CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Isaac whistled the entire bumpy ride on the donkey. He hoped a car would pass so that he could wave it down but there wasn’t one. Not one single car or truck that he could take. So be it. This gave him time to formulate his plan and think.
The siblings had obviously lied to him and they deserved to be exterminated like the vermin that they were. Perhaps this part of the country was filled with others like them.
Reaching a crossroads, he knew that he should go right to head toward Mumbai but to the left was something large. A multi-story building in the distance. There was a sign pointing the way, but it wasn’t in English.
Taking out his phone, he scanned the sign and used his translation feature.
“No,” he laughed. “No, this is too good to be true. I can’t be this lucky.”
He turned the donkey left and tried to make the beast speed up but it seemed he only had one gear. When he reached the gates of the hospital, the guard stepped out and said something he didn’t understand.
“I apologize,” he said calmly. “I’m the new doctor for the hospital. I was expected a few days ago but as you can see, I’ve had transportation issues.”
“A new doctor?” asked the guard. “I wasn’t told of a new doctor. One moment.”
He closed the door to the guard shack and picked up the phone, obviously speaking to someone in authority. This entire place needed to be eliminated, he thought to himself. No, it wasn’t because of intermarriage but it was deformity and illness and disease, all the same.
These men, women and children were a burden to society and should be killed immediately.
The guard opened the small window and handed him a small bag with a mask and gloves.
“The administrator is waiting for you at the entrance. My apologies. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“It’s not a problem at all,” he said happily. “Are you a patient here as well?”
“No,” he said shaking his head. “I simply work the guard shack in the evening shift.” He closed the window and returned to whatever he was watching on the small black and white television. Isaac only nodded.
“He’ll have to die nevertheless,” he sighed. “Let’s go little donkey. We have things to do.”
The donkey seemed to reach his limit on moving forward. He stopped in the middle of the driveway and pawed at the dirt, shaking his head.
“Very well,” said Isaac. “Rest. I’ll need a ride back unless I can find a car.”
He stepped off the cart and grabbed his bag. With a big smile, he took long strides toward the steps of the hospital where a man waited for him. He seemed tall and lean, wearing a white coat.
“Poor bastard doesn’t have a clue,” he smirked to himself. He waved an enthusiastic wave and smiled. “Hello! I’m Dr. Isaac Wadston.”
The doctor waved back, his dark hair and tanned skin indicating that he was possibly from the region, but he couldn’t be certain. When he stood on the bottom step, the man finally spoke.
“I understand that you’re our new doctor,” he said in perfect English. In fact, it was perfect English with a decidedly American accent.
“Yes,” he said feeling a little uncertain of himself. “That’s right.”
“Well, we’re very glad to have you here. As you know, we’re a fully operating Hansen’s Disease center. We focus on the research, well-being, and care of patients who have contracted the disease.”
“Leprosy,” he said with a stern voice.
“We prefer the term Hansen’s Disease,” said the doctor. They were still several steps apart and Isaac suddenly had the feeling that he needed to be even further from this man.
“What’s the matter, doctor? Are you not feeling well?” asked another coming up behind the first. He was even taller and had blonde hair. American.
“I think I’m in the wrong place,” he said attempting to back up. But there was a brick wall behind him. He didn’t remember walking around a brick wall. Turning, he knew why.
“Hello, Isaac. Your brother says to fuck off,” said Logan.
“No. No, this can’t be happening. Get away from me,” he yelled.
“You tried to kill me you bastard. You tried to kill my fiancée and you succeeded in killing her sister when it wasn’t necessary.” Logan took a step toward him and he turned, trying to run but he was suddenly surrounded. At the gates, police and military vehicles were rumbling their way toward him.
“They had to die! Don’t you see? They all have to die. We cannot allow this to continue and we cannot continue paying for their mistakes.”
“You’re a mistake,” said Logan. He stared at the young man, visibly shaking. “Your parents were cousins. Your brother, was your brother and cousin, by definition.”
“Shut up. There was nothing wrong with either of us.”
“But there is,” said Pax. “You’re mad. Stark raving mad. Perhaps we should allow some of the doctors here to study you.”
“No,” he said shaking his head, sweating profusely as he kept trying to break the circle. “No! I don’t belong here. I don’t deserve to be here. I’m important! I’m talented and others want what I’ve created.”
“All you’ve created is something that emphasizes the proteins in the body and overwhelms the organs. It’s something a first-year medical student could have done. It’s not revolutionary,” said Logan.
Isaac beat the sides of his own with his fists, the bag he once held now at his feet. Cash was blowing in the wind, vials of his serum spilling into the grass.
“Isaac? You need help,” said Logan. “Let us help you.” For a moment, for a brief moment, he felt compassion for the man.
“Help me? You can’t help me. You’ve ruined my plans,” he said quietly. Pulling a large syringe from his pocket, he removed the needle protector and jammed it into his own thigh. “Don’t worry for me. This will be fast. This dose was always for me. It’s five times what is necessary.”
There was nothing to be done for him. The serum flooded his body, taking hold of the excessive proteins and multiplying at an alarming rate. Logan knelt beside the body, Saint and Moose and the other side of Isaac.
“I miss Leo,” he said quietly.
“I’m sure he misses you as well,” said Logan. “Brothers always miss one another.”
“H-he was a good brother. I didn’t tell him that enough.”
Isaac was pronounced dead six minutes later. No one could help him. What he left behind was his serum and research, all inside his bag. They would be able to take it home with them and let the team analyze everything he’d done.
“We can bury him here,” said the commander. “On this property.”
“It seems as good a place as any,” said Logan. “We’d appreciate it.”
As they boarded the Osprey once again, Evie and Clark turned to the men.
“Do we go home boys?” asked Clark. Moose shook his head.
“We have a stop to make first.”