Chapter 21

"Why are you testing it again?" David asked Amelia inquisitively as he saw her holding the water bottle. "Because I want to make sure it's just a simple virus nothing else?" she replied as they raced towards the lab. "But we have already got the results?" he asked again. "Yes but I am not satisfied," she blurted as she suddenly turned around to face him. "Okay okay however you feel right," he gave in as they began walking again. "Do you remember their faces?" she asked. David wasn't expecting that question but he agreed to her reservations. It wasn't a simple virus alone that had turned their faces and bodies into zombies. It must have been something else.

They reached the lab for running the test on water that they had brought from the Stans community water supply the previous day. "What do you think it could be?" he asked as she gave the bottle to Robert the lab researcher who was already informed and was making arrangements for a duplex RT-PCR to detect A and E viruses. "I can't say anything right now." She shook her shoulders. "Did you talk to Thomas?" she suddenly remembered. "Yes I did. He was happy but concerned." Amelia knew that his concerns were genuine. Being a member of EPA had amplified his apprehensions about the community whose care was his prime responsibility.

However, the next thing that David mentioned was more unsettling than the previously said thing. "He was worried about us and our safety." "Why?" Amelia asked surprised. "He was anxious if we were seen by anyone." "Nobody saw us and if anyone had, who cares." she mumbled thoughtlessly. "Why is he so worried? We are doing the right thing." she added again."There might be something that he wants to hide. Maybe he doesn't want anyone to know that it is because of their negligence people have suffered." "That sounds right but we don't know if that really is the reason." Amelia said calmly. "But it is a matter of gratitude that he allowed us to go there and see the place. And also let Albert help us."

She looked at David with grateful eyes and smiled, "Thanks to you too. Without you it wouldn't have been possible." For him her gratefulness had always been confusing. It made him happy but at the same time awkwardly insecure. Thanks was the least he expected from someone he loved. It seemed like a burden of formality. He did not like formalities with Amelia. "You don't need to say that," he mumbled shyly. "You know that you are not an ordinary person," Amelia suddenly divulged. He was surprised to hear her saying something like that under those circumstances. The confession was beautiful but the place was odd. "You are meant to do bigger things in life." " Now you are being generous in your appreciations." he smiled blushingly. "Ma'am you can get the results tomorrow." They were suddenly interrupted by the lab researcher. However, David liked that interruption to avoid further awkwardness. "Okay thank you so much for your help. I will collect it from you tomorrow." she said as she clasped David's arm and went out of the lab.

There was quietness between them for a while when they came out in the fresh air. David pointed at the nearby bench and Amelia followed. "What are you thinking?" he jolted Amelia back to reality. She was squeezing her lower lip with her thumb and finger. "I just don't understand what took EPA so long to go there and search for the point of problem? I mean they knew it was serious." She furrowed her eyebrows. "Maybe they didn't know the seriousness." David replied doubtedly. "But it was all over the news and Anthony Kippler had been in the news too. It's strange that the concerned authority was uninformed."

"But the gravity of situation came to light only few days back. When the picture went viral. Before that everyone thought it was just a disease that could have been treatable." David said gravely. "Even when we met Thomas he too seemed ignorant of the situation until we told him that it was a matter of great concern.""Also why did he tell us that it should be kept confidential. Something of this much concern can't be kept as a secret." "Eventually they were the ones who were supposed to be contacted." Amelia stared at the ground. " The way he arranged our meeting with Albert was strange too." she added further.

David took her hand in his and gently opened spoke. "There are things which he may not like to share. But he helped us and that matters." as he stroked her hair with another hand. "If they did it earlier many lives would have been rescued. This is what I am saying" She pronounced quickly. "I know but even now is not a wrong time. We should be thankful for that." Amelia nodded to agree. Undoubtedly they were lucky to be prevented from the curse. "One thing more?"she questioned innocently. "How would they repair the system if they were so worried about being seen?" David stared at her and she was right. "Maybe it was just us whom he didn't want to be seen by anyone. His employees might be exception. We don't know." He shook his shoulders. Amelia thought he was right.

"Now I am just waiting for the results. Our trials would begin after that." She murmured camouflaging her fears with a canvas of hope. "Science has been our greatest aide in circumstances like these. I don't know what would the earth look like without science." she whispered. "We would be crippled." he murmured. "Indeed" she agreed. David glanced at her lovingly as she was engrossed in her thoughts with knitted eyebrows. He knew that she was worried but he loved her face even in anxiety. It was the most innocent and beautiful face he had ever seen. "Science is useless without you Amelia," he thought as he caressed her hair again. They smiled when their eyes met. And for him that smile was priceless.