GinaThe baby’s nose is bleeding!
Aunt KateJust pinch her nose.
GinaThere’s blood on the crib.
GinaHer parents will freak out.
Aunt KateNosebleeds are common, dear. They’ll understand.
GinaNo they won’t. They’re weird.
Aunt KateDo you want me to come over and help?
GinaNo, I can take care of it.
GinaBut you have to admit: the Kelbs are strange.
Aunt KateThey are particular, yes.
GinaMrs. Kelb is so suspicious of everyone.
GinaShe’ll blame me for this.
Aunt KateShe’s a scientist. She has that kind of mind.
GinaThis poor little baby, growing up with a mom like that.
GinaAt least she’s got a mom, right?
GinaNot like me.
Aunt KatePlease don’t talk that way.
Aunt KateYou’re not alone.
GinaYeah, I know…
GinaOther orphans get gruel and spankings.
GinaI get to live with my cool aunt. ;)
Aunt KateWhat does the baby’s skin feel like?
Gina
GinaShe feels cold. Really cold.
GinaAnd she keeps whispering something really creepy.
Aunt KateWhat’s she whispering?
GinaDzuma, Dzuma
Aunt KateWhat?!
GinaDzuma
GinaShe keeps repeating it over and over.
GinaDo you know what it means?
GinaAunt Kate?
GinaYou still there?
Aunt KateGet out of the room.
GinaWhy? What does it mean?
Aunt KateDon’t leave the house.
Aunt KateAnd don’t let anyone in.
Aunt KateThat includes the Kelbs.
GinaWhy?
Aunt KateLock the doors.
GinaWhat does it mean??!
Aunt KateI’ll find the Kelbs and let them know what’s happening.
Aunt KateDon’t go near the child again.
GinaWhy not?
GinaPlease tell me what’s happening.
Aunt KateGet back to you soon.
GinaThanks a lot, Aunt Kate.
GinaI’ll just sit here…. Not freaked out at all.
Two minutes later
Aunt KateI talked to Mrs. Kelb.
Aunt KateThey’re on their way home.
Aunt KateHere’s what you need to do:
GinaI looked it up. Dzuma.
GinaIt’s Polish.
GinaAnd it means…plague.
GinaDzuma means plague!
GinaDeath and destruction.
GinaDoesn’t it?
Aunt KateYes.
GinaShe’s not even two, and she’s talking about plague?
Aunt KateStay away from her.
GinaIs this the disease that killed Mom and Dad?
Aunt KateWe don’t need to go into that.
GinaI’ve read about it. You can find information about it online.
GinaAbout the epidemic when you all were in Poland.
Aunt KateDon’t worry about that right now.
GinaSome people say that it infects you…but also makes you really aware.
GinaLike you have these really deep insights into the world.
Aunt KateWhere did you hear all this?
GinaOnline.
Aunt KateConspiracy forums?
Aunt KateThat’s just gibberish from a bunch of weirdos typing in their basements.
GinaSome of them sound like they know what they’re talking about.
Aunt KateAll weirdos pretend to know what they’re talking about.
GinaSo what’s the truth?
Aunt KateRight now, just stay put and wait for me.
GinaYou never give me straight answers.
Aunt KateThis isn’t the time to go into it.
Aunt KateRight now, you need to stay away from the child.
Aunt KateAnd keep anyone else out.
GinaIf you want me to listen to you, you have to tell me what’s happening.
GinaDon’t treat me like a child.
Aunt KateAll right, listen…
Aunt KateIt may be nothing…
Aunt KateBut it’s possible that it’s related to what we saw over there.
GinaThe Plague?
Aunt KateWe weren’t able to categorize it precisely…
Aunt KateBut it was dangerous, and highly contagious.
GinaAm I going to die?!
Aunt KateNo. I’m going to take care of you.
GinaWhat about Ana?
Aunt KateWhat we’re going to do is make sure that you are professionally quarantined.
GinaWhere?
Aunt KateI’ll figure that out. In the meantime, we need to contain this thing.
Aunt KateStay away from the child.
GinaHow did the disease get into her?
Aunt KateIt must have been dormant in Mrs. Kelb.
Aunt KateThere’s a lot we never understood about Dzuma.
Aunt KateBut we do know that, if you’re not exhibiting symptoms…
Aunt KateYou’re not contagious.
GinaI don’t have symptoms.
Aunt KateGood. That’s good. For now…
Aunt KateIs this the first time Ana’s had a bloody nose, and cold skin?
GinaYeah, definitely. She’s completely different tonight.
Aunt KateThen let’s hope we can control the situation.
GinaBut I might die!
Aunt KateYou’re going to be OK. We’ll get the best people on it.
GinaAnd why is Ana speaking in Polish?
GinaShe was never there. Her parents aren’t Polish.
GinaThat doesn’t make any sense.
GinaShe’s just a baby.
GinaYou can’t learn a language through a disease.
GinaAunt Kate?
Aunt KateI’ll be there very soon. Maybe ten minutes.
Aunt KateMost important: don’t go near Ana.
GinaHold on.
Gina
Aunt Kate?
GinaThere’s someone out on the lawn!
Aunt KateDon’t let them in.
GinaOut by the fence, behind the trees.
GinaI think there might be two of them…
GinaThey’ve got masks over their faces.
Aunt KateThey must be from disease control. Just sit tight.
Aunt KateI’m about ten minutes away.
GinaAnd now Ana is screaming.
Aunt KateLet her cry.
Aunt KateGina. Just let her cry.
Aunt KateDon’t go near her.
GinaShe’s choking.
GinaIt sounds like she can’t breathe.
Aunt KateNo, she’s just crying.
GinaHow do you know?
Aunt KateDon’t go in there.
GinaShe can’t breathe.
Aunt KateStay away from her.
GinaNow she’s sweating.
GinaCold as ice and she’s sweating.
Aunt KateYou’re inside the room?
Aunt KateGet out now!!
GinaOkay, she’s calming down. She had something stuck in her throat.
GinaIt looks awful...
Gina
GinaThat color...it's worse than I thought.
Aunt KateGina, do you understand that what she has is very serious?
GinaI helped her cough it all up.
Aunt KateYou can’t be near her.
GinaI’ve been touching her all night.
GinaIf I’m going to get it, I’ve got it, right?
Aunt KateNot necessarily.
Aunt KateThe more contact you have, the more likely you’ll get it.
GinaI couldn’t just leave her.
Aunt KateWait for me to get there.
GinaYou’re going to come inside the house?
Aunt KateProbably not.
Aunt KateI’ll stay outside with Disease Control.
Aunt KateBut I’ll help figure out how to organize the quarantine.
GinaHow will that work?
Aunt KateWe’ll have people in from Atlanta in a few hours.
Aunt KateTop people in the world. We’re going to be all right.
GinaThis is how Mom and Dad died.
GinaIsn’t it?
Aunt KateIt’s complicated. I’ll explain when I get there.
GinaYou’ll yell to me from out on the lawn?
Aunt KateYou’re not going to die.
GinaYou don’t know that.
Aunt KateWe’re getting the best people on it.
GinaSure.
Aunt KateI swear you’re going to be okay.
GinaWhat does Klamsa mean?
Aunt KateWhat?
GinaThe baby. That’s what she’s saying now.
Aunt KateYou’re still in the room?
GinaI’m near the door.
Aunt KateGet out of there! And close the door!!
GinaOk! Wash my hands, too?
Aunt KateIt can’t hurt.
GinaBut what does “Klamsa” mean.
Aunt KateI don’t know. She’s just a toddler.
GinaYou sure you don’t know?
Gina
GinaBecause the Kelbs have a dictionary here.
GinaRemember, I looked up Dzuma.
GinaIt wasn’t hard for me to look up Klamsa.
Aunt KateThis isn’t something to worry about now.
GinaShe said it again. And I know what it means.
GinaIt means liar.
Aunt KateShe’s a sick baby. Don’t worry about what she says.
GinaShe warns me about plague.
GinaShe warns me about liars.
Aunt KateI am not lying to you.
GinaYou don’t tell me the whole truth.
Aunt KateGina, you’re all I have in the world.
Aunt KateI would never do anything to hurt you.
GinaYou have lied to me.
GinaIn the past.
GinaTook you a week to tell me Mom and Dad were gone.
Aunt KateI will explain everything I can.
Aunt KatePromise me you won’t go near her until then.
GinaWait…I smell something.