In Margate, Junior Hayes collapsed during his daily rounds. His teammates ran to defend him, but there were no demons to be found in the area. Hayes regained his feet, stumbled, and finally was able to walk three steps unsupported. "It snapped. I can breathe," he said, and fainted dead away. He was taken to his Branch's first-aid room, where he fell into a heavy healing sleep under the concerned eye of a nurse.
In London, Charlie Fancher was commenting on a sudden chill breeze when Jonas Burns suddenly fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around his torso. "Charlie. Something, something broke. Get me back, I need to lie down."
"Be still, Jonas." Charlie tapped his glasses. In three minutes, five Reapers had arrived to help transport the unconscious Burns to the Infirmary.
In the Hospice, the Angelic nurses suddenly came to attention. They left whatever they were doing and fled to the wards which held the weakest patients. A cool wind seemed to brush through all the rooms. Suddenly the Hostel's ambulatory patients moaned or gasped and fell to the floor or onto their beds. Orderlies and nurses-in-training ran to help them. Cafeteria and Maintenance personnel heard calls for help and ran to pick up the fallen. There were injuries, mostly bruises. The patients lost consciousness quickly. Doctor Stafford alerted the Medical Division and asked for all possible doctors and nurses who could be spared from the Academy Hospital.
Across the Realm, Thorns-cursed Reapers dropped at their desks, at their stations, on their rounds; those on rest shifts cried out in their beds, fell into a deeper sleep and could not be awakened. Dropped or tapped glasses lit up the Monitoring boards. Sweep teams responded at once. Branch infirmaries filled with unconscious Reapers brought in by frightened partners and co-workers.
Doctor Collins, called to the London Infirmary, found Burns on a cot surrounded by Humphries, Slingby and other Operations personnel. They stood away as he approached his patient – he'd trained them well. They watched silently as he pulled away the covers from Burn's chest.
The Thorns scars were retreating. Fading away.
Humphries looked at Collins. Collins nodded and addressed Burns' partner.
"He's healing, Mister Fancher. He's in a healing sleep. The best thing we can do is leave him undisturbed; his case was in the early stages, and he is strong. But we have a warehouse full of patients who are far sicker and weaker. Reapers, will you give them time?"
"Yes. We will. Tell us what to do."
"Come to the portal, then."
Doctor Stafford was at first displeased with an invasion of Reapers during a time of great disruption. Collins quickly explained.
"These are healthy volunteers who wish to grant time to those who might not last out their healing sleep. Please direct us to those most in need," said Collins, and Stafford led the way to Ward One. In the silent ward he pointed out the dying. To each went a Reaper who sat down, pulled off a glove and laid a hand on bare skin. Patients sighed, breathing eased and became regular. Collins followed, checking up on each one. "Don't force it, Mister Knox, gently – that's good. Humphries, do not overextend yourself. Very good, Mister Slingby, but if you feel any pull on your bond send your partner home. Excellent, Miss Solway. You have a talent, Miss Brodie. That's good, Mister Fancher, but you are weary and worried. I shall call Mister Spears to tell him where you all are, and to ask him for more volunteers; the first to arrive shall replace you, and you shall go back and rest."
"May I return to the Infirmary, Doctor?"
"Patient intake at the Infirmary will be rapid now. You'll be in the way. Better if you go drum up a few more volunteers. Send along as many off-duty people as you can find; there are three more wards of the seriously ill. Tack up notices in your Cafeteria and the local bars. In about four or five hours you can try the Infirmary again. Your partner will not wake before then. I expect he'll sleep until morning. When he wakes, I want to see him before they discharge him. You have my number at the Academy, I know, and do you have the number for the switchboard here? Very good."
Collins made his call to Spears. Spears, for once – Heaven be praised – did not argue.
"Doctor, may I assume that this emergency is specific to our Thorns sufferers?"
"Yes, sir, the entire Hostel and Hospice patient population went down together, but Medical and support staff were unaffected. All patients have entered a healing sleep. Please send whatever staff you can spare. We are asking them to grant time to those who are not strong enough to complete their healing. I know this is a great deal to ask; it will tire them, and they will have to rest afterwards."
"I understand and will comply. Thank you, Doctor. Expect groups of volunteers soon."
Nurses led in a few more volunteers from the food and housing services. Collins returned to Ward One to send Fancher to find other helpers at the Branch.
Fancher found Spears amassing those who could be spared.
"Senior Jacobs, you and I shall stay. Senior DePoy, you also, and enough of your people to manage any emergency. Senior Brock, you or Peabody may go but not both of you. The rest of Bookkeeping may go. Senior Terry, you have materials for the Print Shop; deliver those, and then you may go. Senior Ten Hagen, stay and hold Operations. Mister Wójcik, ask Scheduling to switch to a skeleton crew. Send all the freed staff here. Call the Infirmaries and the Hospice and Hostel, find out where our people are most needed.
"Senior Vanderveldt, check the breakrooms and showers for strays. Bring all desk-duty Juniors and Seniors in here now. Senior Gupta, start alerting other Branches to check up on any personnel who've gone missing or were working alone. Medical may be delayed in issuing a bulletin, but once they do you may stop.
"Mallory, keep enough of Security here to repel any attack. Senior Fancher, you will guide this group to the Hospice and see them deployed by the doctors there. Ask if we should be ready to supply a second shift, and if so, how many. Return and report. Senior ffoulkes, go with him and remain to adjust the portals to move people to other venues as the doctors require.
"Senior Knox – Knox, where are you?"
"He's already at the Hospice, sir."
"Senior Jacobs, contact the Garrison and warn them that we have a situation. Tell them we have gone to minimal staffing for this shift. Ask them to step up their patrols and protections. They should contact Medical for further information."
"At once, Director, although they certainly already know. A curse-breaking of this magnitude would echo through their halls. The Angelic nurses at the Hospice would have had a moment's warning, at least, which might have also extended to the Garrison." Avram chuckled, then laughed. Spears raised an eyebrow.
"A blessing, Will. A malicious and powerful curse is broken. It has released its victims and rebounded upon its casters. Twofold at least. Maybe tenfold. No, I don't think we'll see many demons outside the Demonic realm for the next few days. Careful there, Director. You almost smiled. Appearances must be maintained!"
At the hospice, Slingby murmured to Mister Jones. "Hold on, laddie. I have you safe. You will recover. I'll see you do not go back to the mines. Would you like to work on Snowdon, up against the sky? Watching the stars wheel about you, the clouds swell and fade, the seasons marching in their order? Or the Hielands of Scotland, if ye can bear to leave Wales? I know some of the local Branch managers. Ye'll see the heather in its bloom, the running rivers, the storms and the calms, the dawns and the dusks, the comings and goings of moon and sun. The mines will be worked by those who hate weather, who long for the dark and silence and the slow songs of the living earth. But ye must hold on, be ye ever so weary. The pain is gone, the marks are going away. Sleep deep, let the healing cleanse you of all the damage the curse has done. I will not leave unless another takes me place, to give you all the strength and the time you need. You will wake to a brighter day. A pretty nurse will bring ye tea. Or an orderly, for I cannot honestly promise ye the pretty nurse, but still you will have your tea. And ye will tell me where you would like to serve."
Across the room, Alan smiled. Another cool breeze gently passed. A hand fell on his shoulder. "Alan Humphries, friend and counsellor. I submit your boon."
"Sandriel. Seraph of mercy. Will my Reapers, my students, will all these people recover?"
"That's why I'm here, and not only myself. The hosts of Raphael are sent to all the corners of your Realm, to visit the weakest who cannot recover unaided. Behold," and a hand reached down to touch the cheek of the patient in the bed. There was a scent of spring, a slight glow of summer. The patient sighed.
Alan sat up and looked behind him. "Careful you don't catch your hems on the bedframe."
"Alas, circumstances require full ceremonial robes. Or so I have been instructed. Admittedly I will shed this costume the minute I can. Listen, a very few of the neediest are in their own beds in your catacombs. Please do not claim that our visits to them are trespassing. Strictly emergency medical care, do you agree?"
"Of course, and so I shall say to any indignant official who needs to hear it. My deepest thanks. Can you please see to the rest of the patients here as quickly as possible?"
"Yes. Come along, this man no longer needs your help. Ah, Mister Slingby, let me aid your patient. Oh, he's very weak, poor fellow." He reached out. "Blessings and strength be yours, Reaper, and hope for a new day. The quickening of spring, the burgeoning of summer…There now. That will do very well. I'll have another look before I leave, but he will be well. Miss Solway, well met. Let me – there. He'll survive his healing now."
Sandriel quickly moved around the ward. At the completion of his circle, he addressed the volunteers. "You have done all you can here. Go to the other wards to see where you are needed. I will follow as quickly as possible. When we have strengthened all who need help, you will be free to return to your homes and duties. Let's go to Ward Two now."