Rabbit fever, p.4
Rabbit Fever, page 4
She found herself the only passenger alighting at this remote terminus. The one-carriage train, despite its diminutive size, appeared somewhat extravagant for a location that saw such infrequent visitors. Even the guard had raised an inquisitive eyebrow when checking her ticket, recognising she was aboard the final train bound for Porthaven that day.
Making her way toward the exit, the conductor called out to her,
“Just so you’re aware, this is the last train back for the night. If you miss it, you’ll be stuck here!”
Tina glanced at him and attempted a smile.
Porthaven was the last place she wanted to be, but she had little choice. She reminded herself the sooner this was over, the sooner she could return to her creature comforts. She nodded at the conductor and proceeded toward the shadowy station exit, carefully navigating the litter scattered across the platform. Stepping over some broken glass that crunched under her shoe.
“This awful place,” she cursed and took out her phone to work out how to reach her hotel.
Hurrying from the station toward her hotel she took in her surroundings. The train station stood by the seafront, occupying the space where the old docks once bustled with activity, serving both freight and day-trippers, now nearly abandoned. She walked along the dim promenade, where most of the once vibrant strings of coloured lights lay either smashed, broken, or so filthy they offered little illumination.
The eerie ambiance left her feeling uneasy. Her heart would skip a beat when she spotted a hotel, followed by relief when she realised it wasn’t the one she had booked. Though she would have preferred to take a taxi, Porthaven no longer had a local taxi service, and the wait at the station for an out of town taxi, exceeded the walk to the hotel. Tina chastised herself; this was the one part of her grand plan she had overlooked – how to get from the station to the hotel.
As she continued she observed shadowy figures huddled around the benches on the promenade, sipping various liquids from cans and bottles concealed within black carrier bags. This sight always puzzled her. It was evident they were hiding some form of alcohol, as no one ventured out at night to sit on a bench with friends and drink water or some non-alcoholic beverage concealed within a carrier bag.
One of the groups motioned for her to join them, calling out they suspected she was new in town and in need of a guided tour. They claimed to know all the best spots. Another member of the group, in a well-intentioned manner, informed her—presumably because it mattered to them— the local off-licence was about to close. They advised her to hurry along if she intended to make a purchase to avoid any disappointment. Tina shuddered and pulled her coat tighter around her, as if seeking a shield from the Porthaven locals. She scurried along, praying that her hotel was not far.
Not much further along the promenade she came across a junction with a road that ascended a steep hill. She gazed up the long main street to her right, full of what looked like run down shops and cheap hotels. She thought to herself this town could be lovely and charming if it were well cared for, likely a picturesque place in its heyday. Her gaze travelled further uphill, where she spotted a small, squat building nestled behind Victorian gates.
“So, that’s where you are,” she hissed, as she surveyed the hospital in the distance.
She thought she saw a light on at the front of the building near the gates. If the rumour was to be believed, that was Kauffmann’s office, where she secluded herself daily, peering out at her doctors and nurses on one side and the town on the other, all while slowly smoking herself to death. But it was also late, and Tina had heard Kauffmann worked until 6pm at the latest. So she wasn’t sure if the light was indeed coming from her office, and even if it was, didn’t she usually keep the blinds down?
Tina scolded herself; she was overthinking things. This was meant to be a straightforward trip. She’d confirm there was no plague in the hospital, then head back home. Gazing at a rundown building on a hill and pondering what might be happening behind those blinds was not a worthwhile use of her time.
Thinking back to the groups she’d met on the promenade Tina began to comprehend why Kauffmann spent her entire day in her office smoking. Regardless of individual opinions about the doctor, her skill was evident. Having people like those in her hospital’s catchment area, who Tina presumed Kauffmann could, at best, patch up and send on their way only to return to her in a few days, would likely lead Tina to start chain smoking as well.
Eventually locating her lodging, a building that appeared to belong to the Victorian or perhaps Edwardian era, humorously christened ‘The Majestic’, although nothing majestic about it could be discerned. The sign bearing the name had peeling paint, and a handwritten note tacked to the entrance proclaimed:
‘Reception Closed - Call number on website.’
Tina muttered a curse under her breath, wondering how things could become even more challenging. In her frustration, she gave the door an irate kick and was taken aback when it swung open. Choosing to disregard the sign, she entered the premises, immediately encountering the unpleasant odours of dampness and stale alcohol, reminiscent of her childhood when she was tasked by her mother to fetch her father from the pub for dinner.
The hotel, perched at the fringes of a town that time seemed to have forgotten, emanated a palpable aura of neglect and decay. Tina, gazing around the dingy lobby, couldn’t fathom why anyone in their right mind would willingly choose to stay here. It was as if, for a moment, she had been banished to the edge of the world, cast adrift on the margins of civilization. Her sympathy for Gillian, who had been stationed in this forsaken outpost, flickered briefly, only to be doused by the memory of why she had suggested and even insisted on Kauffmann’s assignment in Porthaven. She shuddered considering the personal toll it would have exacted if she hadn’t.
As she surveyed the surroundings and her gaze fell upon a tattered piece of paper ripped from a notebook, resting on the worn and neglected reception desk. In keeping with its surroundings, this desk had likely been grand in its prime but was now forsaken and uncared for. Atop the note, she discovered a key with a paper tag bearing the inscription:
‘Room 3’.
The note’s instructions were clear:
‘Room 3, key, leave cash in the till upon departure’.
Tina found herself somewhat puzzled, but after double-checking her reservation details, she confirmed Room 3 was indeed the accommodation she had booked. With no one in sight to seek further guidance, she decided to take the key and follow a handwritten sign on the wall. It directed her down the left corridor, indicating that was where she would apparently find her room.
Entering her room, Tina found its condition to be consistent with her now low expectations. The space was cramped, suffused with a musty odour that clung to the peeling wallpaper, and illuminated by a solitary flickering bulb. The bed, with its sagging mattress and threadbare linens, bore the weight of countless restless nights.
Peering into the bathroom, Tina couldn’t help but wonder whether using the mouldy shower would result in her feeling even dirtier. Grateful for the foresight that had prompted her to pack a complete set of fresh clothes, she opted to spend the night in the attire she wore.
After all, she reasoned, she couldn’t make the bed any filthier, and she aimed to minimise any direct contact between her skin and the questionable sheets. She couldn’t shake the premonition that this night would be anything but pleasant.
Yet, as she settled into the room, she found herself oddly at peace with her surroundings. She reminded herself, her choice to spend the night in Porthaven had been a deliberate one. She could have easily opted to take the early morning train with Will or accepted his offer to drive down together.
However, this shabby, forlorn hotel room, which she suspected primarily served hourly clientele, felt like the preferable alternative to enduring a barrage of probing questions from Will about a matter she had believed to be settled long ago.
Well, that was before Kauffmann’s unexpected return and the disconcerting diagnosis that had thrown her world into disarray.
Chapter 5
As Will ascended the hill and approached the modest carpark of Porthaven Hospital, he was confronted by a surreal scene that seemed to have been plucked from the pages of a dystopian novel.
Uncertain about what to anticipate, he couldn’t help but recall the meeting from a few days ago, the one that had led to his assignment here. Combined with Tina’s noticeable avoidance of him until she had no other option but to communicate. Her last-minute message about getting a lift to the station, even though he knew she lived just a five-minute walk away from it, had left him feeling uneasy. However, nothing could have prepared him for the bizarre spectacle before him.
In the centre of the compact car park, an impromptu brazier glowed, devouring an assortment of fabric items, their crackling flames casting eerie, dancing shadows on the ground. It was surrounded by a makeshift barrier constructed from bins, chairs, and assorted hospital equipment, with ropes stretched between them like a hasty barricade in a war-torn world. These ropes held small, hand-written signs featuring rudimentary biohazard symbols and the stark warning,
‘Danger Keep Back’, their messages swaying in the breeze as if echoing the unnerving uncertainty that had descended upon this otherwise ordinary hospital car park.
The scene was not only strange; it was profoundly perplexing. This was, after all, a hospital. Where were the bustling staff and the steady flow of patients? Instead, it resembled more of an abandoned community centre where someone had taken to burning refuse in the parking lot.
Will couldn’t fathom what was happening. It appeared Dr. Kauffmann really did believe she had the Bubonic Plague in her hospital. But why burn everything? Why wasn’t she using the proper hazardous waste disposal bins like any other doctor would? Will began to consider the possibility, perhaps she was a renegade, or even a bit unhinged, sent to this remote facility to keep her out of sight. Someone who couldn’t be fired because they hadn’t technically done anything wrong, yet the health department wanted to keep her out of the public eye. Or maybe this was all part of an act.
Perhaps George was correct in his assessment that she craved attention, and this bizarre display was just another facet of her scheme to ensure the world didn’t forget about Gillian Kauffmann, even if she was stuck in Porthaven.
He continued to survey the surroundings and observed similar signs posted on the hospital’s doors. These entrances seemed to be taped shut, and perhaps even locked and bolted. This situation had become increasingly bizarre, he decided not to proceed any further without Tina.
His job description didn’t cover investigating why a doctor might seal off the entrance to her department, whilst engaging in car park bonfires. Also, he fumed, what was happening with the hospital management?
While Kauffmann was the head doctor, there should be a manager on-site with whom he could speak. Why had the manager allowed all of this to occur?
With that in mind, he retreated from the carpark and began heading back down the hill toward the town. Will dialled Tina, who answered with evident fatigue and annoyance in her voice.
“Yes, Will,” she replied curtly.
“Um, hi Tina. Well, I just went up to the hospital, and I need to wait for you before I proceed,” Will explained.
“Why is that?”
“Just get here, and you’ll see.”
He paced halfway down the hill, his mind racing with questions. Why had he been sent here for relaying a message? Where was Tina, and what was he supposed to do now?
Although it felt like an eternity, it was only a few minutes before Tina appeared at the bottom of the hill. Will’s spirits lifted at the sight of her in her bright white doctor’s uniform, handbag in tow and a clipboard under her arm. He knew she hadn’t been to an actual hospital for several years and was dressed as if she were preparing for a routine inspection.
She was in for a surprise.
As she made her way toward him, he suggested they head up the hill together, allowing Tina to see the situation for herself. After all, how could he explain this chaotic scene to her? Accusations of people being under the influence were already swirling around this whole affair.
“I’m still not sure why you can’t explain,” Tina scolded Will as they made their way back to the top of the hill. “If you haven’t even seen her, I don’t know what you’re not telling me, you silly boy.”
Ignoring the ‘silly boy’ comment, Will waited until they entered the small car park and extended his arm, inviting Tina to take in the scene.
“See? I told you,” he declared. “How could I even begin to explain ‘this’ to you? It’s utterly insane.”
Tina took a step back, her eyes wide with shock, her hand instinctively covering her mouth as she struggled to regain her composure.
“Isn’t it shocking?” Will chimed in. “I told you, you had to see it for yourself.”
He felt a sense of validation in witnessing her reaction. However, Tina shook her head and met Will’s gaze.
“No, Will, this is not good at all. While there are many stories about this doctor, she was always level-headed and knew what she was doing. If she’s reacting like this, then she genuinely believes there’s a plague or some other infectious disease within this hospital.”
“But why burn everything?” Will persisted. “It’s rather unusual, isn’t it?”
“Look around,” Tina reminded him, echoing their earlier conversation. “As George mentioned the other day, she was caring for a handful of elderly patients, operating with minimal resources in a hospital he described as ‘a shack.’ I doubt there are enough resources here for proper infection control. When her plea to you was met with ridicule from the board, they had no other option but to do whatever they could. She might have a reputation, but she’s not insane. There must be something serious happening here.”
Will pushed further,
“But if it’s that dire, why didn’t she go to the press? Why didn’t she attempt to raise awareness and trigger some kind of reaction?” he questioned.
Tina grew impatient with Will’s apparent naivety.
“If we didn’t believe her, why would the press? And if she believes there’s a highly infectious disease in there, would she want to cause public panic or exacerbate the situation? She tried to sound the alarm through proper channels. Sending you and me was the solution presented to confirm nothing untoward was occurring here.”
Will, even more bewildered, persisted,
“So now we’re supposed to support this woman, even though she made George spit out his coffee the other day?”
Tina began to explain,
“It’s not a matter of liking,” her voice softening with the gravity of the situation.
But their attention was seized by the metallic rattle of a chain being drawn across the hospital’s main entrance. It resonated through the still morning air, someone was unfastening the door that separated them from the hospital’s obscure interior.
The heavy door swung open with surprising swiftness, revealing a tall figure garbed in a surgical gown. Their attire was a patchwork of protective measures: a full-face mask, likely retained from the days of stringent Covid precautions, disposable gloves, and trousers sealed with tape, which in turn were attached to strong plastic bags covering what appeared to be stiletto heels. Will’s immediate impression was that this was a makeshift biohazard suit.
The figure came to a halt approximately ten metres in front of them, raising a gloved hand in a manner reminiscent of a police officer halting traffic. It was a clear signal for them to stay at their present distance. Once it became evident that they comprehended the directive, the figure began to remove their face mask.
Will had to do a double-take.
He assumed the figure before them was Gillian Kauffmann, but this situation was growing increasingly bizarre. Why was she chaining themselves inside the hospital? In his mind, it didn’t make sense. If they had a deadly disease within, one would expect them to want to escape, not remain locked inside.
Recollections of a recent documentary on cults and cult leaders flashed through his mind. Many aspects of this scenario seemed to tick the same boxes— a leader disowned by their peers and society, an isolated location, and unconventional ideas that the leader could instil in their followers to convince them of the necessity to follow.
In this case, it was the notion of Bubonic Plague.
Perhaps this figure was the cult’s leader, persuading their followers a deadly disease raged outside, leading them to burn their possessions and barricade themselves in this rundown hospital. Maybe the email he received was intended to placate these followers and wasn’t meant to be acted upon.
Perhaps the rumours about Kauffmann retaining elderly patients in the hospital had more to them than just the desire to maintain an illusion of a fully occupied facility. Instead, maybe this suggested they were ensnared as part of her cult. This theory could also explain her persistent refusal to accept ambulances at her hospital—her claims of doctor strikes, resource shortages, and unvacated beds could all be excuses to deter unwanted scrutiny.
Whispering to Tina, Will shared his revelation,
“There’s no plague here at all; she’s started a crazy cult.”
He hoped Tina would concur and suggest they depart as soon as possible. However, to his surprise, she hushed him and directed her attention toward Gillian.
“So I asked for infectious disease control, and I get sent some old woman who hasn’t set foot in a hospital in years and some sort of middle-office manager,” Gillian began. “Is this the best you have?”
Tina fidgeted and struggled to find the courage to respond.
“Well,” Kauffmann pressed, glaring at Tina.
