Relentless Savage

by Dave Edlund

  “Isn’t there a stream or river that can be used for bathing?” asked Trent.

  “Yes, but the water is very low now and it’s so muddy you’d come out worse off than when you went in… I don’t recommend it. If we get some rain and the water rises and clears, then bathing in the river is an option. But please, relax everyone. You’re making a bigger deal out of this than you should be. I told you it would be primitive.”

  Ethan didn’t want the conversation to dissolve into whining and grumbling, so he decided to change the subject. “What’s our first project? Will we be working on the new well?”

  Sam smiled. She appreciated his positive attitude. “This afternoon I want all of you to rest. Following dinner I’ll brief you along with the other team that is arriving later today.”

  Matthew asked, “How many new volunteers are in our group?”

  “There are nine volunteers from Oregon State University arriving today, soon I think. I’ll be working with this team and the OSU team, and I’m hoping to see some friendly competition. We’ll refer to you as Team Duck and Team Beaver following your school mascots.” Matthew and Joe both smiled at the thought of some hometown rivalry.

  “I’ll cover all the ground rules this evening prior to the project briefing. You know where the latrine is located. It’s reserved for the volunteer staff—a small token of our gratitude—and I’m sure you will highly value it before you leave here.” The students chuckled in response.

  “Any other questions?” prompted Sam.

  “Yes, I have one,” replied Joe. “What’s the reason for the influx of refugees?”

  Sam paused before answering. “There have been renewed attacks on villages to the northeast, about 20 or so miles from here. As you all know, the international press has not been allowed free access across Darfur. So what little we have been able to piece together is based on what the refugees are telling us.”

  Sam instantly recognized the concerned expressions. Perhaps she should have shared this information earlier. She pressed on. “We think the attacks were isolated events, and we have no reason to believe that the peace that was brokered in Qatar is unraveling. Still, we can’t be certain just yet.”

  Ethan asked the obvious question, “What does this mean for us? For our safety?”

  “There is nothing to worry about. At the first sign of danger, we will all be evacuated along with the refugees. The villages that were attacked are a long way from here, so I don’t think there’s any imminent danger at all. Once journalists and aid groups are allowed into the area and can make independent assessments, we’ll know more.”

  “It’s the Janjaweed, isn’t it,” Trent said.

  Sam nodded. “Yes, that’s what the refugees are saying. They rode in without warning and burned the villages and crops. Most of the young men were taken away. The women were raped and beaten. And then a war plane dropped napalm canisters on the villagers. Many were killed; even more were burned. The injured are at a United Nations field hospital north of here. But there wasn’t enough room at that camp, so those who are able are now walking here.

  “We can’t handle many more, but there’s no sign yet that the numbers are diminishing. Some of the elders that arrived yesterday explained that several villages were attacked—they didn’t know how many, only that it was more than just their own village.”

  “How will you care for everyone?” asked Wendy.

  “Our quota of rice and water was increased earlier this week, so we can cope for the moment, but unless we get more shelter and more food and medicine, we won’t be able to keep taking them in. I pray that the exodus is nearing an end.”

  The students were quickly realizing they really weren’t prepared for this current situation. What they had been prepped for was far less intense than this heightened element of danger and the refugees’ overwhelming struggle to survive. They were in as strange a world as any they could imagine. But none of the volunteers had any regrets; they were eager to begin helping.

  Chapter 5

  Darfur

  June 5

  Dr. Hsu was accompanied by two staff researchers, each carrying a tablet computer for recording notes. They all wore surgical masks containing activated charcoal embedded with silver nanoparticles. The masks were designed to trap and sanitize air-born microbes.

  The doctor was conducting his morning rounds. He stopped at the foot of a simple metal-frame bed with a clipboard hanging from the footboard. Fastened to the clipboard were the subject’s medical charts. The male subject lying in the bed was asleep.

  As Dr. Hsu scanned the notes on the charts, he pinched his eyebrows. “This subject was injected two days ago?”

  “Yes, doctor,” replied one of the researchers after consulting the computerized records.

  “I see the subject is showing the normal early signs of infection. Good… as expected.” Dr. Hsu put the clipboard down and moved to the next bed.

  This subject was awake as he approached and lunged for the doctor. It was a weak effort, easily restrained by the nylon straps binding his arms and legs to the bed frame. The man shouted in his native language, no doubt some curse aimed at the doctor and his staff. No sooner had the words come out when he retched in convulsions, his body going into spasms, trying to double over. As his muscles contracted, his arms and legs yanked against the straps and further chaffed—the skin already rubbed off in many places.

  “This subject was injected with the virus three days ago,” commented the other researcher.

  Dr. Hsu nodded and studied the medical chart. “Severe cramps, nausea… vomiting began earlier this morning. Make sure the subject stays on a saline drip; I don’t want him to dehydrate. Begin administering Halotestin, 60 milligrams per day, IV drip. And take a bone sample; I want to monitor the rate of progress of the cellular reconstruction.”

  Both researchers bowed, indicating their obedience.

  Although there were other beds and other subjects in the room, the trio left with Dr. Hsu in the lead. He entered the hallway and walked only a short distance before entering another room, this one rather small and equipped with numerous air intakes that allowed the room to be maintained at a slightly negative pressure of filtered and sterilized air. The door shut behind them automatically.

  Hanging on the wall were white, sterile, hooded jumpsuits. Hsu slipped into one and zipped it up all the way to his chin, pulling the hood snuggly over his head and neck; the two researchers did likewise. Next, they each donned a pair of nitrile gloves and then a full facemask. The mask fit tightly, sealing the hood against the chin, cheeks and forehead.

  Attached to the facemask was a device that looked very similar to a diver’s rebreather. It consisted of an aluminum tube mounted horizontally. The tube contained sodium peroxide, a chemical that liberates pure oxygen when it reacts with the moisture and carbon dioxide exhaled by the user. A mesh pad impregnated with silver nanoparticles filtered the oxygen to provide an added measure of safety by destroying bacteria and viruses.

  After checking to make sure that his mask was properly fitted and sealed, Dr. Hsu opened a second door and entered a large room with twelve beds arranged in two rows of six; four of the beds were empty. Along the wall behind each bed ran a green pipe containing oxygen with a gas regulator located at each bed. Attached to the regulator was a length of clear plastic tubing connected to a simple facemask that could be placed over the subject’s nose and mouth. LCD monitors above each bed displayed the subject’s blood pressure and pulse in real time. A portable defibrillator was pushed off to the side of the room.

  All of the subjects exhibited signs of bleeding—extreme in some cases. The evidence was all over the bed sheets. The room was quiet, except for an occasional groan.

  “These subjects—” that’s how Hsu thought of them, as subjects rather than patients, “—were all infected with the most recent variation at the same time?”

  “Yes. Formula 26rh8. They were infected almost nine days ago,” one of the researchers
replied.

  Dr. Hsu knew that this formula was based on a derivative of the Ebola-Sudan virus, a variation of the Filoviridae virus that causes hemorrhagic fever.

  The other researcher added, “Four of the subjects died during the night.”

  “The cause?” demanded Hsu.

  “It was a combination of blood loss, liver damage, and systemic shock.”

  Dr. Hsu smiled. “Excellent! Keep me informed as the symptoms progress in the remaining subjects. Once the control experiment is complete we can test the new viral carrier for the foreign DNA.”

  The two researchers exchanged a confused glance; then one dared to ask the question that was suddenly burning in both minds. “I don’t understand, sir. Did you say this is a control experiment?”

  Hsu spun on his heels, he did not care to be questioned. “Of course! How else would we know if the viral insertion is inducing any new side effects? Besides, the mutated viral strain we are using—with similarities to both the Sudan strain and the Zaire strain—has not been studied in depth.”

  “I’m sorry, sir. I just don’t understand why the Filoviridae virus is considered a candidate host to insert the foreign DNA into the subjects. The virus induces such severe systemic damage to the subject’s body… the mortality rate is as high as 90 percent.”

  “Yes, and our control experiment will certainly verify that result.”

  “But with such a high mortality rate, how can the procedure be effective?”

  “Effective can have many different meanings. With procedure 33vK the subjects are likely to survive the transformation, and we have seen the results, which are quite impressive. But the Ad14 virus is weak; it can be treated and killed with new drugs. In contrast, the Ebola virus is far more robust.” The gleam in Dr. Hsu’s eyes shone through his clear plastic face shield.

  “There are few effective treatments for hemorrhagic fever. What treatments there are remain expensive and in short supply, partly due to the ease with which the virus naturally mutates into a distinctly new strain, still deadly but resistant to prior medications. It is the perfect carrier for the foreign DNA!”

  The researchers stared back at Dr. Hsu, admiring his twisted brilliance but also not fully comprehending his ultimate objectives in these experiments.

  “It is evident you don’t understand.”

  The two researchers had blank expressions.

  “It should be obvious.” Hsu was imagining himself lecturing to a room full of students. “The Ad14 virus infects hundreds of millions of people each year. Even though it is relatively harmless, it is a nuisance. Drug companies and medical labs will eventually find an effective vaccine, and when they do… well then, procedure 33vK will be far less effective.

  “But, the Ebola virus—aside from the occasional regional outbreaks—infects on average only a few hundred people each year and therefore, even though it is quite lethal, it usually does not merit much attention. There simply is not enough profit to be made by developing an effective treatment, let alone an effective vaccine.”

  “But if the mortality rate remains high,” one of the researchers interjected, “then most of the subjects will die before the transformation is complete. I don’t see how this moves us toward the Committee’s goal of engineering a superior soldier?”

  Dr. Hsu smiled behind the surgical mask, his eyes reflecting excitement. “You seem to confuse effectiveness with yield. If the mortality rate of 26rh8 is high, it simply means we need a larger population to infect. This is not a difficult problem.”

  Both researchers stared blankly back at Dr. Hsu.

  “These issues do not concern either of you.” Hsu moved on to the next bed and then the next. After completing his inspection, and satisfied with the data, he turned back to the two researchers who were following three steps behind.

  “When this control experiment is finished, we will move into the next phase. This work is very important. Procedure 33vK has proved sufficient for making a super soldier, and that work showed us possibilities never before imagined. You see, once we perfect the 26rh8 formula and procedure, we will have an invincible biological weapon. One for which there is no vaccine and no cure.”

  Chapter 6

  Darfur

  June 5

  When the People’s Liberation Army first agreed to fund Colonel Xao Ming’s genetic engineering experiments, none of the generals really believed the work would successfully lead to a vastly superior soldier, as Ming had boasted. Yet, he had strong ties to powerful political allies and the generals felt it was in their best interest to appease the colonel—at least for the moment. That was seven years ago, and Ming’s work had achieved even greater success than was promised.

  When the research reached a critical point where human subjects were needed, it became too dangerous to continue the work on Chinese soil. Serendipity played a key role when the turmoil and violence in North Africa reached new levels in western Sudan. The People’s Liberation Army saw a unique opportunity to build a secluded and secret military research facility that was well isolated from prying eyes. And the government in Khartoum was all too willing to cooperate with China’s military leaders, including asking no questions.

  Colonel Ming presided over the conference call from the seat situated at the center of the table. Dr. Hsu sat to his immediate right, and several other top scientists and doctors occupied the remaining seats. He was about to address General Cai of the People’s Liberation Army over a video and voice link. On the wall facing Ming hung two large flat screens, one for the video link and one for displaying the slides that would also be transmitted to the General and his staff.

  “Colonel Ming,” greeted General Cai, his hands folded on the table as he looked straight into the camera. “I expect you have substantially more promising results to report on this… gene therapy… than you did during your last briefing. You may begin.”

  “Thank you General.” Ming bowed his head slightly. “Using adenovirus 14, or Ad14, we have shown that the foreign DNA is successfully inserted in human DNA.”

  “Excuse me, Colonel.” The interruption came from one of the General’s aides. “I was under the impression that you have been using the Ad14 carrier for close to two years. Certainly you have some new results to share with this committee?”

  Ming forced a smile. “If the General will indulge me for just a moment and refer to the first slide, I will explain our transformation procedure 33vK.” As Ming explained the details of the viral infection procedure he noticed the bored expressions on the faces of General Cai and his staff, their faces displayed in detail on the flat-screen monitor.

  The idiots can’t grasp the significance of my work, thought Ming. Still, he pressed forward. “The symptoms are very reproducible. Within 48 hours of exposure, an otherwise healthy subject develops coughing and sneezing, similar to a bad cold. The symptoms quickly escalate and within 60 hours the subject exhibits fever and signs of nausea as well as muscle ache and cramps, which are severe in most cases.”

  Ming was flashing through slides with photographs documenting the various stages of infection as he was describing the effects. “As the infection spreads, the pain becomes so intense it is common for the subjects to scream continuously for days. Physical exhaustion is typical as the subject is unable to rest or sleep.”

  No longer bored, General Cai and his staff appeared perversely fascinated by the pictures. Ming clicked the mouse activating an embedded video. It was only fifteen seconds long but recorded a young man doubled over while lying on a concrete floor, his arms wrapped around his stomach. His body was thrashing back and forth and his face contorted in agony, his loud screams recorded on the audio track.

  “These symptoms continue for up to three weeks. If the subject is in poor health, especially with a weak heart or circulatory deficiency, death usually results. If the subject survives the transformation, all symptoms of the infection vanish after 30 days.”

  “Please explain the cause of death.” This question w
as asked by the General’s aide, the same who had interrupted Ming earlier.

  Without prompting, Dr. Hsu replied. “Autopsies on 63 subjects indicates that death is the result of heart failure or stroke, brought on by severe physiological stress.”

  “For this reason,” added Colonel Ming, “we only use male subjects between 17 and 35 years of age, who are in good health.”

  “That seems rather selective,” observed General Cai. “Are you able to gather sufficient subjects?”

  Ming flashed a disingenuous smile again. “Fortunately, that has not been a problem. The Janjaweed militia are very efficient, and they are suitably motivated by a token payment for each subject they deliver in good condition. They find the hard currency very useful for black-market transactions.”

  “I see,” General Cai answered. “Please continue. You have not explained yet why you have proclaimed your work an unqualified success.”

  “Adenovirus 14 is an extremely virulent strain that is closely related to viruses responsible for pink eye, the common cold, and several upper respiratory illnesses. Because Ad14 is so easily transmitted from one human host to another, it is an ideal carrier for inserting foreign DNA into human cells. However, as you know, we succeeded in merging Neanderthal DNA with modern human, or Homo sapiens, DNA two years ago. But that alone was not sufficient.

  “We sought a procedure that implanted the Neanderthal DNA in such a way that it fused with modern human DNA synergistically, allowing cellular reproduction. General, I am pleased to report that procedure 33vK achieves this goal.”

  Ming clicked the mouse and advanced to the next slide. It was a photographic collage showing a half dozen creatures, the result of the new gene therapy procedure. A collective gasp was transmitted over the voice link as the General and his staff saw the photographs of grotesque beings.

  “General, you are looking at photographic evidence of the first hominid species created by mankind. A true hybrid between Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis. My staff calls these beings Homothals. Although not scientifically correct, there is a certain ring to the name, don’t you think?”