Chapter 10
1149words
White tents trembled slightly in the desert wind, while the life-sustaining equipment inside emitted monotonous and rhythmic humming.
Through the thick protective glass, I watched Mark in the tent. He was wearing the same patient gown as Eva, staying by her bedside without moving an inch, using a dampened cotton swab to gently moisten her cracked lips.
The high fever had put Eva in a semi-comatose state, her breathing faint and burning hot, the terrible hemorrhagic spots on her skin like bizarre flowers planted by death.
"Eva," Mark's voice came through the intercom, hoarse and filled with pain, "can you hear me? It's Mark."
He held her cold hand against his cheek, calling to her softly over and over again.
That intercom was the only means of communication with the outside world that I allowed them.
Every hour, I would inquire about Eva's vital signs through the intercom, guiding Mark on how to care for her.
I didn't say a word to reproach him for his reckless entry. I knew that at times like these, any rules seemed fragile in the face of genuine emotion.
What I can do is to use my professional knowledge to build a rational line of defense for the two people in the tent, and for everyone outside the tent.
"Temperature 39.8, heart rate 132, breathing weak..." Mark reported the data hoarsely into the walkie-talkie, his voice suppressing enormous pain.
I remained silent for a few seconds, trying to keep my voice calm and firm: "Increase the frequency of physical cooling, use wet towels to wipe her neck and groin areas.
Mark, stay calm, we are contacting all medical organizations in surrounding countries, searching for information about backup medications. You are not fighting alone."
At nightfall, Eva's weak voice came through the walkie-talkie. I immediately rushed to the observation window and saw her struggling to open her eyes, weakly smiling at Mark who was keeping vigil by her bedside with sunken eye sockets. "You... are... the biggest fool... I've ever seen."
"Yes," Mark leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers, tears finally breaking through, "then would you... marry this fool?"
Tears welled up in Eva's eyes too, and she used all her strength to squeeze out a word from her throat: "Yes..."
I turned around, leaning my back against the cold wall, allowing tears to silently fall.
Meanwhile, Leo left the base. He told me he was going to take care of something, to retrieve the life-saving medicine.
I watched him drive away alone, disappearing into the desert twilight, my heart gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
That entire night, I kept watch outside the quarantine zone.
I didn't know where Leo had gone or what he was doing. I could only check Eva's vital signs over and over again, praying she could hold on a little longer, just a little longer...
Until the next afternoon, when Leo returned covered in dust, tightly clutching the metal box containing the life-saving medicine, I almost collapsed to the ground.
Later, when everything settled down, and Eva's high fever finally subsided, Leo told me about everything that happened that day.
He said he went to find Argus—his former comrade-in-arms, now an arms dealer.
Argus sat on an oil drum in the abandoned quarry, like a bloodthirsty demon, and offered one condition: trade Mr. Smith for that box of life-saving medicine.
Leo agreed.
But what he didn't tell me was that it was a trap from the beginning. Argus never intended to hand over the medicine; he just wanted to torture and kill Mr. Smith in front of Leo, and eliminate Leo, his biggest threat.
"Then how did you get the medicine?" I asked him.
Leo didn't answer, just leaned tiredly on my shoulder.
Much later, I heard from Mark that Leo had used the unlimited black card given to him by the Saudi leader to rent an armed helicopter.
At the crossroads in the west of the city, at the moment when Argus thought victory was in his grasp, the helicopter descended from the sky, and its rain-like firepower instantly destroyed Argus's convoy.
Leo snatched back the medicine from Death's hands.
---
When Leo returned, I almost rushed over to take the metal box from him.
My hands were shaking so badly that I could barely hold the syringe steady.
But when I personally injected the Miracle Cure into Eva's vein, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
A few hours later, Eva's high fever began to subside, and all her vital signs miraculously stabilized.
When news of the crisis being averted spread, the entire base erupted in excitement.
Through the observation window, I saw Mark holding Eva, whose body temperature was gradually returning to normal, and this man of steel was crying like a child.
Eva raised her weak hand, gently stroking his cheek, her eyes filled with the relief of having survived a calamity and abundant love.
After walking through the narrow gate between life and death, they finally entrusted their lives to each other without reservation.
At dusk, the four of us gathered together for a rare occasion. The remaining glow of the sunset cast a warm golden hue over the tent. Eva leaned in Mark's arms, taking small sips of the porridge I had prepared for her.
Leo sat by the bedside, silently peeling an apple. No one spoke, but there was an unspoken understanding and warmth flowing through the air.
This life-and-death test was like a raging fire that tempered the bond between us four, making it even more unbreakable.
"My father... called," Eva suddenly spoke softly, breaking the silence.
She looked at Mark, a hint of mischief appearing in her smile, "He heard about a fearless fool who dared to rush into the M3 quarantine zone for his daughter, and almost beat up the military personnel sent to stop him. He said... when I'm better, he wants to meet you."
Mark stiffened, and then a trace of unnatural blush spread across his face.
Leo and I exchanged a smile, understanding each other without words. The general's softening attitude meant that for this couple who had endured many hardships, the biggest obstacle on their future path had finally been cleared.
Leo handed me the peeled apple, his fingers inadvertently touching my fingertips, the warm sensation causing both our hearts to stir.
He looked at me, his eyes so tender they could drip water. I took the apple and bit into it, the sweet juice spreading between my lips and teeth, just like the feeling in my heart at that moment.
We didn't say anything, but we both knew that from now on, we would no longer be just comrades fighting side by side, but partners who could share all the joys and sorrows of life.
