She reached into the plastic container and gave us two packages, “Take these bio-suits. I called in a favor from a local politician who occasionally frequents this establishment. They’re not like the crap hazmat suits I’ve seen you using. These are military grade and have been thickened to protect from bites. Put them on and hurry to the Sultan suite on the top floor for further instructions from your fearless leader. God help us.”
She moved on down the hall to the next suite where Quaid and Norris were staying and began the same speech again.
We unwrapped the suits and pulled them on over our pajamas.
Suriana was right, compared to these new protective suits, the ones provided to us for the reality show were mere costumes. The person Suriana contacted for these suits must have been able to throw around a lot of international muscle to acquire the latest in IHS protection. Someone out there had designed these with unlimited funding. The mustard yellow suits were made of a thick rubber that had the feel of transmuted leather. And they were designed with the tropical climate in mind. Like gills, they had layered ventilation pockets sewn in down the side seam and the black boots and gloves were sealed making it a complete one piece protective package. The suits seemed rather light weight and well ventilated and the boots conformed to your foot with memory foam inside. There was a bladder in the back that held water and a nifty little capped plastic straw that popped out of the neckline. There was a long heavy duty zipper in the front from the crotch to the neck with a locking mechanism on the top that made it easy to put on and keep on in the event Berjalan penyakit were trying to tear at it to get to your fleshy parts.
I suppose there was a presumption that the infected weren’t capable of putting up much of a fight and relatively easy to keep them away from your exposed head as the suit’s designers seemed to be more concerned about preventing an infected’s bodily fluids from getting in the eyes, mouth or nose than covering for the head and neck. These suits only came with eye shields and simple disposable masks that cupped over your mouth and nose and secured by a rubber band. There was a hoody, presumably to protect your neck and ears from bites if you were in a zombie melee, but that was conveniently tucked away in a little Velcro pouch along the neckline but had a quick pull cord that made it trouble-free to pull-over your head in the event you were up front and personal with a zombie and needed the extra protection. On the front and back was that kick ass symbol of the WHO paratroopers.
After admiring ourselves in the mirror one last time, we left our rooms without packing up figuring we’d have time to get our stuff after the debriefing upstairs. We were joined by the three other teams and Suriana at the lift. We ascended to Sheldon’s suite.
The lift door opened and we stepped into a Sultan’s palace. Nearly the entire floor was taken up with one humongous and gaudy great room. Gold leaf décor and purple and chocolate satin curtains covered the walls and ceiling. There was a long rectangular lap pool filled with koi in the center of the room and a huge mural of a man in flowing robes charging on a horse with scimitar drawn against the far wall.
On the other side of the koi pool, Sheldon was pacing back and forth in what looked to be an alcove conference area. He was wearing a gold-colored plushy bath robe and matching slippers and was moving across the Italian marble floor erratically, raising his arm wildly in the air as he shouted into a satellite phone, “… not possible. They’re not letting us continue with full … Yes, I know … We have a contingency plan for ... If you’d just let me … I can pull this off, just give me a chance to make it right … Gemma’s gone missing … Yes, we’ve combed the perimeter … sometime after dinner …” Sheldon turned to face us as we approached the long conference table covered in maps and strewn with pages and pages of handwritten notes for the show. He held up a finger for us to keep silent. “They’re here … I’ll let you know if it’s still on … Yes … yes … my head in a suitcase, I know … I’ll convince them … wait, wait! What about ... damn!”
He set down the phone, turned away from us to compose himself. He put on a large showman’s grin and turned back, “Wow! You look fantastic in those uniforms, perfect for our next scene.”
“We all need to get south, sir. I recommend you leave now.” Suriana interrupted.
Sheldon gave her a fierce penetrating look, “Dismissed! Get out! This meeting is confidential. Thank you for your help, Goodbye!” He shooed her back across the great room and into the lift and when the doors shut, he locked the ornate gates in front of the lift that were probably just meant for show, turning a massive highly wrought key.
All of us began chiming in with the same sentiments, talking over one another and making an awful din, which was dampened by the thick drapes and wall hangings. We were convinced Suriana had the right idea. None of us wanted to die at the hands of the zombie horde or the paratroopers, “We’re going back home, right? We can’t stay continue with the show. I quit. We quit. It’s no longer safe. It’s time we think about our safety. We have to follow the WHO’s evacuation order.”
“Screw the evacuation order!” Sheldon shrieked over us, forcing us into silence. “Have you forgotten about why you’re here? A million dollars! That’s life changing money, people! This show ain’t over! Not by a long shot! We still need three shows worth of footage that must be filmed in Malaysia. Didn’t you read your contracts? You have to do what I say! There’s no going back now. If you cut and run, we’ll sue your families for everything they have and make into the next millennia!” He pushed us back down with his own ego, then tried to build us back up, “But don’t worry, I have a plan! And once you hear me out, I guarantee you’ll be back on board, trust me. This is the best news you’ve heard since you signed up for this adventure!
I’ve been on the horn since sundown and I’ve come up with a brilliant way to complete the remainder Malaysian footage and get back to Singapore to film the finale that’s been scheduled for shooting Saturday afternoon. With three teams left, we can’t risk an elimination event until the finale. We need all three of the teams back in Singapore for the final events! This is your chance to become stars without the worry of being taken out of the race.” Sheldon walked front of the conference table and pressed a button, a large white board slid into view from behind a large mural. He began to sketch out his plan in blue marker, but his scribbles were incomprehensible so we stared at the board pretending to understand and listened to his ramblings.
He looked at this watch, “It’s early Friday morning. We have approximately twenty-four hours to make this thing work. My plan is to divide the next twenty-four hours into a two part journey that I’ll then be able to split into three episodes. First, you will be escorted to Kuala Lumpur where we are contractually obligated with the Malaysian Tourism Board to get a shot of the teams in and around the Petronas Towers. Then, you will drive three Cera SUV’s into the heart of zombie territory where you are to seek out the rendezvous point, activate a signal beacon for an awaiting helicopter and be flown safely back to Singapore. I know you are concerned about zombies, but please don’t worry about the Berjalan penyakit! I can see the concern on your faces. You will be as safe as you would be if you were driving on the streets of Singapore. And to guarantee your safety, the SUV’s you will be driving are being modified to handle any zombie contingency as we speak!
And to sweeten the deal and get you all on board with this new turn of events, Tua Kee Media has authorized me to inform you that if all three teams make it to the finale in Singapore, there will be a bonus pay-out of one hundred thousand dollars to second and third place. No one goes hungry. However, this is still a competition so once you are set loose in Kuala Lumpur be aware the team who activates the beacon will get a five minute head start in finale events, which, trust me, is a significant lead and will put them at a distinct advantage.
Let me recap.
All you need to do is get to Kuala Lumpur, take footage near those towers, drive your SUV’s through mostly deserted backcountry and make it to the
helicopter evacuation point in one piece by two in the morning.
By hook and by crook, I managed to get the six of you clearance through any checkpoint and passed any security patrol. Show them your passes and keep those WHO paratrooper bio-suits on and you shouldn’t have any problem. You all know about the Berjalan penyakit and their taste for flesh. Just keep your distance from them and you’ll be fine.
There are no more clues and there are no more crewmen to hinder your progress. Do you remember those handheld digi-cams you ‘won’ back at A’Famosa? Well it’s time to put them to good use. Each team must film their own progress with those cameras from here on out. The better the footage the more exposure you’ll get on the show.
Don’t forget, you need be at the beacon at two in the morning.”
Sheldon stood there for a moment to let the information sink in.
Then he walked over to the intercom and pressed a button.
Buzz.
A man entered the room from one of the many hallways branching off the main room. He was Malay and I recognized him from Jamie’s clandestine footage of the Chinatown zombie event she’d filmed back in Malacca. He was the one giving orders to the rest of the secondary crew and we took to be the leader. He was short, pudgy soft in the breadbasket, and a bit bookish looking with round wire glasses. He was wearing the same type of protective suit we had put on earlier. He put his hands up and began looking at us through a square he was making with his fingers, as if we were in imaginary frame.
“Say ‘hello’ to Zahrin. He’s going to take over production of the show for the rest of the Malaysian events. For all intents and purposes he is me, and you will show him the same respect. I’ve been ordered back to Singapore along with the rest of the crew and healthy eliminated contestants. Zahrin will take care of any zombie problems on the way to Kuala Lumpur. Furthermore, you will be provided with non-lethal weapons in the event you encounter any IHS related problems.
Zahrin, you are now in charge. Adios all! Best of Luck! See you in Singapore for the finale.”
I had many questions for Sheldon and I’m sure the rest of the team members did too. However, he didn’t give us a chance to ask, rushing off down one of the halls and disappearing around a corner. But Jamie and I weren’t going to back out now. Hearing about this new agreement took a huge weight off our shoulders. A million dollar prize would change our lives, but so would the hundred thousand. One hundred thousand dollars would nearly give us enough money for a down payment on an aging heartlands condo or split two ways was enough to be jobless, live comfortably with our parents and chase boys for another three to four years. All we had to do was make it to the helicopter within twenty-four hours. It was piece of cake as far as I was concerned.
“Follow me,” Zahrin strode authoritatively to a set of glass doors that slid open automatically as he approached and led us out onto a rooftop patio. Blanketing the roof was a beautiful rose garden featuring a rather rare hybrid of Brigadoon rose, a luscious pink blend with white pedals and a spicy fragrance that thrives in the tropical climate and is used as a tea. In front of the garden there was a large stone altar, presumably for ritual sacrifice. On the altar sat an array of non-lethal weapons and gear carefully laid out in a neat arrangement. One cameraman was on scene to film our reactions.
“Cepat! Gather around, please, we don’t have much time. The weapons you see here are your protection from Berjalan penyakit. We’ve decided against giving you real guns or explosives because of the potential of friendly fire or contamination from blood splatter. Besides, you folks may be hesitant when killing these infected as they still look like normal people. Make no mistake that any hesitation can be a fatal blunder. It’s been decided that it will be more prudent if you are equipped to incapacitate and get clear of the Berjalan penyakit before they can pass on their deadly disease.
Be cautious, we’re going straight into their territory so our chances of close encounters are significantly greater than you’ve experience these last few days. But I think these defensive tools will adequately resolve any situation you may have should you stumble upon a zombie or two.”
He reached over and picked up one of the three meter long hot-shot cattle prods and pulled the trigger. Electricity arced between two contact points at the head making a crackling sound, “Each team gets one of these beauties. Touch someone with one of these, infected or not, they will move quickly away and think twice before approaching again. They have high amperage alkaline batteries that should give you enough juice for a couple hundred zaps. Have you seen someone get hit by a taser? They stiffen up and drop to the floor all rigid like for a couple of minutes. These cattle prods are different. They only shock someone at the point of impact and don’t cause the stunning effect, just a great deal of pain to get a person or animal moving. See how easy it is to use,” He jabbed the arching head into Norris’s ribs and pulled the trigger. Norris screamed and jumped back grabbing his side and doubling over where he was zapped.”
“Bastard,” Norris muttered under his breath, holding his side and looking as if he wanted to beat the hell out of Zahrin in retaliation. He probably would have if it weren’t for the cattle prod in Zahrin’s hand that kept flicking on and off as if daring him to attack.
Your team also gets one of these 12-gauge shotguns here, but we’re only supplying you with twenty bean-bag rounds. You can also take two of these flash-bang grenades in the event there is a mob of Berjalan penyakit coming down on your head. But take cover if you use them or you’ll be incapacitated and blind for at least five seconds making you vulnerable to assault.
I think it is wise for you to split the duties, one of you carry the cattle prod and grenades for crowd control and the other stay behind and use the shotgun if one of them enters your comfort zone.
The cattle prod and shotgun have shoulder straps and the flash grenades and spare bean-bag shells can be attached to these belts here.”
He clapped his hands together.
“That’s it, gather your weapons and let’s get on the road. Use the toilet now and fill up your suit bladders with reserve water as there won’t be another chance till we reach Kuala Lumpur. Leave your bags and clothes in the room, we need to travel light. Only bring the clothes on your back, your digi-cam and your team’s weapons and ammo.”
We grabbed our allotted gear and went down to our rooms to prepare for departure.
I was amped from the meeting and ready to go. As soon as Jamie and I reached our room, she took her mini-handphone out from her back and began furiously texting.
“Jamie, someone could be watching,” I whispered looking around again for a hidden camera in the room.
“I don’t care, I need to say goodbye to everyone. We don’t know if we’re going to make it back and I need to tell my mom about the new deal. In the event we don’t make it, at least they can press for our share of the prize money.”
She sent the text, but her phone beeped immediately afterward with the message, “Failure to send, try again.” She pressed again and again with the same results. Then she actually tried to dial her home back in Singapore, but there was nothing but that disappointing beep-beep of failure.
“It says I have a signal but I can’t seem to call out or send a message. Someone must be blocking our signal or something,” She flipped the phone closed and slid it into the front of her bra, which was all she was wearing underneath the bio-suit besides her pair of black stretchy pants.
“Sheldon was talking on a satellite phone earlier. The whole telecom network is probably down. We need to get going anyway, the rest of the teams are probably already downstairs.” I opened our door and we strode down the empty hall and down the hotel’s lift for the last time.
We agreed that Jamie would be the ‘point man’ and I’d be the primary cameraman for our journey. I took the camera, slung the shotgun over my shoulder and secured the belt with a satchel full of bean bag rounds. Jamie grabbed the cattle prod and attached the two flash grenades and her cosmet
ic bag to her belt. Our vague plan was this: if there was any serious trouble and Jamie couldn’t handle with the cattle prod, like if there was a crowd of hungry zombies encroaching on our space, I’d drop the camera and shoot the hell out of them with the gun.
I was correct. The other teams were assembled outside beside the shuttle bus.
Zahrin was standing in front of the bus, bugs swirling around his head in the glare of the headlamps, talking to a couple of his crewmen. He pulled aside a gentleman of small stature, a dwarf to be precise, and the two of them escorted us into the bus. While we had nothing but defensive weapons the dwarf, on the other hand, was equipped with an arsenal. He had two shotguns strapped across his back and ammo belts slung across his chest in an X, bandito style. A strip of grenades and two huge revolvers in leather holsters were attached to his belt. In his hands he carried a machete in his left and a GPS device in his right. But what really stood out was his big handlebar mustache and his thick black wavy hair swept back in a greasy bouffant.
“This is Katek. Don’t be fooled by his small demeanor. He’ll keep those Berjalan penyakit at a safe distance. I’ve relied on his defense skills in the past and can tell you he can kick a little ass. He’s also from this area and is going to show us the way through the back roads of Port Dickson to the expressway.
“Let’s get dis show on da road,” Katek said as he climbed into the bus behind us and threw down a large knapsack full of guns and ammo and took his place next to Zahrin in the oversized captain’s chair behind the wheel. “Sit back n enjoy da lide. We are takin a slip road dat’s far from peoples, k. 1 hour, we will be in spressway so dun worry hor. We shoon’t see any WHO until E2 and No Berjalan penyakit cause got only rubber tree n durian farms dere. Dey say Berjalan penyakit will attack movin lights, so got to run fast until we hit de E2.”
Zombie Fever: Outbreak Page 15