Alien Virus (7 page)

“Kevin – you seem to know something about
the area, and Kate’s been there as a child. How about the two of
you going to have a look – see what you can find for us?”

“Great – but what about your work Kate?”

“I’m only working in Superdrug at the moment
– trying to pay back my university loan. If they won’t let me off
for a few days, I can always get another job like that.”

“Then that’s set,” said Tony. “The sooner
you can go, the better. Whilst you’re away, I suggest we get in
supplies of salt before the ban comes into effect. Can we store
stuff at your place Gareth – you’ve got quite a large shed haven’t
you?”

“No problem. I wouldn’t mind a hand
rearranging a few things first though – to make a bit of space.” He
looked at Sandi.

“Okay with you Sandi?” asked Tony.

“Fine, no problem,” she smiled at
Gareth.

“Good, so that’s all arranged then. See you
all tomorrow.”

***

Nine

There was no way of communicating with the
alien virus. Frank Peters knew that. He had spent eight years
working in the Virology department of Edinburgh University, and in
that time had identified both the cause and the effect of the
strain – but he could do nothing to alter its
behaviour
. His colleagues couldn’t entertain the
idea that Frank had discovered a virus that originated from outer
space. They saw him as a radical eccentric, a misled scientist with
wild ideas. No–one was prepared to take him seriously, and his
paper on the theory had been refused publication. And why should
anyone listen to him? Practically everyone was affected by the
disease, and as such they couldn’t see what had become patently
obvious to Frank: the virus was not of animal or plant origin and
its DNA did not conform to anything else living on this planet –
past or present.

Only one man showed a glimmer of acceptance
of the idea – and he was an astrophysicist, not a virologist. Frank
met Dr Tony King one day in the Refectory of King’s Buildings – the
University’s Science Campus two miles out of Edinburgh City Centre.
Frank was sitting having lunch on his own and Tony joined him – one
academic making contact with another. Tony had only just recently
joined the University’s staff and was keen to make new friends.
He’d heard
rumours
about Frank, but Tony
wasn’t the sort of man to be influenced by gossip. They got
chatting about the possibility of alien life arriving on Earth –
then Tony said,

“I’ve often wondered about the effect we
might be having on the Universe. There’s so much stuff that we put
into space – how do we know for sure that we’re not putting
microbes up there that could find their way to other planets
supporting life? It happened on our planet in the past: Westerners
visiting Asia and South America brought diseases to the natives who
had no
defence
against them. Hundreds of
thousands were wiped out then. What if the same happened in space?”
Frank sipped his coffee, listening, and then added,

“Why not – it’s only a matter of scale. I
don’t think there’s really any doubt now that there is intelligent
life on other planets.” Tony was nodding in agreement.

“What do you think would happen if a space
mission to Venus, say, brought back alien matter to the Earth? How
would our immune systems deal with it? Would it cause an epidemic
we could never recover from?” Frank thought for a moment wondering
whether to test his theories on this man who had crossed his path
that lunchtime. They’d only just met, but here was someone who,
seemingly, had no preconceived ideas about Frank or his views – and
he seemed pretty open minded.

“It’s already happened,” replied Frank. Tony
thought Frank couldn’t have understood his question.

“Sorry, perhaps I didn’t phrase the question
correctly. I was taking about an alien virus from another planet –
Venus as an example….”

“I understand the question, and I’m saying
that this planet has already been invaded, taken over, by an alien
organism and it is killing millions everyday – man and animals.”
Tony sat back in his chair and pondered. So this was what the
rumours
were about. He wanted to pursue
the matter further, but he glanced at his watch.

“Look Frank – I’ve got a lecture starting in
five minutes. What about we meet up later – here or in town. I’d
really like to talk more.” Frank got up. He’d had more brush-offs
than he cared to remember – one more shouldn’t hurt.

“It’s okay, I know you must be busy – I’ll
see you around…”

“No,” Tony said firmly, gripping Frank’s arm
as he was turning to go. “I really do want to talk about this –
seriously, okay?” Frank saw the determination in Tony’s eyes.

“All right. Five o’clock at the Minto
Hotel?”

“Fine – I’ll see you then.”

*

The Minto Hotel in Nicolson Street was a
good place to meet. Comfortable chairs and some quiet places to
talk. Frank had a half pint of heavy and Tony a gin and tonic. Not
being one for social talk, and desperate to start quizzing Frank,
Tony went straight into the subject, keeping his voice down.

“You said we’d already been invaded – what
did you mean by that? Invaded by what?”

“Invaded by a virus, a very intelligent
virus that has taken over the minds and bodies of Man – and other
animals.” Frank paused – it was a big statement to make and he
wanted it to sink in. He continued. “Its survival depends on you
accepting it, nurturing it even, defending it. More than anything
else, defending it.” Tony was trying to grasp what Frank was
driving at.

“But where is it? In the atmosphere, in the
water?”

“It’s in you, Tony – and seven billion other
people on planet Earth, with just a very few exceptions. It’s in
your blood, it’s in your brain. It’s controlling you. Only, I don’t
think in your case it’s winning. You wouldn’t be here with me now
if it was. Do you take much salt?” Tony sighed deeply, like a man
caught out for smoking when he’d told everyone he’d given up.

“I know I should cut down, but food tastes
so bland without it. I think it was my mother’s fault. She swore by
it for everything – cooking, cleaning, washing. We always brushed
our teeth with it, gargled with it and had plenty on our food.”

“Well, whatever you do –
don’t
cut
down. Your sodium level has saved you.”

“Saved me? Saved me from what?”

“From being taken over. The virus is
neutralised
by salt – I found that out
long ago. The moment you reduce our sodium level below a certain
point, you’re in trouble.” Tony took a sip of his G&T and
thought seriously.

“What sort of trouble? What does the virus
do?”

“It eats you. It’s a parasite – an alien
parasite. It feeds off the body, it feeds off
you.
It
doesn’t want to kill you, because it needs living matter. Then as
soon as you’re dead, it moves on to another host.”

“What are the side effects?”

“Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis
– to name but a few. All the diseases of modern man. Many diseases,
the one cause.”

“And the one cure?” added Tony
hopefully.

“That’s the problem – there is no cure; not
that I know of anyway. Same again?” Tony nodded and Frank went to
the bar with two empty glasses. When he came back, Tony had another
question.

“You said that the virus had taken over the
mind and bodies of Man… I understand the body side – what about the
mind?”

“The virus has a way of altering thought
patterns – like a computer virus that creates alternative programs
to run your computer. The alien virus hijacks your thought
processes and puts out an alternate mindset to the brain, which
then accepts it. In many ways this alternate ‘reality’ is the
complete reverse of your normal worldview. For instance – ‘Smoking
Causes Cancer.’”

“You mean it doesn’t?” Tony asked
incredulously.

“No – the virus causes Cancer. Smoking
merely aggravates it. But by making smoking – even passive smoking
– the cause, attention is diverted away from the virus, which is
what it wants. Earth–bound viruses are clever – they can mutate to
become immune to just about whatever we throw at them. But they’re
nothing compared to this alien virus.” Tony was listening intently,
and each question led to another.

“How did you discover all this?”

“Ah, that will have to wait to another day –
I have to get back. But I hope we can talk again – tomorrow
perhaps?”

“I’d like that.”

“Oh, and don’t stop taking the salt… like
this.” Frank wet the back of his hand and sprinkled a few grains
from the cellar on the table. Then licked the salt. “There,” he
said working it round his mouth. Tony followed suit.

And that was how it all began for Tony.
Their meetings after work became a regular occasion, and it wasn’t
long before Frank introduced Tony to his mother Audrey. Through
her, they found Gareth – and Kate was next. Eventually, Frank’s job
at the University became untenable. His colleagues became more and
more vindictive of his research. And when Frank was no longer
allowed to tell his undergraduate classes about ‘this fictitious
virus’, that was the beginning of the end.

Tony, on the other hand, was more cautious
about the people he spoke to. Their two characters complimented
each other in many ways. But when Frank was adamant about going
public about the virus, and Tony wasn’t ready to do so, the
inevitable rift occurred. Neither Gareth nor Kate wanted Frank to
leave, but Tony was more laissez–faire about it.

“I’m not going to stop him,” he said.

Audrey tried to talk Frank out of going down
to London into ‘Virus Hell Hole’; but he wouldn’t be stopped. That
was where the greatest concentration of the virus was, so that’s
where he was going to start. On reflection, Frank probably
underestimated the power and strength the virus had down there. If
people didn’t listen in Edinburgh, he wasn’t going to get much
reaction down there either.

He personally delivered a letter to the
Prime Minister, posted circulars to members of parliament, and
stood on a soapbox at Speaker’s Corner. He even took a handwritten
note to Buckingham Palace for the Queen. He went to every major
television and radio station in town, and called at the offices of
London’s newspapers. Then, after getting no reaction from those in
power, he went directly to the people – speaking to anyone and
everyone who would listen. On street corners, in the underground,
in museums and art galleries (from which he was thrown out many
times) and in pubs – where I met him of course. Most regarded him
as one of those cranks who carry bill–boards saying ‘The End is
Nigh’. He didn’t do that – but his message was just as deadly: if
people did not wake up to the danger within them, then the end of
life on planet Earth was just around the corner.

Who could say the effect that Frank Peters
had on the population of London. Many thousands must have heard him
speak – and then there were those who told their families and
friends about the strange man who spoke to them on the train, bus
or underground as they travelled to and from work. But there’s one
thing certain, he gave it his best shot and was an inspiration to
us all. In the next phase that was now unfolding, one without Frank
Peters, Tony hoped we could achieve just half of what Frank had
done in his life, and eventually rid mankind of this unseen virus
that was a threat to our very existence.

***

Ten

After Kate and I had left for Orkney, Sandi
invited Gareth out for a coffee. She knew something was troubling
him and thought a chat and a drink would do him good. The fact that
she fancied him like crazy had nothing to do with it – nothing.

Gareth took the bus over to Inverleith Row
where Sandi was staying, and they walked around the busy streets
looking for somewhere outside they could sit and enjoy the air.
They found a small Italian café and ordered two large coffees. They
chatted amiably about nothing much for a few minutes, then
something caught Gareth’s eye.

“Jesus!” he muttered.

“What is it?” But before Gareth could
explain, a dark woman recognized him and approached the couple
hurriedly. It was Emily.

“Who is this?” she demanded looking at
Sandi.

“This is nothing to do with you,” he
replied.

“Oh, so now I see what’s going on. You just
wanted to dump me for her – whoever she is. How long’s this being
going on?” She was angry and bitter.

“Just calm down Emily – that’s not the
situation…” Then Emily stepped back in a moment of realization.

“Wait a minute – I know who you are. You’re
the one in all the papers – the one who was abducted!”

Oh shit, Sandi thought. She stood up
quickly, grabbing her coat and handbag. Pulling some money from her
purse she whispered urgently to Gareth, “Let’s go...
now
.”
She dropped the change into a saucer and they made their
getaway.

“I’m going to call the Police – you’re
harbouring a criminal!”

They left the café without looking back, and
quickly walked back along Inverleith Row. Suddenly realizing they
could be leading Emily to Kate’s flat, Sandi forced Gareth to take
a sharp turn into the Botanical Gardens.

“Where are we going?” he asked.”

“Anywhere safe.” They walked for about five
minutes through the gardens before stopping for a rest. Finding a
bench in a secluded spot, they sat down, hot and flustered.

“Do you think we lost her?” asked
Gareth.

“I think so. What was that all about?”
Gareth took a deep breath and proceeded to tell Sandi all about
Emily – how they met, how long they’d been going together, and what
he had said to her in the pub the other night.