Plague Doctor

Chapter 244: The Cough on the Bus

Translator: Lonelytree 

The bus door opened and the public, who had been waiting at the bus stop, fought to get onboard. It was early August, the weather was humid and hot. The day was still early but the sun had already turned this seaside town into an oven. The citizens felt like they were being baked. The air-conditioning inside the bus provided great refuge so every seat was heavily-treasured.

“Phew, this is such horrible weather.””Sir, do you mind kicking up the air-conditioning a notch?” The passengers rushed onto the bus and once they occupied their seats, they started to complain at the bus driver.

The driver, a middle-aged man, groused in return. “It’s turned to the max already.” He closed the door and drove away from the bus stop.

Shen Haoxuan was one of the last passengers to get on. He was polite enough to not fight for any seat with his seniors so he stood holding the handrails. He was a high school student and he was currently enjoying his summer vacation. He trusted he did well for his exam and the result should be enough to get him into his dream university. During this summer break, his parents gave him permission to apply for a driver’s license. He still had not acquired the learner’s permit so he had to settle with public transport for now.

That day, there was a manga con held at the small town. It was not that big of an event but it was enough to draw the attention of the local youths. Shen Haoxuan promised to meet up with his friends at the con and he was taking the bus there. With the thought of the adventure he would have, the young man could barely contain his excitement. According to rumors, several famous youtubers would be there. He was so excited.

“Cough… cough…” Suddenly, a horrible hacking rang within the bus. It caused everyone to frown. Shen Haoxuan turned to the source and saw it came from an uncle seated not far to his left. The uncle was about 40 plus, and casually dressed. However, his face was scarily blanched. The uncle was already on the bus when Shen Haoxuan got on. Despite the air-conditioning, the uncle was covered in sweat, his white shirt soaked with wet stains.

“Cough… Hmm…” The coughs finally petered away, his breaths labored heavily for a long time before they evened out.

When everyone thought the episode was over, the coughing returned with a vengeance. It was so intense that it shook the uncle all over. His face was red and it sounded like there was thick phlegm in his throat. The few passengers who stood around him retreated backwards. The passengers who sat next to him and in the row in front of him also quickly stood up and moved away. There were 3 empty seats around the uncle but no one wanted to take them.

“What’s going on back there?” An auntie at the front of the bus turned around. Looking down two rows, one of which was deserted, she complained, “If you’re sick, at least wear a mask when taking public transport.”

Her stern warning did nothing to stop the coughs and so the auntie’s complaint grew louder, “Can’t you just hold it in? How about covering your mouth with your hands?”

“I’m so sorry…” The uncle apologized. His voice was hoarse from all the coughing, “It’s just a small fever and minor cough.”

“Minor cough? You have to be kidding me.” The auntie chided, “Why did they even let you on the bus?” She grumbled under her breath. Normally someone would stand up against such rudeness but today the rest of the passengers were also discomfited by the uncle’s unsanitary habits. Shen Haoxuan had encountered sick people on the bus before but this uncle appeared like he needed a trip to the clinic or the hospital instead of a ride on the public transport.

The bus continued its way through the small-town street. The atmosphere in the bus chilled. The uncle tried his best to keep his coughs down but his efforts only made his condition worse. As his saliva flew everywhere, the nearby passengers fidgeted anxiously and with suppressed disgust but the bus was too crowded for them to move elsewhere.

“Sir, can you stop here?” Someone asked, wishing to get down.

“Do you want me to get fined? The bus can only stop at designated spots.” The driver grumbled, “If he refuses to wear a mask, then you can wear one of your own.”

“I… am… so sorry…” The uncle wanted to say something but it was covered up by continuous coughs. His hands pressed against his chest and his whole body shivered. “It… was not… so serious… when I left home… this morning.”

“Please, just stop talking!” The auntie shouted in anger. “I’m begging you, next time, if you’re sick, just don’t take public transport and expose your germs to others.”

Shen Haoxuan stepped in to say, “The uncle is probably taking the bus to the hospital. Uncle, how about I call a taxi for you to take you there directly instead?”

The other passengers agreed with Shen Haoxuan or they feared the bus might be required to make a pitstop at the hospital if this continued. The uncle’s face was deathly pale and he was coughing so badly that it sounded like he could barely breathe. When he was not coughing, his body was practically convulsing from all the shaking.

“Hmm, hmm!” Suddenly, the uncle’s eyes widened and his hands gripped at his chest. His head turned to the side and hacked out one loud cough, it sounded like something within him had shattered. Shock and fear filled the passengers’ eyes. Both Shen Haoxuan and the auntie were startled as they saw the bloody liquid leak out from the uncle’s mouth before he collapsed to the floor. However, upon closer inspection, what they thought were blood appeared more solid than liquid as it came with some red sticky eroded substances…

It looked like something that should be inside one’s lungs. Little pieces of inflamed and corroded chunks floated in the liquid. A horrible stench quickly filled up the enclosed space.

“Ah!” A young female passenger close to the collapsed man screamed. The bloody liquid had splashed onto her dress and calves.

“Such a nuisance!” The auntie screamed in anger. At the same time, another young male passenger was hit by the horrible stench and his stomach started to turn. Unable to hold it in, the vomit shot out of his throat. His undigested breakfast spewed forth, spraying the floor and the clothes of the people around him. Instantly the smell inside the bus got even worse, the whole car turned into a living hell, accompanied by frantic screams and complaints.

“Open the window, open the window!””Just stop the damn car already!”

Amidst the chaos, Shen Haoxuan was completely stunned. He saw the auntie stand up to grapple with the control of the steering wheel. Instinctively, he charged forward with two other male passengers to hold her back.

The uncle wheezed weakly on the ground. His face colored with pain and fear. His reddened eyes stared at the pool that came out from his mouth. ‘What… are those…’

“Cough, cough…” Heavy coughing exploded once again and bloody saliva flew everywhere. Micro bacteria floated into the air, some drifted into the air vent, and others into the passengers’ respiratory tracts…

It was chaos at the wheel and the bus teetered dangerously down the street.

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