2018 Words
Chapter Fourteen, Transfer 2, Feeling the Heat
Becker sighed, moving over the man's neck to feel for a pulse. Suddenly, Djhami began to shake violently.
"He's convulsing!" screamed Becker.
For a second they all just froze, staring. Then the sergeant stopped, lay still, and foam came out of his mouth.
Becker leaned back over him. "He's alive, but I think he's been stung."
Jess gasped.
He checked the sergeant's body and sure enough, on his torso, was a thick, blackening area.
"I've seen scorpion bites," said a soldier. "They don't act like that."
"This isn't a normal scorpion," said Abid. "I don't know what it is. I've never seen fossils resembling this creature."
"It could be a future creature," said Becker.
"It almost resembles a spider bite, the way the tissue is damaged," said Abid. "The blackening of the skin reminds me of a Black Widow. The venom could be a mutation of both," said Abid.
"Great. Two deadly toxins and we're here in the middle of nowhere," said Becker. "We probably have minutes. Not even Jess can deploy help that fast."
"Maybe I already have," said Jess. "Becker, I was so terrified of the conditions….I sent anti venom. All kinds."
"Jess, are you serious?"
"I am. Abid, check the crates. It will have a red cross marked on it. It as special heat-proof packaging to protect the anti venom."
Abid didn't even answer, but he attacked the boxes with such speed that it was obvious he had heard her. "I have it! I'm on my way Captain!"
"Jessica Parker," began Becker, "you are the most brilliant human on the face of this earth."
Jess blushed. Tears of hope ran down her face. "I hope something works. Scorpion venom is definitely included. I don't like bugs, including spiders, as you know…"
Becker laughed.
"So…I checked on the deadly kinds found in Yemen."
"We have…" began a soldier, searching his limited English vocabulary for words, "Black…Wives?"
Jess chuckled. "Widows. Actually, they have a different species, the black button spider, but it is a Black Widow."
Becker shut his eyes, laughing and shaking his head. "I stand by my earlier declaration. You are brilliant."
Jess giggled. "It might not work…"
"Jess, you've given Djhami the best chance he has," said Becker. "The only chance."
Abid appeared, running as fast as he could, half-dragging a large, foil-covered box. The others ran to him, helping him carry it to Becker.
Sabban and Kassim appeared from the other end of the street. "We heard, and I concur," said Sabban, "Miss Parker is brilliant."
Becker dug through the anti-venom. "I…don't know. How much do I give him? Can I give him too much? Should I use both the Black Widow and Scorpion?"
The others shook their heads.
"Yes, Captain, do it, both types, as much as you can," said a different voice in his ear.
"Who is that?"
"It's Doctor Patricks."
Becker chuckled. "Jess, you think of everything," he said, breaking open the vials.
"Well, it just seemed logical. You're fabulous Becker, but you aren't a medical professional. We have several here at the ARC, so…"
The doctor laughed. "And I was bored. I'm happy to help. Actually, this is intriguing. We've never come across this creature."
Becker and Abid administered the anti venom as Sabban kept track of his vitals. Kassim ran back to HQ for a regular medical bag.
"Watch for more convulsions," warned the doctor, "and for a sudden change in vitals. Also, if he begins foaming at the mouth again."
"Understood," said Becker. He and Abid had finished and had backed up, giving Sabban room to check his vitals. He soon had proper equipment thanks to Kassim.
"Looks good," said the doctor quietly. "Keep the anti venom coursing slowly through his veins. He will need more probably. I'm sure Miss Parker is already looking for the nearest medical facility."
Cherry laughed.
"I am," said Jess. "We'll take him to Nakib Hospital, there is one closer but they're smaller. I'm not sure they're equipped to handle something like this."
"Just direct us," said Becker. "You know I trust you."
She smiled. "How soon can you transfer him?"
"As soon as we need to. We'll take the anti venom with him, even stuck to his arm."
"Yes, that would be good," said the doctor. "Make sure it stays attached, but the sooner you get him to professionals, the better."
"Understood. Thank you doctor."
"Of course, Captain. Keep us appraised."
"You'll know as soon as Jess does," said Becker.
Jess blushed.
They packed Djhami into a truck. Becker and both professors went along, with two men to hold Djhami still and steady. Another man drove. Kassim stayed in Zabid to deal with clearing up the scorpions.
Cherry directed him to the anomaly, just outside of Zabid. It took all the soldiers and several village men to drag all the scorpions out to it. The villagers watched with awe as Kassim closed the anomaly.
Jess directed the others to the hospital. They went as quickly as they could, but the roads were bad. Finally they got halfway and the roads improved.
They carried Djhami in themselves. The hospital was in an old building. There were no ambulances and few staff in sight.
But a nurse met them and personally led them to a room. Inside, it looked more like a hospital, with standard equipment. Three more nurses joined them and another took the men out to get information. Sabban and Abid translated for Becker.
A doctor appeared a short time later, marveling at the degree of Djhami's wounds. Jess had found a way into the hospital communications and shown the staff the footage of the creatures. She had prepped them for Becker's arrival.
Finally, four hours after they arrived, they heard a noise like a helicopter. Becker raised his eyebrow as suits walked in.
"Good evening," one said in perfect English but with an accent, thick like Sabban's. "I am Colonel Ysam, director of the Yemen ARC
"It's about time you showed up," barked Becker.
"Easy, Captain," said Abid, putting a hand on his shoulder. "He is well connected."
"I don't give a damn. His man would be dead now if it wasn't for our field coordinator in London."
The colonel smiled an oily smile. "Yes, one of your director's ladies," he said with a condescending air.
Becker's muscles tensed and he stepped forward, but Djhami's soldiers held him back.
The colonel made note of their devotion to the foreigner.
"Why does the sergeant owe this woman his life?" asked the Colonel.
"She's the reason he has anti-venom in his system," said Abid. "She sent it ahead, with the rest of the supplies. She had us all very well prepared."
"Unlike your ARC," said Becker. "Did you supply the soldiers with anything but guns?"
The colonel studied Becker. "We are a poor country, Captain."
"Then it is well that the British were generous," said Sabban.
"We should point out that they've saved many lives," said Abid. "All across the south, creatures have been rounded up or killed."
"And anomalies closed," added Sabban.
"Yes, I am aware," said the Colonel. "I have seen footage from the ingenious cameras now inside our villages."
"Another thing you owe Miss Parker," said Becker.
The colonel nodded. "Again, I am aware. She does sound…interesting," he said with a slight smile.
"She's a hell of a lot more. She directed us here. She's thousands of miles away and she's been by our side the entire time. Where were you?"
Sabban gasped.
Becker didn't let up. "Colonel, I've had more contact with my director in London, than I've had with you. Do you care about the ARC or is it just a stepping stone to something bigger?"
The colonel burst out laughing. He turned to his aide behind him and said something in Arabic. The man laughed.
"I told him that in two minutes you have me figured out." He chuckled and sighed. "You are correct. I took this job for the power it will bring me."
Becker scoffed.
The colonel stepped closer. "I've read about you. I know you have a distinguished record. I am tempted to trust you, Captain."
"But?"
He smiled an oily smiled. "We are not your country. We do things differently here in Yemen. We must. We battle rebels and insurgents every day."
He nodded behind them, and the group turned. A squad of six soldiers, dressed like Djhami's soldiers but cleaner, walked up, each brandishing a conventional assault rifle.
"My entourage," the colonel said, smirking. Then he dropped the smile. "You have met me with nothing but contempt, Captain. A lesser man would have you executed for your lack of respect."
Becker scoffed. "You aren't that reckless."
"No?"
Becker shook his head. "I know this place is dangerous," he said. "You wouldn't have achieved Colonel by being stupid and rash."
The colonel smiled. "You are not what I expected. I would have thought they'd send someone with more diplomacy."
Becker laughed now. "No, that's not me for sure." The colonel smiled. "So, is the execution off?"
The colonel laughed. "Yes, Captain. Your death would only be a nuisance. Your director is already a pain in my side. I don't need to agitate him more."
Becker laughed.
"And…I am impressed with your concern for my man." He looked at Djhami's soldiers. "It is not easy to win a Yemen soldier's respect."
"Just buy them gourmet survival rations."
The colonel burst into laughter again. "I like you! You are a soldier's soldier."
Becker sighed. "I know who does most of the dying."
The colonel nodded. "Yes." He sighed. "Captain, I may have ambitions, but I too, 'know who does most of the dying.' I may not have been physically present with you, but I am kept appraised of your movements. I am aware of other teams out in the field. I even spoke directly to the man you left in Zabid."
"It's not enough."
"No. As I said, we are a poor country. We have poor infrastructure. Travel and communications are slow at best, uneven and disproportionate at worst. It is unfortunate that people die before we can get to them."
Becker was quiet.
The colonel stuck his hand out in front of Becker. "You and your ARC have been a fortunate ally to have."
Becker stared at his outstretched hand. He shook it.
The colonel smiled. "I will be phoning your director personally to offer my gratitude."
"It's not necessary, but I'm sure Lester will appreciate it. Bureaucrats always do."
The colonel shook his head, laughing. "They should always send a military man. You do not…puff smoke in my face?"
Now Becker laughed. "Something like that."
The colonel laughed and nodded. "And as far as the woman coordinator, I shall commend her personally as well."
"She deserves it," said Becker.
"She does," said Abid. The soldiers and Sabban nodded.
"She shall have the respect of Yemen, I think. I have been approached by a women's group in Sana'a. They would like to film an informative piece on her. They believe she would be a role model for our struggling women."
"That's impressive," said Sabban. "Becker, that would be unprecedented."
The colonel nodded. "We are trying. We have much to do. We do value our people, Captain. That is why you were invited to our nation."
Becker nodded. "That's a good point. You did ask."
The colonel smiled. "I was dubious of the idea," he said with a grin. "At first."
Becker smiled tiredly.
"Now, I will go and see about my soldier," said the colonel, moving past the group. "Oh… I trust that you and the others will defer to us before speaking about these…incidents. We must keep our secrets."
Becker scoffed. "I won't be a problem. I don't speak your language."
The colonel laughed loudly and left to find the doctors.
Abid sighed. "You are a dangerous man to have as a friend, Becker."
Becker laughed. "Yeah. I've heard that before."
Sabban chuckled. "At least the colonel made an appearance."
"Yeah, it was heartwarming," quipped Becker.
End of Chapter Fourteen