Chapter 157
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On Wednesday July 12th Eve was working on the oil rig. It was hotter than normal. Texas in July. Eve asked her supervisor if he could get a drink of water, he refused. Eve was becoming exhausted, but knew she had to keep it up. She'd been here almost a month. A few more days and she'd earn another two lottery chances. Eve could say she was too exhausted, to "Smythe it" as they said. But she wanted to persevere. It wasn't like she didn't deserve to suffer a little. As it became almost too hot to move the guards were brought a cooler full of bottled water. They didn't share this with the workers. The cooler was right there, maybe twenty feet away. Eve decided she couldn't take it anymore, she'd risk it. Eve started to walk towards the cooler, then she fell.
When Eve woke up she found herself in the clinic. The orderlies gave her some water. Eve remembered falling. At first she thought she'd just tripped, but doctor Smythe said she'd fainted from de-hydration. Eve's head hurt, probably from hitting it on the way down. A part of Eve wondered if one of the guards had hit her for trying to take their water. Doctor Smythe examined Eve, asking the date, and who the president was. Eve knew it was July 12th, and George Mason was te president. Smythe said Eve should be okay,but he recommended bed rest and plenty of liquids for the rest of today, and tomorrow. After that he'd examine Eve again to determine if she was well enough to work. Doctor Allistar Smythe seemed like a good guy, he didn't like Park's harsh methods. Smythe seemed willing to excuse prisoners from work for medical reasons, even when they only had a headache. Slacking off, going to the clinic to rest and avoid work, had become known as "Smything it." Park didn't like this, but he seldom interferred. Park might be cruel, but he realized that he needed to keep these workers alive. Eve was grateful for the rest and a cooler room. But she figured she'd have to go back to work on Friday. Despite everything, she still wanted to do her part.