Evening star., 1961-12-26
STRIKE
Radiation
Danger
Recedes
Continued From Page B-1

Continued From Page B-1
tributed through the camp
equally"
Fred barked: Still trying to
preserve the bureaucrats?"
NO" returned the colonel,
"still trying to save the chill
dren and invalids from being
left to starve."
Fred announced, we're
packing" and left the colonel,
his aide and Alan.
The aide, Mai. Dunn, asked
if he should call out extra
camp police to stop the group
from leaving.
Col. Coral shook his head.
Let's meet later today on this"
AS the day progressed. a civil
ian revolt brewed. Some had
stolen rifles and ammunition.
Col. Coral was faced with fight
ing American citizens or follow
ing Alan's advice to "let up"
recognize that this was a semi
permanent crisis and permit
the civilians to organize them
selves to handle their problems.
The second crisis of the day
came with the discovery that
many of the orphans Col. Coral
felt deeply about and visited
often were sick. The diagnosis:
tuberculosis meningitis.
"Sheila's cough!" Alan said.
And I, a doctor. didn't realize.
Now she's infected the chill
dren."
"Is it my fault?" Sheila wept
while Col. Coral examined her.
NO" said Col. Coral. You
only tried to help" To both
Alan and Sheila, the colonel
said, We've all made mistakes.
l.. Now we've got to save
the children. If they don't sur
vive, what have we worked to
do?
YES" he repeated, we've all
made mistakes. And if I've made
them, I'm going to give you a
chance. I understand this dis
ease well. I want to concen-
trate on it." Col. Coral turned
to Alan:
"You are. in charge Of the
civilian population until further
notice. You'll have full discre-
ton"
Col. Coral's self-realization
and change of command lines
embarrassed them both.
Treatment is where I belong"
said Col. Coral.
I'll keep you fully informed,
sir" Alan said. and hurried out.
He found Fred talking with
other civilians and worked out
a compromise. Fred and a large
group of the healthy would
leave. They would move upriver,
establish shelters and then CO.
operate with Fort Kendall in
farming the land between them.
In return for the cooperation
of the farmers, Fort Kendall
would provide medical help.
The land was planted and
the crops came up straggly, but
as summer wore on there was
good food and a promise of a
second crop late in the summer.
Col. Coral had worked tire
lessly among the camps tuber-
cular children, most of whom
were showing signs Of recov-
cry. He had given special care
to Sheila. BY August, hope
was possible that she would
recover.
Alan, pleased with the prog
ress, had loud speaker rigged
up to announce:
"All the horrible months
have proved the will to live can
burn bright anywhere. -. Ra-
diation, as hard as it is to be-
lieve, is nova minor problem.
want all to meet here to-
night to get some radiation
facts straight.
I'VE know that more may
die. But we can now hope
that more will be born. That
is our consolation and hope!
We can build them a future"
Col. Coral and Sheila listened
from inside the hospital. II am
getting better, colonel?"
Eyes, Sheila. You're a strong
woman. You're going to get
we'll"
"Col. Coral, when I lost my
baby in the winter, I told Alan
I wanted no children. {.
Would you call him over now?"
She smiled.
Say, that's the spirit" the
colonel said. "I haven't seen
you smile since you were put to
bed"
UINoroaY, o1rx,o we e,,ailnD - eaiI