VANGUARD(41)

“Which you can administer later,” Sophie replied. “I have work to do first.” She stepped into the hallway and found her two Soviet soldiers standing near the door. They looked about as well rested as she felt. Both regarded her with caution. She broke the watchful silence.

“Let us talk.”





-





When she returned to the infirmary after briefing the Rev on how to handle the Commandant, Anjali was waiting for her.

“That had better not be your whole breakfast,” the doctor said, gesturing to the half-eaten protein bar in Sophie’s hand. “And what are we going to do with those two?” Anjali jerked her thumb at the guards sitting outside the infirmary.

“They’re going to hang out here today. They promise not to bring the guns anywhere near you or Michael, and they’ll smoke outside. I’ve told them to help themselves to food. The kid with the dark hair is Sevastian, and the blond one is Sergei. They’re terrified of you, so take it easy on them.”

“These guys work for Der Kommissar himself. Aren’t they a security risk?”

“Not in my opinion.” Sophie sat down and opened her laptop. “If anyone is concerned, just send them around. I’ll talk to them.”

Anjali stared at her in astonishment, then shook her head and called for a nurse to hook Sophie up to an intravenous line to receive her meds. “Fine,” the doctor said. “But tell them if either of them puts a toe out of line, I’ll carve something on their foreheads.”





-





The Rev and the medical team headed into Parnaas at first light to start administering the antibiotics to the pneumonia cases. Sophie had given the Rev a number of suggestions on how he could play up the discovery of their “illicit” vaccine with the Commandant. They needed time, time to get Vanguard well enough to travel, time to figure out how to get him to freedom. Anjali stayed behind to scrounge more supplies and keep an eye on Michael.

Sophie worked on her computer in the infirmary until she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She lay back in her hospital bed wishing she could remove the annoying IV. Just a quick nap…

After what felt like two minutes of sleep, she awoke to the sound of people trying and failing to be quiet. She attempted to roll over to find the source of the noise, but couldn’t move. Something very hot and heavy held her in place.

“Sorry, Sophie,” Anjali’s voice sounded above her. “Just bear with us for a minute here.”

“What’s going on?”

“Michael is what’s going on. He’s gotten into bed with you.” She reached behind her. Michael, shivering with fever, had crawled into bed with her and spooned against her back, one thin arm clamped around her body with surprising strength. It took her several minutes to wiggle free, and several more with Anjali and one of the nurses to get him back to his own bed and reconnected to his lines. They opened the curtains between the two beds, hoping that visual reassurance would be enough if he awoke again.

A couple of hours later, Anjali returned to the infirmary. She found Sophie working, laptop balanced on her knees. Sprawled across her, one foot dangling off the edge of the bed, was Michael.

Anjali glared at her. “This is a hospital, not a dorm room! Why didn’t you call me?”

“I made sure he didn’t remove his lines this time.” Sophie pointed to the tubes and wires stretched between the two beds. She’d shoved her bed over to make everything reach. Barely.

Anjali sighed. “He’s got a highly infectious pneumonia. You can’t have this kind of contact with a patient. Use your head, for God’s sake.”

Sophie ignored her, but she also didn’t return to her work, instead picking moodily at the edge of her blanket. “Listen,” she finally said. “Is he well enough for me to let his parents know he’s alive?” She tried to be casual, but the fear in her voice leaked out. “I don’t want to tell them until I know the odds are in his favor.”

“There are no guarantees, especially this early on,” Anjali replied. “He’s improving, but he’s a very sick man. I’m not sure how he managed to stay alive as long as he did. That said, yes, I think you’re safe to tell his parents that he’s alive.”

After Anjali had left, Sophie picked up her iPhone and, tears trickling down her face, sent the text message to Maxwell and Signe that she had dreamed of sending for so long.