by Bobby Akart
“Mom, this isn’t right,” started Mac. Then she pointed at herself, Janie and over to her mother. “We swore an oath to help all people inflicted with infectious diseases, not just those who happen to be on American soil.”
“Agreed,” said Barb.
“Absolutely,” said Janie.
Mac stood and walked to the kitchen and rummaged through her backpack until she found her journal. She set it on the cocktail table in front of her mother.
“Here are my clinical notes, from start to finish, including Janie’s detailed description of the manufacturing process. It’s here, in my head, and nowhere else.”
“What are you suggesting, Mac?” asked Barb.
“I risked my life and left my still-recovering father to provide a mechanism to save people from this horrible death. I refuse to be a political pawn on the President’s chessboard. I want to discuss our options.”
Chapter 64
Day Ninety-Nine
Quandary Peak
“We do nothing,” said Tommy, who was the first one to provide a reaction. “This is way out of our hands, honey.”
Mac looked to Hunter, who had been thinking through their options since they’d started to put the pieces together. He wanted to hear everyone out first before he weighed in.
“Daddy, I’m sorry, but doing nothing is not an option. There has to be someone I can approach.”
Tommy responded, “Mac, the entire government is hunkered down in Cheyenne Mountain and therefore inaccessible. You mentioned Dr. Spielman. Could you take this to him?”
“He’s in on it too, right, Mac?” asked Janie.
“Yes, sadly. Mom, what do you think?”
Barb fidgeted and glanced at Tommy before she responded. Hunter suspected she was going to make a controversial suggestion. Hunter had learned so much about the family dynamic between Mac and her parents. Outwardly, she was mostly like her father. Inside her head, she and her mother could’ve been clones.
“Canada,” offered Barb, a single-word suggestion that set off a family firestorm.
“The PHAC?” asked Mac.
Janie leaned over to Hunter and whispered, “That’s the Public Health Agency of Canada, their version of the CDC.”
Hunter smiled and nodded.
Barb continued. “Vanessa Philpott, their chief public health officer, and I have known each other for years. She’s someone you can trust to do the right thing.”
“How in the world would I find her?” asked Mac.
“Of course, her offices were in Ottawa, but they have regional offices in every province. You could go—” Barb never finished the sentence before Tommy spoke up.
“Hold up! Are you suggesting Mac gallivant halfway across North America to search for an office that may be empty to find this Philpott person, who might be dead?”
“Dear,” replied Barb somewhat condescendingly, “that’s a little dramatic. Also, I’m not saying she should do it. She asked for options and that was the best I could think of besides cosigning your proposal to do nothing.”
“Daddy, Mom is just trying to help. You know I wouldn’t undertake anything without considering all of the risks.”
Tommy looked at Hunter and asked, “Is that true?”
Hunter wanted no part of this, yet. He held his hands up and leaned back in the chair. He wished the thickly padded leather would swallow him.
Mac turned to him, waiting for his answer. His fight-or-flight reflex was screaming RUN!
“Hunter, does Canada have a continuity-of-government plan like we do?” she asked.
He elected to answer this question, conveniently dodging an answer to Tommy’s, which would have been Mac is prone to pushing the envelope, but then again so am I, which is why we’re perfect for each other. I wonder how that would’ve gone over?
“They do,” said Hunter. “Years ago, they built a series of bunkers across the country in anticipation of a potential nuclear war between the U.S. and, well, everybody else. They’re called Diefenbunkers.”
“Sounds German,” said Janie.
“I’m not sure,” said Hunter. “I think they’re named after an old prime minister from the sixties. Anyway, there are several outside the major cities of Canada. Assuming the Public Health Agency is in the nation’s capital, Ottawa, Barb’s friend would most likely be in one of them.”
“You’d be looking for a needle in a haystack,” mumbled Tommy, who sat with his arms crossed. At the moment, Hunter put a checkmark in the no way Jose column for Tommy.
“Mac, you do realize I was just trying to provide an answer to your question. I am by no means suggesting you go to Canada. You understand that, right?”
“I do, Mom. And, Daddy, I would never do anything to risk my life. I thought I lost you once, I will not risk losing you because of an irrational decision.”
This softened Tommy’s heart and he unfolded his arms. He reached out to Mac and mouthed the words I love you. Then he immediately looked at Hunter.
Tommy didn’t have to say a word, as his eyes conveyed his feelings. Please take care of my baby.
“Here’s the thing,” started Hunter. “We’ve pieced together a lot of bits of information and created a working theory. We know what the facts are and we have a reasonable belief as to what’s happening behind the scenes. May I suggest we wait and hear what the President has to say tomorrow during his radio address? His words will give us a sign as to what we should do.”
“I agree with Hunter,” added Barb. She raised her glass. “I think we need to eat, enjoy our wine, and each other. While we’re together, let’s savor every moment.”
Tommy raised his glass and said, “Hear! Hear!”
Hunter raised his glass and looked over at Mac. She was swishing her wine around her glass as if she were waiting for a compass needle to point her in the right direction. For the first time since the death of his parents, he felt like he was a part of a family.
He always thought families were like a compass that guides people, but as individuals, we should attack life based upon the moral compass which lies within us. Mac was wrestling with the choice between her family and her principles. Whichever way the compass needle pointed her, Hunter vowed to be by her side.
Chapter 65
Day One Hundred
Quandary Peak
Hunter and Mac loaded their backpacks with energy bars, water, an Eton hand-crank radio, and a military compass. It was an unseasonably warm day for late September in the Rockies. Because the weather could change suddenly, the two dressed in layers for their first hike to the top of Quandary Peak, the fourteen-thousand-foot mountain that had witnessed so many crises in their lives for weeks.
They were unable to pick up the AM or emergency bands on the small radio at the house, so they decided to go on an adventure. They’d hike to the peak, find the station, and listen to the presidential address. Mac also made sure her cell phone was charged so she could take pictures and video for her parents and Janie, who asked Tommy’s permission to borrow the Jeep. She was going to Doc Cooley’s to visit with Derek for the day.
The Quandary Peak Trail was a six-mile trek on an out-and-back trail. Mac and Hunter were in excellent shape although they were not experienced hikers. Hunter estimated it would take them around three hours up to the peak, but probably half that to return.
He studied the peak through his high-powered binoculars. It appeared the last stretch of the trail was fairly vertical, which would make it a challenge. Even if they didn’t make it to the top, at least they’d be able to get radio reception.
With their gear ready, Mac and Hunter were off. Surprisingly, the two didn’t discuss the decision that weighed heavily on their minds. After they’d said their goodnights the night before, they went to bed and collapsed into a deep sleep from exhaustion. Mac surprised Hunter by waking up before he did, a trait that she’d carried over from her week underground at the Den.
The first two hours of the hike were pleasantly effortless. It sta
rted out as a dirt trail weaving in and out of the forest. They followed the well-built trail as they ascended the eastern ridge, taking in the incredible views as they climbed higher. Once they emerged through the timber line, it got noticeably colder, prompting them to add a sweatshirt to their layers.
There were plenty of photo opportunities, including wildlife sightings. As the two hikers reached the final three-quarters of a mile to the summit, Hunter’s predictions regarding the slope smacked them in the face.
The final thousand feet to the peak was on a thirty percent incline. Although the weather was favorable, which made conditions perfect to tackle the last part of the hike, Hunter considered calling this a good spot to listen to the President.
Mac dissuaded him of the notion before he suggested it. After spinning around to take in the view from Breckenridge to Red Mountain and down to Blue Lakes, she asked, “Do you want me to lead the rest of the way?”
“Nope, just follow in my footsteps,” replied Hunter, who chuckled to himself. There is no force equal to that of a determined woman.
Twenty minutes later after they made their way through the boulder field, which was the home to a dozen Alpine mountain goats with their interesting black tongues, black horns and white hair, they reached the summit.
At the top, Hunter and Mac dropped their packs next to the Quandary Summit gold plat marker, a disc embedded into the rock by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, a federal agency that mapped and charted the entire United States.
At first they were awestruck at the awesome beauty of the world around them. They looked quietly in all directions, and then suddenly, and simultaneously, they burst into hysterical laughter. The reaction they shared was odd, one that Hunter later attributed to the thin atmosphere.
Mac loved it. She was giddy as she hugged Hunter and took in the spectacle. Once the excitement died down, she took to memorializing their accomplishment with her iPhone’s camera. They both provided the camera a few words describing their feelings at the moment.
Hunter decided to film the two of them together. “Mac, come here next to me.”
She squeezed herself in the frame and Hunter positioned the camera so that it pointed to the north toward Breckenridge, Wyoming, and beyond to Canada. He pressed the button to begin filming.
“Mac, I love you now more than ever. We’ve been brought together for a reason greater than just two people falling in love. We’ve overcome adversity, and now it’s time to pursue our dreams. It’s time for us to find our happily ever after. Mackenzie Hagan, will you marry me?”
Hunter reached into his pocket and presented Mac with an incredible princess-cut diamond in the center of a diamond-laden double-halo setting. The platinum and diamond engagement ring sparkled in all of its brilliance at fourteen thousand feet in the sky.
Mac sobbed from excitement, but managed to find the words, “Yes, I do love you, and yes, I will marry you.”
They shared an extended kiss until Hunter realized they might miss the President’s speech. “Mac, I don’t want us to forget this moment, and I’m sorry to cut it short, but it’s time.”
“I know, let’s get it over with and hope for the best. Then we’ll celebrate!”
Hunter retrieved the radio while Mac took plenty of pictures of the engagement ring on her finger. After cranking it several times, Hunter found the station within the one-minute countdown for the presidential address.
They found a couple of flat rocks to sit on as President Garcia began his address.
“My fellow Americans, one hundred days ago, our families, friends, and neighbors came under attack at the hands of a sinister and evil plot to kill mankind. The deadly plague unleashed on our planet was not just intended to kill people who disagreed with a certain religion, but it was designed to destroy our way of life and the freedoms we hold dear.
“Over the last one hundred days, the world’s population has dwindled from over seven billion to what has been estimated to be less than seventy million. Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the world’s population was murdered by a plot instituted by rotten, vile jihadists in the name of their religious beliefs. That’s seven and a half billion lives suddenly ended by this despicable act.
“I come to you on this one-hundredth day with a message of hope. This attack may have shaken the foundations of our society, but they cannot be allowed to touch the heart of our great nation. As Americans, we should stand together to show our resolve and reassert ourselves as the brightest beacon of freedom and opportunity in the world.
“Following the attack, I implemented our government’s emergency response protocols. Our military personnel from around the world were recalled to the safety of our vast armed forces installations.
“Our first priority was the safety of this great nation from further attack, and our second priority was to annihilate those who’ve perpetrated the attacks against us. I authorized the attack of an ISIS stronghold in the mountains of Iraq. I’m pleased to tell you the mission was successful, and the command and control structure of the enemy was destroyed.
“That does not mean, however, that the war is over. There are still cells of radical Islamic terrorists prepared to inflict their will upon us. We will not stand for it. The search is now under way for those who are behind these evil acts. I’ve directed the full resources of our military and law enforcement agencies to find those responsible and deliver a swift blow of justice. Let me be very clear on something. We will make no distinction between those who attack our country and those who harbor them.”
Hunter looked at Mac and nodded. “So far our intel is on the money.”
Mac nodded in agreement.
The President continued. “With our nation secure and the military hard at work to punish those who would do us harm, it’s time for us to turn our attention to rebuilding this great nation. We have a two-pronged approach that will require everyone’s cooperation. I have every confidence in you, the American people, to pull together as a family and help one another in these trying times.
“In the coming days, the National Guard will be disseminating leaflets throughout the country, identifying certain safe zones for the uninfected. I want the American people to know we are not abandoning the ill, as I have all of you at the forefront of my mind. By separating the healthy, we can prevent our population from dying off into extinction. We must work together towards that goal.”
Mac leaned over to Hunter. “I can’t believe he used the word extinction.”
“He’s trying to encourage voluntary compliance,” Hunter whispered back.
“For those of you who are infected, or think you have been exposed to the plague either through human or animal contact, or by touching a surface where the disease may have been, we ask that you go to the specially designated health care facilities identified in the leaflets to be distributed by the National Guard.
“I wish I could announce to the world that we’ve discovered a cure for this deadly strain of the plague, but we have not. We have, however, identified a drug regimen of antibiotics and pain relievers, which will provide you comfort and relief from the symptoms.
“I urge those who are infected to heed my words. We have medications to relieve your symptoms. Take advantage of this opportunity our medical professionals are giving you.”
“Hunter, what is he doing?” asked Mac.
“He’s walking a fine line. He wants to encourage people to get help, but he doesn’t want to make a formal announcement that he has the cure. He’s hiding it from the world leaders who are listening to the broadcast.”
“But they’ll question him about the drug regimen he referenced.”
Hunter shrugged. “I guess he’ll dance around it and blow sunshine. He’s a politician.”
President Garcia added these closing words. “Today, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve their lost loved ones and for all Americans whose sense of safety and security have been threatened.
“This is a day when all American
s from every walk of life should unite to help one another and this great nation as we rise out of the ashes to once again be the greatest nation on earth. As Americans, we’ve stared down enemies and withstood their attacks. We will do it again this time. I don’t want you to ever forget the freedoms we enjoy and our resolve to fight for all that is good and just in our world.
“Thank you and God bless America.”
A monotone voice came on the broadcast and announced the presidential address would be continuously broadcasted every half hour. Hunter turned off the radio and rested his elbows on his knees as he joined Mac staring across the mountaintops.
“Do you remember the other night when Janie asked how this horror movie would end?” asked Mac.
“Yeah. You thought we should be on top of Quandary Peak, staring off into the distance with smiles on our faces because we’d found the cure and everybody would live on.”
“That’s right. So, Hunter, are you smiling?”
“Nope, you?”
“Not after I heard that garbage,” she replied. “It’s just as we suspected. He lied to the American people and he has an agenda for the cure. This is like a movie. It’s surreal.”
“It sure is,” said Hunter. They both sat in silence for a moment as they processed the President’s words and the options they’d considered the night before.
Hunter chuckled, which caught Mac’s attention.
“What?”
“Well, Dr. Hagan, the President has placed us in quite a quandary.”
“Very funny.” She laughed. “I wondered when that line was gonna be written into the script.” She gave Hunter a playful shove, causing him to lose his balance and tip over slightly.
“Hey, careful! You don’t want me to roll off of here, do you?”
“No,” said Mac as she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him upright next to her. “Not before we’re married, anyway.”