by Steven Bird
Looking around, wiping a tear from his eye, Vasily moved his hands around in the air like a puppet master, and said, ���Dance, puppets, dance.���
Regaining his composure, he continued. ���I knew place such as this not protect me forever. Is only place to hide. Knowing it here gave me sense of security. Having control over one little place, one little hole in ground gave me peace.���
Snapping out of his dark memories, Vasily said, ���We rest now. All have long day. Wake tomorrow and make plan.���
Looking around nervously, Dr. Graves said, ���Um, what about a bathroom?���
Pointing at a five-gallon bucket in the corner of the small space, Vasily said, ���Bucket half-full of oil-absorbing material. Is toilet for now. Put lid on when done for smell.���
With a grimace, Dr. Graves nodded and said, ���I guess I should just be thankful someone like you thought of everything in advance, including the toilet.���
With a smile, Brett looked to Vasily and said, ���There are people like you back home in the states. They���re called preppers. They���re prepared for anything that may come, and like you, they see the fragility of the world around us. Society likes to paint them as crazy nut jobs, but I bet if things are getting ugly back home from all of this, those people are getting the last laugh now.���
���I���m sure they no laugh,��� Vasily replied. ���They hurt for those who are not prepared. When you are haunted by fears of what you see coming, you do what you feel you must, not for pride.���
Chapter Twenty-One
Vasily���s Bunker
Awakening to the smell of warm, fresh coffee, Mason felt as if he must be dreaming. Opening his eyes, he looked across the small room to see Vasily brewing coffee over a small, backpack-style camping stove in a small, stainless-steel container.
Rubbing his eyes in disbelief, Mason said, ���Coffee? Really?���
With a smile, Vasily poured a cup of the piping hot brew. Handing it to Mason, he said, ���No cream, but is good.���
���Thanks,��� Mason said, taking the cup and savoring the aroma.
As everyone in the room began to stir and get ready for the day, Dr. Hunter graciously accepted a cup of coffee as well, and asked, ���So, Vasily, what did you see while you were out there? After the chapel, that is.���
���This I have been needing to tell you,��� he replied. Looking to Dr. Graves, he asked, ���Are you biologist?���
���Why, yes,��� she replied with a puzzled look, perplexed at how he would know such a thing. ���How did you know?���
���Dr. Hunter speak of your group when we met. You will want to listen to what I am about to say.���
���Okay, I���m listening,��� she replied.
���When separated from Mason and Dr. Hunter, after Neville sacrifice himself to save me, my only option was run toward berthing complex. All other routes blocked. I entered building and find something terrible.���
���Neville sacrificed himself?��� Dr. Bentley asked, smiling and proud of his former student for his bravery in the most adverse of conditions.
With a nod, Vasily continued, ���On second floor of building two-eleven, I find nest.���
���Nest? What do you mean, a nest?��� Dr. Graves enquired.
���Many bodies weaved together with gray fiber. Bodies seem to be alive, but not move.���
���Alive?��� she asked.
���Could not move,��� he explained. ���Sticky gray fiber wrapped them like cocoon. Other infected come and go. They attach themselves to cocoon, but not like others. They attach for time, then detach and leave. People in center of mass not move. Trapped, as if being used by group.���
���But they���re alive?��� she asked again. ���The ones in the middle of the mass are still alive?���
���Yes. Can see chest rise and fall with breath, but not try to leave like others.���
Thinking through what he was saying, Dr. Graves turned to the others and said, ���It sounds as if he is describing a hive or a colony-like structure.���
���The ones that come and go,��� she asked. ���How do they look?���
���Like ones at Pub. Capable of fighting. They come in from outside covered with ice from sweat. After being with cocoon, they seem to warm and leave again as if refreshed. Skin is covered with gray material. Eyes bulging and bloodshot.���
���That���s why their actions are beginning to seem coordinated,��� she said. ���Once the power grid failed, the organisms must have sensed that their source of heat was gone. By clustering tightly together in a confined space, they could use the heat of the bodies woven into the hive, or nest, alive, generating heat for the others. The fibers could simply be a source of insulation, or it could be a way to transmit information throughout the hive as if each organism is functioning as the cell of a brain.
���Their coordinated actions are obviously from some form of collective thought. That may be the source where they can come together and communicate.���
���Linda, at any other time I would call you raving mad,��� Dr. Bentley said, looking directly at Dr. Graves. ���But considering all that is going on, I can���t honestly find it in myself to argue the possibility of anything. However, how could something as simple as a eukaryote have advanced so quickly into a colony with collective intelligence? This entire thing baffles me.���
���Like I said before,��� she replied, ���These things may have a rapid generational cycle, allowing the information they���ve obtained to pass along to new generations, giving them the ability to adapt to their new environment far quicker than we could have imagined. Also, you���ve got to remember; this continent hasn���t always been covered with ice. They could have been highly developed long before this world became what it is today. The fumaroles of Mount Erebus may have simply been a life-support system for them while they were in a semi-dormant state, awaiting their chance to escape their frozen prison.���
Cutting to the point, Brett spoke up, bluntly saying, ���So, what���s our plan? We know we can���t stay here���at McMurdo, that is. We���re cut off from the world in a place that cannot support us on its own with no supply chain, with organisms that are rapidly developing to kill or assimilate us. The clock is ticking. Hiding out only works when you���re waiting for a storm to pass. This storm isn���t going anywhere.���
���Black Island,��� said Dr. Perkins from across the room. ���Once again, Black Island is our only rational option. We know they have comms to the outside world, and they are isolated from this mess with facilities to support long-term habitation. What other choice do we have?���
Looking around the room, Dr. Hunter said, ���I���m in for a trip to Black Island, unless anyone else has any new or better ideas.���
���Is good option. Is very good option.��� Vasily confidently agreed.
Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Dr. Hunter said, ���Well, that���s it. I guess we���re setting out for Black Island.��� Turning to Vasily, he asked, ���Based on what you saw while you were out there, how likely are we to make it to the heavy vehicle facility to acquire a PistenBully?���
Looking at the group, Vasily replied, ���Maybe two or three, but not everyone. We take small group, get machine, then come back for others.���
���I���m not so sure I���m keen on us splitting up again,��� said Dr. Bentley with concern in his voice. ���We lost several people the last time something like this happened. Why do such a thing again?���
Hearing Dr. Bentley���s dissension, Vasily
���s face tightened as he scrunched his forehead and said in a frank tone, ���Lose more if not split up.���
���Gerald,��� Dr. Hunter said, trying to dissuade Dr. Bentley from further protest, ���You���ve not seen what he���s seen. Mason and I are alive right now due to the actions of Vasily at Mac Ops. We are all alive right now due to his actions at Gallagher���s Pub. He���s been out there in the middle of the shit storm we���re surrounded by more than anyone else in this room. What kind of fools would we be if we didn���t use his experience-based advice?���
���I agree,��� replied Dr. Graves.
���Of course, you would agree with Nathan, Linda,��� Dr. Bentley quipped.
With her facial expression quickly turning to a scowl, she asked, ���What the hell is that supposed to mean?���
���We���re going with Vasily���s recommendation, and that���s that,��� Mason said firmly. ���Unless, of course, anyone wants to strike out on their own. Where are you sitting right now, all safe and warm, Dr. Bentley? You���re in a secure location created solely by the foresight and efforts of one man. Look around you and realize that your options are limited. Take advantage of the strengths of those you are blessed to be surrounded by, before either your fear or your pride get you killed.���
���Hey, hey,��� Brett said while holding up his hands, trying to calm the obvious escalation of Mason���s temper. ���We���ll send a small group to get the PistenBully. That���s settled. Let���s not let the situation get to us. We���ve all had a lot happen to us and those we love, without having the ability to deal with any of it properly. Let���s not start to unravel now.���
Looking Vasily in the eye, Dr. Bentley said, ���I���m sorry, Mr… um, what was your family name again?���
���Fedorov. My name is Vasily Fedorov.���
���I apologize, Mr. Fedorov. My mouth stepped ahead of my brain there for a moment. I sincerely apologize,��� Dr. Bentley said in a humble and reconciled tone.
���No need,��� Vasily replied. ���Every person here free to do as he or she wishes. I hold no special place. I do what I must; you do what you must. No room for feelings in struggle to survive. Survival important, not pride.���
Standing, Vasily said, ���I go. I take Mason and Dr. Hunter. Good team. If not back by dark, another group set out in morning.���
���Brett, that should be you and Dr. Perkins,��� added Dr. Hunter. ���That would leave Dr. Bentley, Dr. Graves, and Tasha to hold down the fort while you���re gone.���
���Wait,��� Dr. Graves interjected. ���What do you mean, if you���re not back by morning?���
Sharing a look of understanding with Vasily, Dr. Hunter said, ���If we don���t make it, you can���t stay in here forever. You���ll eventually run out of food or freeze to death when you���re out of kerosene for the heater. You���ll need a second attempt to get to a PistenBully.���
Scrunching her eyebrows, she replied, ���And if they don���t come back?���
���Then the three of you set out,��� he said. ���What other choice do you have?���
With a smile, Vasily said, ���Don���t worry. Each group get easier. We take many with us if we die. Fewer infected to fight for next group.���
Chuckling under his breath, Dr. Hunter said, ���I doubt that���s what she wanted to hear.��� Turning to Dr. Graves, he said, ���But he���s right. It is simple math.���
���And Black Island will have to share less of its valuable resources, if it is only the three of us,��� she said while giving her best attempt to seem nonchalant about the whole thing.
���We go now,��� Vasily insisted. ���Days are short now. We go while we have light, before extreme cold of night.���
As the three men began donning their extreme weather clothing for their trip to the heavy vehicle facility, Dr. Graves put her hands on her hips and approached Dr. Hunter. ���Nathan,��� she said. ���Why is it that in your divine wisdom, you assigned me to be in the last group. Is it because you see the women as less capable than the men? Both Tasha and I are in that group.���
���Not at all,��� he quickly replied. ���I put you in that group because I knew someone had to be around to protect Gerald.���
Speaking up from across the room, Dr. Bentley said, ���You do realize I���m in the room, don���t you? I can hear you.���
Responding to Dr. Bentley with only a smile, Dr. Hunter looked at Dr. Graves and said, ���Actually, it���s because if anyone is going to be able to come up with an answer to this biological crisis we���ve found ourselves in, it���s you. You need to survive to help the rest of the world deal with it. Not only are you a brilliant astrobiologist, but also, you���ve been at ground zero. You���ve been inside the mountain from which they came. No one else has your first-hand perspective. The world will need you.���
Pausing, seeing a slight look of disappointment in her facial expression, he asked softly, ���Was there something else you wanted to hear?���
���No. No, that answer will suffice,��� she replied sharply.
���Well, there���s more,��� he said. ���Just stay safe and take care of Gerald,��� he said, winking at Dr. Bentley. ���Maybe I���ll find an appropriate time to share the rest of it with you if we all get out of this.���
With a smile, Dr. Hunter turned to the group and said, ���Okay, we���ve got four rifles in total. Our group will take two with us, then I want the other two to stay behind, one for each potential group trekking out to the heavy vehicle facility. Brett, do me a favor and make sure everyone knows how to use them. In the unfortunate event that it actually comes down to the third group, I want to make sure they have every chance the rest of us did.���
Turning to see Vasily climb the short ladder and remove the overhead door, he said, ���Well, I guess we���d better get going. Stay safe.���
As the group watched Mason close the door above them, tossing the cord tied to the metal cart down to them, they heard the cart roll over top the door to hide the entrance.
Looking at the cord as it dangled in the light of the faint red glow of the kerosene heater, Dr. Perkins said, ���So, we just pull that cord and the cart rolls out of the way?���
���I believe that is the setup,��� Brett replied. ���It���s not heavy, though. In an emergency, we could shove it off the door. That would make a lot of noise, though. Hence the roll-away setup.���
And with that, the group settled in to silence as each of them got lost in their own thoughts of what their fates might be.
After a few moments, Brett said, ���It���s plenty warm in here. How ���bout we save some fuel and shut the heater off for now.���
���It���ll be dark, won���t it?��� Tasha asked.
���Yeah, but we can do without the light,��� he replied. ���If you���re okay with that, of course.���
Hesitating for a moment, she replied, ���Yeah. That���s fine. Save the fuel. We may need it.���
~~~~
Breaking the silence of the underground hideaway, Dr. Bentley spoke up, and said, ���I wonder what the current state of things back home is? Based on what that chap on the radio said, they are having quite the kerfuffle there as well.���
���Don���t worry, the government will handle it,��� Brett said with a chuckle. ���But seriously, I���ve been wondering the same thing. There is a reason we seem to have been abandoned here. If the outbreak was
isolated to McMurdo, or even to the continent of Antarctica, we would see some sort of support coming in. My guess is, they have their own crisis to deal with, and we���re just not on their priority list.���
���How did it get off the ice?��� Tasha asked.
���A sample from deep within Mount Erebus, my sample,��� Dr. Graves said, assigning herself blame, ���was damaged during the pack-out here in McMurdo. One of the cargo handlers was injured, and the sample was damaged. My assumption is that he was the first to become exposed.���
���Patient Zero,��� Brett said in the darkness.
���Yes, if you want to use such terms,��� Dr. Graves replied. ���Anyway, the source or extent of his illness was unknown at the time. Emergency medical care was given to him before placing him on a U.S. Air Force transport plane on its way to Christchurch, New Zealand. Soon after, medical professionals and those who were on the scene of the accident began to show signs of the infection, or rather, of being hosts.
���It���s natural to conclude that the injured man who was transported to New Zealand was the vessel in which the microbes traveled. Now that they are unleashed in a warmer climate, more hospitable to life, I shudder to think of how fast it must have spread.���
Putting her head in her hands, Dr. Graves began to weep, and said, ���If I had only������
���That will be enough of that,��� Dr. Bentley interrupted. ���Placing blame on yourself will not help us in our situation, nor will it help those in New Zealand and elsewhere. Thousands of samples of bacteria, ice cores, and rock have taken from Erebus for study in our laboratories back home. Any of us could have been the root cause for such a thing along the way. There was no way you could have foreseen this. This is the stuff of Hollywood science-fiction movies, not day-to-day science. None of us could have foreseen such a thing.���