Iranians to attack the royal family. And this is not their only attempt. One month ago, they bombed the National Guard headquarters. They are determined and reckless and it is obvious that we are going to respond.” His bandaged face suddenly contorted. “How stupid this whole business is! We are facing such danger—the whole world! And yet these fanatics think only to take advantage of the chaos! And we are just as bad. We are blaming Iran for this disease, saying it is a Shiite plot, so the people will turn their attention to war and not revolution.”
Majid finally cast an appraising professional eye on Henry’s distorted body. “You know, we still have this disease in the Middle East,” he said. “There is no reason for it. We have more sun than anyplace in the world, but people hide inside, and they don’t get enough vitamin D. Seventy percent of girls in this country have low levels of this vitamin. It’s not surprising, the way they bury themselves in those black robes. Nursing mothers refuse to take supplements, so it passes to the children.”
Henry said that, one day, he would tell Majid his story, but this was not the time. In any case, the police arrived, and the prince and his guest would be taken to a place of safety.
21
The Foaming
The Stevenson barns were already surrounded by trucks from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, a local fire department, and a bus from the state correctional facility in Shakopee. There were nine other poultry farms to depopulate that day, and the state, undermanned for such a task, had enlisted volunteer prisoners for the statewide eradication. They were standing in the yard, suiting up, when Mary Lou Shaughnessy and Emily Lankau arrived. As the senior health official on the site, Emily had the unappealing job of dealing with Mr. Stevenson, who was sitting in a rocking chair with a shotgun in his lap.
“Good morning, Mr. Stevenson,” she said. “I’m sorry about the test results.”
“I don’t agree to this,” he said. “I don’t agree to this a’tall.”
“You know the rules. You’ll be compensated.” She handed him a clipboard with some paperwork, which Stevenson scarcely glanced at. “They did a count of 25,673 healthy turkeys this morning,” Emily said. “Another seventy birds appear to be ill. Then I think you’ve got some eggs that would be covered as well.”
“There was twenty-seven thousand birds in there before you came,” Stevenson said defiantly.
“If you say so. In any case, that means you had more than a thousand deaths in a couple days. We don’t pay for dead birds, and we pay less for sick birds, so what we’re talking about is fair-market value for healthy birds and the standard amount for depopulation and cleanup.”
“This ain’t gonna come anywhere near covering the losses,” Stevenson said.
“You’re right. And it’s not just you. We’ve got farms all over the state that are facing the same situation. But here’s the deal. We’re gonna kill your birds whether you like it or not. Then we’ll clean it up and send you the bill. If you don’t sign this paperwork, you won’t get paid anything. That’s pretty clear. Also, I wish you’d take that gun inside, it’s making folks nervous.”
“You fill my yard with convicts and you worry about their mental state?”
“To be honest, I didn’t know they were using prison labor, but I’m sure they’ll be on good behavior.”
Stevenson’s jaw set. Emily had the feeling he was going to say something he would regret. So she asked, “Mr. Stevenson, do you mind my asking your Christian name?”
He looked startled. “Jerome,” he said.
“May I call you Jerome? You know this is something that has to be done. It’s not the government singling you out. It’s a terrible catastrophe. People everywhere are in danger. Your own family, I think, is in terrible danger. They’ll need to be taken care of. You’ll have to watch out for any fever or signs of illness and report it right away. Get to a doctor or a hospital as soon as you can.”
“They can’t do shit.”
“What I hear is that fluids are essential. There can be a lot of pain, and doctors can help with that. People who are cared for have a better chance. I know you’d want that for your family, Jerome. I’m just saying, be on guard. I bet you’re good at that.”
“I am,” he said.
“And, the paperwork?” Emily said.
Jerome signed his name and handed her the clipboard.