The Viral Epiphany (15 page)

“Yes!
 
There are some people in Bangkok who have survived and it looks like they are all Caucasians. Interesting isn’t it?”

Jim thought about this a moment, but before he could reply Dr. Goodfellow continued, “It could be that I have some immunity to this disease.”

“You really think so?
 
I mean it’s killed a lot of people.”

 
“You can be damned sure I don’t want to test it myself, but there are survivors.
 
No doubt about it.
 
Couple of New York families.
 
We need to look into this.”

“What do you want to do?” Jim asked.

“First, just get me the hell out of here. OK? Then we can wait and see how this progresses. Maybe this is what we were talking about in our meeting… Right?… Think about it…”

“Yes, sir.” Jim said.
 
They said goodbye and he hung up the phone.
 
He waited for a few seconds, trying to digest the information he had just received.
 
Then he called travel.

Meanwhile, in a beige, single-story, concrete block building at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, another phone call was being placed to Brigadier General John Baker in Alaska.

“General Baker, sir, this is Captain John Williamson, 353
^rd
Communications Intercept Squadron. We have some information for you.”

“Go ahead.”

“The CDC has found survivors of the disease you have been monitoring in Thailand.
 
So far the only survivors are Caucasians from New York City.
 
There are several families of survivors.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, sir. This is just in from the UNAPS circuits.”

General Baker said nothing for several seconds.
A killer disease but there are Caucasian survivors? I’ll be… Could be the ideal weapon…
he thought.
 
Maybe I won’t even have to retire…they’ll need someone to see this through…someone they can trust…

“Captain,” he said, his eyes aglow now with a sense of vision, “thank you! This is excellent information!
 
I need to get this to the top right away. And I do mean the top! Connect me to the President, right away!”

Sixteen

           
Stephen put the power saw down and looked at the frozen body of the baby mammoth.
 
His eyes followed the contours of the head, the high shoulders, and the sloping back.
 
He stared at the light brown hairs that now glistened with a sliver-thin sheen of ice.
 
The animal’s eyes were unseeing now; the ancient intelligence that had briefly come to life in the zoo was gone; the breath that had filled the young animal’s lungs was lost.
 
He stood in silence holding the icy piece of tissue in his gloved left hand and felt the vast emptiness of a new extinction.
 
Never again will I create such a life,
he told himself,
never again.
 
It was all so near…so near… it could have been…
he slowly turned away and walked to the door of the lab’s cold chamber.
 
As he put his hand on the door handle he looked back once more at the mammoth, and felt the utter lifelessness of the body.
 
If I do nothing else, I’ll find a vaccine.
 
I have to – for my honor – and most importantly, for the honor of my family!
 
He closed the door tightly and then walked to a nearby bench to begin packaging the mammoth tissue.

           
While Stephen packed the tissue in dry ice and plastic, Shaylin was packing their suitcases in the staff residence building next to the laboratory.
 
It was a hurried effort, but it was also very difficult because she knew so little about Ireland.
 
Would it be warm or cold, dry or wet, formal or casual?
 
Stephen had had no time to help her. She decided to plan for all possibilities and packed sweaters and T-shirts, winter coats and walking shorts.
 
Stephen had told her that their Japan Airlines flight to London was departing in three hours.
 
She looked at her hands and saw that they were trembling.

There was no time: no time to carefully consider what to pack; no time to call her mother and say goodbye; no time to settle her accounts; no time to cancel her hairdresser’s appointment.
 
There was only time to grab clothes and pack them as tightly as she could.
 
There was only time to leave. Her heart pounded as drops of perspiration crowned her forehead and then silently snaked their way down her cheek.

           
Shaylin carried the bulging suitcases to the car while Stephen sat for one last time at his desk and typed an email message.
 
He glanced at the small packet of mammoth tissue that now rested on the desktop: a light brown bundle no larger than a book.
 
He had decided to place it in his checked luggage and hope for the best. He knew that the airport screeners would surely detect the material if he put it in his carry-on bag and, because it was flesh, it would have to be examined, and then they would ask for an export license or, even worse, they might call in an agriculture inspector. In any case, they would never let him take it on board. He looked back to the computer screen and finished his typing. Then he took a moment to reread his message:

Dan,

           
There is much I need to speak with you about – in person.
 
It is extremely important.
 
My assistant, Shaylin, and I are coming to visit you. We will be arriving tomorrow on an Aer Lingus flight from London. I have so much to tell you…

Stephen

P.S. Please do not tell anyone we are coming.
 
Also, we will need a place to stay – someplace away from people who might want to find us… I’ll explain.

           
Stephen clicked the send button on the keyboard and then deleted the sent message from his computer. He turned off the computer and looked around the office making one last check. He had forgotten nothing; the office was clean.
 
With a sudden sense of urgency, he stood up, walked over to the window, and looked down at the front entrance. It was still clear – at least for now.
 
Even so, he felt an ever-increasing sense of danger.
 
He hurriedly went back to the desk, picked up the package of mammoth tissue and a moment later ran out the door, not even taking a moment to lock it.

           
A few minutes later he was at the car with Shaylin.
 
He forced himself to slow down for a moment.
 
This was important.
 
He carefully placed the package of mammoth tissue amongst the soft clothing in his suitcase.
 
It would be well protected and also hidden from view of all but the most determined of customs inspectors.
 
He closed the suitcase and double-checked to make sure there was an identification tag on the handle.
 
Then he took a large piece of red ribbon and tied it to the handle so he could immediately identify it at the baggage claim.
 

           
“OK, Shaylin,” he said quietly, “I think we’re ready.”

           
Shaylin took one last look at the building entrance.
 
“I guess so,” she said, “I hope I packed everything.”

           
“Don’t worry, if we need something we’ll buy it.
 
The important thing now is to just leave this place. The police could be coming any time!”

           
“OK,” she said as she got into Stephen’s dark blue Toyota sedan, “let’s go.”

           
Stephen started the engine and seconds later they drove out the main gate. He waved to the guard as they passed.
 
Stephen tried to appear calm while he drove past, but as soon as they were out of the guard’s sight he floored the accelerator.

           
Seconds later Shaylin’s voice was rising in fear. “Stephen, please don’t go so fast! You’re going to kill us!”

           
“The police are coming, Shaylin!
 
They’ll be here any minute. I can feel it.
 
Trust me, we need to get away from here fast.”
 
He didn’t slow down at all as they approached a sharp corner and moments later the rear tires screeched and skidded on the pavement.
 
A white cloud of smoke hung in the air behind the car, but as soon as the road straightened he accelerated even more.

           
“Stephen!” Shaylin shouted again, but he ignored her. Then her mobile phone rang.
 
She looked at the caller ID. It was their secretary calling.
 

           
“Answer it,” he said without taking his eyes off the road. A moment later she was talking to the secretary.

           
“Shaylin!” she said,
 
“The police were just here! They are looking for Dr. Itagaki!
 
Where are you? I told them I thought you were in the lab…Are you?”
 
Shaylin’s mouth opened slightly, but she said nothing.
 
A moment later she simply hung up the phone.

           
“The police are at the compound!”

           
Stephen nodded, unsurprised.
 
He said nothing as he suddenly slowed and turned the car into a shopping center and skidded to a stop in a stall near the taxi stand.

           
“Come on,” he said.
 
They got out and ran over to the first taxi in line.

           
“Hello,” Stephen said breathing heavily, “we’re having car problems. We need to get to Narita airport right away.
 
Please…”

           
Twenty minutes later they were standing in line waiting to check in at the Japan Airlines counter.
 
Stephen kept looking cautiously around the terminal lobby but he couldn’t see any sign of an increased police presence.
 
Beads of sweat were beginning to dry on his brow.

           
“Don’t worry,” he said feeling a little more relaxed, “we’ve made it. By the time they think to check here we’ll be gone.”

           
Shaylin looked at him and bit her lip softly.
 
She pushed back a strand of hair that was falling across her cheek and said, “Maybe, but I don’t know. I’m scared. I don’t know if we should be running away from the police. After all, what did I, I mean we, do wrong?
 
It was all in the interests of science, wasn’t it?”

           
“Shaylin!
 
You don’t understand! The authorities always need to blame someone when something goes wrong.
 
They’ll try to blame us.
 
I know it.
 
Trust me.”
 
He handed their passports to the agent at the counter and put their suitcases on the scales.

           
“I just have a bad feeling about all this, that’s all. I still think we should turn ourselves in,” she said, “maybe we can help more if we stay here in Japan!”

           
“No! Don’t even think like that.
 
We have to get away.
 
We have to make the vaccine someplace else. They would never let me work here. Not now.
 
Maybe when the vaccine is completed we could come forward…but only then.”

           
“Mr. Kobayshi and Ms. Nakamura, here are your passports and boarding passes,” the agent said,
 
“You are seated in seats 3 A and 3 B.
 
Boarding is in twenty minutes at gate fifteen. Please go through security and proceed to the gate right away.
 
Have a nice flight!”
 
She handed the passports and boarding passes to Stephen. He bowed and thanked her then took the materials and walked away from the counter with Shaylin.

           
“Mr. Kobayashi?” Shaylin asked, “Why did she call you that?”

           
“Oh…I was, uh, able to get an extra passport from a friend of mine.
 
It’s in a different name.”

           
“Why?
 
I mean… what about me?
 
I only have my own passport!
 
Why didn’t you get one for me too?”

           
Stephen stopped and turned to her.
 
Her hair was slightly tussled; she was still wearing the clothes she had worn to work.
 
She looked tired and frightened.
 
There was a trace of tears in her eyes.
 
Stephen looked away for a second and then he sighed.
 
His shoulders sagged a little when he looked back at her “I’m so sorry, Shaylin.
 
I should have thought about you too.
 
I’ve just been so absorbed.
  
I didn’t.
 
I’m sorry.”

           
She didn’t say anything but only continued to stand in the airport corridor looking at him.
 
She looked helpless.

“Don’t worry, Shaylin,” he said then, trying to sound optimistic, “ why would anyone be looking for you?
 
You are only my assistant.
 
I’m the one they will be looking for.”

           
“But didn’t you say they would be looking for me too?”

“I know.
 
Maybe I exaggerated a bit. Maybe I was worried too much.
 
Really, I just don’t think they’ll be looking for you.” He looked at her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
 
“OK?”

           
She smiled slightly and wiped the tear from her eye. “OK. Maybe you’re right,” she said, “Let’s go.”

           
They soon arrived at the security checkpoint and took their places in line.
 
Ahead of them the line split and they could see that individuals were being sent through separate screening devices.
 
Stephen turned to her and said, “Don’t worry, OK? I’m the one they’re looking for, not you.
 
It looks like we will be split up as part of the screening process, but you’ll be fine.”

           
“OK, but what if something does go wrong? What do we do?”

“ Look, we’re in this together aren’t we?”

           
“Of course.”

           
“Well, then.
 
So we will help each other then right?”

           
“Yes, certainly,” she said.

           
“I’ll protect you and you’ll protect me right?”

           
“Oh yes, of course.”

           
“Exactly. Trust me,” he said, “We must trust each other, Shaylin.”

           
“Yes.
 
Of course.
 
But what if one of us is detained?
 
What will they do to us?”

           
“They have no proof, Shaylin.
 
None.
 
The important thing is to say nothing.
 
Nothing at all.
 
Do you understand?”

           
“Yes, I do.”

           
“Good. Whatever happens, we won’t say anything to the authorities about each other, right?
 
That is most important.”

           
“Absolutely.
 
You can depend on me, sir.”

           
“Good. I knew I could. Now stop worrying. We’ll be on the plane soon and no one will ever find us.”
 
Stephen put his carryon luggage on the conveyor, gave his boarding pass to the inspector, and walked through the metal detector.
 
Shaylin went over to the adjacent inspection station and did the same.

Within a minute Stephen had completed the inspection and as he was picking up his bag he turned around and looked toward Shaylin.
 
She was waiting for the inspector to return her boarding pass and passport to her.
 
Stephen watched the inspector talk on his handheld radio while looking at Shaylin.
 
She looked toward Stephen, her eyes wide with fright.
 
Then she motioned, more with her eyes than her head, for him to go.
 
A second later she turned back to the inspector.

Stephen quickly turned away and began walking toward the boarding gate.
 
Minutes later, two members of the Tokyo Airport police arrived and Shaylin was placed in handcuffs. Stephen took one look back towards her as he continued walking. She was far away now.
 
To him she looked afraid and confused, but he could see that her jaw was set tight. She wasn’t saying a word.

Half an hour later Japan Airlines flight 003 took off for London and Stephen Itagaki finally settled back for the long flight in his first class seat.
 
Now that the plane was airborne he felt sure he had escaped.
 
He turned to his right and was acutely aware of the empty seat beside him.
 
He thought for a long minute about how frightened Shaylin had been.
 
He shook his head sadly, lost for a moment in memories of Shaylin.
 
Then he took a deep breath and reached under the seat in front of him.
 
He picked up his carryon bag and placed it on the empty seat beside him.
 
It would be an ideal location for his reading materials and laptop computer.

Seventeen

           
Dan and Sheila plummeted over the Mardyke Weir, making a huge splash, but the boat was unscathed.
 
They left the boat at the base of the nearby Mardyke Bridge and climbed up the small embankment to the walking path.
 
Within seconds Dan was running along the path towards the University gate with Sheila close behind.

           
“Dan! Wait!” she called out to him. “Where are you going?”

           
Dan slowed momentarily and turned to her.
 
“Those men from Omega. Tim warned me about them.
 
I need to stay away from them.”

           
“I know. So why are you running towards the university?”

           
“They just went to the department looking for me and they didn’t find me. Right?
 
They won’t be back.
 
Now they’ve gone looking for me in the park.
 
Come on. Maybe we can get some help on campus. That’s the last place they’ll look for me now.”

           
“No!”

           
“What?”

           
“No. They’ll be back.
  
I know it.
 
We can’t go there. We need to find a really safe place to hide for a day or two, and that is definitely not it.”

           
Dan stopped and looked at her for a long moment.
 
Then he realized she was right.
 
The university wasn’t safe, not now.
 
Sheila thought of a better plan and instead of going to the university they turned at the Western Road and less than five minutes later they walked into the lobby of the new Jurys Hotel. The front desk clerk told them that, although the lobby appeared quiet, they were nearly sold out.
 
However, there was a suite available on the fourth floor, if they were interested.
 
Without a second thought Sheila took out her credit card and they checked in as Mr. and Mrs. O’Neill.