Page 54 - Archangel
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three worldwide they know who can create sufficient public health infrastructure
and supply chain capacity in time to treat those presently in need and prevent
epidemics. We’ve spotted thousands more running this way for their lives
confirmed by aircraft fly-over. After the last Health Sector meeting, one INGO
lead even inferred that they may not remain engaged if you don’t come. In God’s
name, can you come?
“In Christ,
Jack
“PS Doctor Ian Moseley from CARE added, “Tell that daft MacIain we need
him NOW. We’re well and truly in the shit, mate – as bad as Sudan’s Hunger
Triangle. He owes me for feeding his patients in Waat! Hell, he owes me for his
poker losses from Sudan! And Lozi? Make sure the Southern bastard brings a
translator, because none of us can understand his ‘English.’”
Sean returned everyone to the present with, “Listen, I know you’re on
fumes, Highlander. I would have refused to bother you, but it’s Jack. We all
know he’s had to bail us out twice in 60 days and even covered surgery for
a week. He did it without complaint or hesitation. And having introduced
all of us to Layla months ago, he’s as heart-broken as we are.”
Fifteen seconds passed with the three holding their breath. They
were taken aback when Skye finally turned toward them with a relaxed
expression, and asked, “Can y’all handle things here, while I’m in Benaco?
What they ask will take about six, maybe seven days. Since they’re
motivated, I’ll make them cover my expenses from their budgets. Maybe
I can come back with a pallet or two of the 20 pallets of antibiotics we
gave them that y’all have been begging for since our Bukavu refugee
population doubled.”
Looking to Sergeant Ngetti for confirmation, Ndara answered,
“We studied the duty roster while you were asleep. It will be close, but
we think the public health outreach will be OK. Doctor?” Ndara said,
nodding at Collins.
“I think I can cover what’s in the queue and coming, maybe six or
seven days max. The antibiotics you might bring back would literally save
thousands, mate, as you know,” Collins admitted. “I can kidnap Dr. Fraser,
the WHO inspector physician here for a week, and make him scrub up. I
have compromising photos from his past.”
Skye smiled, nodded his head once and said, “I’ll give them six days in
camp. That is, if I can get there and back in timely fashion. I’ve worked
with several of those guys in Jack’s health sector. Ian and Marcel are some
of the best. I’ve never known either to cry wolf.”
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