Plague Book: One Final Gasp

by Druga, Jacqueline

  “Please, tell me the good news.”

  “You, my friend, are the only one infected,” Ana said. “We have tested every worker and the driver who brought you here. Even the guinea pig we had breathing your air, sharing your water … no sign of infection. The lab is clean. No signs anywhere of X.”

  Frederic released an airy chuckle of surprise. “That is wonderful news. Good news.”

  “Yes, yes it is. We will keep trying to combat what is taking a toll on your body, but we can breathe easily now. We are letting everyone go home.”

  “What? No.” Frederic shook his head. “No, it’s too soon. Ana, it’s too soon. Give it twenty-four more hours. The virus may have a longer incubation period with person to person transmission.”

  “Something of this strength …” She shook her head. “We would have seen something. Someone would have shown it in their blood.”

  “How about the TSA worker in Boston?” Frederic asked.

  “We checked with TSA, no one had called off work, and the only reports of flu coming out of any Boston hospitals doesn’t fit the profile of the X. No worries, Frederic, we’re good,” Ana said. “I’ll notify the ministry that it was a precaution and we can declare this breach and quarantine … over.”

  “Over,” Frederic repeated with some disbelief.

  “Yes. Feel relieved my friend. I can say safely and with confidence,” Ana said. “We dodged the bullet.”

  PART TWO: DYING

  13 – UNCOVERING

  FOUR DAYS LATER

  August 1

  Hôtel Matignon, Paris, France

  French Prime Minister, Armand Bossard was glad he finished his toast when the Minister of Health made an unexpected and abrupt appearance. Armand was like other Prime Ministers, while he was an early riser, he didn’t rush to dress for the day. Usually in casual slacks and a sweater he took his coffee and breakfast at the small table in the kitchen. He liked the bustle of the staff around him, listening to their banter while he read the news and reviewed his work on his laptop.

  He was surprised when a security entourage along with Minister Alice Page made their entrance.

  “Forgive my unannounced intrusion, Prime Minister,” she said. “We need to talk.” She looked around. “It’s vital.”

  “Absolutely.” He wiped his mouth. “I’ll go get dressed.”

  “No need. Please come with me.”

  “Would you like coffee?” he asked.

  “After this news I am certain you’ll be wanting something stronger than coffee.”

  Carrying his coffee, Armand joined Alice in his office. They were alone with the door closed when she asked for him to sit in front of his thirty-two inch monitor.

  He needed to see everything.

  “I received a tip last night in regards to the incident at Jean Merielux labs,” she said.

  “The breach from a couple days ago?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “That was just a precaution.”

  “Or so we were led to believe. Since we have access to all closed circuit cameras there, I had our people take a look. All was fine.”

  “Okay.”

  “But the tip was very disturbing.”

  “Alice, please stop being so mysterious. Who gave the tip?”

  “A security guard on detail the day of the breach. He was one of only a few that left after it was lifted. But it wasn’t just a precaution, it truly was a breach and they lifted the quarantine too early.”

  “So he said.”

  “I wanted to speak to him in person, but he said it was too dangerous, he was sick and I was to stay away,” she explained. “Immediately I sent authorities over … taking extreme precaution. While they were on their way, I checked the cameras again. It looked off to me. Like the workers were still the same ones doing the same thing. I placed a call to Solomon.”

  Armand stifled a laugh. “The hacker? To do what?”

  “To check the cameras. To get into their system,” she replied, as if he were ridiculous for even asking. “Or their files if need be.”

  “What did the guard say when you found him?” Armand asked.

  Alice leaned forward sliding the memory card into his laptop. “He was dead. We activated a quarantine for his apartment building. I don’t think we’re fast enough. Take a look. Everything I am showing you, everything I know, I have learned in the last two hours. I’m rushing to put things in place, so we have it in order for the president.”

  Armand turned to face the images on the computer.

  “Solomon hacked into the live feed. They had a recording playing.”

  Just as he was about to ask why they would do that, Armand saw the reason. The images from the camera showed dead bodies all through the laboratory complex. In the hallways where they made makeshift beds and in the labs. The low resolution made it difficult to see what their faces looked like or how they had suffered.

  “Jesus,” he said. “What are we dealing with?”

  “I don’t know. From the looks of things some of them were sick and some of them just dropped where they stood. We haven’t a clue what escaped. World Health Organization should be here with a team in an hour to go in there. We sealed the grounds as well. Whatever it was, was so bad they didn’t want anyone to know about it. Unfortunately, any chance of containing this went out the window when those six people, including the guard, went home.”

  “Do we know who the other six were?”

  Alice nodded. “We’re locating them now. Unfortunately, one of them left for holiday two days ago.”

  “Oh my God.” Armand sat back.

  “We have a national emergency.”

  “No, Alice,” Armand lifted the phone to call the president. “We have a global emergency.”

  14 – SEALING

  Magnificent Jewel – Cruise Ship

  There was just enough breeze to stop it from feeling too hot.

  Eve didn’t have her own umbrella by her chair, enough shade was cast from Glen’s. His lounge was next to her, the outer row farthest from the upper level, a south private pool closest to the deck entrances.

  “This is so great,” Eve said, eyes fixed on the bar. “We’re in a private section.”

  “And you’re fan girling,” Glen said. He lounged on a chair, legs extended, buried beneath a hat and sun glasses.

  Eve didn’t know if his eyes were open.

  “Yeah, it’s exciting. I can’t believe we got this assignment,” she said.

  “It’s a good one. So right now no work talk.”

  “What if he wants to give an interview?”

  “Then he waits until six pm when my break is over.”

  “He’s coming back,” Eve gushed.

  Glen grumbled, grabbed his drink and took a sip.

  Eva sat up, sucking in her tummy slightly and smiling the best she could when the man returned with two fancy drinks. She didn’t know what they were, but knew they were multicolored, frozen with fruit and a straw.

  Glen was right. She did fan girl. How could she not. Eve wasn’t only on the Legends of Rock cruise, but she caught the eye of the legend of all legends. She didn’t know if it was because she was a reporter or that she was considered ‘young’ to him and still attractive.

  Whatever the case, Eva was loving the attention. Since they met at the moment they set sail, two days earlier, Silas Briar was all about Eve.

  He’d talked to her at dinner, breakfast and any of the night events.

  Glen called him the epitome of an aging Rock star. Eve disagreed, yes, he was around seventy, give or take a year, but he was aging gracefully. The others on the boat looked either hard, worn down or overly botoxed.

  Silas was genuinely a nice man. Eve guessed he probably had a little work around his eyes, it was hard to tell because he wore big glasses. That was it as far as plastic surgery, his face had wrinkles of happiness and a hard life style. More than likely he had his teeth redone or they weren’t his, they were bright white and perfec
t when he flashed his big smile. His hair was still long and flowing, only recently letting the gray come through. His neck and hands showed his true age, and she supposed his body showed his age as well. He was thin and short, but he wore clothing that covered him. A light long sleeve shirt and longer shorts.

  “Thank you so much,” Eve said and accepted the drink. “You are so sweet.”

  “A sweet drink for a sweet woman,” Silas replied, his voice raspy. “I would have gotten your husband a drink, but you didn’t say anything.”

  “My … my husband?” Eve asked.

  Silas pointed to Glen.

  “That’s my camera man, I thought you knew that.” Eve looked at Glen, he wore the Hawaiian flowered shirt, long tan shorts, socks and sandals. Typical tourist attire for a middle aged man.

  “Thought you were a working couple. You know one of those couples who are together like twenty, thirty years …”

  “Twenty or thirty years,” Eva gasped. “Oh my God, do we look like that old of a couple?”

  Silas tilted his head.

  “I’m not old enough to be married thirty years to anyone.”

  Glen chuckled.

  She shot a glance his way. “Maybe you are, I’m not.”

  “Close.”

  Eve closed her eyes, she was mortified. She didn’t know if it was because Silas thought Glen was her husband or that she looked old enough to be married to someone for thirty years. In the world of television news, she was considered older, maybe even over the hill, it was why she wore so much make up on camera, but she didn’t think of herself as old.

  “We’ve been together,” Glen said. “Eighteen years … professionally. She’s no spring chicken.”

  “I think I’ve seen Eve on BNN that long,” Silas said.

  Eve slid down bringing her drink to her mouth. “Great.”

  “I’m a big fan. And stop. Age is just a number,” Silas said.

  “Yeah, well, tell that to the network,” Eve retorted.

  Silas laughed. “I’m sorry if I insulted you.”

  “You said I was married to him.” Eve pointed. “Here I thought you were flirting with me.”

  Glen laughed.

  “Stop it,” Eve snapped.

  “I was,” said Silas.

  “But you thought I was married,” Eve replied.

  “Yeah, but it was just flirting.” Silas smiled. “What harm is there in that?”

  “None. Absolutely none.” Eve sipped her drink, paused and sipped again. “Still want to flirt with me?”

  “You’re kidding. Of course,” Silas replied. “I was going to see if you were covering my show tonight. If so or even if you weren’t, maybe you could come.”

  “I would love to.” Mouth partially open, ready to take another drink, Eve paused when the blaring, fog horn sounding alarm rang out. It blasted steadily and loud. The bubbly, upbeat pool music had stopped and it was just the alarm.

  Glen sat up and joked, “I think we hit an iceberg.”

  “Is there a drill?” Eve asked.

  Silas shrugged.

  “Attention passengers. Attention all passengers and non-essential crew,” a voice called out over a loud speaker system. “We apologize for the inconvenience, but at this time please return to your cabin. Please stay inside until further notice. Thank you.”

  The alarms continued.

  Immediately people started leaving the pool, some groaning, everyone looking confused.

  Eve placed down her drink and stood. “We need to get the gear and cover this.”

  “Yeah, I agree,” said Glen.

  “No,” Silas said. “You heard the announcement. Something is up, we need to heed the warning. It could be anything. A terror attack … pirates.”

  Eve smiled. “Oh, then we really need to get this story.”

  “Why don’t you two come to my suite,” Silas said. “I have food, drink, plenty of room.”

  Glen turned to Eve. “Why don't you go with him? I’ll get the camera and meet you up there. We’ll formulate a plan on how we’re going to cover this. Right now, everyone is confused.”

  Eve nodded.

  Glen backed up.

  Silas called out to him, “My suite is …”

  “I know. I know,” Glen replied. “You told us last night. Eve … see you there.”

  “This way.” Silas took hold of her arm.

  The alarms paused and the announcement repeated, “Attention all passengers …”

  Eve paused, reached back and grabbed her drink.

  Silas led her inside, looked left and right. Throngs of people moved about, bumping each other. There were shouts with people shoving.

  “Let’s back out and take the deck, then the stairs down,” Silas suggested. “The elevators will be packed. Do you mind?”

  “No, not at all.”

  Eve followed his lead as they moved against the grain of people, she kept lifting her drink to keep it from spilling. The constant alarms and repeated announcements were unnerving.

  She hadn’t a clue what was going on and wondered if maybe Silas was right. Was there a terror attack or a threat of pirates?

  Once they made it back outside and to the starboard side, more people moved their way.

  A quarter of the way there and nearly to the interior doors would have lead them to the stairs, but suddenly they stopped.

  Two crewmen, wearing white, were huddled down on the deck near a person, their backs toward Eve and Silas. They blocked the way.

  Eve stopped. All she could see were the legs of what appeared to be a woman who they were administering medical care to.

  Had she passed out? Perhaps trampled?

  One of the workers turned around to them. “You can’t go this way. You need to go back. Get inside.”

  It startled Eve some that the worker wore a paper facemask and googles, but not nearly as much as the woman on the deck. When the crewman turned, he exposed her.

  Eve froze, looking at her.

  The woman’s head was turned toward Eve, her face grayish white, eyes wide open with a lifeless stare. There was a darkness under her eyes. Her lips, lacking color, were parted, and a purple discoloration crept from her neck to her mouth.

  Eve didn’t need to be a medical expert to see the woman had some sort of sickness.

  A shiver shot through her spine when she saw her.

  “Let’s go.” Silas tugged on her.

  Eve’s eyes stayed on the woman as she stepped backwards, she remained staring until she turned around.

  The woman couldn’t be the reason they were making people return to the cabins. She hoped not, because if what that woman had was the reason … they were all in trouble.

  ◆◆◆

  Franklin, PA

  A map of France and surrounding countries was the image on Matt’s television as he went from watching baseball to the news bulletin.

  As if people didn’t know the country of France by its outline, it was a different color than the neighboring lands. Two red dots were on the map with the words, ‘All flights grounded’.

  “We’re only learning about this now,” said the newscaster. “There is no official word on what the outbreak is, some are speculating SARS. At this time all flights in and out of France have been suspended. Two flights have landed and are under quarantine, the arrivals already in the air are expected to face the same quarantine. Health officials are stating this is just a precaution and there is nothing to be concerned about. In all my years as a reporter at BNN, I can’t say I have ever witnessed …”

  “Daddy!” Emma, his youngest daughter called out.

  Matt hit the mute button, stood from the couch and walked toward the entrance hall. Before he got there his daughter raced to him grabbing his legs, after Emma, Hannah joined in the greeting.

  Matt hugged and kissed them both, looking up when Stew, his father in law, walked in with the bags and closed the door. “Thanks for getting them.”

  “No problem,” Stew said. �
��I had to be in Pittsburgh anyhow.”

  “Where are my parents?” Matt asked.

  “I dropped them off. You mom said she was tired. I bet they were with those two.” Stew carried the bags toward the living room. “Matt, I know the girls just got back. Any chance I can get them tomorrow or Sunday for …” he paused.

  Matt turned and looked wondering why Stew stopped talking.

  Stew was looking at the television. “What’s going on?”

  “Yeah, it’s um, some sort of ban on air travel in France.”

  “They banned air travel?” Stew watched again, this time grabbing the remote.

  “A precaution because of a virus,” Matt said.

  “Daddy?” Emma called his attention. “What’s a virus?”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Matt, this is scary,” Stew said.

  “Nah, it’s all the way over there.” He lifted Emma and grabbed for the suitcase. “Come on, girls, let’s go get unpacked and you guys can tell me about everything.”

  The girls with him, Matt headed toward the stairs. The volume of the television slowly rose to an audible level. Stew, totally engrossed took a seat on the couch, and Matt took his daughters upstairs.

  ◆◆◆

  National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston, MA

  Elias took a vacation. Nothing that brought him out of the city or even out of his apartment. He just needed time off. After the hearings he was left feeling depleted. That was compounded by the fact he wasn’t able to get ahold of Frederic at all for the first two days. Then he was able to reach him by text.

  It was better than nothing.

  Frederic told him he was busy and would be in meetings and drills for the next several days.

  No worries, said the last message, all was fine.

  Something inside of Elias told him things weren’t. Something was wrong.

  He thought about watching the news, but was scared to do so. Almost as if he had some psychic premonition.