"Does this wire need to be treated? Is it the same as the barbed wire in the school, just make a star on it. " Anna said, studying the circles of heavy wire.
"Yes, to bother you today. You twist the wire and we'll start work tomorrow. " Ike said.
"Dad? Are you sleeping again? " Tom didn't see Negan, so he asked.
"It is said that there is no spirit, just lying in bed." Regus thought of Carter's mother's serious illness.
"I'll go up and have a look!" Ike and Tom followed quickly.
Negan's room is very simple, with a bed of one meter and five meters, no tables, chairs and wardrobes.
Everything is piled on the ground, but it is neatly stacked and not messy.
In every corner of the room, there are also quicklime packed in linen bags, which is used to prevent moisture.
Therefore, the floor of the room is still relatively dry, unlike the floor of the living room, which is watery. "Negan, how are you?" Regus patted Negan, who was asleep. Negan didn't wake up.
He slept very slowly, just like ten minutes before getting up in the morning. He wanted to be awake, but his body was honestly sleepy.
"Well. I am very sleepy and tired. " he finally woke him up, and Negan's eyes were so sleepy that he was a little swollen.
Ike suddenly lifted the quilt on his feet and found that the oedema of Negan's legs was serious again. "If this continues, we will take him to Chinese doctor today.
" It was the last time that Regus took Carter's mother to the doctor, and they searched for a whole day to find the doctor. "I'm really fine,
except that I feel tired and sleepy, and I have no other pain." Negan struggled.
"This is nothing!" Tom shouted angrily.
He always thought that his father was really just tired, because he usually looked normal when eating, but he didn't know it was so serious.
Tom wowed and joined forces with Regus to drag Negan out of bed.
"What's the matter?" Linda's voice trembled as she saw Negan being carried down by Tom and Regus. She rushed over, concern etched on her face.
"It's okay. We're taking him to a Chinese doctor today," Ike replied, trying to keep his explanation brief so as not to cause unnecessary worry.
Linda nodded hastily and quickly fetched a raincoat to drape over Negan's slumped form. Negan was so weak that he struggled to stand still, and for a few minutes, they all scrambled to get him ready. Linda was so frightened by his condition that tears welled up in her eyes.
"Someone needs to stay home," Ike said, his tone firm. "If Negan goes out, there won't be any men in the house. It's too dangerous."
In this room, the number of people, their genders, and even their ages were known to the neighbors, and this information couldn't be shared so casually.
"Tom, you stay at home," Ike instructed.
Regus was the one with combat skills, and though Tom was intelligent, Ike didn't feel confident leaving him alone with Regus and Negan.
Tom understood and nodded.
"Uncle Negan, we can't help you later if we leave people guessing. Can you walk by yourself?"
"Yeah, sure," Negan replied, mustering the strength to pat his own face. Although his legs were still a bit shaky, his head was spinning, and his vision was slightly blurry, he believed he could manage to walk, albeit slowly.
With their plan in place, Ike and Negan left the house, with Regus accompanying them.
As they reached the front door, Ike suddenly remembered something. "Anna, give me a list of our medicines."
Anna was helping Ike retie his shoelaces when Nami chimed in, "I'll get it."
Nami's tall, slender figure moved swiftly like a rabbit as she retrieved a note she had torn from her notebook. "Don't let it get wet, or Anna will have to recount it."
They hadn't had the chance to back up their supplies yet.
"Hmm," Ike acknowledged as he took the list, folded it carefully, and headed out.
The three of them moved slowly, with Negan in the middle. Despite his unsteady gait, he managed to walk independently.
The doctor's house wasn't too far away, nestled in an old neighborhood. Only Regus had been there before, thanks to a recommendation from the pharmacy owner.
Thinking of the pharmacy triggered memories for Ike. He couldn't help but wonder if the pharmacist was still alive. It was as if those who were alive yesterday had vanished today. This sense of loss weighed heavily on Ike's heart, reminding him of the pandemic many years ago when the official death toll had reached about 2 million.
The simplicity of that number masked the countless stories of grief, tears, and shattered families. To a casual observer, the figure might seem unremarkable, but when the people affected are your loved ones, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers you spoke to just the day before, the gravity of those numbers becomes painfully apparent.
They arrived at the doctor's house without incident, passing by many people in a hurry, all too preoccupied with looting to pay them any attention.
"Dr. Mundo!" Regus called out from downstairs to the second-floor balcony.
In this old housing complex, buildings typically had five or six floors, somewhat run-down but boasting secure doors and windows. Coastal security had been an issue in the past, leading to the installation of robust entryways.
Similarly, Ike's home was a typical old building, featuring a sturdy iron door on the ground floor and reinforced doors on the upper floors. Security was a top priority.
Due to this, Regus couldn't ascend to the second floor, so he had to shout from below.
After a brief shout, a child's head appeared on the balcony, peering down at them. Regus quickly identified himself. "It's me, Regus. I was here last time."
The child recognized Regus and disappeared briefly to inform an adult. Within moments, footsteps echoed in the stairwell, and a middle-aged man appeared behind the large green iron door on the ground floor.
He asked them, "Who needs the doctor?"
Regus promptly brought Negan closer. The middle-aged man extended a hand to examine Negan, inspecting his eyes and tongue, and using a stethoscope to listen to his chest and lungs.
Ike stood a meter away, not intruding.
Regus hadn't met this middle-aged man before. "Where's Dr. Mundo?"
"He's resting. My father downstairs isn't well. I'm a doctor too," the middle-aged man added.
They didn't press further, grateful for the assistance they were receiving. The middle-aged man had examined Negan without demanding payment or discussing fees. They couldn't fault him for that.
After a while, the middle-aged man produced a pen and paper, asking Negan a few questions and quickly reaching a diagnosis. "High blood pressure, some heart issues. It's not too serious, but it's best to start treatment right away. I've listed the simplest medications, and I've marked alternatives."
His explanation was concise and straightforward. He tore the prescription from the pad and handed it to Regus, who picked it up and examined it. The paper contained several medication names, along with indications for alternatives.
Regus passed the prescription to Ike, who took a look. It seemed they had most of the medications already, so the problem didn't appear to be too severe.
Ike also admired the doctor's ability to gauge the situation. Dr. Mundo had been practicing in this area for years, and many people knew about his clinic. Refusing patients without cause would likely lead to conflicts.
But this middle-aged man had a tactful approach. He didn't ask questions, readily assisted, and didn't press for payment. It was indeed a smart move in these uncertain times.
With gratitude in mind, Regus presented the middle-aged doctor with supplies from his backpack, including a bottle of wine, a pack of cigarettes, two cans of fruit, and a can of beef—precious and practical items. He passed them through the gap in the iron door.
The doctor's eyes lit up when he saw these offerings, his demeanor warming slightly. "Start treatment promptly. Although it's due to damp heat, it can lead to significant issues if left untreated."
He had originally been working in a neighboring hospital, thinking he would soon be called in to help. However, he noticed that the situation was deteriorating rapidly, prompting him to search for his father and son with his wife.
His presence here was a fortunate coincidence. His father, known for his kindness, had treated many people, and they almost fell victim to violence.
Initially, he had contemplated moving his father elsewhere, as many in the neighborhood knew about the elderly doctor's skills. However, his father insisted that in times like these, doctors were needed more than ever. How could he argue with that? He was a doctor himself, and saving lives was their duty. Before attending to patients, they had to ensure their own survival. So, for now, he was only seeing patients on the ground floor, without demanding fees. If patients chose to offer something, he accepted it without pushing. After all, he was just diagnosing and prescribing medication,
and nothing more.