Meltdown Miracles

By Gillian Leggat

Khaila and Covid are in opposing camps, and they couldn't be more different. Khaila is caring, hard-working and democratic, whereas Covid is sadistic, lazy and dictatorial. Khaila and her teams have taken on the biggest challenge of their lives: to slow down the destructive Covid and his spiteful cousin, Corona, who are wreaking havoc wherever they go, bringing with them suffering, disease and death. But in every continent they visit, they meet with opposition: their 'enemies', Khaila and her deputy, Cassandra, are hampering their efforts to break the record for the largest number of people in the history of the world to ever succumb to any one virus. The determined, driven Khaila constantly encourages her women to dispense practical and spiritual help wherever they go, while the equally determined Covid is constantly sending his mean, spiky germ slaves on his destructive business. Because of the broad sweep of the virus, which is spreading to every corner of the world, readers will travel to a host of different countries as they visit famous landmarks like the Statuette of Liberty, Christ the Redeemer Statuette and the pyramids of Giza. But they will also explore far-flung locations like the icebergs of Antarctica where Covid has his headquarters, the towering trees of the African rain forest where Khaila has established her hide-out, and Tristan da Cuna, the remotest inhabited place on earth. It is in these places that the war between Khaila and Covid will be fought as the themes of the novel unfold: light versus darkness, hope versus despair and life versus death. While Khaila's workers are loyal and committed, Covid's spiky green germs are resentful and rebellious. With such a cruel, slave-driving master at the head of this vast germ army, there is bound to be dissension in the ranks. Corona attempts a complete take-over of the millions of 'slaves' who only serve Covid because they fear his vengeful anger and his sadistic punishments. But there is another shocking defection that has nothing to do with Covid and his nasty crew. A desertion that will shake Cassandra to her very core. Meltdown Miracles is a powerful, topical novel that tackles fundamental issues of what it is like to live in an extremely broken, fractured world. Hope. Faith. Optimism. And even survival. Are they even possible when the whole world is held to ransom by a virulent virus? The novel is a compelling read that will provide food for thought long after the last word has been read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gillian Leggat
• Release date: Sep 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005691486

Gillian Leggat

Gillian Leggat is an educator and the prolific author of more than 80 books in a wide variety of genres, including adult fiction and non-fiction, young adult novels, educational material and children’s picture books. She has a particular interest in creating picture books for young children. The Biggest Blessing is her second picture book published by Austin Macauley (Star Bright was her first). Gillian lives in Cape Town where she tutors English and writes her books. She enjoys swimming, hiking, attending her local church and going to the theatre, ballet and opera. She has three adult children and two grandchildren.

Book preview

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Meryl Nesbit

for her creative cover design.

Thank you, also, to Smashwords

for their comprehensive and helpful

author podcasts.

Dedication

This ebook is dedicated to all the doctors,

nurses and other health workers at the frontline

of the Corona virus epidemic.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

About the Author

About This Book

Connect With Me

Discover Other Titles by Gillian Leggat

Chapter One

As he leant against his snowy cushions, Covid expelled a self-satisfied sigh. What a vantage point he had chosen from which to view his germ army. His comfortable armchair was perched on a pinnacle-shaped iceberg at the very southern tip of the world in Antarctica. Below him, was a huge compacted ice platform where his germ slaves stood to take orders. From his elevated position he used his X-ray eyes to survey what was going on all around his headquarters. It was also a good place to gloat about his achievements. With a sinister glee, he frequently thought about the awful impact he, Covid 19, was having on whole continents and the citizens of the entire world. Today in particular, his chest swelled with pride when he reflected on what he had accomplished.

The best day’s work ever! Without even stirring once from his copious cushions, he had arranged more than one thousand new infections in the aged and vulnerable and one hundred deaths. And that was in one country alone. Of course he had his assistants. What leader operating on such a grand international scale would be without them. But he had reason to revel in his intimidating power and self-congratulate for his brilliant strategy. For he had swept over countries, journeyed to the remotest corners of the world and recruited and trained millions upon millions of foot-soldiers: his ball-like green germs with spiky legs which left their deadly mark on myriad surfaces even when lightly touched. So now he seldom had to do anything himself. Which was just the way he liked it.

When he wasn’t busy relishing the pain and confusion that he kept leaving in his wake, he spent most of his time watching albatross acrobatics, enjoying his favourite meal of leopard seal, cucumber, radish, chard and basil, or simply lounging is his yielding snow-armchair listening to the music of the sea as it lapped – and sometimes crashed – against the ice. Oh how he enjoyed music. If he was honest with himself, he preferred the wailing kind…the howling and yowling, the blubbering and sobbing of his unfortunate victims sounded, to him, like the discordant screeching of a thousand un-tuned violins played by novices. That kind of sound might be sacrilege to the proud, black-suited conductors of the world who were no longer wielding their batons – another of his successes – but to him, listening to inharmonious ‘music’ was like tuning in on a distorted version of the music of the stars.

What a life! He couldn’t possibly have wished for a better one. What chaos he had stirred up everywhere. His very own taylor-made virus was stalking the world, hopping from country to country, soaring over oceans from continent to continent. How satisfying that he could cause so much grief in the world. What he found particularly gratifying, though – his name was on absolutely everyone’s lips. From Presidents to paupers, from celebrities no non-entities, from divas to druggies – they were all crying out his name. It was a pity that his less important cousin, Corona, tried to steal some of his glory. His cousin even boasted that she had inflicted greater suffering on the world than he had.

Only yesterday, his impudent cousin had travelled all the way from North America to his perfect getaway here in Antarctica for the specific purpose of taunting him – by claiming greater successes and more impressive statistics. The audacious Corona had burst in on him just as one of his slaves had handed him his crystal goblet which was filled to the brim with his favourite ambergris wine.

You’ll never believe how many new infections I’ve managed to inflict today.

Taking a large gulp of his oily nectar, Covid merely stared down at his preposterous rival. Undaunted, his irritating cousin had continued: All sorts of people are falling like flies: young, old, healthy, sick – whoever I touch. They cough. They complain. They queue. You should see the shock on their faces when they test positive. All over China it’s happening. And not only in Wuhan. You name it. Villages, cities and cantons are falling at my feet.

Covid didn’t deign to reply. He merely continued with his stare which became more withering by the minute.

Well, aren’t you going to share your wine with me?

Silence.

…to celebrate…

Silence accompanied by a drop-dead-special stare.

Aren’t you even going to ask me about my successful statistics?

What good are they when you don’t have the trump card! Covid exploded, spilling some of the precious liquid on his pristine-white robe, which did nothing to improve his temper.

What good is a trump card if you can’t spread the disease as fast as I can. Ten thousand new infections. All over China. In one day. She was screaming now. All the green-spiked vassals standing by were trembling with fear. And then came the challenge: Beat that if you can. Trump me if you dare!

Liar! Now Covid performed an action he hadn’t needed to do in days. He rose from the comfort of his snowy armchair, towering over his impertinent rival. I do dare! he announced imposingly. Oh, I do dare, he thundered, suddenly lifting both his arms above Corona’s head. His rival gave an involuntary shudder. Tell me, Corona, when you aren’t making up tall stories about your ‘successful statistics’ - you expect me to believe all that nonsense - he changed his tone to one of biting sarcasm, are you able to inflict the maximum penalty on your victims?

Now it was his cousin’s turn to be silent.

Well, are you?

Still no answer.

Of course not, shouted Covid triumphantly. It is only I, Covid 19, who can inflict the maximum penalty. Death. So many deaths. So many painful deaths. He expelled a deep-throated growl of a laugh. And it is only I, Covid 19, who is able to summon huge numbers to my side in an instant. To prove his point – and his considerable power – he belted out a command: Slaves, come here right now. The reaction of his subordinates was instant. In no time at all, thousands were gathering below him. Even his icy heart satisfyingly surged when so many of his slaves congregated at his feet, awaiting his orders. Now I will show you who is Master, he roared, throwing his arms towards Corona’s face. Out of my sight.

But Corona hadn’t waited for that command. As soon as she saw how hordes of green germs immediately obeyed their ‘master’, she reluctantly scuttled away, determined, however, to find more of her own victims. Humiliated as she was, she hadn’t given up the fight to out-trump her ‘master’. To infect such a huge number of victims in one day that even he would sit up and take notice. And in order to do that, she was off once again to one of the world’s most populous places: China. With what she was going to do there, she would prove to him who, after all, was the real boss of the world.

The minute his pesky cousin was out of sight, he mumbled to himself, Good riddance! Then he scraped his long fingernails against his shiny crystal goblet to get the attention of his slaves. Like a Sergeant Major, he bellowed: CT1. Attention.

Thousands of spiky legs jumped into an almost straight line below him.

You know your territory. China’s your playground. But you must now spread out into all the countries of Asia. Every country is up for grabs.

Yes Sir, squeaked thousands upon thousands of voices.

All of you. Total commitment.

Yes Sir.

And remember, no half-measures. Make sure you do your job properly.

Yes Sir.

Focus on the job, he growled. No slacking even for a second.

Yes Sir. Millions of salutes. Millions of cheers like myriads of mice squeaking to the skies.

Off with you, he shouted. To China and the rest of Asia. Faster. Faster. Get to work. Make sure you come back with results….don’t let me down.

It didn’t take long for his slaves to vacate his hide-out. They knew the penalty for not obeying him. The tropical treatment. None of his slaves wanted to work in the hotter countries. They knew that there they risked a withering, painful extermination. They all wanted to be assigned to the colder countries, so he just had to mention in that commanding voice of his, Tropical, to send them all scurrying off to work. He ruled by fear and he loved it. Such power. Such might. Such insuperable control. No piddling little Corona’s could take away an ounce of his supremacy. He was Covid 19. He was Number One. He could cause death. Nobody could take that away from him.

He wouldn’t have been quite so pleased with himself had he known what opposition was brewing half-way across the world.

Chapter Two

Leaning against a fork of a one-hundred-and-fifty-foot kapok tree, peering over the roof canopy of the equatorial forest, was an alert, sylph-like figure dressed in a straight brown shift. By choice, Khaila would have worn a bright yellow flowing robe to match the brilliance of the sun, but these were extraordinary times which required extreme measures. Right now, camouflage was more important than conspicuousness. In order to fight her malignant enemy, for now, she felt the need for disguise. Should any of the enemies’ compliant spies be passing over the tropical forest searching for further victims, she would be taken for just another tree trunk or bough.

Just the day before, when she had happened to notice a few of Covid’s scattered supporters in her territory, it had warmed her heart to see how his spiteful germ-underlings were wilting in the sun. She had witnessed many of them collapsing onto the seething ground which, despite the shade, was baking because of the soaring temperatures. What she didn’t know was that these were the ‘unfortunates’; the Covid slaves who had been sent here specifically to be punished for disobedience; they hadn’t acted quickly enough according to their boss, and therefore they had been assigned to their fate.

If only she had the power to temporarily extend these equatorial temperatures across the whole world. Then, as soon as the enemy had been decisively trounced, everything could be restored to a new normal – because after this crisis, she suspected that the world would never be ‘normal’ – as its present inhabitants had known it – again.

She did, however, know her limitations. Of course she couldn’t change the weather. Only God could perform miracles like that. She also knew that she was only an insignificant instrument in the hands of this Almighty God. Above all else, she wanted to be an obedient servant, which meant making some sacrifices. Her ‘normal’ task of spreading joy in her small community had been totally disrupted. She sighed nostalgically as she considered her now defunct daily routine which had given her so much pleasure: putting a smile on the faces of young and old alike as she ensured they were fed with encouraging messages from the word; prompting both rich and poor to be generous with their resources, time and talents; inspiring men as well as women to connect and share positive messages with each other.

But this wasn’t a time for nostalgic memories. Now was a time for action. At that very moment, she was alerted to a sudden movement. Someone was weaving through the forest trees. As a precaution, she pressed her body against the bark and remained still. But when the shape got closer, she allowed herself a relieved smile. An enthusiastic member of her team. She whistled softly to guide Cassandra to her hiding place. Cassandra changed direction, gliding gracefully until she settled in the tree facing her boss. Khaila took one look at her dishevelled appearance – her wild hair, her torn brown robe and her dirt-streaked shoes, before saying softly, You’ve travelled a long way. She waited patiently for Cassandra’s breathing, which was like the panting of a thirsty dog, to return to normal. Then she said quietly, You must have news.

Bad news I’m afraid.

About your brother?

I wish… She looked as though she was on the point of tears, but then she shook herself into a state of alertness. Why did he have to desert us like that? she demanded mournfully.

He was becoming more and more of a rebel every day, Khaila remarked.

He wasn’t always like that. And to just scive off like that with no warning…

Khaila, in her best attempt to cheer up her trusted colleague, said more light-heartedly, Maybe there were too many women in his life. He’s gone off in search of male company!

If he was my identical twin, this wouldn’t have happened, brooded Cassandra. Same sex. Same interests. We would have been like two peas in a pod.

He might come back to us…sooner than you think.

I doubt it. He’s had that restless look in his eyes for ages. If I think about it, I could sense something was brewing…

The joys of non-identical twins! said Khaila. If you hadn’t told me, I really, really wouldn’t have known you were twins – even though he does look a bit like you. But you’re so, so different from each other. You could have been born on different planets.

Anyway, I didn’t come here to talk about Kyle, said Cassandra briskly, changing the subject. She was good at that when she had to be – putting aside her personal problems and focusing, rather, on the task at hand. I have far more important news – international news, she announced.

Khaila raised her eyebrows, which resulted in Cassandra appearing to get cold feet. She began to fidget. She looked down at her feet. It was as if, after all, she wanted to hold back her ‘important news’. Khaila waited patiently, but the silence was so long that she eventually had to gently prompt: It’s better if you tell me everything…I’m no stranger to bad news.

Immediately, as if a tap had been suddenly switched on, Cassandra’s words started to flow at speed: Corona and Covid are causing chaos in China. The infections keep spreading at an alarming rate. More and more people are landing up in hospital – gasping for breath, coughing horribly, body temperatures shooting up. Whole villages are being shut down, citizens are being confined to homes, food resources are under strain, all churches are closed. People can’t even meet privately to praise the Lord together. We need to fight back. But there are not nearly enough of us out there. Corona and Covid are a powerful combination. What are we going to do? Cassandra’s voice had been progressively rising. By now, there was a hint of hysteria in her tone.

Khaila turned both palms of her hands downwards to face the forest floor. Slowly, she pumped them up and down in her attempt to instil calm into her team leader. She had much work for Cassandra to do. But first, it was imperative to make her see the big picture. Only then would she be able to lead her team with courage and fortitude.

It took some time. But eventually, Cassandra’s heart rate stilled, her breathing normalised and the fear faded from her eyes. Only now, could Khaila talk sense into her dedicated team member and intimate friend.

You know, of course, that we have a much more powerful Master than Corona or Covid could ever be? She paused, allowing time for the full weight of her rhetorical question to sink in. But then she answered her own question anyway – for maximum impact. The Lord of the whole world. The God who created the heavens and the earth. The Lord of the entire universe. Once again, she allowed time for her words to sink in. Cassandra seemed to know what was required of her at this moment – a listening attitude. We are simply vessels in His hands, as we try to carry out His will. Cassandra nodded very slightly, but Khaila didn’t leave it there. She knew that Cassandra needed the practical details to be filled in. But at urgent times like this, we can’t merely talk about our dependence on God – about how He is always in control. At times like this, we are required to act. Now Cassandra’s nod was more animated. So I need you to gather the troops. Get as many of the team as you can to our secret meeting place. And quickly. I’ll be waiting for you there. All thoughts of her brother forgotten now, Cassandra started to behave at her efficient best. Practical details had always been her forté. What time…

The sooner the better. Let’s try meeting no later than three hours from now.

Cassandra didn’t wait for further instructions. She was off, once again weaving in and out of the towering trees. When she reached the very tips of the trees, where there were no longer any restrictions on her movement or speed, she soared into the sky, speeding off to gather as many clusters of workers as she could in as short a possible time.

Khaila, too, acted immediately. Quick as lightning, she flashed through the gaps in the branches, landing in the middle of her meeting place at midday. She had chosen this spot for two reasons: its seclusion and its spiritual atmosphere. The majestic, temple-like trees of the canopy shielded the moss-like carpet on which were arranged ten circular logs. Facing the semi-circle, was the carefully-crafted, high-backed wooden chair from which she conducted all her meetings. She liked to sit in this chair even when she hadn’t scheduled a meeting. There she could pray, contemplate, strategise – it was a perfect place for meditation. The beauty of the encroaching plants – the glorious Birds of paradise, the magenta orchids and the rich greens of the king ferns – accentuated the worshipful atmosphere of this extraordinary meeting place. What she particularly loved about this place was its natural beauty. The only imported, ‘man-made’ item, was a large brass bell which hung suspended on a thick creeper in the middle of the semi-circle. Although she had initially resisted the idea of erecting this bell, she had eventually succumbed to pressure in the interests of orderly meetings. It was to her chair that she hurried now. Here, in the peace and seclusion of this beautiful place, she would wait