Read Online Deadrise 2: Deadwar by Steven R. Gardner - Free Book Online

was picked bare and the gas stations pumps were drained dry, but there was a small gasoline refinery just outside town with several tanker trailers parked in the lot. If they could secure another tractor cab, Jenkins was hoping to get a tanker full of gasoline, two if they were real lucky. If this raid proved as successful as Jenkins was hoping, it would be the first of many to come…
     

 
    CHAPTER 11
     
     
     
     
    Monday, July 30, 2001
    Rainbow Lake, Utah
    10:28 AM
     
     
    “When I gave you the preliminary physical a few weeks ago I suspected it, but now I’m certain of it. You have a serious heart condition that if left untreated, will likely result in your death.” Doc Reilly spoke in gentle, fatherly tones, but his words slammed Matt like a jackhammer. He could feel the color drain from his face, and his pulse quicken. He felt nauseous and short of breath.
    “Are you certain?” Matt asked.
    “I went over the test results twice, just to be certain.” They were in a small examination room at the Hospital. An hour ago Doc Reilly and one of his nurses had performed an Echo Cardiogram, a test where ultrasonic sonar waves were used to generate a 3-D image of the heart. It was used to visually evaluate performance, size, blood flow through the valves and other necessary heart functions. “You have an enlarged heart, and two leaking valves.”
    ”How long do I have?”
    “That is up to you.” Doc Reilly regarded him with his soft eyes, appearing to size Matt up. “It will take some lifestyle adjustments. Less stress, a better diet, regular exercise. We don’t have much to work with as far as a healthier diet, but as far as I’m concerned, you have seen your last supply raid. And I want you to start working out. Ride a bicycle around the perimeter road a few times a week or something. And we have a decent supply of medication that will help with the leaking.” The Doc paused a moment, looking at him disapprovingly. "And you need to stop smoking marijuana. It's just as bad as cigarettes."
    “But how long do I have to live?” Matt repeated his question.
    “Much as I’d like to Matt, I’m not going to sugar coat it for you. You have Chronic Heart disease. It is a very serious condition. If we do not start treating it immediately, you will be dead inside of a year. But if we begin aggressive treatment right away, you can live a full life.”
    “Well, at least I don’t need heart surgery.” Matt said with as much relief as he could muster.
    “At least, not yet.” Doc Reilly said. “If you don’t make the commitment to take care of this thing, surgery may eventually be your only option. And let’s pray it doesn’t come to that.”
“Why?” Matt asked.
“Because I’m no heart surgeon.” They both knew what that meant.
“How come this condition was never discovered by my doctor before?” Matt asked, still not wanting to believe.
“It might be a recent development? When was the last time you saw the doctor?”
“It’s been a couple years.” Matt answered ashamedly.
“Was it a cardiologist or general practitioner?”
“General.”
”Well there you go. It most likely manifested itself in that time, but the stress of the past few months has aggravated it.”
“I don’t want anybody to know about this.” Matt said.
“Normally I wouldn’t have a problem with this, but you are a Council member and-“
    “Please Doc? Everybody around here has enough to deal with. I don’t want them worrying about me as well. I may be a Council member, but I’m no better than anyone else.”
    “We should at least inform Susan.” Doc Reilly said.
    “I especially don’t want her to know. She just lost her father. She might put on a tough front, but she’s barely holding together. The last thing she needs right now is to worry about me dropping dead at any moment.”
    “Matt, I’m just not comfortable with-“
    “Please Doc?” Matt pleaded again. Doc Reilly tried to give him a firm, take no nonsense