Holocaust

by Ifedayo Adigwe Akintomide

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Catherine Kachifo hankered down between Taiwo and another bulky soldier looked with glazed eyes through the windscreen as the truck hurtled towards the Abuja airport. They were on the wrong side of the road, the reason being the right side was blocked with a long line of abandoned cars.

  “Any word on the helicopter?” Taiwo asked turning to face Olatunji who sat beside the driver.

  “No news ___ the connection is horrid. Haven’t been able to get a call in__” the frustrated look in his eyes told their own story.

  “We might not be able to reach the airport by road __ the abandoned cars for one __ and for another __ the infected. You won’t believe the numbers we encountered as we fled the presidential villa.”

  Olatunji shrugged. “They know where we’re headed. If they found one they will be on their way towards us as we speak.”

  “I hope you are right __” Taiwo said in a grim tone. “I sincerely hope you are right.”

  No one spoke for several minutes __ until __

  WHOOP WHOOP WHOOT!

  “What is that?” Catherine asked leaning forward.

  “It sounds like rotor blades.”

  The driver slowed and wound down the windows looking up at the sky where the sound was coming from. A pleased smile broke out on his face.

  “I think the helicopter is here.”

  “Stop the car __” Olatunji barked opening the door; he leaped out before the car came to a halt. He had his weapon raised and aimed at the approaching helicopter before they got out.

  It came in for landing touching down ten meters from the bumper of the truck. Two grim faced soldiers leaped out ducking down to avoid the spinning rotor blades. It was a large military helicopter, Taiwo wasn’t too sure of the make or model, but it could seat fifteen people easy.

  Olatunji surged forward. He and the men exchanged a few words before hurrying back to the trucks.

  “They found one __ Catherine, Betiku, Idris, Muktar, and Saheed, you’re coming with us. The rest find your way to the hospital if you can. We might need back up.”

  Everyone whose name was mentioned nodded and raced to the helicopter. They boarded quickly and it took off streaking towards the airport. Catherine watched the convoy of military vehicles below quickly become dots in the distance.

  “I hope your Donald Othako comes through.”

  “He will!” Catherine said with more confidence than she felt. The cabin of the helicopter was immediately engulfed with silence.

  A Boeing C-17 Globemaster painted in green and black military colours altered course and entered the Nigerian airspace with a screech of its four powerful engines. It was a NATO aircraft presently on loan to South Africa after details were revealed on the sensitivity of this mission. Contrary to the belief of Nigeria’s remaining military forces, what remained of the developed world was watching the events unfolding on the African continent (especially Nigeria) with great interest. What the gross darkness hadn’t consumed, the evolved strain of the Evonso virus did. It was now a global pandemic intent on human extinction. When you combined that with the destruction brought on by the darkness things were looking pretty bleak worldwide.

  The screech of the engines was numbed into a quaking rumbling in the plane’s interior. The sound proofing inside the plane deafened the din to a bearable degree but a few of the soldiers strapped into the hard uncomfortable seats wore ear muffs to block out the sound.

  Their greenish black combat fatigues were tucked into mud stained black boots. A few medical personnel filled their ranks also. They primed and prepped the three large mobile laboratories which took up more than eighty percent of the plane’s interior leaving barely enough space for the crew and soldiers. Donald Othako rose striding towards the cockpit to talk to the pilots.

  This wasn’t the only mission. After they dropped off the mobile laboratories for Catherine Kachifo they had to rendezvous with other NATO forces. He wasn’t sure of the specifics yet __ the president promised to brief him when they returned to South Africa, assuming all went well.

  Both pilots looked up as he walked into the cockpit. They had grim looks on their faces.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked noticing.

  “Nothing sir __” one said. His statement would have been convincing if his voice wasn’t shaking.

  “Tell me __” He growled leaning forward, his eyes darting over the controls. His untrained eyes couldn’t see anything wrong but who knew

  They exchanged troubled glances for a few seconds before the one on the left summoned up the courage to speak. He cleared his throat three times before his lips began to move.

  “We’re in Nigerian airspace __” He began.

  “So?”

  He took another deep breath before he could speak again.

  “Sir it’s common knowledge the Evonso virus is airborne.”

  There was a long pause.

  “So?”

  “So??? Sir is it wise our coming here? What about us? We have families. I personally would like to get back to them.”

  Donald sighed deeply before he spoke. “You are afraid __ I get that. I am not an epitome of bravery either. But this has to be done. If we don’t do this, no one on the continent and perhaps the world will be safe.”

  “I am not sure the spread of the Evonso virus matters in the grand scheme of things.” The pilot on the right growled in disgust.

  “Oh really? Please enlighten me.”

  “Isn’t it obvious sir? The darkness has laid waste to most cities. There are reports that Libya is a dead zone. What does it matter if we stop the Evonso virus or not? We stay worldwide extinction for a few days or weeks at the most ___ only to come face to face with it later. What’s the point?”

  “One step at a time guys, one step at a time; despite your misgivings we are doing this. This is our mission and it’s our responsibility to get this done. Once we succeed we can worry about the darkness. One step at a time, ok?”

  They nodded but didn’t look convinced. Donald turned to exit the cockpit and paused. “Put your masks on __ just in case __ you did say the virus is airborne didn’t you?”

  They swallowed looking quite ill. He let out a guffaw of laughter and stepped back into the cargo area.

  Taiwo stared out of the helicopter’s window his eyes blank and unfocused. Catherine sat some distance away watching his every move. The looks on every face looked as grim or grimmer than Taiwo’s face did. It was also as silent as a grave yard.

  Seeming to grow weary of the silence Olatunji turned on the radio.

  Breaking news __ THIS JUST IN! America has just launched its first nuclear weapon. Its target was the thickest cluster of darkness in Illinois. Most civilians have been evacuated so casualties should be minimum. It didn’t work in Russia so there is no reason to suppose it will work here __ but ___”

  There was a screech and whine and the radio went dark.

  Catherine’s eyes grew even more stricken. Taiwo turned at that instant locking gazes with her.

  “It seems the world is disintegrating into madness faster than we envisioned.” His words like his face were grim. She shivered not deigning to respond. She wouldn’t have known the words to speak even if she wanted to.

  “Look __” A soldier cried pointing. They were flying over miles of runway. They’d reached the airport. Several dark shapes raced around on the tarmac. Taiwo leaned forward to get a better look. Their movements were too smooth and fluid to be infected.

  “Bring the helicopter closer __” Taiwo growled reaching for a pair of binoculars a few inches from his seat.

  The pilot nodded grimly and brought the chopper closer to the ground. Seven guns cocked at once.

  “Look sharp people. The infected could be everywhere.”

  The pilot continued to descend until he hovered six feet above ground.

  “That’s enough!” Taiwo growled heading for the door. He slid it open and leaped down to the ground
below.

  One of the dark shapes headed his way at a sprint. The men in the helicopter had their guns out in a flash the barrels aimed at the running man. Taiwo raised his hand to stay them as the man slowed, striding his way.

  He was a soldier__ wearing blackish green uniform with two stars sewn on the shoulder. The cut and colour wasn’t one Taiwo was familiar with. One thing was certain however, it didn’t belong to any of Nigeria’s armed forces.

  “Hello sir __” The man said giving a sharp salute. Taiwo saluted back awkwardly still trying to place the man’s colours.

  “Who are you? And what are you doing here?”

  “I report to Donald Othako. We are here to meet with Catherine Kachifo. Is she with you?”

  “Did you bring the mobile labs we requested?”

  “I am only authorized to speak to Catherine Kachifo. Where is she please?”

  Taiwo sighed. It was obvious he wasn’t going to get anymore out of the man. He raised his arm and waved. The men in the helicopter attached lines to a hook on the door and slid down in their ones and twos. Catherine was the last to descend, helped by a burly surly looking soldier.

  He waved her over as soon as her feet touched the ground. She strode forward slowly nervously patting her hair which looked rather frizzled.

  “Are you Catherine Kachifo?” The soldier asked giving her a long look. She nodded slowly, casting a worried glance at Taiwo. He smiled to put her at ease. It didn’t work.

  “Come with me __” He said breaking into a jog. They exchanged puzzled glances before tearing after him. The wide departure lounge they stood in front of shielded the rest of the tarmac from view. A ten minute jog brought them to a wide stretch of runway on which sat the biggest plane they’d ever seen.

  Twelve men stood in front of it with sophisticated looking guns held at the ready. A worried smile lifted the corners of Catherine’s mouth as she recognized the man in front. Donald Othako! He stood a foot taller than the rest.

  They reached their side in moments with Catherine and Donald sharing a long and somewhat disturbed gaze.

  “Nice to see you again Catherine.” His voice was a low growl in his throat.

  “You too Donald. How have you been?”

  “So so ___ busy mostly, you?”

  “Same __ did you get me what I asked for?”

  He nodded waving at the men behind. The back of the plane opened slowly revealing the cargo area. Three men drove three mobile laboratories down the ramp onto the runway. Catherine’s heart skipped a couple of beats when she saw them. These mobile labs would either be their doom or salvation. Time would tell which one would prove true.

  “Here they are __ as requested.”

  Catherine nodded at Taiwo who nodded at three men behind him. They sprinted to the labs and got behind the wheel driving them towards the gates.

  Donald, Catherine and Taiwo watched them go with glum looks on their faces. As they exited the gates they turned facing each other.

  “So what now?”

  “I work on reengineering the vaccine.”

  “And how long will that take?”

  “Not sure ___ there are over a thousand variable combinations. If I work fast __ maybe anything from three weeks to a month. It might be sooner __ but who knows.”

  Donald’s eyes grew grimmer still. “I am not sure the world can hold out for a month Catherine __ we need a solution NOW!”

  An annoyed looked flashed through Catherine’s eyes. “I can’t just whisk a cure out of my hat for you Donald. I wish I could but I cannot __ perhaps if Doctor Kemisola were still alive, she might have been able to get it done sooner. But I am not Kemisola; unfortunately.”

  “Kemisola wasn’t infallible so let’s not start worshipping her. She is the reason we are in this situation in the first place.”

  “I wouldn’t put all the blame on her Donald. Viruses have been known to mutate. There was no way she could have foreseen it changing as the aerosol mingled with the air.”

  “You’re saying air was the catalyst that brought about this new mutation?”

  “I am not saying anything yet ___ but it is possible. Until we investigate we won’t know what really happened.”

  A tall extremely muscled soldier walked forward whispering in Donald’s ear. He nodded listening to what the man was saying.

  “I am afraid this is where I leave you my friends, duty calls. Keep in touch and let us know what you find ok?”

  Catherine nodded slowly as Donald turned and started back to the plane. She and Taiwo turned heading back to the helicopter when they heard it. It was a loud rumbling wave of sound. Like ten thousand slurring growls going off at once.

  Taiwo and Catherine exchanged frightened looks and took off at a run screaming instructions at the soldiers milling in front of the departure lounge of the airport.

  The soldiers snapped to attention holding their guns at the ready. Risking a glance back, Catherine saw Donald and his men were sprinting towards the airplane.

  Two hundred meters from the runaway where the plane’s engines were presently idling was a seven foot barbed wire fence. Thousands of infected streaked to the fence their disjointed mouths yelling out their growls. They hit it so hard that it snapped creating a wide hole for the ones in front to get through.

  A pencil thin flood of infected bodies sprinted towards the plane. Catherine didn’t wait to see more. The helicopter was fifty feet away and closing. She put up an extra burst of speed, even managing to overtake Taiwo in the process. She was that scared.

  The soldiers were already leaping onto the helicopter which was already off the ground. Streaking towards it she leaped up seeming suspended in midair for a few seconds below she felt hard metal beneath her feet. She was in. Taiwo leaped in barely three seconds later.

  The loud explosion of gunfire deafened. She had to cover her ears with her palms. Her eyes drifted to the tarmac. Infected were streaking towards the helicopter like a tidal wave. Bullets rained into their midst dropping them like flies.

  The pilot gave the engines more thrust and they went high __ too high for even the most agile infected to leap to. Only when the milling bodies became small dots on the ground did anyone in the helicopter release their bated breath.

  The Boeing thundered across the runway. Catherine’s eyes narrowed as she watched it streak away. A mass of infected clung to the tires as it gathered momentum for takeoff. It took a few seconds; ten in total and it lifted taking to the skies.

  They watched it go with long terrified gazes. They didn’t have to turn to each other for confirmation. They were pretty sure at least eight infected had gained access to the cargo hold through the tire compartment. No one wanted to voice out their realization for fear it would somehow make it real. A cold silence filled the cabin of the helicopter as they hurtled towards the outskirts of Abuja.