Page 64 of Afflicted

I stood on the deck and frowned down at the grass. It definitely wasn't as long as it had been yesterday morning but somehow, it had done at least a week’s worth of growing overnight.

The satphone rang in the front room and I jogged back inside to catch it.

“Santos,” I said as I answered. “What's up now?”

“We’re being sent out to do some crowd control outside Harbour City,” she said hurriedly. “Kai said I should prepare you for the possibility that you'll be called back in.”

“Okay. But that's not an order yet?” I asked.

“No. None of the higher ups have mentioned it but everyone is getting deployed all over the state. That storm yesterday has basically crapped all over the containment zone. They'd been trying to burn everything affected but they weren't finished. Between the rain washing the contamination into the soil and rivers and the wind blowing contaminated plants and insects all over the place they're gunna be hard pressed to stop this thing now.”

“So what does that mean?” I asked, running a hand over the back of my head as I tried to think of all the implications.

“Long term could be anyone's guess. Short term we’re looking at more exposure so we can expect environmental changes as the plants adapt-“

“Like a cut lawn growing back in record speed?” I suggested.

“Could do,” she agreed. “Has that happened?”

“Yeah. I guess that means the contamination has reached us here.” I felt a strong urge to cover my mouth and avoid going outside.

There was a long silence and the background noise cut out as Santos must have moved away from where she'd been.

“You'll need to watch out for more contaminated people,” she said eventually. “And possibly animals too. Maybe carry your firearm just in case.”

“You think that's necessary?” I asked.

“Better to be safe than sorry. We'll keep you updated,” she added.

“Thanks. Look after yourself Santos.”

“You too Sir.” She hung up and I tossed the satphone back down on the couch.

I twisted my dog tags between my fingers as I considered the implications of what she'd told me. If the contamination was really as potent as they thought it was then we could be in for some serious trouble.

Either way I'd be better prepared to face it once I got dressed and had something to eat.

After breakfast, I headed out to start work on fixing the front steps. I glanced at the damage I'd done to the door with my fist and wondered if I should fix that too.

I fell into the rhythm of the work, enjoying throwing myself into something practical that I could control.

I kept my senses sharp while I worked, making sure I didn't turn my back on the street just in case one of the afflicted people came along but everything stayed quiet.

Some time after midday, a large grey coach pulled up outside the Lewises house.

I leant back against the steps as two men dressed in the slick, grey uniforms of the Harbour City Wardens marched up the drive and rang the doorbell.

Katy’s mom answered and I watched as her face dropped in surprise. She ushered them inside and closed the door before I could catch anything they were saying.

I turned my attention to the coach. Faces peered back at me from the windows looking confused and a little afraid.

Two more Wardens stood guard by the coach doors and I moved towards them with a friendly smile.

“What's going on then officers?” I asked, pulling my dog tags out from under my shirt so that they could see I was military.

The Warden on the left looked to the one on the right who I guessed must be the superior officer. I gave her a bright smile which she didn't return.

“It's classified,” she said, turning her steely gaze onto me. “And even if you have clearance, Corporal…“