by Citroner, GW
“Calm down, we’re safe in here. We’ll keep quiet and make our way back the way we came. I think the soldiers died because the hatch on top was open when they were attacked. We’re sheltered in here.”
“Look in the mirrors, Dan. I think we’re surrounded.”
The infected dogs were gradually closing in. Keeping clear of the tires as the ambulance backed away, they didn’t stray far. They recognized the shapes of some common breeds. Most were mongrels, but one giant, lanky monster may have been a Great Dane. Dan pulled out his taser and held it at the ready, it wasn’t much, but it was all they had.
“Alright, I’ll back into that side street so we’re facing the right way and then I’m driving straight through them. Brace yourself.”
Ty was about to floor it when the creatures in front of them moved out of the way, leaving the way ahead clear while remaining at the vehicles side and rear.
“Dan, radio back what’s happening. If they follow, we might need help.”
Before he could key the mic, something monstrously huge galloped straight at them. The animals hadn’t retreated; they were making room for a frontal attack. Moments later, an enormous mutant dog jumped on the hood and slammed shark-like jaws through the windshield.
Eight
Lily had been waiting alone in the examination room for a while. They’d taken away her clothes and given her a hospital gown and thin robe.
The nurse who brought her there had been nice enough, but she was coldly efficient checking weight, height, blood pressure, and temperature before noting the results on a clipboard. She drew blood from her arm into several different vials and then instructed to wait for the doctor. Nervous as she was, loneliness and boredom only made it worse.
A soft knock and the door opened. “Hi, I’m Dr. Hastings,” he looked down at his clipboard briefly. “And you’re Lily Hazelton, how are you doing?”
“Ok, I guess. When can I get back to my friends?”
“I believe they’ve volunteered to help out for a bit. They’re both experienced first-responders, and I imagine they want to pay back our hospitality the best way they know how.”
“But, for how long?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know more than what I told you. But you’ll be here at least a few days for observation.”
Lily’s face clouded “What? No, I don’t want to stay here! I don’t need observation, I feel just fine!”
Dr. Hastings explained. “I don’t want to frighten you, Lily, but the virus seems to be mutating, changing as it jumps from person to person. We need to be sure that you’re OK. Besides that, we’re working on a vaccine that could end this epidemic, and you can help.”
“How can I do that?”
“Your blood tests show that you’ve might have been infected but successfully fought it off, we need to find out why. The change virus is extremely unusual compared to other diseases. Creating a vaccine is comparatively easy in those cases, but this one doesn’t just hijack your cells to reproduce; it rewrites your entire genetic code. We haven’t figured out how to prevent that yet. You would be helping to save many lives, Lily. It’ll only be a few days, and then you can be on your way again with your friends.”
The room was very nice.
Lily was in a large suite with windows overlooking downtown. There was a selection of books and magazines, and a kitchenette stocked with snacks and soft drinks. She wanted to walk the halls and find someone to talk to, but the door was locked from the outside.
At mealtime, a woman brought her a tray and picked it up when she was done. She wouldn’t stay to talk, but did introduce herself as Barbara. She explained, “I’ll be bringing your meals at eight, twelve, and six. I’ll pick up your dishes about an hour later. Just leave them on the tray.”
Early that evening she heard loud voices in the hallway outside her door. A male voiced shouted. “Did the fucking dogs get out?”
Dr. Hastings voice responded. “Calm down, as far as we know none of the animals have escaped and quarantine hasn’t been broken, but we’re investigating. It could be a spontaneous mutation mirroring our own efforts. We won’t know until tests are completed on the captured animal.”
“How long, until you know?”
“Our modified virus doesn’t eventually kill, unlike the one causing this mess. If the dog doesn’t survive more than a week, we’ll be sure it’s a natural mutation. But viruses can also become less lethal on their own, if it helps them to propagate. A more serious concern is that non-humans are infected. It makes our survival problematic. What do we do against infected canines, rodents, or other vermin that can easily overwhelm soldiers?”
“Keep me posted. What progress with the new test-subject?” Lily’s ears pricked up.
“We’re still analyzing her blood samples, sir. We should be starting the initial doses within a day or two. The modified infection won’t take until her system has been prepped.”
The voices faded as the men walked away.
Lily woke to bright sunshine streaming through the windows of her room and a beautiful clear blue sky. She wished she could open it and smell something fresher than the antiseptic atmosphere of the hospital. A female attendant brought her breakfast and a little paper cup with two capsules in it.
“Here, Dr. Hastings said you should take these with your orange juice now.”
“What are they?”
“I’m sure it’s important, but I wasn’t told anything else. Just take them and you’ll get to ask the doctor when he sees you later.”
Lily didn’t want the pills, but she wanted even less to find out what would happen if she didn’t and took them as she was told. Just before lunch, Dr. Hastings walked in accompanied by a large male nurse pushing a cart with lots of wires and a computer screen.
“Hello, Lily. This is Nurse Johnson, and he’ll be assisting me. This machine is an EEG, a device to monitor your brain activity. He’ll place the cap on your head and get the machine going while I look at you. We should be done quickly.”
“Doctor Hastings, how long do I have to stay here?”
“Just a few more days so we can make sure you’re perfectly healthy and try to learn anything we can from your body that may help us fight the virus.”
The nurse spoke up. “Just sit on your bed while I position the electrodes, and then you can lie down and let the machine do its job, while the doctor does his.”
The cap felt just a little uncomfortable due to the weight of all the wires but she didn’t complain. “Doctor, what were those pills I had to take for?”
“Oh, that was just something to test how your body reacts to certain chemicals, the results will help us figure out new approaches to treating people with the virus. I assure you the pills are perfectly harmless.”
Suddenly, Lily felt very tired. She lay back down and watched the ceiling for a while.
“Alright, Johnson, it’s time.”
“She’s tough doc, the dose she took should have had her out cold ten minutes ago. You sure she won’t remember anything.”
“Yes, I’m sure. She won’t remember the last fifteen or twenty minutes. Her delayed reaction could also be a good sign; we need resilient test subjects for this project. Get the syringe.”
Lily woke as the door opened; it was her room attendant wheeling in a meal. “I’m sorry I woke you, it’s just dinner.”
“What happened to lunch?” She glanced out the window to see that most of the day had already passed. “Did I sleep all day?”
“I wouldn’t know about that. I brought you breakfast, but wasn’t told to bring your lunch tray today.”
She ate quickly, unexpectedly ravenous, which she chalked up to sleeping through lunch. Dr. Hastings came in shortly after she’d finished eating. “How are we feeling? I’m sorry I didn’t visit sooner, but I was occupied with new patients today.”
“I don’t know about we but I’m getting sick of being stuck in here. Can I at least walk around the hospital and talk to people?”
“Let’s see how it goes, Lily. Right now I need to check your blood pressure and temperature.”
Securing the cuff around her arm, he inflated it and placed his stethoscope on the inside of her elbow. Looking concerned at the result, he swiped an electronic thermometer across her forehead. “Lily, do you feel alright?”
“I’m tired, and my head hurts a bit. I think I slept most of the day.”
“Your blood pressure is higher than it was yesterday and you’re running a slight fever. How’s your appetite?”
“I just ate, but I could eat again. I’m feeling pretty hungry now.”
“Lily, it’s probably nothing but I’d like to take a new blood sample. I’ll schedule a battery of tests starting tonight to monitor any changes over the next few hours.”
“No, no, no – there’s nothing wrong with me!”
“It’s OK, Lily. I’m sure you’re fine, but we need to be sure. Be patient while I check this out.”
She tried to sleep, but worry kept her tossing and turning in the wide hospital bed. Worse, every two hours a nurse came in and took blood, checked her temperature, blood pressure, and wiped the inside of her mouth with a cotton swab.
It didn’t help that her eyes hurt and she felt itchy.
Nine
The Taser clicked and hummed as it poured thousands of volts into its razor-rimmed mouth. The creature spasmed and shook for a moment, and then went stiff as the ambulance sped away from the infected pack.
They drove about a mile before Ty let up on the gas and both men looked around to make sure they weren’t being followed. With no other threat in sight, they took a good look at the thing stuck in their windshield.
The head was vaguely doglike with ridiculously long, floppy ears, but split almost in half by immense jaws. Its skin was cracked into sharp edges, the same as infected humans.
“Any guesses what that thing used to be?”
“Dan, it looks like a skinned rat covered in razors. I don’t care what it was, what I want to know is if it’s dead.”
“I don’t think so. Look at its sides – its breathing very slowly. I guess that’s what the Chief meant when he said we’d be surprised how a stun gun affects them.”
“Do we push it out?”
“You go ahead, I’m not touching it.”
“Christ, I thought only people caught the virus.”
“Maybe it’s changing, mutating like the flu virus does every year. No matter what, this is important news. We’ll take it back and let someone else figure it out; I’ll radio in what happened and warn them to expect our passenger.”
The corners of Ty’s mouth turned down in disgust. “Keep zapping it once in a while, just in case.”
They made their way back to the fire station. A few soldiers met them just outside downtown. After shocking the monster one more time, they hogtied its legs, taped the cavernous mouth shut, and handed it to an animal control truck. Sergeant Hartman arrived and approached the men.
“I hear you had an interesting day.”
Dan said modestly “Neither of us can take the credit for how this turned out.”
“Maybe you were just lucky, but bringing that monster back stuck in the windshield was brilliant. We can study it now. Maybe find out if it’s the same virus or something new.”
Dan smirked. “The Chief told me I’d be surprised by what a Taser did to the infected – it was a good surprise. Is that thing still alive, then?”
“It should be, when we hit changed humans, they freeze up for about an hour, but don’t die from it. We’ve brought more than a few in that way for our people to examine.”
“Those poor bastards you found were caught by surprise. Nobody expected animals to start attacking. I sent a patrol out to comb the area around the attack, but this is bad news. We don’t have a plan for something like this. How’d you get out?”
“Dumb luck,” said Dan, “I got back in the ambulance and Ty backed up to where we could do a three-pointer and head back the way we came. We were about to ram through them when they just stood aside.”
“You’re telling me it looked like those dogs moved out of the way then the big one hit you?”
Dan explained, “No, they all moved at the same time and cleared the area in front of us completely. Then that thing ran straight at us, leaped on the hood, and rammed its head right through the windshield.”
“That’s when I hit the gas and Danny zapped it.”
“You’re saying the infected dogs were working together, actually using a strategy to get at you?”
Dan agreed. “That’s exactly what it looked like. Those things didn’t act like a pack of stray dogs so much as an organized unit. It was uncanny.”
“Well, the brain-boys will look over the one you brought back and I’m sure they’ll figure it out. But smart or not, there shouldn’t be infected animals of any sort around.”
Hartman got up to go but Dan stopped him “Before you go, we’d like to know how Lily’s doing. When can we collect her?”
Hartman sat down again. “I’m sorry; almost forget in all the excitement. It seems your friend has suffered a set back of sorts.”
Both men looked horrified. “What happened?”
“She’s showing early signs of infection. Her blood pressure and temperature have gone up and the docs are monitoring her closely.”
“You said they’re working on treatments, is there anything they can do to help her?” Dan was beside himself.
“Son, as far as I know, they’re doing everything they can. If caught early enough there are ways the infection can be slowed – even stopped.”
“How long will it be before the doctors know?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ve got to get to my family. I promised to get Lily to hers.”
“Dan, I forgot about where you were headed when we found you. You’re worried about your people in Louisiana and you want to get to them. But you feel a responsibility toward Lily as well.”
“That’s it, sarge. I need to get my boy. But we’ve been through some serious shit together and I promised to take Lily to her grandmother in Abilene.”
“And if her grandmother didn’t survive?”
“Well, I figured the wife and I would take her in.”
“Listen to me, Dan. My people will do their best by Lily, and I told you that, by all reports, Louisiana is weathering the crisis better than most places. Give the docs some time to sort out Lily.”
“Ty, I’m assuming you’re gonna stick with Dan and Lily?”
“He’s my best friend, and I won’t leave Lily. She’s saved my life once already, I owe her one.”
“That’s good to hear. You’re both good men and I’m glad to have you on my team. Get some rest, now. Dan, you can give that information I asked you for to the Chief, he’ll make sure it gets to me.”
“Thanks sarge. We’re both happy to help and really appreciate whatever help your docs can give Lily.”
“Thank you, both. I got more places to be before my day’s done. You boys have a good night.”
Ten
“Did your new bug get out and infect every stray in town?” Sergeant Hartman yelled at his head researcher while storming down the hospital corridor.
Listening to his subordinate’s vague theories regarding why they were now confronted by infected animals, he decided to take a much closer look at what his researchers were up to.
“Warn the lab people, Lewis, I’m on my way to have a talk with them shortly.”
“Yes sir, right away.”
Taking the elevator down to his offices on the second floor Sergeant Hartman took off his fatigues and put on a khaki dress uniform. Glancing in the mirror, he adjusted his garrison cap, dusted the stars on each shoulder, and checked the gun on his hip. Finally, he donned a pair of lightly tinted aviator glasses. Friendly Sergeant Hartman was gone. The subterfuge was necessary. He’d learned long ago that noncommissioned officers were essential as a liaison betw
een brass and enlisted men. He just didn’t trust any of them. Hiding in plain sight as Sergeant Hartman, he could mix with civilians, speak with newcomers, and see the consequences of his orders first hand. Few of the people he led knew of his dual role. He didn’t worry much about being recognized – wear a uniform and that’s all most people saw. Like someone not recognizing their parish priest when he dressed in casual clothes. But General Manning saw himself as much more than any priest. He saw himself as little less than the second coming of Christ, tasked with leading his people through the apocalypse to a new world. Manning realized other men might think him a little crazy; but wasn’t that the way it always went with prophets? Nevertheless, he knew it took a man with vision to get through trying times.
General Manning’s face set in hard lines as he headed down to the hospital morgue. He found the research team lined up nervously alongside autopsy tables turned into improvised workstations.
Manning smiled inwardly. At least the fuckups don’t have far to go, and someone has most definitely fucked up in a major fashion. Three of my troops are dead for no good reason and I almost lost my two newest recruits. Good men don’t grow on trees, although bad ones can hang from them easily enough.
“One of two things has occurred in this lab. Either our special project has leaked out to the open or a test-animal escaped containment.”
Of five researchers, all but one was closely examining their shoes. She spoke haltingly. “Sir – I can absolutely assure you that we exercised the utmost caution with both animal and human test subjects. We destroyed every failure once we were done. There is simply no way that anything, animal or virus, could have escaped confinement.”
“Doctor Robertson, do you have another theory?” He approached the tiny, middle-aged woman, looming over her threateningly.
“Uh, no, I simply wanted to assure you that what you claim is impossible given the measures we’ve taken.”
The scientists on either side of her slowly shuffled a few inches farther away from the confrontation.
“But, you don’t have any other explanation to offer me?”