Liz swung her head around to Krista, then looked at Summer. “I got this, ladies. Please.”
“Fine, go ahead. Do your thing, Doc,” Krista replied. “But the clock is ticking. We need to get back to business with Blackstone and some other things burning a hole into our to-do list. This man can’t take up all our time.”
“Agreed,” Liz said. “But I need to do this my way.”
“The floor is yours,” Krista said, letting her voice trail off.
Liz waited until Nomad brought his eyes to her before she spoke again. “That black substance around her lips—it that from something she ate? Or did she come in contact with something new? I need to know how it originated and where. Can you tell me?”
Nomad turned and stared at Summer, ignoring Liz once again. At least his eyes were engaged and not looking at the floor.
Krista was about to reprimand him again, but then he raised his arm and aimed an index finger at Summer. He waved it away from her and to the door, repeating the same gesture three times—each flash of his finger more emphatic than the last.
Liz turned to Summer. “I think he wants you to leave.”
“Why? I didn’t do anything.”
“No, you haven’t,” Krista answered. “But if it helps to get him to talk, then—”
“Well, that’s not fair. I’m part of this, too. I have every right to be here. More actually, since technically Edison put me in charge.”
Liz touched Summer’s wrist, wrapping her fingers around it. “How about you just step into the hallway for a bit? A young girl’s life depends on it.”
Krista wanted to rebuke the statement made by Liz, not wanting to agree that the sick Scab in the infirmary could still be classified as a girl, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
Summer locked eyes with Liz, then pressed her lips together and shook her head, looking like the defiant pain in the ass she was.
Liz nodded, adding emphasis to her tone. “Please, Summer. We need to see what he has to say. It’s for the good of everyone, like Edison would have wanted.”
“I don’t like this at all,” Summer said, crossing her arms across her chest.
Liz continued, her voice calm and reassuring. “I’ll fill you in as soon as we’re done. I promise, you won’t miss a thing.”
Krista nodded and pointed at the door. “You’ll only be ten feet away. If we need you, you’ll know. Please. Like Liz said, let’s see what he knows. It’s a small price to pay.”
Summer held for a beat, then turned and stormed outside.
“Do you want me here or out there?” Wicks asked Krista.
“Remain at your post. Summer’s a big girl. She can handle it.”
The instant the door closed, Nomad spoke, his voice full of gravel and pain. “It was yesterday when I returned home. She was weak and in her bunk.”
“Did she have a fever?” Liz asked.
“I believe so. And she was suffering from chest pains. The black substance was all over her mouth and she was unresponsive. That’s why I brought her here.”
“How did you know where here was?” Krista asked, unable to stop her mouth from taking over.
Liz looked a Krista. “Please. Let’s stay focused on the patient.”
“Right. Sorry, Doc.”
Liz gave Krista a slight smile, then turned her focus to Nomad. “Tell me about the area she was in. Was it a barn? A house? A campsite? What?”
“A cave.”
“A cave? What kind of cave?”
“Used to be an old tourist attraction before the eruptions.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Liz said. “Was it dry or wet? Large or small? Mostly on the surface or deep underground? I need to know what the environment was like.”
“Wet. Underground. Large.”
“Define large,” Liz pressed.
“Colossal.”
“Colossal? That’s a big word from such a pussy,” Wicks said in a sarcastic tone.
Nomad never took his eyes from Liz. “Like I said, it used to be an old tourist attraction.”
“When you say wet, do you mean damp or was there standing or running water? If so, did she drink any of it?” Liz asked.
“Damp, running, and standing. And no, she didn’t drink it. I taught her better than that.”
Krista found Nomad’s choice of words curious. Especially the taught her part. As in training a wild cannibal. “Is your cave south or west from here?”
“South,” he replied.
When Krista combined his answers with her memories, an idea came roaring into her brain. “I think I know which cave he’s talking about.”
Liz ignored her comment and continued her interview. “Are there insects or animals around?”
“We had our share of spiders. More so than not.”
“Was she bitten?”
“Not that I could determine, though I was only able to perform a cursory review. I thought it best to get her to medical right away.”
Liz held for a beat. “What about bats?”
“Had our share of them, too.”
Liz nodded but didn’t fire another question.
“Is that important?” Krista asked the doc.
“Yes, I think so. Depending on the number and their droppings.”
“Droppings?”
“Bat guano,” Wicks added.
Liz nodded. “There’s a specific respiratory infection that can result when a patient is exposed to the spores over an extended period of time. It’s called Histoplasmosis.”
“Bat shit has spores?” Wicks asked.
“No, but the fungus that develops does.”
“What about the rest of us?” Nomad asked. “Are we at risk, too?”
“From what I remember from medical school, most who’ve been exposed don’t develop any symptoms. Usually only affects the weak or infirmed. Those with an immune system deficiency.”
“Well, Doc, she’s a skinny, malnourished cannibal. I think that qualifies,” Wicks said. “Who knows what she’s eaten over the years.”
“Or who,” Krista added.
Wicks scoffed. “I’ve met my share of women who are bat-shit crazy, but this is a first.”
Nomad looked up at Wicks, but held his tongue.
“I wonder if that’s where the term comes from?” Krista asked Liz.
“That’s not in my area of expertise.”
“At least she’s not ape-shit crazy,” Wicks added, looking pleased with himself. “Talk about a mess.”
“Can you treat it, Doc?” Nomad asked.
“If I had the proper antifungal medication, yes. But I’m not sure what we have on hand.”
“Even if we do, we shouldn’t be wasting it on her,” Krista said.
Nomad’s voice became energized. “Please, Doc, you must help her. I’m begging you.”
Krista grabbed Liz. “No. We can’t. Our supplies must be saved for our people, not theirs.”
Nomad continued, “I have supplies I can trade. Explosives, too. Whatever it takes, please.”
“Explosives?” Krista asked.
“And weapons. We’ve been accumulating them along with our supplies.”