18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 340

Collin agreed and swiftly disseminated the directive. Starting tomorrow, anyone on a house call had to carry protective gear at all times. Supplies were limited; those entrusted with the gear had to guard it closely, wary of misplacement. After spinning like a top for half a month, Dr. Garcia's research project was on pause, and Stella joined Collin for their clinic day at Swan Hill Square.

Unsure when the acid rain might hit, Stella wasn't taking any chances. She requested leave from Collin, mentioning family matters, and planned to take a few months off after completing the medical consultation.

She wasn't officially on the research institute's payroll; her perseverance in her studies was commendable enough. Collin readily agreed, "Just don't forget what you've learned. If there's anything you don't understand, you can always come back for clarification." The weather was stifling as the team set out early for Swan Hill Square.

The public announcement system crackled to life, cautioning that due to the airflow, the next few months might see rainfall. With the air quality compromised by volcanic ash, there was a high likelihood of acid rain. Citizens were advised to stay indoors unless necessary, and if they must go out, to carry protective gear and avoid lingering outside too long.

The message was broadcast morning, noon, and night, a constant reminder to the townspeople.

Stella and Collin braved the sweltering heat, setting up a stall on the ground floor of the square. With the clinic only visiting once a month, there was a good turnout of patients.

The research institute wasn't a charity; consultations came at a price-two ounces of food per patient, with additional charges for acupuncture and massage. Treatment was free for the elderly over sixty and children under five.

If the institute had the appropriate medicine, the doctors prescribed it, sending patients to collect it themselves. With medicine in short supply, doctors refrained from prescribing unless absolutely necessary.

The weather was as stifling as a furnace, and the patients kept coming, suffering from heatstroke, vitamin deficiencies, lack of essential nutrients, and various mineral deficiencies. Natural disasters continued to ravage humanity, causing a plethora of health disorders. Sweating profusely, Stella longed for the cool embrace of an air-conditioned Arcadia or a slice of ice-cold watermelon. In reality, she was too busy to even take a breather, sneaking sips of ice water from her thermos to quench her thirst.

Just as they caught a break, another patient approached, "Doctor, could you take a look at my child?"

The voice sounded familiar. Stella looked up to see Amber holding a child. The child, just over a year old, was likely the one Molly had given her life for.

"Stella?" Amber was surprised to see her at Swan Hill.

Having not seen her for almost two years, Amber had aged significantly. She not only appeared worn out but had also developed some gray hair.

Stella nodded, "Is the child sick?"

Amber was frantic, "He has no appetite and his stomach is terribly bloated, even though he's hardly eaten anything."

Adults could endure hardship, but children were especially vulnerable. With no doctors available in Griffith, Amber had rushed to Swan Hill. She hoped nothing was amiss this child was Molly's legacy. "Don't worry; let me have a look."

Stella took the child into her arms. His gaze was timid and fearful, his body squirming slightly, "Grandma."

It seemed his intelligence was unaffected, a small mercy amidst the chaos.

"There, there, little guy," Amber soothed, "This lady's a good person; she saved you once. Be a good boy and call her 'auntie."

The child, uncertain, clung to his grandmother's sleeve, peering at Stella with big, dark eyes.

Obediently, he whispered, "Auntie."

Stella smiled and fished a piece of candy from her pocket.

The child had never seen candy before. He looked to his grandmother for approval before accepting the treat.

Pediatric care differed from adult medicine, and Stella had limited experience in this area, so she swapped spots with Collin.

Since the calamity began, survivors had struggled with hunger and cold, and many women had even stopped menstruating, let alone having children. The birth rate had plummeted to alarming lows.

Collin examined the child carefully, "Nothing serious-just common childhood bloating. With the recent heat, kids can lose their appetite easily. Feed him something light and digestible, and don't force-feed him. Small, frequent meals will do." Unable to use needles on children, Collin instructed Stella to perform acupressure instead.

Amber asked anxiously, "Can we get some medicine?"

Collin reassured her, "It's not severe enough for medication. After this, Dr. Stella will show you some simple massage techniques. Observe him for a few days before we decide on the next steps."

After teaching Stella the acupressure points, Collin got back to his other patients.

Stella noticed the child had developed heat rash, "It's too hot, and bundling him up can actually make him sick. You need to keep him comfortable."

As she gently massaged the child's points, she instructed Amber to watch and learn.

Children born in these harsh times, malnourished and underfed, couldn't be expected to be the picture of health. Raising this child must have drained the family's resources.

Stella imparted knowledge of common childhood ailments, their treatments, and massage methods to Amber, leaving the rest up to her to grasp.

"How's Katie doing?"

"She's weaker these days, but managing."

Everyone had their own hardships; Stella didn't linger on small talk.

After the massage, the child's bloating seemed to ease. Amber relaxed, reaching into her bag for payment.

Knowing better than to flaunt wealth, Stella stopped her quickly, "Children are treated for free. Take him home and care for him gently, and keep an eye on him. You should head home soon, especially with the weather being so unpredictable." Amber, well aware of the acid rain predictions due to her family's connections to the research institute, thanked Stella and hurried off with her child.

The group continued their work, lunching on coarse bread and moss soup.

Around three in the afternoon, commotion erupted outside, "It's raining. It's raining!"

Stella's heart lurched-the acid rain was here!

She stood up swiftly, stuffing consultation fees and grains into her bag. This was the institute's lifeline; any chaos could lead to theft.

Her urgency left Collin and the others agape. Stella, from a well-off family, seemed as desperate as a famished ghost reincarnated. They too began packing up.

Large raindrops hit the pedestrians, who shouted and scrambled into the square for shelter.

Some panicked, wiping the rain from their faces.

Oh no, they thought their faces were ruined. But wait there was no pain.

Rubbing their skin again, still nothing. They were safe for now.

With a dash of daring, some popped the morsel into their mouth for a taste. "Hey, it's not sour at all."

The weather folks were full of baloney, weren't they? Acting like it was raining brimstone with all that volcanic ash talk. Got everyone scared witless for no good reason. A bunch of hogwash, that was what it was.