FBR chapter 5 scene 1

Foreign Body Reaction
Alan McNeill
Chapter 5 Scene 1.

“Ben, you're alive, that is so, so, great!” said Jacob, slamming the SUV's door. Emily watched from the passenger seat as Jacob limped to Ben and hugged him awkwardly.

“God it is good to see you man. When Homeland security called me out to your trailer site I was sure you couldn't have survived.”

Ben pulled a little back and looked at Jacob's swollen and discolored face. “You look awful.”

Jacob touched his swollen nose tenderly. “Feels horrible too.”

“What the fuck went on up there Jacob?”

Jacob flushed, “Goddammit Ben, I told you to just do the line you were assigned, that's all right, but did you listen? Christ no. You have to traipse off after cats and what all. . .”

“Jacob, what I mean is what when on there? I saw you talking to Patricia.”

“What, you where there? Where?”

“Jacob, what did I do for them to blow my trailer up and try to kill me? What the fuck do you know, not stop stalling and tell me.”

“I don't know nothing, nothing. That bitch from the Feds is the liaison for the pipeline company. She is supposed to oversea security of the line. Christ Ben, she's been helping us throughout this entire job. Who do you think got us that unbelievable deal on the FEMA trailers?

Emily had come around the car and was standing a few yards behind Jacob, listening.

“Jacob, shut up,” said Emily. “It's none of Ben's business, it's your business. He's the one they want, we don't know what he did.”

Jacob spun around, “I'm just trying to explain to Ben. . .”

“You don't have anything to explain. He's the criminal, not you. Get the money and lets get away from him.”

Ben looked at Jacob. “What money?

“Nothing, forget it. Look I'm sorry they overreacted, but you have to understand they are crazy about security, and now with the flu, everything is fucked up. The pipeline inspections . . .

“Jacob, shut up now,” hissed Emily. She reached out and grabbed his arm and started pulling him back towards the SUV.

“Wait Emily,” said Ben. “If you go back you are in danger.”

Emily stopped and looked at Ben. What, we didn't do anything. It's all your fault. I told Jacob not to hire you, you think your better than everyone and I just knew you'd cause trouble.”

Ben walked to the couple, all three in the sunlight by the car in the middle of the intersection. “Its the bird flu. It is worse than any flu. It is worse than the 1918 flu that killed 50 million people, and it is more contagious.”

“You're such a chicken little squawking about this and that, always upsetting Jacob. The government will have a vaccine and we'll be fine. If we get it we'll get antibiotics. Patricia will see to that,” she said smugly.

“I don't care what you think of me, but you need to understand. The vaccine will take 6 months to make, and another few months to distribute. If you stay in Grants Pass you'll be stuck there. The Feds will close all the roads that feed into infected areas. I've been listening to the news, it is in northern California already. It is in Salem, Eugene and Cottage Grove. There will be cases here soon.”

Ben stopped looking at Emily and addressed Jacob.

“Jacob, go home pack all your survival gear and food, weapons into your SUV. I've made a map for you. Take your Prevost out and set up a camp there, I'll be in touch. But you have to get out now, right now.”

“Jesus Ben, always with the big emergency. I don't think it is going to be that bad. I've been listening to the news and it seems that the federal response is right on target on time. We're safe there. What the hell are we supposed to do perched on some hillside in the mountains? How are we supposed to get power and shop?”

Emily began pulling on Jacobs arm again, and Jacob shook his head with regret at Ben. “I'm sorry Ben, you're overreacting. You know you do that. Call me tomorrow. I'll try and find out how we can get Patrica off your case. Hell I haven't heard from her since I-5 was closed.”

Emily was in the other side, Jacob's door still open, he leaned out and said, Ben, I'll do what I can for you, but you're acting nuts. Call me tomorrow.”

Ben stepped reached out and held the door open. He leaned in so he could see both Jacob and Emily.

“Jacob, Emily, whatever you think of me, you have to understand the news is not accurate. Jacob, listen to the CB, the truckers and the hi power guys in the city. The feds are closing the infected cities completely. This flu has a greater than 80 percent death rate and there is no vaccine and there won't be for at least 6 months no matter who you know.”

Emily snorted and looked away out the passenger window. Refusing to listen to Ben any longer.

Jacob began pulling the door closed against Ben's hand.

“Jacob, wait.”

Jacob hesitated a moment.

“If Grant's Pass gets a flu outbreak, I can't let you near us, you'll have to stay and take your chances. Your my friend Jacob, tell me what I need to say to make you wake the fuck up? Do you understand, you will likely die there within a few months? Come with me, will stay out for six months, monitor the situation and then come in when the vaccine is ready. These mountains have everything we need. We can . . ..”

Jacob pulled the door free of Ben's hand, interrupting him.

“It is just because we've been friends for so many years that I'm going to town Ben. You'll get past this. It's a stress reaction to the explosion. You'll feel better, and I'm going to get help to keep the business alive and get you another trailer. Let me help you by doing what I know Ben. We are not going to die of bird flu and neither are you. You're overreacting.”

Ben stood in the dust and watched the SUV turn cautiously in a three point turn and drive back towards the main road. He could see Emily's finger jabbing into Jacob's shoulder through the rear window.

Mark came down from the truck and stood alongside Ben.

“You can't save everyone.”

“He's my friend.”

“Yea, well if you're right about how many people are going to get this, then we are going to loose more than a few close friends in this.”

“Not if we turn ninety degrees to all of this and disappear. Fuck, I just let down my friend,” said Ben shaking his head.”

The afternoon light was beginning to fade, and clouds were moving in from the north. Oregon's normal weather winter weather pattern was reasserting itself, and streamers of moist air off the Pacific began to march down the valleys of Oregon. It would be raining in the night again.

Mark and Ben spent the next hour rearranging supplies in the back of the truck. Ben had a phenomenal memory and just by sorting the boxes and reading what Mark had picked up in town, he began to list in his head what else they would need in the near future.

The rattling sound of a car crunching down the gravel grade to the intersection interrupted Ben. Mark looked up.

“Darlene.”

The old Subaru hatchback was squatting low on nearly bald tires. She came to a stop and leapt out of the car. “Hey boys! Look what I brought.”

She had packed everything that the Medford Walmart could provide for camping, hunting and fishing.

“Think I might have broke my credit card. Harder than hell getting back up around. The Feds have starting putting up road blocks around Grass Pants,” she said using the local slang for the town name.

“Shit I had to sneak down 238 down to Murphy's Creek road and even coming over the mountain I got stopped a Lakeshore at the 199 intersection.”

“How did you get through, asked Mark, his arm still around Darlene's shoulder.

“Well he was the cutest youngest boy, looked like my son Hank did at that age, and I just used my persuasive nature.” At that she pointed to the valley of her considerable cleavage and laughed.

“He said he guessed it be alright as long as I was going home. He could see the supplies, and I told him his momma be very proud of him. He blushed so pretty, with me catching him looking down my tits, and he waved me right through.”

“Mark says you're coming with us,” said Ben.

“Well more now than every boys. What do you think, I just shop for fun,” laughing leaving no doubt that is exactly what she did.

“Did the soldier say why they were closing 199?” Ben new that closing 199 was a blow for them. It was the easy way through mountains to all the connectors that led up the Illinois River or the Rogue River drainages into the Siskiyou mountains. With that closed they would have to use logging roads all the way. And looking at Darlene's car it was pretty obvious they would be doing a lot of cross country driving with that.

“Yea, there was a trucker who showed up at a clinic in town. He came yesterday it appears. He's real sick, its the flu.”

“Fucking sonofabitch!” shouted Ben, turning to hide the tears that sprung to his eyes.

Darlene looked at Mark.

“He's worried about friends that are staying in town.”

Darlene watched Ben, and wondered which friends Mark was referring too.

“Well friends or no they are going to have some trouble getting out.”

Two hours later they were seated around a fire. Darlene had brought several pop up tents, Mountain House freeze dried food, sleeping bags. Ben started pulling out a small backing tent from Mark's truck, but Darlene was already setting up a ten by ten larger tent with a larger overhanging rain fly and full floor. Ben looked at the sky and the rain fly. Darlene caught the look.

“Honey, don't waste your time right now with that little bitty tent. We'll all just bunk together tonight. Don't worry honey, I don't bite.”