Page 23 of Hollow Valley

That’s not to say that I disagree with that in all cases.I have killed infected people in self-defense, and I fear that I will again if I mean to survive for any length of time.But I don’t believe that execution should be our first or only choice in dealing with them.

Yes, the virus changes humans in ways far beyond our current understanding.Yes, the virus is dangerous and highly contagious.No, a human does not stop being a human because they are infected, even if the virus is dangerous and contagious and beyond our understanding.

While I admire and appreciate your goals of finding a cure for the lyssavirus and rebuilding civilization, I believe that my time is better spent pursuing an understanding of those that have been left behind.The infected that still roam the earth.It may seem preposterous to some, but they are in dire need of medical care and understanding.

Thank you again for considering me, and I wish you nothing but the best of luck in your endeavors.Please do reach out to me again if you think I can be of help, but I plan to remain on my homestead and continue my work here.

Respectfully,

Dr.Sage Boone, MD, CCFP

16

Stella

The visit to New Emberwood had been a lively one for Fae.In addition to playing with Sage, Lazlo had taken her out to the fields to see Minnie, the dairy goat that stayed with us to feed Fae when she was a baby.On top of that, we had the long ride on the back of a quarter horse either way.

When we finally returned to the Barbarabelle, Fae was exhausted, and I put her down to sleep in her nursery.

“How was the trip?”Edie asked, poking her head in the room just as I finished tucking Fae into her little crib.

“The grizzlies and the zombies avoided us, so it wasn’t that bad, all things considered,” I whispered and gave her a tired smile.

I motioned for Edie to step out, so we could talk without disturbing the baby.The lanterns hanging on the walls doused everything in a warm amber glow.Down the hall, Harlow gave us a wave as she walked toward us.

“I heard you all made it back,” Harlow said as she reached me, and she toyed absently with her layered necklaces.“Did you get a chance to talk to Lazlo?”

“Yeah, we did.But let’s get Boden.He understands more about what’s happening than I do,” I said.

“What’s there to understand?”Harlow asked.“Do you know where Remy is or not?”

“Maybe,” I said, then walked a few doors down the hall to Boden's room.

When I knocked, he shouted a muffled, “Just a minute!”

“What does ‘maybe’ mean?”Harlow asked.

Boden opened the door, his hair damp from the shower, and he was still pulling on his threadbare army t-shirt.

“Oh, wow, I didn’t expect a whole party,” Boden commented, his eyes bouncing to Edie and Harlow on either side of me.

“You know that you’re not the only ones who care about Remy,” Harlow reminded him.

He nodded once, looking momentarily chastened, and he stepped back into the room so we could get by.“Come on in, then.We don’t have much to talk about, but we do have a few things.”

Boden’s room was a mirror of my own, although his did have a different set of wear-and-tear since he’d shared with Remy and a lioness for over a year.Scratch marks on the walls, bite marks on the bed frame, and one of the brocade curtains was shredded in half.The carpet hadn’t been great to begin with, and now it was torn up in a few places.

The bed was neatly made, but the plethora of gear and dirty laundry from his backpack had been dumped out on top of it.In the corner, next to a sitting chair, a pile of Remy’s clothing was folded and collecting dust.

“I wasn’t expecting to entertain any visitors today, but I have some tepid water and a room-temp bottle of wine.”Boden moved ahead of us, and he opened the sliding door, airing the room out.

“That’s fine,” Harlow waved off his attempts at hospitality.Edie and I sat on the edge of the bed, while Harlow stood with her arms folded across her chest.“Will you just tell us what you found out?”

“It seems like Remy is heading to Glacier Valley,” Boden explained.“She wants to donate… herself to finding the cure with Cold Shore.”

“Donate herself?”Harlow wrinkled her nose and shook her head.“What are you talking about?There is no way that Remy would let anyone experiment on her after what was done to her and Max in that last quarantine zone.”

“Well, obviously, she’s not in her right mind,” Boden said.“Which is why I’m going after her.”