Death of the Republic

by Ken Ward

  Kathy: ohmygod cnn just said your name!

  CHAPTER 13

  CNN BROADCAST – LIVE

  BREAKING NEWS – IGNA-3 IN THE U.S., CARRIER ABOARD FLIGHT TO MIAMI

  Host: Welcome back to CNN's live coverage of the IGNA-3 outbreak, I'm Tani Dotson and I'm pleased to be joined right now by our esteemed panel of experts, here to talk about this outbreak and what it may mean for the security of our country. Joining me here in studio are: Richard Hogue former chair of the CIA subcommittee on biological warfare, Dr. Avna Ghulli of the National Healthcare Institute and formerly of the Centers for Disease Control, Nicholle Quantrell spokesperson for the Advocate Society Alliance, and Brent Holberg who's covered the United Nations and the World Health Organization for such publications as the New York Citizen Tribune, the Manhattan Gazette and the Washington Courier, he joins us from our studio in New York. First of all, I want to thank all of you for joining me here today. So, Dr. Ghulli, let me start with you – can you tell us right now what is the status of this disease – and I'm thinking in terms of where it is right now, where it's going to go – how far might this virus spread, how concerned should we be?

  Dr. Ghulli: I think this virus is obviously a cause for concern. Definitely. We know that it is easily spread. There has been a containment effort on the ground in Bermuda, but as you have reported those containment efforts were for naught. I think there is genuine cause for concern.

  Tani: Richard, our government has contingencies for this sort of thing does it not?

  Richard: Indeed, there are protocols in place to deal with situations similar to this. But I want to caution the public from thinking we have any over-arching methodology that allows us to shield most people from a threat such as this. Most of the contingencies I've dealt with over my career have been targeted and purposeful attacks. As Dr. Ghulli could probably attest, this is something different.

  Tani: Brent Holberg, I'd like to throw it over to you now. What are you hearing in terms of this flight currently on its way to Miami? Now as I understand it, the flight originated in Boston?

  Brent: Yes, Tani, that's right. Flight 381 took off from Boston's Logan International at about 1:10PM local time. Now, authorities there in Boston are saying they were not made aware of this person's illness, that's the gentleman who's picture you'd showed earlier, they were not aware of his -

  Tani: Just hold it right there, Brent for a moment if you could we haven't yet talked about the carrier himself. I'd like to get to that. Here is his picture once again. I understand this is video we have obtained from the terminal at Logan International, here we can see this person checking in, speaking with the RepublicAir customer service rep. Nicholle, you have a different take on this whole thing, don't you? A specific problem with this young man that you'd like to share?

  Nicholle: A specific problem, I guess you could put it that way. Aside from what the doctor is saying and others on this issue, I have an issue with the way this was handled right from the start.

  Tani: Expand on that.

  Nicholle: Well, here you see it, this video shows he's just strolling through the airport terminal. I mean, there are hundreds if not thousands of people there in that room with him. I just think, the arrogance of this man to recklessly endanger the lives of all of those people, it's unconscionable.

  Tani: You would rather he had stayed indoors, obviously, self-quarantined in some way.

  Nicholle: Well, yes, obviously. He shouldn't have left his house or his apartment or wherever he lives. And I would just like to point out, this is a white man. And it really shows the arrogance. As a white man he's lived a life of privilege and he feels as though it is fine for him to travel at will and expose all of these people to this terrible disease.

  Tani: You think this points to a systemic issue?

  Nicholle: I do. White men have been getting away with behavior like this for decades. Centuries even, going back to the beginnings of our country. It's shameful.

  Richard: Tani, if I could just -

  Tani: Hold on, hold on Richard – Dr. Ghulli, you wanted to say something.

  Dr. Ghulli: Yes. To expound on what Ms. Quantrell has just mentioned. There are many people now who will have to be quarantined and checked.

  Tani: You're talking about all of the people that were in the terminal at Logan International at the same time as this young man we've seen on the video.

  Dr. Ghulli: Exactly, as well as everyone on his flight, which is obvious. But also, everyone that he may have been in contact with prior to arriving at the airport. And also, we have to keep in mind, this is something with tentacles that stretch out beyond. We have to now think about everyone who has come into contact with everyone who was in that terminal at that time. What flights did they board? What flights did they arrive on and where did they go after? The implications here are far-reaching.

  Tani: Richard you wanted a word?

  Richard: Yes, I also wanted to point out, and Dr. Ghulli mentioned quarantine, look, at this point there has been no effective quarantine measures that we know of. So far everyone who has come into contact with this disease has died. So, I don't think we have any way of containing this thing, at least not at this point.

  Tani: It's a frightening prospect.

  Richard: It really is. And I don't say this to be alarmist. I'm not proposing that people panic, but what I am saying is people are going to have be patient with the authorities as they sort through this crisis and respond in kind.

  Tani: Brent, coming back to you now, we understand you have some further information about this young man on that flight to Miami?

  Brent: Yes, Tani, I've just been trading emails with investigators at Logan International, and we can tell you that the young man's name is Matthew Gravenhurst. He is 28 years old and from the Boston area. We also know he was initially bumped off of that flight to Miami, although it's not known at this time if that was a precautionary measure taken by the airline given his apparent illness, and we don't know why that decision was reversed and he was allowed to board. We're still waiting for word from RepublicAir spokespersons whom we have reached out to and have yet to hear back from. Now-

  Tani: Sorry, Brent, I'm told we have CNN's Miami Correspondent, Gina Teague at the airport there in Miami with news about what authorities are planning there in anticipation of the arrival of that flight, Gina, what are you hearing on your end?

  BACK TO: FLIGHT 381

  Kathy: u wont believe what delia just said to me

  You: oh i can just imagine

  Kathy: yeh, she says that you shouldve known better than to go to the airport when ur sick, i told her that you didnt start feeling that way until you were already there and getting on the flight, so then she says to me that i shouldve told you to stay home and really im just as responsible for getting everyone sick with this thing, can you believe her?

  You: we already know what she's like...this isn't surprising

  Kathy: yeh, but still, what a bitch

  You: yeah

  Kathy: how are you feeling

  You: same...and scared...can't believe cnn has my picture

  Kathy: and ur name

  You: yeah

  Kathy: so sorry babe

  You: i can't believe this is happening

  Kathy: i know, the ppl at my work keep asking me about it, almost like blaming me, it isn't just Delia

  You: i'm sorry that you have to go through that

  Kathy: its ok, i just wish this could be over u know?

  You: you and me both

  CHAPTER 14

  EAGLE BROADCASTING – BOSTON CHANNEL 5 ACTIONLIVE NEWS

  JOINED IN PROGRESS

  Host: For more now on this developing story we send it to Mary Schwartz who is there with a live look outside Matthew Gravenhurst's building where he works, Mary?

  Mary: Thanks, Roger. Yes, I'm standing here at the corner of Appalachia and Norman where the Grosvenor Communications building is located and as you can see behind me, there have b
een people gathering, I would estimate there's about forty or fifty people there now who are shouting, venting their frustration and there have been reports of people throwing objects – be they rocks or other small projectiles at the building – security for the company and Boston PD have responded and are keeping these folks from getting too close to the building but Roger, people here are quite frustrated as you can see.

  Roger: Yes, it's obvious there are some loud protests happening there. Can you tell us how this all began.

  Mary: As far as we know this came together rather quickly after some of the major news outlets began broadcasting the virus carrier's image and then making his name public. We do know that through various social media outlets there had been a campaign targeted at this individual and from there people were able to figure out where he worked. We spoke with a young man earlier who had this to say…

  Derek Tanhart: It's like, we just want to know why this company is sending a guy who's obviously sick to crowded places like a busy airport. It's like, just really irresponsible if you ask me. There's no need for it. And he just like, shouldn't be traveling and getting everyone sick, you know? So, we just want answers.

  Mary: Roger, I can tell you this young man was not alone. We spoke to many of these people who have gathered here and they all are feeling frustrated and upset and scared about the potential spread of the IGNA-3 virus and they want the company where Matthew Gravenhurst works to take responsibility for what they see as a problem they've helped to create. Back to you.

  MEANWHILE, ON TWITTER:

  @rallygirl934revolution: hey @grosvenorcommslimited, you think it's ok to play with ppl's lives by allowing your employees to knowingly infect others for the sake of the almighty $$$? #boycottgroscomm

  REPLIES TO @rallygirl934revolution:

  @batwingsuperstar2k4: typical corporation only thinking of the bottom line the hell with the rest of us #boycottgroscomm

  @yesterdayterdayday00: they only understand money, of course theyll send someone with igna virus to a conference if it serves there ends their all corupt #boycottgroscomm

  @wickedsolutiondahi: you think they care? theyre billionaires. this gravenhurst kid is probably rich too. we're just pawns to them #boycottgroscomm

  ON BOARD FLIGHT 381:

  A few people had been convinced to sit back in their seats in the back half of the plane. But there was still quite a bit of chaos that I could hear whispers of over the engines. Given everything I'd read about IGNA-3, I wasn't sure what people felt they were accomplishing by crowding toward the front of the plane. If I actually had the virus, they'd have been screwed the moment we started breathing the same air, which, in an airplane cabin is just recycled over and over. There's no way of avoiding my exhalations. But people are stupid. We really are just a bunch of lemmings. I guess we can pat ourselves on the back for various technological achievements. The fact that I'm flying through the air on a jet that holds hundreds of people. That's something. Landing on the moon. Splitting the atom. I get it, we've done some amazing stuff. But I think generally speaking most people are pretty dim.

  Anyway, I had one attendant watching over me. Her face buried in her phone. She was probably watching CNN coverage of the flight. My face plastered everywhere for the entire world to mock. I didn't know what to do with myself, so I just stared straight ahead until my eyes went blurry and my mind just floated there in a kind of stasis. The pressure from my sinuses had abated somewhat, but I still had a hell of a sore throat and my head was pounding. Then my phone started vibrating. I had incoming call from my boss.

  “Hello?”

  “Matthew?”

  “Yes, is this Stan?”

  “Yes it is. I was afraid I wouldn't reach you.”

  “Cell coverage gets better all the time.”

  “No kidding,” he said, “listen, I wanted to reach out to you before you got to Miami.”

  “Yes. Okay.”

  “Now, you know we've valued the work that you've done for us over these past 24 months or so.”

  Wait a minute, I remember thinking. Is he about to say what I think he's about to say? “Okay,” I said.

  “But,” Stan said, “at this time we feel it might be best if we parted ways.”

  “Parted ways?”

  “Please understand, this in no way reflects how we feel about you as a person. As I've said, we really value the work that you've done for us.”

  “You're firing me?”

  “Please try to understand, we're in a difficult position here.”

  “Difficult position? Are you serious?”

  “I take it you haven't been on social media lately?”

  “Not recently, no.”

  “Well, Matthew, we just feel it's in the company's best interest to let you go.”

  “So, that's it. Just like that? I'm fired?”

  “We have set up a generous severance package for you. Christine will be emailing you with all the details.”

  “I can't believe this is happening.”

  “I know. I understand this must be a difficult time for you.”

  “You know what, Stan? I don't think you do.”

  “Yes, well, again – thank you for all the hard work you've done for us in the past. And good luck with your future endeavors.”

  “Yeah. Whatever.”

  “Take care.”

  Just like that, he hung up. Social media? I went to Twitter on my phone and sure enough one of the trending topics was #boycottgroscomm. So, I'd become the sacrificial lamb as the company tried to save its skin by getting rid of me. None of this made any sense. People were losing their minds, blaming me and blaming Grosvenor Communications for spreading the IGNA-3 virus as though I'd made a conscious choice to infect as many people as I could. People were acting as though the company I'd worked for had known that I had this disease and chose to let me travel to the conference in Miami anyway? How could people be this stupid? Wait, don't answer that.

  It's strange. In that moment where the conversation with Stan ended, I felt a weird sensation of relief come over me. Like a giant weight had been removed from my shoulders. I guess that's a normal feeling anyone has when they no longer have this responsibility that comes with whatever job they have. I suppose I should've been more scared or upset than I was about being fired, but for some reason it made me feel better about things on the whole. Like I said, strange. Then again, it could've been that I was so sick and out of it, that you could've told me anything and I'd have been like, whatever.

  You: so don't freak out, but uh...i just fired

  Kathy: WHAT????

  You: yeah

  Kathy: is this cuz of the protests?

  You: on twitter you mean?

  Kathy: its on tv, ppl r literally throwing things at your work

  You: jesus

  Kathy: whats going to happen now

  You: i dont know

  Kathy: im really scared matt

  You: i know...ppl are losing their damn minds

  CHAPTER 15

  Bang. Bang. Bang. Pulsations, waves of blood thrumming through the veins in my scalp, in my ears. A constant relentless throbbing without end. That was the headache playing havoc with my mind. The effects cascaded throughout my body. I sat there in that seat holding my head in my hands, begging for the universe to take my pain away. I retrieved some tissue from my pocket and emptied my nostrils into it. Disgusting. Speaking through a cough, I'd gotten the flight attendant's attention.

  “Can I go to the bathroom?”

  “Fine. I have to stand outside the door though,” she said. “So, don't try anything.”

  Who did she think I was a Navy Seal or something? Was there some secret escape hatch in the airplane's bathroom I was unaware of? She walked through the doorway to the bathroom, I turned the corner behind her and glanced at the passenger cabin and saw more passengers had returned to their seats, though there were still quite a few people clustered toward the front.

  “They do know how pointl
ess that is, right?” I said to the attendant as I opened the bathroom door.

  She shrugged. Her face held the expression of someone who clearly didn't want to be around me. It's a face I'd recognized from girls in high school. I went into the bathroom and sat on the toilet. I didn't have to use the bathroom really, I just wanted a little privacy so I could call Kathy.

  “Hello?” Kathy answered.

  “Hey, babe,” I said, my voice sounding like Kermit the Frog. I was so plugged up.

  “I can't really talk right now,” she said, “my boss is like, five feet away.”

  “Oh, okay, I won't keep you then, I just wanted to see how you were.”

  “Not great. People are really giving me a hard time.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of you.”

  “I'm sorry that's happening to you,” I said.

  “Yeah,” she said. Her tone seemed distant. “I should go though.”

  “Wait, is there something else that's bothering you?”

  “No.”

  “Well, your tone,” I said. “You sound annoyed.”

  “I've already told you what's going on.”

  “I know, but like, are you annoyed with me?”

  “No,” she said. “I don't know.”

  “You don't know?”

  “Well, like – no, it doesn't matter.”

  “What doesn't matter? Tell me.”

  “The thing is, Matt. I'm beginning to wonder too. You didn't have to get on that flight, right?”

  That comment took me aback. I looked up at the ceiling, unsure of how to respond. “Are you for real right now?”

  “What do you mean? Matt, I have to go.”

  “You know I didn't choose to be sick.”

  “I know you didn't, it's not what I meant.”

  “Well, what did you mean? I didn't even start to feel sick in the first place until I was walking up to the counter in the terminal. Then it just hit me hard, like fast.”