by nerves. Dr. Gozzlin was there to greet them.
"Excellent." He said, "Ms. Cunningham will need all of her reserves.. and she doesn't need to exhaust herself by staying up when she should be sleeping." Baloo noticed a coffee cup by the sleeping woman's hand.
"Doc, did you slip her a Mickey?"
"Of course not, Mr. Baloo... simply a mild sedative to allow her to get a natural sleep." He paused, "don't worry, if it's necessary, we can wake her up easily, but honestly, she is going to need to get her sleep.... we may need to ask her some hard questions."
"Like what, Doc." Gozzlin looked at him, and then sighed.
"Like should we ready an iron lung, if she needs it." Baloo winced.
"Oh man... that's not gonna happen to Molly, is it?"
"I don't know.... but we need to be ready. Are you going to stay here?"
"Naw... Beckers asked me to handle the shop... she don't need the headache right now.
"You're right about that.... I'll leave a message with the nurses desk, they'll call you if anything comes up, no matter the time."
"That'll be good, Doc. Also have 'em call Louie's....I'm gonna clear the docket of any long hauls, but I might be in the air—naw, don't worry about that, I'll leave Kit or Wildcat at H4H, and they can relay anything."
"Good."
The trip back to H4H was quiet. Wildcat was silent, as was Baloo. Molly'd be ok... right, there was no reason to think otherwise. She'd managed to fall off just about everything at H4H, and that only whetted her appetite for more. She'd be fine.
A war was raging. The Virus flooded the bearcub's bloodstream, infecting cells, which died- exploded really, flooding it with hundreds of thousands or millions more virus's, half alive messengers seeking other cells to hijack. Legions of Whites cells confronted the viruses, encapsulating them, before dying themselves.... even the bodies own furnaces were brought into the fray, trying to burn out the virus with raging fevers.
But the key to defeating the horde of invaders was the anti-bodies... and it took time, time for T and B cells the discover the right chemical "Key" and more time to start churning the antibodies out. And of all the things, from the millions of white blood cells, to the legions of T cells... the one thing the body didn't have in abundance was time.