Ninety Degrees Out

Mike Ingersoll scanned the harbor and the stack of boxes and crates the dockworkers were unloading from the navy destroyer along side the biggest pier. Two ships further down, a freighter was swinging a large container onto a truck parked on shore. The first truck pulled off and another pulled in, and as his own freight piled up beside him, he watched a second container swing onto the trailer frame and lock into place.

Who would have the pull to move that much freight and get army trucks to help move it? A blonde woman, her hair a bright cap with silver streaks, move along the pier toward him, one eye on the trucks as she strode along. He found himself moving out of her way, without question. Her eyes took in his stacked crates, and she stopped dead.

“Stargazer Ranch?” She pointed to the shipping labels he’d attached.

“Yes, why?” His kids were working there, and he took another look at the woman. She was taller than he thought at first glance.

“That’s where I’m headed too. I can get another truck for your freight if you need it.”

“Why would you offer?” No one in Chicago would ever do such a thing. He would be fighting off thieves and muggers instead.

“I made myself a vow, when I was up and the stars started streaking across the sky, the moon moved in ways I know it can’t, and my stomach revolted. I mean I was so sick and dizzy, I sat down on the bench and puked.”

“Where were you?” Mike was intrigued in spite of himself. He’d heard stories in the ER from nauseous patients pouring through the doors. Over a thousand of them within half an hour of the flip.

“In the Everglades in Florida. A sick elephant in one of the zoos had escaped.”

Mike took a wild guess and asked, “Are you a vet?”

“Anya Amudson DVM. I had a practice in Miami. I’ve packed up to join my son up here. Damn in the west. I’m still not used to the changes.” She stuck out her hand as she introduced herself.

“Michael Ingersoll MD. General surgeon and my son and daughter are here. They’ve been working on the ranch for a few years now. I raised them to love nature. They took it from there.”

“Then I assume you have medical supplies in those crates. Let’s just keep that between us for now. With the way the gangs tore up Miami, I don’t trust anyone that doesn’t wear military uniforms at the moment. Good to meet you Michael.” Her grip was like iron, and he returned it in kind.

“Agreed. Chicago was bad anyway. The flooding was insane from Lake Michigan was awful. When they started to show signs of tidal activity, panic was worse than ever. Call me Mike.”

Anya started toward shore and the trucks waiting with her containers. “Come with me, I’ll just let my guys know we need another truck. What do you think? A five ton?”

“Sharp eyes. Yes, I’ve got around that much. I managed to scavenge from various medical supply companies. I’ve got enough equipment for a minor surgery.”

“I’ve got more. Enough for large animal diagnostics and surgery. We could combine. My stuff will work on humans too.”

Mike had to look up to meet her eyes. He was only a couple of inches shorter than her. “I like your idea. I hope they’ve got room for everything. Getting materials to build isn’t going to be easy.”

“We can use tents if we have too. Have you ever seen the MASH units?”

“Good point. If you have an in with the army, then that’s what we do.” Mike liked this woman. No nonsense, in the moment planning wasn’t something he was used to.

As they climbed onto the road, he watched a twin Otter with distinctive neon orange striping, idle toward the end of the floating dock outside where the freighters were unloading. At the same time an ambulance pulled onto the service road.

They stopped to wait for the emergency vehicle to off load.

“Dear God, that’s my daughter!” Mike dashed forward.

His girl’s arm was in a sling, a cast up past her elbow. Her sweet face bruised and her right eye swollen shut. A tiny Chinese woman held her hand and a handsome young man with medium bronze skin and short dreadlocks walked along side the gurney on the other side.

“Catherine, Kitty Cat, what happened?” His glance accused the people around her.

“Daddy,” Catherine’s cry broke his heart. “Daddy don’t be mad at them. They got me help. The man that did this is dead. We just got the news from the trooper who was with me in the hospital.”

Mike kissed his daughter’s forehead, squeezing her left hand. “I was just trying to figure out how to make contact.” He turned to wave Anya Amudson over. “This is Dr. Anya Amudson, DVM. She says her son works with you.”

Catherine stared up at the woman approaching. “She has to be Erik’s mother.”

“She hasn’t said,” Mike told her.

“How is my son? Erik, how is he?”

Mike moved aside so Catherine to see her clearly.

“He’s fine. I would know you anywhere. You have his eyes, and he has the same blond hair.” Catherine shook her head. “He told us you were coming. He didn’t know exactly when you would get here. It’s been over a month since he said anything.”

“Same as me, it’s been a month since you asked me if I wanted to come up here.” Mike told her.

He listened quietly as a shorter woman came up from the docks. Her hair in a long braid down her back, she strode up to Catherine and hugged her. It turned out she was a pilot. Her plane was the one with the iridescent orange stripes.

Anya continued up to the men waiting beside her containers, and she seemed to be deep in conversation with them. One of them picked up a handheld radio and before arrangements were made for Catherine and those with her to fly back to the ranch, another lighter military truck approached the loading area.

“Dad, are you coming with us?”

“No, I’ll be staying here. Dr. Amudson has graciously found a way to move my gear with hers. We’ll go with the trucks.”

“Jett, will you go with them? You know how to get through the construction out to the ranch, right?’ Catherine’s face showed her struggle between keeping all her friends with her and the necessity of getting him and his supplies out of the city safely.

“Not to worry, I’ll get them there. Let Erick know his mom is here too.” Jett squeezed her good shoulder as he spoke.

“I’ll tell you everything when you get to the ranch, Dad.”

He kissed her forehead once more. “I’ll see you then Kitty Cat.”