บท 30: CHIMES OF DOOM [5]
Sam knew what she was thinking. If Mr. Owen's condition was caused by a zombie bite, then they were all in danger. Ed read the meaning behind her question immediately. 'It ain't what you think. It's his heart, his wife says.'
Overhearing them, Mrs. Owen turned her head. She seemed too preoccupied with her husband's illness to show any reaction to their bloodied state or the weapons they were carrying.
'He needs his pills,' she said. 'But they're back at the hotel.'
'What kind of pills are they?' asked Jin.
'They're called Nadolol. They're—'
'I know. Beta-blockers, prescribed for the treatment of angina pectoris. Is that what your husband suffers from?'
'Yes,' said the woman, surprised. 'Are you a doctor?'
'No,' said Jin, 'I'm a nurse. How bad is he?'
'Very bad. He needs his pills regularly. If he doesn't get them …' The woman's voice choked off, and she shook her head.
When she next spoke, they could all hear the flutter of fear in her voice. '… well, I don't know what might happen.'
Jin turned to the others. Quietly she said, 'We have to try and get this man his medication.'
Purna frowned. 'How?'
'There's a pharmacy on the high street. They should have some Nadolol there.'
Lowering her voice, Purna said, 'We can't go all the way back there. Taking a detour to come here almost got us killed.'
Hovering just behind them, Ed reached out and touched Purna on the arm. 'Mind if I say something?'
Purna turned with a frown but raised her eyebrows to indicate he should continue.
'Maybe we can resolve this situation to our mutual benefit,' Ed said.
Purna's frown deepened. 'How?'
'Come with me. There are a couple of people I think you should meet.'
He led Purna and Jin away from the main group by the pulpit and across to a moth-eaten red curtain in the far corner.
He lifted this aside to reveal a door, which he pushed open. Beyond the door, the continuing sound of church bells grew instantly louder.
Ed led them through a small sacristy and then through another door into a stone chamber containing nothing but a flight of circular stone steps.
As they ascended the steps, the church bells became so loud they could barely hear themselves think. Eventually, they emerged into a stone-floored bell tower, where two people, both very different in age and build but wearing identical expressions of grim determination, were tugging at long black bell pulls. Ed raised a hand, but it was a redundant gesture.
As soon as they caught sight of Purna and Jin, the couple ceased their bell-ringing as if by mutual consent.
One of the bell-ringers, a wizened, wiry woman in a nun's habit, scuttled forward with a beaming smile and took Purna's hand.
At the top of her voice, she shouted above the slowing but still-clanging peal of the bells, 'Has He sent you to find us?' At first, Purna didn't know what she meant, but then she realized. 'I don't know about that.
We followed the sound of the bells.'
The little nun seemed pleased with her answer. 'Of course you did.'
Ed leaned forward and said, 'I think we and these people might be able to help each other. Can we talk downstairs?'
The nun nodded, and they all descended to the sacristy. The second bell-ringer, a tall, handsome broad-shouldered man with caramel-colored skin, brought up the rear.
Quickly Ed made the introductions, then explained and summed up the situation.
'We need medication for Mr. Owen, and we also need food and water for everyone, and a way to defend ourselves until help arrives.
I'm guessing you people would welcome the chance to get your hands on some better weapons too, to help you do whatever you're doing?'
'We're getting off the island,' Purna said firmly. 'I think you should too.'
Ed shook his head. 'There are too many of us, and some of us aren't as … well, as physically adept as you young people. No, we'll sit it out here until they send in the cavalry.'
'What if they don't?' said Jin.
Unease flickered briefly over Ed's face, then he said confidently, 'They will.
They always do.'
The nun, whom Ed had introduced as Sister Helen, had been sitting throughout the conversation with an almost beatific smile on her face.
Purna now turned to her and asked, 'What do you think, Sister Helen?'
'About what, my child?'
'Well, it's evident from what I've heard that a lot of the people here look up to you, that they regard you as their spiritual leader.
Do you think you should wait here for help or try to help yourselves?'
Beaming, Sister Helen said, 'Oh, there's no help to be found anywhere, except ultimately from God.'
Purna looked confused.
'I'm sorry, I don't follow.'
Sister Helen leaned forward and gently took her hand. 'There is no escape for anyone, my child, not in this life.
God's wrath is upon us all. This is His judgment.'
Purna licked her lips, glanced at the others. 'I'm sorry, I don't believe that. To me, that just sounds like giving up, accepting the inevitable.
And I'm not a giving-up sort of person.'
She expected an argument, perhaps even recriminations, but Sister Helen simply spread her hands. 'That is your prerogative, my child.' Again Purna glanced around, focusing on Ed. 'So what's the deal here?'
'The deal is that this church is a sanctuary, that Sister Helen is kind enough to take in anyone who wants shelter or protection.
Personally, she believes that this is the Apocalypse, that we can do nothing more useful than pray and wait out the inevitable, but – and forgive me for saying this, Sister – not all of us feel the same way.
Personally, I respect Sister Helen's beliefs, and I can truly say that my wife Maya and I will be eternally grateful for her kindness, but I happen to think there's a way out of this – or that even if there isn't, then that don't mean we should quit trying to find one.
So here's my proposal: if you guys head back into town to pick up some medication for Mr. Owen and enough provisions to keep us going for the next few days, and weapons to defend ourselves with, if needs be, then we'll show you a way to get better weapons for yourselves – guns, maybe even explosives.'
'How?' Purna asked.
Ed indicated the tall handsome man, who had so far said barely a word. 'Dani here and his brother, Pedro, run a business that sets up security systems for companies and individuals on Banoi – electric fences, CCTV, internal coded locking systems, you name it.
And it just so happens that one of their clients is the police, and that a few yearsago Dani and Pedro installed a weapons vault in the resort station on the main street.'Dani nodded. His voice was soft and deep, his English good but strongly accented. 'I have security codes inhere.'
He tapped his head. 'Inside vault is plenty of weapon for all. If Sister Helen says is OK, I come with you.'They all looked at Sister Helen, who said smilingly, 'Oh, we all have free will. I cannot possibly speak for Him.'Dani looked at Purna and nodded slowly. 'Then I come with you,' he said.
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