Chapter 200: It’s a plague alright.
Linera forgot one thing: this was fox territory. Lady Cadelaria outranked her by many positions. Sienna knew this, so she pulled her aunt back. "I have touched their money, so they have something to say, of course. Let them come. All they will do is tickle my ears with their words." She undid the straps of the baby carrier and transferred Ali from her back to her chest.
She had been so busy that she hardly noticed her daughter had changed from human cub form to fox cub form. But, the breathing mask was still on her face, and she was sleeping. Her fever had gone down. In a day or two, she would be back to bouncing and eating. "Timothy, I think I am ready for that chair now."
Hardly had she finished the words when a chair was slid behind her, pillows were thrown on it and fox guards started hammering an open tent in place, around her. Sienna smiled. They had been anticipating this already.
Just as her mother-in-law, and the council against Sienna [as she named them in her head] reached her, a shimmer of light unfolded above the hospital, reflecting off the surface of the flying ship.
The Beast King’s handsome, but stern face appeared, magnified so every tribe and everyone in the kingdom could see him. His voice rolled like thunder, silencing even the cubs who had been making a fuss.
"Beast men and human, citizens of this kingdom of a thousand beasts," the king intoned, "whispers have been traveling around about a plague in Houndfang city. I bring you news tonight on this very matter. Our doctors have uncovered the source of this plague and confirmed it to be one, so it is no longer a rumor. It is real."
The words did not surprise Sienna. Around her, fox refugees clutched each other, ears twitching nervously. The faint hearted were already sobbing.
The King’s address continued on, "The doctors have named it Aquafina Bacterium. A strain of bacteria found in the water and some of the soil of the city. At the moment, the cause seems to be expulsion of our own internal waste in the wrong places. Despite all the lessons in hygiene and technology we have some people still live as if they are in the woods."
Sienna raised her brows. Did he mean people had been taking dumps in the water!!? And people had been drinking the water!!
"Doctors are not certain if the plague spreads through air but it is likely not to." The King went on, his tone grave but steady. "Symptoms include fever, burning throat, swelling of the eyes and weakness in the limbs. In severe cases, the skin turns yellowish and breathing becomes labored. Flu is not a symptom of this plague, as assumed before."
Elder Vinira gasped. "Yellow skin...like the old stories."
The king’s hologram shifted, showing diagrams of cells and water samples.
"A vaccine will be ready within a week or two at most. Until then, all who have traveled to Houndfang city in the past month must report to hospitals for examination. Those who plan to go there should turned back. That city is now under lockdown and the command of the military. No tribe is permitted to evacuate their people anymore. The gates and ports are sealed. The only ships or vehicles allowed in must have permits from the council of health." The hologram vanished.
Lady Cadelaria, never one to miss a chance for drama threw her hands up. "Do you see what I was saying Sienna? Do you see it? These people are sick and you brought them here. Now, our city is at risk too. How long until we are under lock down as well?"
Sienna steadied her voice, though exhaustion weighed on her. "Enough, Cadelaria. Panic will not help. You heard the king, the disease does not spread through air. The infection spreads through drinking water. All food cooked with that water was toxic. I am guessing the plants grown in the soil watered with toxic water are also problematic. It could explain why people were desperate to escape, they were running from expectations of starvation and death."
She turned to the fox elders. "Instead of standing around me and harping, do your jobs. Check every refugee record. If anyone arrived in the city from Houndfang on a ship that I did not send, they must be brought in and tested. If they brought edible souvenirs, they must be confiscated.
Any edible products imported out of Houndfang and manufactured in the last say....three months should be taken off shelves and destroyed. We don’t know if the plague doesn’t spread through physical touch just yet, so encourage people to be less affectionate."
The hologram returned, with the face of the king. "Minimize physical contact with anyone infected. If anyone is in possession of food or drink from Houndfang city dating back three months, burn it. This is a precautionary measure.
I must remind you all not to panic. The cause of the plague has been identified and we are already working on a vaccine. We will endure. We will not allow fear to divide us. Trust in the doctors. Trust in the kingdom."
The light dissolved again, leaving only the night sky. Silence hung heavy, broken only by the distant cries of those who had the symptoms, and those who were scared.
Sienna sighed, rubbing her temples.
Her aunt leaned closer, whispering, "You look pale. Maybe you should have something to eat first."
The thought of food at that time made Sienna’s stomach turn. Who knew if that food was safe? For now, she would have to feed herself and her family only food planted at home or given by the system. "Aunt, tell uncle Jorik to take a team hunting, and gathering in any forest near the city. Let’s avoid buying food from the market for a while."
She was sure the royals had made similar arrangements. It sure explained why Serenya’s people had been buying more of her garden fresh products. They had prepared themselves first, and then revealed the truth to the world.
Sienna scoffed. "So much for equality of all beast men."
A few coins were dropped at her feet and her mother-in-law declared harshly, "That is all the money you are going to get out of me. Ten beast coins. Go dig for free money elsewhere Chubby charms because it is not coming from me or my son."
