Chapter 27. Back to School.
Ralph agreed to stay behind to direct any additional patients to the school. He said he'd also make sure that any more atropine that was delivered reached them.
The exodus of cars from the lot looked like it'd been choreographed. One by one the vehicles headed out. Kelly and Chrissy rode with House and Cameron in his old car, following the procession of cars, pickups, SUVs, and other vehicles going north the few blocks to the light where House had turned right to go to the Walgreens. This time they turned left, driving west for a half mile. They passed a park with a playground, bandshell, and benches shaded by huge old oaks and maples. The high school was in the next street, a yellow brick building that took up an entire city block.
"The school's been here since the late sixties," Kelly said. "I went here, and so did Ralph. I think my parents were in the first graduating class in 1972."
The small parking lot was already full, so House parked on the street behind a brand-new BMW. The four of them carried their supplies into the building through a set of ornate wood doors in an arched doorway.
The hallway smelled the way all school corridors did, of stale lunches, teenage hormones and books. They walked past rows of lockers. The doors on either side of the hall were closed, but House could see through the glass in the upper part of the doors into the empty classrooms.
About halfway down the hall they came to a set of doors in the inner wall. They were being held open by two volunteers, and House, Cameron, Kelly and Chrissy followed the rest of the people into the gym.
Cameron carried a roll of paper sheeting, the kind she used on the beds in her infirmary, over to the cots set-up in one-half of the huge space. Carol had just arrived with Seth and an elderly man, being helped in by Principle Berman and another man. Cameron quickly covered two cots with her make-shift sheets and the two patients were able to lie down again.
"I'm afraid Seth and old Mr. Harding may need to go to the hospital," Cameron said, frowning in dismay. "They're not responding as well as most of the others." Then she proceeded to tell House, "Leo Harding has emphysema. His wife, June, died about five months ago and he lives alone. None of their kids could get here because of the storm, so there was no one to help him. At least he used his inhaler and took his meds or he'd probably be dead."
House smiled, thinking, Leave it to Cameron to know all that already. "Where will you send them?" he asked.
"The clinic is partially funded by a hospital in Salisbury, but that's too far away," she said. "Maybe Snow Hill. The hospital there is smaller, but it's close and it's pretty well equipped."
Many of the waiting patients had taken seats in the bleachers. House and Cameron each set up a table with what they'd need and Cameron addressed everyone. "I know you've all heard something about what's been happening to you. I just want to clarify the situation and then we'll resume the examinations and injections.
"Last Monday, before the storm hit, Seth Rogers did his usual mosquito spraying. Unfortunately, we think the solution he used was mismarked, and the concentration was at least ten times higher than usual." That was what she and Carol had concluded after consulting with Seth. "The pesticide spray was only in the air for a short time. Whatever remained has now been washed away by all the rain we've had since. But, and it's a big 'but', anyone with weakened lungs, difficulty breathing, recent bouts of pneumonia or bronchitis, or similar conditions was susceptible to the effects of the chemical."
As bad as that sounded, Cameron's reassuring voice seemed to calm the crowd.
"The medication we're injecting counteracts those effects. We've found that decongestants are also useful to break up the excess congestion in patients' lungs. I will be taking a brief patient history and checking your current condition, and then Dr. House will give you a shot of atropine.
"I'll ask you to remain for a couple of hours so we can make sure the medicine is working. Some patients will need a second injection. Except for anyone who's critical, we will take you in order. So, as I call your number, please come forward, and we'll get started."
As she and Kelly prepared to take the next patients, House asked, "Aren't you afraid of everyone suddenly claiming to be critical?"
Cameron looked at the people sitting in the stands, smiled and shook her head. "Not these folks. There may be exceptions, but contrary to your firmly held belief, not everyone lies, not everyone cheats."
As quickly as they could, they treated each of those waiting. A few more joined them, sent by Ralph from the clinic, and took a number from Carol as they entered the gym. Two more critical patients were brought in by neighbors who'd checked on those who lived alone, but neither was as bad as Seth and Leo.
An hour after they'd started again, the Walgreens pharmacist, Phil, arrived. "I decided to collect all the atropine in town and bring it over myself. Ralph said you'd moved everyone here." He looked around at the set-up as he placed the bags of medicine on a small table House was using to prepare the syringes. "Need some help, Doctor?" he asked.
Chrissy had been helping him, but with both Phil and Chrissy he was able to work even faster. One-by-one, he injected the patients, most of whom just smiled and said 'Thanks'.
Carol Davis had been watching the door and giving out numbers, but when the stream of patients dwindled, she came over to offer her help, too.
Cameron used her elbow to wipe a stray hair away from her face and said, "Do you think you can take Seth and Leo to the hospital in Snow Hill? I think they both need more treatment than I can manage here. The phone lines are still out, so I haven't been able to call an ambulance."
"Sure, Allison." Carol asked a few of the men to help her take Seth and Leo back out to her van, then came back for a last word with the doctors. "How many shots have they had so far?" she asked.
"I just gave them each a second one a half hour ago," House said. "They're just not responding as well as any of the other patients."
"Thanks, Doctor," she said, and took off, shouting back, "I'll come back later and let you know what they say."
House, Cameron and their assistants continued to treat patients until everyone had one shot. They had enough atropine for a second shot for about half of them, so the two doctors started the process of assessing how well the first shot worked. Cameron called the first fifty patients back in two groups of twenty-five and she and House checked to see how the first shot worked. They were able to send twenty-one of the fifty home, then gave the others a second shot.