The Emerald Virus

by Patrick Shea

  Consequently, Jack and his team had been busy setting up a variety of data bases on the Emerald Virus web site. All were intended to help the survivors.

  A number of states, cities, towns and villages had asked how the survivors would know where to find the RVs that were being prepared. In response the bunker team had set up a process that would allow municipalities to register the locations of the towns, and the addresses where the RVs would be located. Jack recommended that all towns use either city hall or the main police station as the location since these offices tended to be on or near the main street of towns and cities. Any survivor with access to the internet should be able to find an RV.

  Jack had issued a bulletin suggesting how cities verify survivors and release the RVs to them. He asked that the cities then update the data base to show to whom the RV had been released, and if known, the initial destination of that survivor. Jack suggested that the RVs remain under lock and key until verification that the person was an actual survivor. Jack knew that verification could only be based on a person not showing symptoms, and the possibility existed that mistakes would be made, but this was an acceptable risk. These mistakes would be self-correcting.

  Jack also issued a bulletin concerning children. This was more difficult since parents were not likely to give up their children any sooner than they had to. Jack’s bulletin included suggestions on where to take survivor children.

  He asked each municipality to set up a site where volunteers would care for the children initially. He thought the parents themselves would be the volunteers. He also discussed the need for survivors to volunteer to accept responsibility for these children. His recommendation was for female survivors who had children of their own to accept responsibility for the care of children up to sixteen years of age. Children sixteen or older would have their own RVs and be considered adults. The web site would be updated showing which children were in the care of which survivor.

  Jack did not think men were incapable of caring for children, but he did worry about the wrong men being responsible for the children. Women who had had their own children were not a guarantee of the best match. The odds were simply better.

  Jack’s bulletin also included suggestions to survivors on how to contact each other, and the merits of congregating as a group during the early days. Jack hoped that enough men and women would gather in one place that care of the children would become easier and protection of the children and of the group would be assured.

  Jack’s next step was to add a medical data base to the web site. He wanted everyone who had any knowledge of medicinal plants and herbs to be able to update the web site with the name, description and benefit of plants, herbs, shrubs and trees. On Jack’s request Gene took some members of his email review staff and had them research the internet for medicinal plants and to include pictures of these plants.

  His medical and dental bulletins talked about the difficulties survivors would face in a world with few or no doctors or dentists. He asked medical officials to complete as much work on survivors as they could, especially things like removing braces, finishing root canals, removing stitches, completing outpatient procedures, providing needed drugs, etc.

  He requested municipalities include CDs with medical and dental knowledge when stocking the RVs. Some CDs would provide instructions on how to take care of everyday problems; others would be full texts from medical and dental schools. Some would be helpful immediately; others would be helpful in the future, especially when the internet failed. Jack added a list of everyday medicines to the items that should be stocked in each RV. Especially things like the most common antibiotics, along with the Antibiotic Guide published by Johns Hopkins University.

  He also issued a bulletin with a comprehensive list of other CDs that should be included in all the RVs. This list was compiled by a team in D.C. and included a long list of “how to do or fix” almost anything. The list also included encyclopedias, as well as most common text books.

  Jack sent a bulletin to libraries across the country asking them to make all reference material, printed or electronic, available to survivors in the future. Jack did not want libraries to put this precious information in vaults that could prove impossible to enter. Libraries should be sealed from the weather, but the doors should be left unlocked.

  This morning Jack had issued bulletin fourteen, asking retail businesses to leave the doors unlocked when the owners left for the last time. Jack explained that he did not want survivors to have to break doors and windows in order to access a retail store for goods. While breaking into a store would not be difficult, it would leave the business open to the weather and wild animals, and that would be wasteful.

  The most difficult bulletin to write was the one about pets, and recommending that citizens euthanize household pets and other animals that could not survive on their own in the wild. Jack had a tough time writing about the consequences of not euthanizing animals, but he felt it necessary to make sure people understood the difficult death pets would face if left to their own wiles.

  Jack was satisfied he and the team had done everything they could up to this point. He also knew there was a lot more to be done. His entire team was involved and excited about their survivor project so he knew they would accomplish their goals.

  He knew that they were about to be alone with their work. More and more of the team in Washington had become symptomatic and were permanently signing out.

  Just as he was about to go to dinner Ron Allenway walked into his office and said “I was eavesdropping on the secure network and listened to a series of calls to and from the Congressional bunker. It seems that one of the Congressmen started showing signs of the virus this afternoon. That bunker is in chaos now. The politicians are demanding transportation back to Washington DC or to their home districts. Since they are now all exposed to the virus they don’t want to stay in the bunker. They’re in the middle of the West Virginia Mountains about eighty miles from nowhere.”

  Jack said, “Oh hell, this is not what we needed. I received a message this afternoon saying the President had released the military as of 3:00 o’clock. Those without family, or those who couldn’t reach their families, were asked to stay and secure the military facilities. The order excluded anyone involved in the security of nuclear weapons. I don’t know who would be left to transport politicians.”

  “Yeah, the President has already told them that he could not provide transportation since the military had been released to spend the last two weeks or so at home. Even if some helicopter pilots volunteered to make the run, the President ordered the stand down of all military aircraft on Sunday. They will all be lashed down and in hibernation mode. It would take an entire crew working together to get anything airborne.”

  Jack thought for a second and said, “It sounds like they’ll have to rely on family members or staff to drive to the bunker to pick them up.”

  “That is exactly what the President said to them. The acting Speaker of the House told the President he must be crazy to think that the people the politicians had just deserted would come to their aid. The President actually laughed at him and told him he and his colleagues should’ve thought of that before they left their families behind.”

  “Wow. That was pretty harsh.”

  “I thought so too, although to be honest I did think it was deserved. The President then became presidential and said that he understood that some of the politicians had gone to the bunker out of patriotism, and he was sorry things had worked out this way, but there just wasn’t anything he could do about it.”

  “All of that’s interesting but doesn’t really have much bearing on us, unless the seals of the Congressional bunker are breached by the virus. It was either that or someone who had been exposed to the virus went to the bunker.” Are you going to make an announcement at dinner?”

  Ron replied “Yes I am. I have to let everyone know, because some of my folks were with me when we listened in.”

  “Ron, you
aren’t really just Army communications are you?”

  “No I’m not. It doesn’t really matter anymore so I’ll tell you. My team and I are Army, but we have been assigned to the National Security Agency for most of our careers. All of my folks have got substantial field experience and our goal is to act as a world-wide listening post and let the President and our military leaders know what is happening in various countries.

  “The truth of the matter is that all countries are in chaos, and no one much cares what is happening outside of their own borders anymore. Not even the North Koreans seem to be harassing anyone, although they have announced that this is a U.S. plot gone awry.

  “Iran is of course saying the same thing but neither of them have delivery vehicles capable of getting a nuclear warhead to the United States. My initial fear was that terrorists would use the chaos as a way of getting a dirty bomb into our country for a last gasp attack. It seems like the terror groups are also falling apart.

  “Almost all of Iran’s population is showing symptoms, and the mass deaths have started. North Korea is showing symptoms throughout the population, but the deaths haven’t started yet.”

  “Ron, what about their military and political leaders, are they also in bunkers?”

  “Yes they are, but we don’t think the political leaders have the where-with-all to remotely fire weapons. However, the military will have that ability. If that’s the case countries like Israel and South Korea should be concerned.

  “A couple of days ago The President sent back-channel messages to the leaders of all countries reminding them that we still have, and intend to use, our nuclear retaliatory capability. If anyone fires on a U.S. ally we will make sure that country or region is leveled with no chance of survivors.

  Ron continued, “Our belief is that the political leaders of those countries are hoping to survive in their bunkers long enough for a vaccine to be discovered by somebody. They know if they use this last opportunity for attacks that they’ll never be able to walk out of those bunkers.”

  “That creates a problem doesn’t it? If our bunker seals are failing than we can be sure others are as well. If the presidents of those renegade countries begin to show symptoms they may not care about nuclear retaliation.”

  “That is a problem, Jack. My thought, and I’ve told this to the President’s National Security Advisor, is that those leaders still have a lot to lose, even if they are going to die. If they attack there is no opportunity that their ideologies will continue in the future. Anyone who might otherwise want to carry these demented ideologies forward will be killed in our retaliatory strikes. We can’t be sure of what will happen but I’m pretty convinced that some of the people in those bunkers will want to see their way of life or their religions go forward.”

  “Ron, I like your thinking, I just hope you’re right.”

  “Me too. Anyway, there doesn’t seem to be anything we can do either for our own Congressmen, or about any foreign wackos. That being the case, let’s go have dinner.”

  After dinner Jack returned to his office and became lost in his work. At about ten o’clock Irene knocked lightly on his door and said, “Are you about done for the night? It’s late and you need your sleep. I don’t want you to start getting crabby on me.”

  Jack smiled at her and said, “I don’t think I’m that far gone yet. Besides, you’re the last person I want to offend. I can’t afford for you to go on strike.”

  “You know I wouldn’t do that. While I hate the circumstances, I enjoy doing something useful, and working with this team is as useful as I can be in today’s world. “

  “I know how you feel. A.J. did us a favor by including us on the team. And yes, I’m ready to call it a night”.

  “As they walked towards their rooms Irene asked, “What do you think about the Congressional bunker, did the seals fail?”

  “Actually, after thinking about the timing, I don’t think they did. There hasn’t been enough time for them to fail and for symptoms to show. I think many of the Congressmen and women must have been exposed a week ago. I don’t have time to check but I’d bet that one or more of them were in the U.K. a week ago and became exposed. That doesn’t mean the seals won’t fail in the future, but we have some time before we have to worry about that.

  Jack went on, “The nearest folks to us outside of the bunker are the residents of the town of Chama, N.M. and residents of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, most of who live in Dulce. No one from those two groups has yet reported showing symptoms. Until the symptoms show up in those two towns we won’t have to worry about our seals failing.

  Irene asked, “What about the presidential bunker.”

  “That’s a different story. People in the nearest towns to that bunker are showing symptoms today. If seals fail, the virus will probably show up in the Presidential bunker first. But remember, these bunkers were built at different times with different levels of technology and different building materials available. There just isn’t any telling what will actually happen. ”

  With that Jack and Irene said goodnight and went to their separate rooms.

  Chapter Thirteen: Turmoil in the Streets

  It was Sunday and Charlotte was in distress. Both her Mother and one of the grandkids were showing symptoms this morning. She felt like she should be doing something to cure them, as she had done her entire life. James assured her she was doing everything she could but she didn’t feel any better for his words.

  Charlotte looked at her Mother and asked, “Mom, can I help you with anything? Do you want to lie down for a while? Can I get you a cup of tea, maybe with a little honey?

  “Charlotte, it’s only been five minutes or so since you asked the last time. I don’t need anything, and if I did I’m more than capable of helping myself. This feels just like they said it would. I feel like I’m coming down with a cold. I’ve felt this way many times in my life and I’ve never needed help before.”

  The family had decided to skip Sunday services for the first time in memory. The news reports had been asking people to stay home whenever possible, simply because of a growing level of chaos. There had been sporadic violence in the city and yesterday a church had been fired upon during Saturday evening services. Three people had been killed and another five had been wounded. Everyone was worried about what might happen Sunday morning. The family had decided to spend the time praying instead of taking the risk of going to church.

  Charlotte looked at J.J.’s son James, named after his father and grandfather, and felt an overwhelming pain as the splotches on his face registered again with her. It was a shock every time. She knew from what the news reports said that today and tomorrow the rest or her family was likely to show the same symptoms.

  She was also thankful that she wasn’t the first one. She wanted to be here as long as she could to care for the people she loved so much. She quickly said a prayer and told God It would be fine with her if he allowed her to be the last in her family to die.

  James came into the living room and said, “J.J. and Jamal are going with Tiffany to visit her family. Every time I listen to the news there are more and more stories about problems in the streets and now there is some minor rioting. Both the boys will be armed and if things turn ugly they’ll turn around and come home. The problems seem to be in clusters around the metro area. It isn’t widespread so I think its okay for now as long as we’re prepared. I also think anyone who messes with our two marines will be in for a real surprise.”

  Charlotte walked out front and said good-bye to her sons, and to Tiffany, and made them promise that at the first sign of trouble they would get Tiffany back here. They both agreed and both of them knew that while they might put themselves in jeopardy, they would not do so with Tiffany.

  Tiffany called Charlotte when she got to her parents’ house to tell her that the trip had been quick and uneventful, and that she would spend an hour of so with her parents and then the three of them would come straight home.

  Two ho
urs later when Tiffany and the two brothers walked in the living room Jamal and J.J. had strained looks on their faces and Tiffany looked like she had seen a ghost. James asked them what was wrong and J.J. said they had been fired on during the drive home. Charlotte felt her knees weaken and she sat back down. James stayed standing and asked J.J. to tell him what had happened.

  “We came back using the same route we always do. We were about halfway home when a shot came out of nowhere and hit the front of the car. I couldn’t even tell where it had come from. You should have seen Jamal, he never said a word, he just hit the accelerator and started weaving back and forth. We heard two more shots but took no hits. I thought I saw a rifle sticking out of a third story window but I wasn’t sure, and we didn’t go back to find out. I think next time maybe we’ll use a different route.”

  Jamal said, “The Marine Corp made sure that I learned there are times for fighting and a time for your saving your behind. This was clearly a time to save our butts.”

  James said, “I couldn’t agree with you more.” And then asked, “Were others involved? “

  Jamal answered with, “We don’t know. There was a car about a half block in front of us that didn’t take any evasive action so he probably wasn’t shot at. I’m not sure about anyone else. We spent much of the drive looking to the right and left, not straight ahead at other cars. There were cars behind us but to tell you the truth my biggest interest was getting off that street so I turned right at the next corner and stayed heavy on the gas until we got home. It’s interesting that we never saw a single police car on the trip.”

  Tiffany said, “I’ve never been so scared. I’ve never been shot at before and I never realized how fast fear comes at you and how helpless you can feel when you know someone is trying to kill you and you can’t do anything about it.”

  James Sr. said, “Just for the record, you feel the same way when you can do something about it, but being able to take action is always better than being helpless.”