"I’m not fighting you for it." Quincy filled his cup with tea and glanced toward the cabin.
"Evelyn, I noticed something. Yesterday, I came out to get some water and heard Mr. Lowell coughing in the bathroom. When I walked over, he tried to hide his handkerchief, but I still saw blood on it. Remember when he and Mr. Vance fell into that pit during the volcanic eruption? They were seriously injured. I’m guessing he has some lasting complications."
Evelyn’s expression grew grim. "That was negligent of me. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been paying attention to these kinds of details."
"It’s not your fault. The main thing is... that’s just Mr. Lowell’s personality. He’s a man of few words who just gets things done. He isn’t one to express himself. Besides, he doesn’t want to be a bother to anyone, so he’d never speak up even if he felt sick."
"Once they’re awake, I’ll give everyone a check-up. I have some medical equipment, so I can do a more detailed examination."
"Okay. And what about Mr. Vance? I remember you saying he had at most a year or two left. He seems to be in great spirits now. Is he getting better?"
Evelyn nodded. "Back in the cave, when that cold front suddenly hit, everyone was unconscious for a long time. We all coughed up stagnant blood after waking up. Mr. Vance’s health started improving after that. It was a blessing in disguise. We’ve been traveling constantly these past few months, so I haven’t paid close attention to everyone’s condition. Let’s have everyone get a full physical exam once they’re awake."
Ronan Kendrick came out holding a bowl of sweet porridge. Evelyn told him what was going on. Ronan had been very busy lately, too, preoccupied with planting vegetables, cotton, and all sorts of beans.
Other than Evelyn, he rarely paid much attention to anyone else, so he hadn’t noticed anything unusual about Zion Lowell’s condition either.
After they finished eating, Evelyn found an empty room and took out some equipment for the physicals. The machines were massive and quickly filled the space.
Quincy’s expression turned strange when he saw a few of the machines. "Evelyn, isn’t this equipment from my company?"
Evelyn gave an awkward laugh. "You’ve got a good eye, recognizing it after all this time. How about you go first for the check-up? I’ll have an EKG waiting for you."
Quincy said, "I’m perfectly healthy. I don’t need a physical."
"Haha, it’s not up to you."
Once the exam room was ready, the others started waking up. When they saw the various machines inside, Zoe kept squealing, "WOW, WOW, WOW!" Even Wendy was thrilled.
Their excitement vanished the moment Evelyn told them it was for physicals, and that they’d need to have blood drawn for testing. They weren’t smiling anymore.
"Draw blood? Auntie Evelyn, will I die if you draw my blood?"
Evelyn burst out laughing. "Of course not. I’ll only take a tiny bit. Besides, I’m very good with needles. It won’t hurt at all."
Zoe nodded solemnly. "Okay, then. You can take a little extra, it’s okay."
Evelyn ruffled her hair. "You’re so brave, Zoe."
With the younger generation taking the lead, Taylor Vance and Zion Lowell couldn’t get out of the physicals either.
"The exams are quick. They include vision, blood pressure, weight, routine blood and urine tests, liver and kidney function, blood sugar, cholesterol, an EKG, and an oral and head exam... It sounds like a lot of little things, but it goes by fast."
Everyone was surprised to hear how much the exam covered.
"It’s that thorough?"
Evelyn nodded. "The main reason is that I haven’t been feeling well myself the last few days. I figured we could all get a physical together and check on our health. If there are any issues, we can treat them right away. I have medicine and equipment here. Early detection, early treatment, right?"
"I agree with Evelyn. My stomach has been bothering me lately, too." Officer Graham pressed a hand to his stomach. "It’s a throbbing pain that comes and goes, and sometimes I feel nauseous."
Afraid of scaring the others, Officer Graham quickly added, "It’s not that bad, really. It’s probably nothing serious."
Evelyn sighed, telling everyone to get ready to begin the check-ups.
Zoe went first. She was perfectly healthy. After arriving on the island, she’d been eating and drinking well every day and had put on some weight, making her adorably chubby.
"You’ll need to watch her diet a bit. Being too overweight isn’t good for her."
Quincy and Wyatt Vaughn quickly made a mental note.
Wendy was next. She was also fine, with the main issue being her constantly cold hands and feet. That would require dietary adjustments to rebalance her system, plus more exercise to improve her overall constitution.
Wyatt Vaughn’s condition was more serious. She had a weak constitution, and had been losing a lot of hair lately. As soon as it grew out even a little, it would develop split ends. She also had some old, unhealed internal injuries that had compounded into a host of minor ailments. Evelyn wrote her a prescription to help her body recuperate.
Officer Graham had a moderate stomach ulcer. Fortunately, they caught it in time. In his younger years as a police officer, he’d often worked overtime, mixing up his days and nights. His eating and sleeping habits were a mess, leading to numerous health problems. He would have to recuperate slowly, but none of his issues were especially critical.
Quincy was perfectly healthy from head to toe. An optimist like him didn’t seem to hold on to illnesses.
"However..."
"What is it? Is something wrong?" The smile vanished from Quincy’s face, his eyes filling with fear. ’Do I have some hidden, terminal illness? Do I have less than three months to live?’
Evelyn pressed her temples. "You’re being so dramatic. I was just going to say that your eyesight has deteriorated significantly, which is probably related to the polar night. Also, you’re experiencing significant hair loss. Haven’t you noticed? It’s starting to get thin on top."
"As long as it’s not terminal, I’m good. Going bald is normal at my age." He took it in stride, completely unconcerned about losing his hair.
Quincy’s hands started to tremble. "Wait, Evelyn, is there any way to fix my eyesight? I’m not afraid of being a bald guy, but I’m terrified of going blind."
"We need to add more lights inside the cabin. I have eye drops; everyone should start using them. I suspect everyone’s eyesight is going to decline."
A wave of fear washed over the group. Just as Quincy said, going bald wasn’t scary, but going blind... that would make life impossible. They would just be waiting to die.
After Quincy came Miles Vaughn and Peter Owens. Neither had any issues. With Ethan Dawson, however, Evelyn discovered three bullets that had never been removed.
"My god, Ethan Dawson, you’re tough as nails." Quincy leaned in, staring at the spot on his back. "Two bullets in your left chest and one in your right shoulder blade. Doesn’t that hurt?"
Ethan Dawson looked completely unfazed. "It hurt a bit at the time. After that, I couldn’t really feel it."
He was covered in scars, too. Evelyn remembered Ethan Dawson mentioning that he had escaped from the dungeons at Tarr Base.
These injuries were probably from being tortured.
"Evelyn, can these bullets still be removed?"
Evelyn wasn’t sure. She looked at Ethan Dawson and gestured to the old wounds. "Do you want to get them out?"
Ethan Dawson still looked nonchalant. "It doesn’t matter. They don’t really affect me."
"Doesn’t it hurt?"
"Sometimes, but it’s bearable. It’s not a big deal. You guys don’t need to worry."
’Three bullets left inside him, and he says it’s not a big deal.’
"Ethan Dawson, you’re a real man."
Ethan Dawson looked at Quincy. "Aren’t you?"
Quincy shot back, "Screw you. I take it back."