Darkness

May 17, 1812

Samuel Duncan

Well, it looks like my first yellow fever outbreak has been resolved with far less trouble than I expected. Just the two members of the steamboat crew, and they recovered so quickly that I almost doubt my diagnosis. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of anyone being well again just a couple of days after symptoms began. But they had every characteristic of yellow fever, and it is the right season, even if early, so I still think that is what it was.

I’m sure there will be more cases soon. Every summer they come. I’ll consider this to be a bit of a dry run for us.

I’ve come down the hill to get in one last exam of Caleb and Albert, which they submitted to with humor and patience, and I have lingered to see off the steamboat. And of course to say goodbye to Thomas, who is headed down to New Orleans to get involved with politics. That makes perfect sense. Thomas should fit right in with the political scene.

I stand next to Gregor and his big dog behind the rest of the crew, waving as the huge and noisy ship turns around in the river and begins making its way back downstream, thumping and splashing and belching smoke. What a sight.

It is almost humorous to see the crew visibly deflating as soon as the boat is away. They start strolling away from the dock, into the passenger terminal, their level of high energy that had been maintained all morning as they tended the passengers and loaded the boat comically diminished. Gregor grins at me, lifts his eyebrows and quirks his head to the side, inviting me to come along.

“We do this every time the boat departs,” he murmurs to me as we follow behind the men.

Soon enough the entire group of some two or three dozen men has gathered together in the waiting room, collapsing on the benches, laughing and chattering.

Gregor stands at the front of the room, and addresses the group, Tiger thumping his tail on the floor as he sits beside him. “All right, folks, well done again. You’ve done really good work this week. Not only did you take care of loading the most passengers and cargo that we’ve had yet, but the boarding house extension is finished at last. I think that when they return, we should finally be able to start renting rooms out there.”

They cheer, applauding themselves for their efforts. Gregor adds, glancing at me while he speaks to them, “And of course you helped nurse two of the steamboat crew back to health. You’ve really earned a little break!”

They wait to hear what he has to say next. “So, take the rest of today off, and also tomorrow. You know our next project is the cabin for Moses at Homochitto, and it is going to take a couple more days to get all the lumber and other supplies delivered there before it is time to start the construction. So enjoy your time off. We’ll meet back here the day after tomorrow, and hopefully by then it’ll be time to head out for a cabin raising.”

He sits back down on the bench next to me, his hand stroking Tiger’s fur as he watches the crew happily depart for a couple of days of recreation.

“How long will the cabin take to build?” I ask him curiously. I have noticed how remarkably proficient the crew is at raising buildings.

“I had thought maybe two days, but I’m thinking I should give it four. The design is slightly more complicated than I originally intended,” he says, smiling sheepishly. “I kept thinking of more things to add. But I think with the whole crew going out there each day from dawn to dusk for four days in a row, we should be able to get it done. Want to come watch while it’s going up?”

“Um, maybe,” I say. “Depends on if my patients will give me a leisure afternoon to make the trip.”

“Well,” he says, “at least you don’t have any yellow fever patients left.”

I nod, but I know it is just the beginning of the summer season. In my reading on the topic, I’ve learned that most outbreaks start with just a couple of cases, then there might be a little lull, then case numbers start going up. We’ll see what happens.