Oh Rose Thou Art Sick

by Pil Lee

They decided it would be best to lock Hugo up for the night. There was no point risking the disease spreading, even if he was completely unconscious and, if Meyers was to be believed, likely to stay that way until he died.

They all trooped back into the mess and sat around the main table, nervously glancing between them. Meyers sat at the end, shaking his head.

“I’ve never actually seen this before,” he said into the tense silence. “I’m just assuming he’s in the last stages. He seems to have had all the symptoms.”

Cara shifted uncomfortably. “And how,” she muttered into her beer.

Everyone looked up at her. “Tell us again exactly what happened,” said Peterson.

“I’m not going to go over it again and again,” she said. “He told me he was in love with me, he said he loved me, right.” There was silence. “He tried to kiss me.”

“Whoa,” breathed Big Bobba. “Man, oh man.”

“How did you feel?” asked Peterson. “Do you feel sick too?”

Cara looked up at him fearfully, as Meyers brought his fist down on the table. “Hey, let’s everybody just back off here, okay. Cara’s got none of the symptoms, and let me remind you that we’ve all been around Hugo for a month, every day, with no way out. Any one of us could have caught it.”

“Yeah but he was always nearest Cara,” said Lacey, the only other woman of the ten person crew. “Do you think, I’m sorry Cara babe, but do you think she should be quarantined?”

“Hey hang on,” Cara started to shout.

“I’m not saying it’s your fault,” Lacey shouted over the top of her.

The whole crew leant in and started to talk, when suddenly they became aware of the Captain pushing back his chair. He stood silently for a moment. “Cara’s confined to quarters. Everyone else, stay in your quarters unless you’re doing something essential. Everyone stay away from Hugo.”

“He needs medical attention,” Meyers protested.

“Have you ever heard of anyone recovering?” said the Captain.

“No,” he admitted.

“Stay away from him. Stay in your quarters. Okay, everyone out”.

They all trooped out of the mess, and split up, making for their rooms. Cara looked up at the Captain as she was leaving and opened her mouth to argue, but his look made her close it again and leave.The Captain sat down at the table again, alone in the room. “Hugo, Hugo,” he murmured into his beer. “I’m so sorry.”