Title: Outbreak of Fear
Chapter: 3
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Adventure
Archive: sure, just let me know where, please
Spoilers: none
Feedback: put on the shelf and admired
Disclaimer: No money made, just alot of fun, all IA's, never mine.

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Jubel approached Dr. Tiron's house from the back, pushing through the garden hedge and picking his way past the roses. He carried Dan gently in his hand, cushioning the bumps to try and cause the least pain. Climbing the stairs to the screen door he knocked with his free hand, shuffling his feet while he waited. He was about to turn away when the door opened and Doctor Tiron pushed the screen open.

" Jubel, what can I do for you ?"

" I....I..." Jubel stuttered, blushing under the Doctors scrutiny.

" Why don't you come in, I was about to have a drink," Tiron motioned for Jubel to enter. " Have you hurt your hand ?" He asked, seeing Jubel cradle his hand defensively as he passed through the door.

" No....not my hand," Jubel muttered, then, for lack of an explanation, he held out his palm displaying the injured Dan to the Doctor's astonished gaze.

" Oh my, that's one of the Little People...I've heard about them but I didn't think they ever came this far North," the Doctor said, pushing his glasses up his nose, the better to see the tiny man.

" He's hurt....I hurt him...I didn't mean to...can you help him ?" Jubel asked, haltingly.

" I don't know, bring him through to the surgery, I'll need a magnifying glass to make a proper diagnosis," Tiron led the way, opening a door off the corridor and ushering Jubel in.

" My nurse is out on an errand at the moment, so we can keep this between us...okay ?" said Tiron, giving Jubel a stern look. Jubel just nodded and pressed his lips together.

Tiron indicated for Jubel to place Dan on the table, he did so as gently as possible but it still elicited an audible groan from his passenger. Dan clutched at his side, the dark stain evidence of his injury. Tiron clucked and went to rummage in a draw for his magnifying glass. That found, he approached the table and spoke to Dan directly.

" Can you take off your jacket and shirt, I need to see what's happened, do you understand me ?"

" Yes, I can understand you....I'm small, not stupid," Dan answered, testily, in a lot of pain.

" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to patronise, I've never come across anyone of your kind before. Now let me see the wound," Tiron held the glass close to Dan's body, viewing the bloody area.

" I didn't mean to hurt him...." Jubel muttered again. Tiron gave him a look, putting down the glass then going to a small box of dressing material. " How did it happen, it looks like a puncture wound," Tiron said as he gathered together his equipment.

" I was too rough with him....I forgot about my ring and clasped him too tightly when I picked him up, the ring caused the injury," Jubel mumbled into his chest, holding up his hand to show the ring's rough setting, too ashamed to raise his head. Tiron clucked but didn't offer an opinion, too intent on helping his small charge.

Dan submitted to the Doctor cleaning the wound with the aid of a cotton bud and antiseptic liquid, then the Doctor inspected the cleaned area and passed a tiny pad and bandage to Dan to wrap around his middle, instructing him to make it tight and snug.

" I can't give you an antibiotic, I don't have anything that you could take that wouldn't be too strong," Tiron informed Dan, with regret.

" That's okay, it feels more comfortable already, if you were able to give me some of that antiseptic liquid to take away, it would help me to keep it clean. Extra bandaging would go amiss either," Dan asked, mentally keeping his fingers crossed that the Doctor would be generous.

" Of course, it doesn't require stitches, so if you can keep it clean and dry, it should heal fine. You'll have bruising of course, and I would recommend you don't indulge in any heavy lifting or stretching, but you should recover nicely," Tiron smiled down at his tiny patient.

" Thank you Doctor Tiron, you've been more than generous," Dan replied.

The sound of a door slamming indicated the return of the Nurse, Doctor Tiron indicated to Jubel and Dan to be quiet, then turned and crossed to the surgery door, opening it quietly to see what was happening outside. He listened for awhile then closed the door again, coming back to whisper to his visitors.

" It's Karla, I won't tell her your here, Jubel, once the little man is dressed, carry him out through the back door,"

" Thank you Doctor Tiron," Dan said, easing his t-shirt over his head slowly.

" Yes, thank you Doc....." Jubel held his hand out, awkwardly, after a seconds hesitation, Tiron shook it, then he went back to the surgery door and opened it only enough to slip out. Jubel waited while Dan put his jacket on, easing it gingerly over the bandages. Then he held out his hand for Dan to get on. After listening at the door for a moment and hearing nothing outside, Jubel opened the door, slipping through and down the corridor to the back door. Easing the screen door open, and making sure it didn't bang, he quickly walked down the steps and back into the garden, disappearing as silently as he'd arrived.

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It took nearly three hours for them to get Mark and Valerie back to the Windsifter's camp. Fitzhugh had arrived, puffing and blowing, but bringing Betty's medical kit with him. After exclaiming over the sight of Valerie and Mark, he left Steve and Betty to tend to them, while he went and helped Marna and Barry construct the stretchers. When they were finished, Betty and Marna took charge of Valerie, leaving Steve, Barry and Fitzhugh to manage Mark's stretcher. They slowly made their way out of the barn, traversing the weed strewn yard, past the rundown house, the pump and back to the haystack and the camp. During all that time, Mark and Valerie didn't stir or make a sound. Betty had listened to their hearts, glad to hear their steady beat, if a little weaker than usual. Their temperatures were elevated and their pulses a little erratic, but overall they were a good as could be, despite their ghastly blue pallor and discoloured eyes. They made several rest stops, whenever there was shade, trying to conserve their strength. They were all worried over the fate of Dan, and now the possible fate of their friends. The mood was sombre when they finally arrived at the Windsifter. They put the stretchers down while they readied pallets for the two victims in the lean-to, Steve deciding it would be easier to tend them outside, rather than haul them about trying to get them into the ship. Betty got blankets and pillows, trying to rack her brain for a solution as to how to treat them.

The others milled around as the preparations were made, not sure what to do. Steve took pity on them and sent them to unload the packs and store the gear, then he asked Marna to prepare something for them all to eat. The day was drawing in and night would be there before long, he wanted to get back to the barn and explore the door they had found, but he wouldn't be leaving until he was sure there was nothing more he could do for either Mark or Valerie. Betty was the best person to care for them both, and Dan was still missing. Steve chewed his thumb as he tried to fathom what had happened to his friend and co-pilot. Betty came out of the lean-to and walked over to him.

" The beds are ready, we can move them there anytime your ready."

" Okay, I'll carry Valerie, then I'll get Fitzhugh to help me with Mark."

Steve went over to where Valerie lay, gently picking up the unconscious woman and carrying her to where Betty waited. Laying his burden down, he could feel how hot Val had become, her face looking flushed and hectic, beads of sweat standing out on her brow. Betty brushed the hair off her face, giving Steve an anxious look.

Steve turned away and approached Mark, he called to Fitzhugh, who came over straight way, and together the two men picked up Mark and awkwardly carried him to the other bed. Steve helped Betty take off Mark's boots and socks, jacket and trousers, then he left while Betty did the same for Valerie, pulling blankets over them both.

Betty did another check of their vital signs, finding them both running a fever and sweating freely, their skin now flushed while still looking pale and bluish. She went to the ship to fetch bowls and cloths, as well as Marna to help with the nursing. By the time they both got to the lean-to, Mark was twisting under the blankets, a grimace of pain contorting his face, his strangely coloured eye wide open and panic stricken. His hands clenching in the blanket as his body was racked with shudders. Betty called to Steve as she tried to keep Mark from throwing himself out of the bed. Marna stood back, unable to help as Steve held onto Marks arms, calling for him to calm down, as Betty mopped his face, trying to calm him and sooth the fever. It seemed to work, as Mark calmed and relaxed, his unseeing eyes closing as he appeared to slip back into the coma. Steve let go of Mark's arms when his body turned boneless. Betty sat back on her heels and covered her face with her hands, overwhelmed with her inability to do anything to help her two friends. Steve came over and helped Betty to stand, putting a comforting arm about her shoulders and pulling her into his embrace as she attempted to pull herself together.

" You're doing all you can, Betty," Steve soothed, rubbing her back in circles with his hand. " There's nothing else we can do."

" I know...I know, it just so awful to not know what to do for the best...they could be...could be.." Betty couldn't finish, gulping as the unsaid word hung between them. Steve looked grimly at the two people in front of him, hoping that what Betty said wasn't true. After a final pat, Steve turned and took the bowl and cloth from Marna's nerveless hands, " go back to the ship, Marna, I'll help Betty, you get the meal organised," Marna gave him a relieved look and turned on her heel, hurrying back to the Windsifter.

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Jubel skirted the edge of the road, carrying Dan as gently as possible. They had avoided a noisy car-load of locals heading for the town centre and the local watering hole, Jubel crouching down in some dense bush as the car passed. Then he checked the road before scuttling across and heading once more towards the deserted farm. He hurried because Dan had urged him to return him to his friends as soon as possible, plus it was starting to get dark and Jubel wanted to get back to his snug hideaway and a meal. They skirted the barn, Jubel hesitating before putting Dan down beside the water trough.

" I could take you to your camp, if you want to."

" No thank you Jubel, it would only scare my friends, I'll tell them all about your help, so maybe we can visit you tomorrow ?" Dan suggested. Jubel nodded, a big smile creasing his face.

" Sure, sure tomorrow, that would be great....well, goodnight Dan, take care of that sore place...oh, don't forget, here's that antiseptic Doctor Torin gave you," Jubel fished about in his pocket, bringing out a small packet containing a tiny bottle and some cloths. He passed it down to Dan, then, after giving a wave, Jubel walked back to the barn and passed through the sagging doors into the gloom. Dan watched for a minute, then turned, hefting the bag on his good side and started the long walk, past the house, to the camp. He wondered what the other's had made of his disappearing act and hoped, in vain, they hadn't been too worried. He envisioned a warm welcome complete with a hot meal and a steaming mug of coffee, it had been a long and tiring day.

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Valerie had just gone through a very brief period of lucidity, much to Betty's surprise, her strange eyes focusing for a moment on her friends sitting beside her, Valerie's mouth had opened but no sound had come out, only a grimace when she was racked with a spasm of pain. Then, like Mark she had lapsed into a coma-like state, laying boneless and barely breathing. Betty had watched over them as the afternoon drew to a close, noting their rise in temperature and change in breathing, feeling that the situation was way beyond her meagre abilities. Steve kept her company for the most part, only leaving to get her a drink or more cloths and water. The others had kept to the ship, mostly. Barry had come to sit with Betty for awhile, finally leaving to take Chipper for his nightly walk. Fitzhugh and Marna were preparing an evening meal, trying to keep things as normal as possible. Steve was just getting up to check on their progress when he heard Dan's voice hailing him from a distance. He looked over and saw Dan approaching slowly, a bag over his shoulder and one arm clasped tightly against his side, a bulky lump showing under his t-shirt.

" Hey Steve," Dan called, putting the bag down as he reached the outskirts of the camp. Steve just stared in astonishment, then gave a glad cry and ran to his friend.

" What happened to you, where have you been ?" Steve fired at him as he got closer. Dan held up his hands to keep Steve from hugging him in welcome. Steve saw the padding under his shirt and asked the question with his eyes. Dan shrugged and pulled up his shirt, exposing the bandage and pressure pad.

" Its fine now, a doctor had a look at it," Dan explained as Steve examined his side. Steve looked up sharply at the mention of a Doctor.

" The Doctor was friendly, he helped you ?" Steve asked harshly.

" Yeah, he did, what's the matter ?"

" We have a major problem, Mark and Valerie were exposed to some kind of gas, they're in a bad way, Betty thinks they might die if we don't get some help for them," Dan looked shocked at Steve's explanation. He looked over to the lean-to, seeing Betty and the two figures laid out on the beds. The two men walked across the camp, approaching the lean-to as Betty got up to welcome Dan.

" I'm so pleased your alright," Betty gave Dan a small hug, turning back immediately a sitting next to Valerie. Dan turned back to Steve.

" I'm sure Doctor Tiron would help, do we know what sort of gas did this ?" Dan asked, Steve shook his head.

" There were some cylinders in the barn, one of them appears to have sprung a leak, killing some of the rodent population. We couldn't see any label, but we weren't looking either, we were more concerned to get Mark and Val out of there," said Steve. Dan looked down at his shoes, then his head came up and he fixed Steve with a look.

" We need to find out what it was....tonight, if we take them to Doctor Tiron he'll want to know what they were exposed to. Jubel could help us."

" Woah....whose Jubel ?"

" He's the Giant that captured me, he's a bit simple, but he didn't mean any harm, he hurt me by accident. He's the one that took me to the Doctor, he's holed up in the barn, right now."

" I saw a door in there with a new lock, is that where he's living ?"

" Yeah....he's kinda hiding there, to avoid the local bullies, I'm sure he'd help us."

" I don't think we have a choice, lets get the others out here, we'll take Mark and Val with us, no point in wasting time, if Jubel won't help us we'll carry on to the Doctors place ourselves," said Steve, he turned and called for Fitzhugh and Marna to come outside. Barry was just returning with Chipper and ran up to Dan, pleased to see him safe.

Fitzhugh and Marna came out of the Windsifter, also glad to see Dan back. Steve explained what had happened, and his plan for getting Valerie and Mark to the Doctor. Fitzhugh put up a token protest at them missing another meal, but Steve surprised him by insisting they all get a meal inside them before setting off. Fitzhugh scuttled off to get the food while Dan showed Betty the antiseptic and bandages. Betty insisted on redressing Dan's side before they left the camp.

It was a sombre meal, the pleasure in Dan's return tempered with the knowledge that two of their group were gravely ill, possibly dying. After the meal everyone went about their appointed tasks as quickly as possible, gathering the gear for a nightime foray. Dan offered to help with the stretchers but Steve didn't like to risk opening Dan's wound so he got the job of carrying the torches and spare rope. Betty prepared Mark and Valerie for transporting, keeping them covered with blankets which when tucked around them helped to keep them securely on the stretchers.

Neither Mark or Valerie had stirred after their earlier outburst, their very lack of movement filling Betty with fear for their survival.

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They had entered the barn through the gaping front doors after an exhausting trek across the farmyard and past the house. Shortly after leaving the camp the wind had picked up, tossing debris and dust at the slow moving group. The house had partially shielded them from the blustering conditions, but the last leg across the yard to the barn had sapped their remaining strength. Dan unpacked the torches as they put down the stretchers and gathered around Steve.

" Dan and I will approach Jubel and see if he can help us, the rest of you, make yourselves comfortable and get what rest you can. If Jubel isn't an option then we'll carry of through the night, as far as we can go. Barry, you get to have first watch on the barn door, use your radio if you see anything."

No-one made any comments, even Fitzhugh was too tired to argue. Barry took off with Chipper to take first watch while the others arranged themselves on the straw strewn floor, careful to avoid the metal drums stacked against the wall. Steve and Dan checked their torches and radios, then, after a quick word with Betty, the two men walked off into the gloomy interior of the barn, quickly disappearing from view, only their torches bobbing in the darkness a clue to their whereabouts.

Betty watched the lights fade, turning back to where Mark and Valerie lay. She had checked on her charges several times but found no change, either for bad or good. Now she hoped they could both hold on until they got help from Dan's doctor for them.

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Steve and Dan reached the door in the side wall without incident. At the base of the door a triangle of wood had rotted out and left a convenient doorway into the next room. Steve, followed by Dan crawled through the gap and stood upright on the other side, taking in the sight before them. Jubel was stretched out on a camp bed, snoring lustily. Around the walls of the room were arranged various pieces of furniture in different stages of decay, obviously looted from the house and used to contain Jubel's few belongings. The room was dimly illuminated by a storm lantern with the wick turned down low. It was enough for Steve and Dan to negotiate the rubbish littered floor and approach the camp bed. A rickety bedside table held a clock and unlit candle stub, so Steve unwound the rope and grapnel and swung it in an arc to catch on the edge of the table. The hook bit into the wood on the third try, the noise of the two men not enough to wake the slumbering Giant. After reaching the surface of the table, Steve and Dan walked over to the edge. Cupping his hands, Dan shouted in an attempt to wake Jubel.

" JUBEL....IT'S DAN.... WAKE UP"

Jubel twitched and his snores halted briefly. Dan tried again.

" JUBEL..... WAKE UP !!"

The Giants eye's slowly opened and he took a deep, hitching breath. Seeing the two men regarding him from the table, made Jubel's eye's pop open even wider, a quickly indrawn gasp setting him coughing, the noise making Steve and Dan cover their ears in protest.

" Dan, sorry, didn't mean to deafen you, what are you doing here ? I thought you wouldn't be coming 'til tomorrow," Jubel rubbed his eyes and pulled himself upright, swinging his legs out of the camp bed, pulling the bedding around himself.

" Sorry to wake you Jubel, but we need your help...this is Steve, he's my Captain," Steve waved, making Jubel grin in acknowledgment. Dan continued, " two of our friends have been exposed to a gas that's made them very ill, we need to get them to Doctor Tiron, as soon as possible. We were hoping you could use something to carry them and take us all to the Doctor."

Jubel scratched his head, screwing his face up as he thought hard.

" I could take you, no problem, I have a box that would do, how many of you are there ?"

Steve exchanged a warning look with Dan before he replied.

" There would be just me and Steve, plus the patients, that makes four."

" Okay....I'll take you, but I won't hang about, I don't want to be caught outside, tonight of all nights," Jubel said, reaching down to find his boots under the bed.

" What's wrong with tonight ?" Steve asked.

" Only that the people I'm avoiding are out and about, they like to go to the Main Street for the booze, then they drive around looking for someone to pick on....usually me if I'm caught...so I'm hiding," Jubel explained, pulling on his ratty socks and worn boots.

" We don't expect you to risk yourself for us, just take us to the Doctors house, we'll take it from there," said Dan.

" Okay, I can do that...now where are these others ?" asked Jubel, looking around on the floor as if expecting to see them there.

" Can you get that box so we can see if it's big enough ?" Steve asked, trying to get Jubel to leave them alone long enough for him to contact the others.

" Oh, sure....won't be a minute, it's over here somewhere..." Jubel turned and wandered over to a pile of stuff by the door. Steve took that chance and pulled out his radio. Dan shielded him as he had a hurried, whispered, conversation with Barry. He had just tucked the radio back inside his jacket when Jubel returned, brandishing a grubby shoe box complete with lid. He placed it next to the two men, who approached and looked inside.

" Is there something we could use to line it, so we don't get bounced around to much ?" asked Dan. Jubel rubbed his chin, thinking.

" What about a towel, that should be soft enough," Jubel offered.

" That would be fine, if you would take us off this table, we'll go and get our friends ready and you can follow, you'll need to bring a lamp, or torch," said Steve.

" I have one here....hop on my hand, I'll put you down on the floor," Jubel held out his right hand and Steve and Dan climbed on. While Jubel rummaged around his room, Steve and Dan ran to the door and scooted under, they got themselves away from the door as the light from Jubel's lamp flooded through the cracks in the door. They reached the stretchers bearing Mark and Val as Jubel opened the door and peered out.

" DOWN HERE," Dan shouted and saw Jubel's head swing in their direction. The Giant walked carefully over to them and set the box down on the ground. Steve looked around, glad to find the others already gone or hidden. He saw Betty's pack on the ground next to Valerie, plus the extra rope and another torch. Steve silently thanked his friends for their common sense. With Jubel's help they got the two stretchers into the box and secured, then Dan and Steve climbed in. Finally Jubel lowered the lid and closed the box securely. Inside Dan and Steve wedged themselves between the box sides and the edges of the stretchers to brace themselves. They felt the box being lifted and carried out of the barn, Jubel trying to avoid any sudden jolts. The swaying motion of the Giants gait was almost soothing, like rocking in a boat. The blankets tucked around Mark and Valerie kept them from being rolled about too violently. Steve radioed Fitzhugh and brought him up to date, finding that the rest of the group were already well on their way back to the ship. The box lurched briefly when Jubel reached the road, crouching down as a car passed, then they had to hold on as he jogged over the tarmac to reach the other side and safety. After that it was a shortish walk to the Doctors house, where Jubel again approached the house from the rear. He set the box down on the back step and opened the lid, whispering to the men inside.

" We're here....I'll leave you on the back step, you'd better approach the Doctor yourself, he doesn't have a wife, but his nurse, Karla, sometimes works late. I don't know if she can be trusted, so be careful," he cautioned.

" Thank you Jubel...we really appreciate you doing this for us," said Dan. Jubel just grinned and stood up, waving to the men as he disappeared back around the hedge and away. Steve and Dan hopped out of the box and pushed it into the corner of the step, away from being stepped on by an unwary Giant. They put the lid on as well, to help with the deception and to keep nosy animals away from the people laying inside.

Then they had to find a way into the house. They could see that a couple of the upper windows were lit, indicating where the Doctor slept, but the ground floor was in darkness. The screen door was thankfully pulled open and on a hook, so that they only had to get through the back door. A flap cut into the bottom of the door indicated with a cat or dog was also around, making the two men glance about in expectation of a possible attack. Seeing and hearing nothing to indicate an animal, they approached the flap and pushed against it. The flap was made of opaque plastic that gave easily with both of them pushing. They slipped through and found themselves in the back corridor leading, like the farmhouse, straight through the house to the front door. A staircase led to the upper floors with several doors leading off to the left, and a couple to the right. No lights under the doors meant the Doctor was already upstairs. They approached the stair and looked up the steep incline, the light from the outside porch providing a diffused glow to illuminate the stairs. The prospect of climbing all those huge cliffs was daunting at the very least. Steve considered Dan's ability to make it and decided another plan was needed. As he stood there, pondering his options, the sound of the flap on the back door swinging and banging drew their attention to the arrival of the Doctors pet cat, stalking its way softly down the hallway, towards the staircase.

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