Plague of the Dead | Book 3 | Plague of the Island

world went to shit is that the virus ran its course and went away last time.”
“You’re telling me it’s just going away?” Daniel asked doubtfully.
“No, I’m saying that was the data. A possible variable on an endless number of possibilities. Without scientists or even proper equipment, I can’t run the necessary tests to figure out why Phoebe didn’t turn.”
“What would you need to run them?” Daniel asked.
“A lab. Time. Someone with a bigger brain than mine. Two out of three probably won’t cut it.”
We were all silent as the words Luther said died between us. Everyone seemed to be deep in thought.
“Everyone knows I was bit,” Phoebe began, “Are they going to let me come back?”
“You’re going to need to be put in quarantine,” Luther said. “At the very least until your fever runs its course.”
Phoebe nodded as Luther helped her up and walked with her back to camp.
Daniel and I stayed behind. I closed and locked up the Jeep.
“Do you think there’s something to that?” I asked him.
“To what?”
“Her not turning?”
“Hard to say,” he said and began to walk back to camp. He stopped when he realized I wasn’t behind him.
He turned to me, “What is it Shelly?”
“It could mean something,” I stated.
“Yeah, it could be, but we have no way of knowing what it could possibly be presently.”
“We could. We could go back to the Air Force Base and…”
“And what? Shelly, the base is gone. Communication is gone. We’re safe here. We can’t risk losing that.”
“Even if we have a chance to save the world?” I asked.
“The chance is too slim to roll the dice on.”
I was disappointed by his response. He seemed to read it on my face.
“Shelly, I know you want to get out of this. See your sister. But you have to think of the group.”
“We could do a small team,” I said knowing he wouldn’t agree to it.
“No, Shell. And don’t go running off on a rogue mission again. You’re pregnant and it’s too dangerous.”
“I’m not going to,” I stated pretending the thought hadn’t danced in my mind however briefly. I knew the risk was way too high for me to go on such an exploit. “But what if she is the key to the cure?”
“You’re telling me the key to the cure is sitting in our camp right now? Has been this whole time? On an Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? I just can’t believe that.”
“Why didn’t she turn then?” I asked.
He shrugged clearly exasperated by this conversation.
“Look,” He said, “If things change here for us, we’ll go to the base, but we can’t risk it otherwise.”
I sighed in annoyance, but I knew he was right.
“Okay,” I agreed meekly.
Another thought occurred to me. One I had almost forgotten about in the chaos.
“Hey, did Laura ever mention low food counts to you?” I asked him.
He looked at me confused and shook his head, “No, why?”
I shrugged, “The counts just seem a little low. Maybe it’s nothing, I’ll count them again.”
“You sure? I can ask her about it,” he stated.
I shook my head and waved my hands as if to wave the thought away, “No, I don’t want it to seem like I’m accusing her of anything. Plus, we used to have the eggs from the chickens, fish and coconuts so maybe she didn’t think it was that low.”
“We can’t rely on those things though. We need the nonperishables just in case.”
“I know that, maybe she got complacent,” I suggested.
I had a nagging feeling there was something seriously wrong though. The concern left my mind presently as Daniel took my hand and we walked back to the camp together.

Chapter 9
Lasa ran up to me and gave me a big hug as we entered the beach past the car wall.
“I missed you. I didn’t think you’d be gone all night,” she said.
I knelt down as best I could to her, “I’m sorry sweetie. Auntie Phoebe still needed my help.”
“So, she is going to be okay?” Lasa asked.
“Yes, I think she will be,” I replied.
“You just lied to her,” I heard someone screech behind me, “Phoebe was bit,” Laura added venomously.
I glared at her. She scolded me for what she thought was lying to a child but then added that so tactlessly. I saw Lasa’s eyes widen in terror. She knew all too well what that normally meant.
I wanted to slap Laura. She was even grinning at the result her little outburst caused.
“I was going to call an emergency meeting,” Daniel began, “to explain the situation but Phoebe is in quarantine right now.”
“What?” Laura asked looking at him. The color draining from her face.
“She didn’t turn. She shows no signs of turning either. We’re keeping her in lock down until we’re sure.”
“But…” Laura began.
“But what?” I asked having difficultly standing up, “You terrified a child needlessly without learning any of the facts?” I asked, my anger boiling to the surface.
Laura was in shock and made no reply.
I turned away from her back to Lasa, “You okay?” I asked.
“Aunt Phoebe is okay? Really?” was all she asked.
“She’s doing alright, yes,” I told her, “Come on, let’s go rest a bit.”
“See you at the meeting,” Daniel said and kissed me lightly.
I walked back to the shack with Lasa. I laid down on my cot as Lasa told me all about fishing with Diana and Brian.
I tried to listen intently, but Laura’s outburst played on my mind. With what had already concerned me, I didn’t know what to think. Was she and Holland trying to sabotage us? I knew they wanted to be in charge, but it seemed silly. Even cartoonish to