Chapter 202
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After Eve cleaned herself up she was told to report to nurse Montgomery for orientation. This nurse said nothing about Eve's incident. She showed Eve how to give patients medicine, meals, even how to perform sponge-baths. Perhaps most important in this was having a good bedside manner. The clergy would play their part, but giving comfort was Eve's job too now. By the end of orientation Eve had seen nurse Montgomery give several sponge-baths. Now, Eve had to give one. It was still Saturday November 11th. Eve had been here only a few hours. But it was important for Eve to get past her embarrasment, her squeamishness, to help these people. Just as she'd been taught Eve talked to the patient, tried to keep his mind off what was happening. He might've even been hitting on her. Before he even realized it, Eve had given him the first sponge-bath for both of them.
After her orientation Eve went to the hospital cafateria. She didn't have much of an appetite left, but knew she had to eat and keep up her strength. The meals were free, Eve had soup and mashed potatoes with juice. Desserts weren't here. Rumor was this hospital actally had a black-market for desserts and treats. When the virus came some had looted the vending machines and now used these things to purchase favors, even sex. At this cafateria Eve heard other rumors about this virus. George W. Bush had authorized the creation of a weaponized virus almost immediately after September 11th. This virus had been the product of thirty years of research and testing. Bush started this, three presidents could've shut it down before Mason took office. Noone was entirely sure how it got out now. Some said Mason ordered it released in collective states. Others believed Douglas ordered the virus, on bases under collective control, destroyed. But something went wrong. Another theory was that, when the virus accidentally got out, a security guard, whose job it was to close the main gates, took his wife and child and fled, hoping it was in time to save them. Instead it spread the virus further before they died. Eve wondered, had it been planned, or spontaneous? How many other guards had similar plans, but were too far away when it got out? Even if they kept driving, they would've had to stop for take-out. That would've infected the other employees, customers, people delivering food to the restaurant. At any rate Eve realized that George Mason had five years prior to this where he could've destroyed the virus. Instead he kept it around, possibly for this reason, at any rate to destroy his enemies. To think Eve had met this man, actually admired him once. It seemed clear that the United States, and the Collective States, were now fighting each other in World War III. Eve wanted to do her part. And somehow, if she ever got the chance, Eve would assasinate president George Mason.
After her dinner Eve went to the sleeping area. There were six beds, five already occupied. Eve naturally took the empty one. She fell asleep almost immediately. The next morning one of her new roomates woke her up. Eve's shift was in an hour, she barely had enough time to shower and eat first. During her shift Eve didn't have to ask what to do as much as her first day, but she still had to ask her superiors at times. She tried to be as comforting as she could. But there was only so much she could do. Tv's were on in the hallways and individual rooms. Mostly news about the war, plague outbreaks in Chicago, Los Angelas, New York, Arizona. Zones had been established to contain the virus. Both nations had practically shut down all normal activities. The children's rooms were playing old cartoons, trying to keep them as calm as possible. Although she feared the news, Eve tried finding out about Amy. Whatever happenned, Eve had to know.