62 Do You Hear What I Hear? (1/2)
Tara and Cecilia had just finished addressing the needs of a patient in one of the tents. They felt exhausted since they had been tending people with flu and other sicknesses since that morning, and they felt disgusted. Yes, they were privy to the development of the outbreak but to be part of the solution and to be in the frontline in the crisis was something they did not anticipate. They thought they would just stay in the local health center where they did nothing much but look after their fellow nurses. And then their superiors deployed them to the isolation camp, an order they could not refuse.
For Dr. Alvarado, it was a lucky situation that he could take advantage of. He was delighted when the two informed him about it. With them, he would have eyes and ears inside the isolation camp. Besides, all eyes were also aimed at the facility so whatever happened there, it would be an explosive news. A little sabotage from the two ladies and the outbreak would blow out of proportions. Overjoyed, the doctor promised them a handome bonus pay for that development.
”That one made me sick,” Tara presently said, referring to their last patient. They were headed to the clinic to get some supplies.
”Why only him?” Cecilia asked. ”You should be disgusted with everyone.”
”Well, I am but the last one was beyond forgiving. He coughed hard near my face. I could have easily inhaled all the germs coming from him.”
”Highly unlikely since you put on a face shield and a disposable mask.”
”But it is still disgusting.”
”Well, we did not expect the Dr. Alvarado's little plans would result to something as big as this.”
”Yes, it is quite funny how people panicked to this fake outbreak.”
”Be careful, Tara. Some ears might be able to hear you.”
By then, they were near the clinic and Tara looked forward to some rest.
”We are finally almost at the clinic,” she sighed. ”I want to take a nap at the doctor's office.”
”You cannot do that,” Cecilia snapped. ”We must appear like hardworking and caring nurses. We just get some supplies and then we come back to the camp.”
”Yeah, I know. This is just too boring.”
”Boring or not, we have to act concerned so that nobody will suspect. Besides, there are too many nosy people around.”
”Yes, one of them is Grace, the school nurse. I can't stand her. She is too kind and soft-spoken for my liking.”
”And she is a smart girl. People like her are dangerous. For all we know, she might be mistrusting us.”
”And there's that Estella Bermudez, the all-knowing reporter.”
Tara pointed Estella with her pouted lips. The news duo was taking shade in the porch of a building. They appeared to be recording some news report. Estella was standing on the porch and delivering her lines while Sonny was crouching on the ground and working his camera to record Estella. They looked too intense and serious which irritated Tara even more.
”She thinks she is a highly intellectual human being,” Tara commented. ”I can't stand her arrogance.”
”Well, she has a right to be arrogant,” Cecilia stated matter-of-factly. ”Look at her - beautiful, charismatic, smart, and successful.”
”You don't have to enumerate how lucky she is.”
”Are you envious of her?”
”Why would I?”
Tara turned her head and walked rapidly. They finally arrived at the clinic and the cold air of the building greeted them. Tara relished the feeling and right away slumped into the sofa.
”Tara, get up!” Cecilia barked. ”You can't be too careless.”
”Just chill. I'm just taking a short break.”
”Come on, let's take some supplies.”
Just then, Cecilia heard noises coming near the doctor's office.
”Who's there?” she called. ”Grace?”
”She can't be here,” Tara answered her. ”She was her usual busy self at the camp.”
”Any people there?” she called again.
”You must be hallucinating. This place is as silent as a tomb.”