The Leaves in Winter

by M. C. Miller

  LIBIPONOCO

  Colin sounded out the word. “Libi-Po-No-Co…what does it mean?”

  Faye had to sit down. Through her tears, she smiled. “It means success.”

  “In what language?”

  Faye thought back to college days with Janis. “Our language.”

  Colin sat down next to her. “You lost me.”

  Faye had to smile. “It was my answer to BIOPONORE.”

  Colin answered, “…biological point of no return.”

  “Yes…”

  “And LIBIPONOCO?”

  For Faye, the college memory was now clear.

  “…Libido’s Point of No Control.”

  Chapter 55

  Fourteen Hours Later, Concourse D

  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

  Delta Flight 422 from San Juan, Puerto Rico disembarked at 3:46 p.m. into a concourse cluttered with activity. A throng of passengers waiting to board the next flight sat or milled about the gate area. Threading their way through them, a stream of arriving passengers emerged from the breezeway and headed for baggage claim.

  Faye Gardner stood aside a support column, out of view of the main hallway. She kept a watchful eye, her attention split between arrivals at the gate and suspicious faces in the crowd.

  A woman traveling by herself with a shoulder bag caught her eye. Deliberate and serious, the woman stepped out of the flow of disembarking passengers and paused by the ticket desk. Her eye roamed the crowd until they met Faye’s.

  Contact had been made.

  The woman set off straight away in Faye’s direction. In reaction, Faye stepped forward on an intercept path ever mindful of her surroundings.

  “Thank you for coming, Doctor Yeats.”

  Faye directed their steps back towards the main hallway.

  Rebecca Yeats fell right in step beside her. “I’m glad to help.”

  As Alyssa’s doctor back at GARC, Rebecca had acquired unusual access to Project personnel and workspace all due to her availability and medical specialty. Although not part of The Project, she had come to know certain members quite well over the past many weeks. Faye was one such person who had confided much to her about Project goals and issues. From Faye’s first hand testimony and what both had witnessed at GARC, Rebecca had grown suspicious of The Project and its motives.

  “Did Colin have a chance to see you before you took off?”

  “Yes,” confirmed Rebecca. “He briefed me on the situation – as much as he was willing to tell.”

  “Then you know the urgency of getting this blood sample.”

  “Yes. Have you located Janis?”

  Faye directed their steps out of Concourse D towards Concourse E.

  “It took a while. The RIDIS scanner helped…”

  “RIDIS scanner?”

  Faye needed Rebecca’s implicit trust and cooperation. This was no time to keep her in the dark. “It’s a device Colin let me borrow. Apparently, all Project personnel are given something during their intake physical that shows up on this scanner. It makes quick work of picking Project members out of a crowd.”

  Since Faye was so forthcoming, Rebecca followed up with something else she was wondering. “How did you get here so fast?”

  “I was at Rafael Hernandez Airport before the sun came up. Colin had a private plane waiting. You were closer to San Juan. There was no sense you driving to the west side of the island. A commercial carrier made more sense. This is your layover time isn’t it?”

  “I have an hour and a half before my flight boards for Europe.”

  “At least you’ll have lots of time to rest on the flight. You won’t get to India until tomorrow. You all set for Hyderabad?”

  “I think so,” offered Rebecca. “I’ll be at Janis’ house in Jubilee Hills. Colin said to stay there until his people escort me to NovoSenectus. Apparently, he knows somebody on the inside who will take the blood samples.”

  “Yes…” confirmed Faye. “He made several contacts there many years ago. It was on the RIDIS project – just like the scanner I used today.”

  “That remind me,” hurried Rebecca. “Colin told me to tell you – he got word that The Project has activated something called ORIDIS. He seemed quite concerned.”

  Faye kept their pace steady. Thoughts from past conversations with Colin came to mind. He knew just the mention of that name would tell her all she needed to know.

  “Do you know what he means?” asked Rebecca.

  “Orbital RIDIS,” announced Faye. “It means The Project is using everything they have to track down Janis. We may have less time than we think.”

  “Orbital…?” quizzed Rebecca. “Whatever could they do from orbit?”

  “They could scan buildings looking for Project personnel signatures inside.”

  “They can do that?”

  “I suspect they can do even more. Colin told me certain groups or classes of people have been given different markers. From orbit, members of any one group can be targeted for identification.”

  “That’s incredible!” gasped Faye.

  “I wouldn’t worry. Colin wouldn’t have asked you to do this if he knew you had the mark.”

  “The mark?” Rebecca recoiled. “It sounds like the mark of the beast.”

  Faye sneered. “It very well may be. But you were brought in quickly, during Alyssa’ emergency – you didn’t have a Project medical intake, did you?”

  “No,” sighed Rebecca. “There was no time; they thought she was going to die.”

  Faye turned down Concourse E. “If ORIDIS scans the airport, it’ll pick up three signatures – Janis, Alyssa, and me. As long as we get the blood sample and you get to your next gate before Project agents get here, we’ll be fine.” Faye caught sight of her target in the distance. “Come on….there they are.”

  Rebecca followed her line of sight. Milling among departing passengers waiting at a crowded gate were Janis and Alyssa.

  Faye held out a hand. “Give me the sample pack.”

  Rebecca handed over her shoulder bag.

  “Hang back here for a minute,” ordered Faye. “Let me make contact first. If they’re under surveillance, we don’t want you compromised.”

  Rebecca slowed her pace then veered off the walkway towards windows behind an empty ticket counter. Faye stepped on. As she did, Janis then Alyssa caught her eye. When Faye came close, she couldn’t resist giving each of them a hug.

  The last hug was reserved for Janis. She held it as she spoke in Janis’ ear.

  “What have you done?”

  “You once said good things happen in threes….I finally found the third.”

  “You’ve broken my heart.”

  Janis looked haggard and weak. She hugged back. “No lectures, please.”

  Faye fought back tears. “I know what you’re trying to do. Let me help you.”

  Janis pulled back. “You’re here to take samples, aren’t you?”

  The surprise of Janis’ insight struck Faye and lit up her face.

  Janis smiled. “I’m not stupid, I’m just dying. After wandering the gates for a few hours, the same thing occurred to me. I’m just a little slow…”

  Faye stayed close. “You should be in the hospital. It’s any wonder you can stand at all. You were dead tired last night before any of this started…”

  “Poor choice of words…but yes, I’m dead tired…” Janis reached out and smoothed back Alyssa’s hair. “But I’m with Alyssa…and we’ve been meeting lots and lots of people.”

  Faye glanced back to locate Rebecca. “I don’t have much time. The Project is on its way. I need to draw blood.”

  Janis noted Faye’s glance and followed her line of sight to recognize Rebecca across the Concourse. “I see you have help…”

  “Don’t worry about the details; it’s been all arranged.”

  “Where’s Colin?” asked Janis.

  “He’s been coordinating everything. He couldn’t come. For as long as he can
, he needs to make The Project believe he’s still one of them.”

  “How can he ever do that now?”

  “He won’t for long,” admitted Faye. “He only needs to hang on until we can get a sample of your blood to an independent lab. Once we separate the viruses, we can mass-produce and release 2GenGEN – just the way you planned.” Faye saw satisfaction sweep across Janis’ face. Faye added, “…the final option.”

  Faye leaned close to whisper, “Colin told me about Project plans…”

  Janis steeled herself against the thought. “…phased and selective…we can’t let them get away with that.”

  “You’re right. With enough time, some among the survivors will break through. We’ll give them time to do it. The Project…no one will be able to contain it.”

  The prospect of such support buoyed Janis’ energy. “All right…let’s do this. We can go in one of the restrooms.”

  Faye bent down to Alyssa’s level. “Doctor Yeats is right over there. Go visit with her. We’ll be right back.”

  As Alyssa scuttled off, Faye grabbed Janis by the right arm and supported her walk to the nearest restroom. Once inside, they locked themselves in a handicap stall.

  As Faye dug into Rebecca’s shoulder bag for a cotton ball and sterilizing fluid, Janis took a seat on the commode.

  “Did you get my message,” asked Janis.

  Faye doused the cotton ball and rubbed it on the inside of Janis’ right elbow. “Yes, I did,” grinned Faye. “It brought back memories.”

  Janis’ eye blinks dropped heavy until she left them closed. “Good ones I hope.”

  Faye reached back into the bag for a syringe and collection vials. “It was a different time, wasn’t it?” Faye’s voice trailed off.

  Janis’ head wobbled and jerked alert. “We didn’t know what we didn’t know.”

  Faye brought a needle to Janis’ right arm. “Now we know too much.”

  Janis opened her eyes. “If you could go back, would you?”

  Faye stuck the needle in. “Only if none of this had to repeat.”

  Janis winced at the pinprick. “Would it make any difference?”

  “It would have to.” Pulling back on the stopper, Faye watched a trickle of crimson become a gush and fill the first vial. In seconds the length of it was full.

  “It depends…” countered Janis. She closed her eyes again. “What if some things are meant to be? Maybe all we’re doing is interfering with it.”

  “With what?” Swapping collection vials, Faye started drawing blood again.

  “What if your college paper was right? Maybe there is such a thing as Programmed Species Death. Why can’t there be a natural process that triggers the extinction of species – for the good of nature?”

  “You don’t believe that,” asserted Faye. “Neither do I any more.”

  “I’m not so sure.” Janis bowed her head. Her chin fell into her chest.

  Faye rushed to grab Janis shoulders to keep her from toppling over. “Stay with me…I’m almost done.” Faye fought back tears.

  Janis planted the palms on her hands on her knees and held on. “I didn’t know how tired I was until I sat down…”

  Faye plugged in the last collection vial into the back of the syringe. She needed to keep Janis alert and talking. If possible, she hoped to convince Janis to leave the airport with her right away. The last thing she wanted for Janis was to spend her last hours in Project hands. No telling what lab tests they had planned for her.

  “What kind of symptoms are you having?”

  Janis paused to answer. “It’s hard to describe. I feel like I’m slipping away.”

  “Hold on a minute more and we’ll be out of here…” Faye pulled out the syringe then pressed a cotton ball on the puncture. She directed Janis’ other hand to hold the spot of cotton in place.

  “I’ve had some time to think while wandering around…” Janis reflected.

  Faye turned and began packaging away everything into Rebecca’s shoulder bag. “You’ve worn yourself out. I bet you’ve been all over this place.”

  Janis was lost in her own line of thought. “…I got thinking about all that’s special about Alyssa. Of all the children her age and younger…she’ll be the only one who can have children.”

  “That’s right.” Faye slung the bag over her shoulder. “And Alyssa’s children might be the key to finding a fix for sterility.”

  “Except, I was thinking…” added Janis. She looked up with heavy eyes ready to weep. “She and I share genetic changes and antibodies that are unique…”

  “What about it?” asked Faye.

  Janis reached forward and had Faye help her to her feet. She stood holding on to Faye. “I don’t think my synthesis of 2GenGEN will take effect in her – not if she catches it from me. Promise me….if you duplicate it in the lab…you’ll give it to her again. Otherwise, she might be the only survivor without extended life.”

  Faye tried to process the news but didn’t have time. “I promise…but right now, we need to get out of here. I have to get these samples to Rebecca.”

  Janis took a deep steadying breath then stepped towards the exit.

  Back onto the concourse they hurried. They found Rebecca and Alyssa waiting across the way in a sundry shop. Faye wasted no time transferring the shoulder bag back to Rebecca.

  “These samples are critical,” stressed Faye. “Take good care of them.”

  “I will,” answered Rebecca.

  Faye whispered, “I put the RIDIS scanner in there too. I don’t want it found on me. When you can, return it to Colin. Now get to your gate. Good luck.”

  Rebecca gave a nod then turned to offer Janis a brief yet heartfelt smile.

  Janis caught her eye and mouthed a thank you before Rebecca strode off.

  Faye and Alyssa flanked Janis and led her from the shop. As the three of them passed a coffee shop, Janis halted, distracted by a TV mounted up and away. The sound could not be heard but the images told all. Body bags were being loaded into the back of a flatbed truck somewhere in India. The ordered rows of victims lined the truck as far back as one could see.

  Janis whispered to no one, “…So many people!”

  Faye glanced up but couldn’t hold the same gaze that held Janis in place. “Come on, let’s go…” She pulled gently on Janis’ arm.

  Janis turned, sensing Faye’s intention. “I’m not leaving,”

  Faye didn’t want an argument. “We have the sample now. You’ve been here all day. You’ve done enough.”

  Janis looked around at the crisscrossing movement of people headed for their destinations. “Where else should I be?”

  “There are people in other places. The Project is looking for you here. We can go to a shopping mall, anyplace you want. I’d rather not stay here.”

  Janis looked down the concourse at the many gates. “But these people are going all over the world. It only takes one of them to spread it to another city.”

  Faye heaved away a tortured frustration. “If they come for you, you won’t be able to spread it anywhere.”

  Janis held steady. “Then I’ll do it as long as I can. It’ll work out; remember, everything comes so easily to me…” She walked on noting the sunlight low in the west. To no one in particular she whispered, “Come to think of it…next week is the first day of Spring…”

  Faye and Alyssa hurried after her, flanking her once again. There was no use arguing with Janis. As Colin had said, it was her time; she was going to do with it what she wanted.

  Over the next half hour, the three of them strolled into Concourse C and then B. Alyssa held her mother’s hand and Faye supported Janis when she felt dazed and weak. The vertigo episodes came more often as time passed. Faye wondered how long Janis would be able to continue.

  It was a question she never had answered.

  At the far end of Concourse C, Faye was the one to see them first. Suited men accompanied by airport security and paramedics were racing along the wide hal
lway in electric vehicles. Amber lights spun above the carts in warning. Insistent beeping cleared a path through the pedestrian traffic.

  The suited men took the three of them into custody as if it were a medical emergency. Which it was.

  The Project agents didn’t identify themselves. They didn’t have to.

  Alyssa sat next to Janis on the cart. They held hands the whole way.

  Riding back through the concourses, Janis watched the curious faces of strangers as they stared at her and watched her pass by. There were so many faces, some of them interested, some annoyed. Most were oblivious to her passage.

  Everyone had places to go, lives to live.

  Janis tried to make eye contact with as many as she could.

  She and they had so much in common.

  Most of them, like her, would soon be ghosts.

  Later that evening, in a television studio high above the streets of New York, a news broadcaster stared into the camera’s eye and read what was written for him on the moving teleprompter.

  “…earlier today there was a brief scare at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta after an anonymous caller dialed 911 to report a plague-infected woman walking airport concourses. First responders arrived at the scene soon after and took two women and a teenager into protective custody for medical quarantine until tests could be conducted.

  The identities of the trio have not been released but only minutes ago preliminary reports were issued from a government lab indicating there is no cause for alarm. I repeat; no cause for alarm. No traces of contagious plague have been found either in the woman or her two companions.

  A government spokesperson repeated his estimation from earlier today that this incident was nothing but a disturbing hoax. He added it would be a shame if the irresponsible actions of one person should disrupt the lives of so many.

  He reiterated:

  …There is no need to panic.”