Space Plague by Zac Harrison Read Free Book Online Page B

knees, a sob in his throat.
    Emmie had collapsed on the floor, her skin glowing with golden light. As John watched in dismay, she suddenly shifted position. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them and groaned.

Chapter 8
    “Zeep!” John yelled. “Meteor Medics to Emmie’s room, NOW . She has the flu.”
    It took a second for the computer to reply. “No Meteor Medics are available at this moment,” it said.
    “ None ? What about Examiners?”
    “All Examiners are currently occupied.”
    “ All of them?” John gasped. “What on Earth is going on?”
    “Zhaldarian Flu has spread. Hyperspace High’s emergency systems are at full capacity.”
    John cursed under his breath. He had to get Emmie to Dr Kasaria, and there was no time to waste. That left only one option. Slipping his arms beneath Emmie, he cradled her to his chest and lifted her. She was hot, her skin slippery with sweat, but she was easy to carry. For a moment John wondered how his friend, who was always so full of energy and surprisingly strong, could weigh so little. Holding her tenderly, he raced out of her dorm room.
    “Keep away. Get back to your rooms!” he shouted at the students who were still chatting in the lobby. “She’s contagious.”
    The hall cleared in seconds. Clasping Emmie tightly, John carried her to the TravelTube. “Medical wing,” he said. “Fast.”
    The lift shot sideways. John lurched on his feet, half-turning to protect his friend from slamming into the wall. “Emmie,” he said, his voice cracking. “Can you hear me? You’re going to be all right. I’m taking you to Dr Kasaria. She’ll make you feel better.”
    Emmie’s eyelids flickered. For a split second, her navy-blue eyes, full of pain, looked up at him. “John,” she whispered. “Not feeling so...” Her voice trailed off, and her eyes closed again.
    John was already calling for Dr Kasaria as the TravelTube door opened. Bellowing for help, he raced through the doors to the medical wing and skidded to a halt.
    Hover stretchers were floating everywhere, each one occupied by an unconscious student. Through the clear screen, John could see the quarantine ward had been enlarged massively. Now, Kaal lay in the first of a long line of beds. Meteor Medics rushed from one patient to the next, their thin metal fingers glinting under the lights as they took samples and scanned every new arrival.
    Dr Kasaria stalked through the chaos, stopping every so often to comfort the patients that were still conscious. Her hands touched complicated medical computers while she gave instructions to the Meteor Medics in her efficient tone. “Make sure all patients are securely strapped down,” she ordered. “We cannot risk them attacking each other.”
    As quickly as new patients were moved into beds, more arrived. Behind John, a queue of hover stretchers was forming, each carrying another Zhaldarian Flu victim.
    “Dr Kasaria!” John called. “I need help.”
    The doctor glanced at him and then down at Emmie in his arms. “The poor girl,” she murmured. Then she was all efficiency again. “Carry her to an empty bed, John,” she said. “We will see to her soon.”
    “Can’t I stay? There must be something I can do.”
    “ No , you’ll get in the way.” The doctor turned away, already issuing new instructions as she took the pulse of a red-skinned boy whose chin reached to his waist. “We need more beds,” she said briskly. “Zepp, can you help?”
    “There are some in the storage holds, Dr Kasaria,” the computer answered immediately. “I will have the droids bring them up.”
    “Carry her to an empty bed and then get back to your dormitory, John,” Dr Kasaria repeated over her shoulder.
    John laid Emmie on one of the few empty beds. Gently wiping her face with a cool flannel, he whispered, “You’re the strongest person I know, Emmie. Don’t let this sickness beat you.”
    * * *
    There was no music when Zepp woke John the next