Islands - The Epidemic: An Airborne Ebola Disaster Page 17

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Challock, Kent

  Max instinctively looked around nervously as the sound of alarms blared out before the echo of the shattered window had even died.

  A stone, from the decorative rock garden in the supermarket car park, had been the perfect projectile for breaking and entering.

  “Sit!” He waited until the dog complied before kicking in the remaining glass still attached to the frame, then picking Seb up and stepping through into the store.

  Instantly, a background stench assaulted his nostrils. It was not overwhelming like the hospital, but was more subtle, like meat which had just started to turn; not quite rotten, with a slightly sweet scent.

  Immediately ahead, a line of checkouts were between Max and the food aisles, leading deeper into the store. He popped the dog down then turned left to get a trolley, passing a flower stand on the way.

  Buckets, at one time filled with a variety of colourful blooms, were now empty and dry; withered leaves shrivelled at the edges gave the only clue to their purpose.

  He retrieved a large trolley from beside the main door and turned to enter the aisles.

  The low hum of refrigerators and the gentle tapping of Seb’s claws on the tiled floor were a comfort in the otherwise silent store as he made his way to the fruit and vegetable section to look for Judith’s grapes.

  It had been two weeks since they had lost all contact with the surface, but things would have been falling apart long before that. This became apparent when Max was dismayed to find most of the lower open fridges almost empty. The few that contained goods were either covered in mould dust or had started to dissolve into mush and he could find no sign of grapes anywhere.

  The deeper he went into the shop, the darker it became as he travelled further from the only source of light at the window. Every shadow, lengthened in the distant radiance from the rising sun, became a body or someone waiting to attack and Max found his nerves on edge each time he turned a new corner. This was made worse by Seb disappearing in search of interesting smells. Something was bowled over and clattered to the ground just before the dog pattered past at the edge of his vision; Max’s heart raced and he called him back, too unsettled to allow him to wander any longer.

  The shelves were also virtually empty: tinned meat seemed to be the most precious commodity, as not a single item remained.

  The bread department, which now contained plastic packets of green mould, was hurriedly checked and Max only stopped briefly to grab some cakes; a luxury he knew would soon be unavailable.

  At the fridges he carefully checked the use by dates, until he found some long life milk still suitable for drinking, before moving on to the fruit juices. He scanned the selection and was pleased to find the next best thing to Judith’s grapes.

  “Now for the fermented variety,” he muttered as he searched for the alcohol department.

  He looked into the trolley a short while later, disappointed, after he had covered the whole shop. “Well it’s a sorry load.” There was sufficient food for about a week and enough variety to keep them healthy, but Max knew they would have to raid cupboards door to door very soon, just to stay alive.

  He returned to the checkout and grabbed some bags from behind a till before packing the goods. As he took the trolley back to the bay, Seb crossed to the security office and barked at the door. Max moved to the cubicle, a pungent smell increasing the closer he drew.

  It was surrounded by glass, but it was only when he stepped right up that he could see the security guard inside the compartment, lying slumped over a desk. His face was turned sideways and it looked like he had choked on his own vomit, which had pooled then dried beneath his head.

  Max was surprised by how saddened this made him feel. He was devastated by his brother’s death, but at least Sean had died at home with Seb for company. This man, like Professor Ramsey, was either extremely dedicated to his work, or had no family to make it worth his while going home.

  He looked down. “Come on Seb.” He carried the dog from the building, returned for the shopping and lugged it to the car. As he placed the last of the bags into the boot, Max looked around and noticed for the first time a field at the bottom of the car park.

  A cow was standing at the edge of the fence watching him and it suddenly dawned on Max that there would be no one around to look after the beasts.

  He left the dog in the car before walking down to check on the animals.

  The cow stepped back as Max approached, unnerved by his close proximity.

  The field was well trodden and the grass chewed to soil level. The animals, showing signs of starvation with their protruding hips and visible ribs, were standing in a huddle.

  Max scanned the fence and spotted a gate on the far side, leading out onto the road. Quickly, he returned to the car and left the supermarket on a route which passed the pasture. There he stopped and secured the entrance open so the gate could no longer swing shut. As he pulled away, he looked in the rear view mirror and was delighted to see the cows wandering out of the pen to graze on the grass at the far side of the road. Passing as many fields as possible on his way back to the Disease Control Centre, he released all the captive animals he found, allowing them to roam free of their enclosures.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The Disease Control Centre, Chantry Wood, Kent

  As Max pulled into the car park he saw Judith dragging the body of a man through a fire exit at the far side of the building. He leapt out of the car and hurried across to take the load. “You should have waited. You could have hurt yourself.”

  She stood and stretched her back. “No. It couldn’t wait. I have to get started.”

  Briefly the man’s shoes caught on the draught-stop outside, before Max heaved him over the lip, leaving one of the accessories behind.

  Judith stooped to pick it up and placed it down next to the body, lined up with the others outside.

  Five corpses, in various stages of decay but all showing signs of Ebola, now lay side by side in the car park.

  “There’s more,” Judith said, leading the way back into the building.

  “Come on Seb.” Max looked around to check the dog was following, before, “More scientists?”

  “No, now we need to clear out the animals.”

  “I found a security guard dead at his post in the supermarket,” Max told her sadly as they made their way into the building.

  “Did you manage to get some shopping?”

  “Yes.”

  She looked back, brightening. “And some grapes?”

  “No, there weren’t any grapes, but I got the next best thing. Grape juice and wine.”

  Judith shrugged. “It’ll have to do. If the disease doesn’t get us, we’ll eventually run out of everything that needs importing. There’ll be no tea, no sugar and no bananas. We’ll just be back to what we can grow on this relatively wet and cold island.”

  “That might come sooner than you think.”

  Judith glanced back.

  “The supermarket was virtually empty. We’ll have to go door to door raiding cupboards for food very soon and the only way we’ll get our vegetables, until we can get ourselves sorted with some form of planting programme, is from tins. There was obviously a rush to stock up before everyone died.”

  They entered the lab.

  Max stopped in the doorway, horrified by the tiny bodies lying on the bottom of the cages. He pointed to three dead rats. “These seem to have died from dehydration, but the apes,” he looked at the larger cages at the far side of the room, “definitely died from the disease.” He crossed to stand in front of the containers. “I thought it was illegal to experiment on apes,” he said distractedly.

  “I think anything goes in situations like this,” Judith said, as she studied the pools of dried blood encircling the bodies of the chimpanzees. “You should have seen what I read in Professor Ramsey’s private file.”

  “It’s just typical – we cause this probl
em then drag so many others down with us, just like a drowning man who decided he would go for a swim.”

  “I don’t think anyone can be blamed for the Ebola virus.”

  Max looked around. “No, but whoever decided to make it into a weapon is responsible for the murder of about nine billion people and the potential extinction of a number of other species.”

  “Come on,” Judith picked up a cage. “Don’t bother removing the animals, just move the whole thing outside.”

  Once the lab was clear, “Is there anything else I can do?” Max asked.

  “Well there’s not a lot to do at the moment. Any tests that were being carried out would be spoiled by now, so I’ll have to start again.” She looked at her watch. “You could make some breakfast and check on Joseph and Susan. I popped in on my way to the lab, but they were both sleeping. I’ll start going through the research notes and see if they had any idea how to deal with this thing. Perhaps they were close, but just didn’t have time to implement any procedures. From getting the first reports of sickness and death to losing contact with the surface took only six weeks – that’s a phenomenal rate for any disease to spread. So, unless the country of origin had previously created a vaccine, there would be very little hope of overtaking such a killer. For biological weapons to be of any use they must act fast, bringing any country attacked to a grinding halt within days. They obviously hadn’t intended using it, not for the moment at least. Without a control in place you can potentially end up with exactly what’s happened here.”

  “It would be lovely if you could crack it and the others could come back to the surface.” Max instantly felt guilty, “I’m sorry; how to lay on the pressure.”

  “It’s all right; you’re only saying what everyone else is thinking. And that is the reason why I came back with you all.”

  “I’ll get you some food and check on our patients,” he said, as he left the room.

  Stepping into the office Max was shocked to find Joseph lying on his back, gurgling and choking with every breath. Quickly, he moved to the cot and pulled him up. As Joseph sat and then fell forward, he coughed and his airwaves cleared. Max looked down and saw a globule of blood staining the carpet at his feet.

  “Joseph.” He gently shook him, “Joseph. Strewth, you’re burning up,” he said when his hand brushed against the biologist’s skin.

  Joseph’s eyes flickered to slits, but refused to open any further.

  Max moved him to the couch and propped him up with some cushions before laying him back to rest in a position more congruous to easy breathing.

  He searched the room for tissues and had just found a box when Susan suddenly spoke.

  “Do you regret coming?”

  He jumped. He had thought she was still sleeping and had not expected to be spoken to. He started cleaning up. “Even to know the situation is hopeless is better than knowing nothing at all,” he replied. “I regret what I’ve found but, if I’d stayed, I would have most probably regretted that too.” Finished, he turned to face her.

  Over all she was looking a little better; the fluids had done the trick, but her fever still had a good hold and her nose was dripping blood in a slow and steady stream.

  “Are you afraid?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Max confessed.

  “So am I,” then she burst into tears.

  He crossed the room and took her in his arms, holding her close until her sobs subsided.

  As she pulled away a smear of blood stained his shoulder, just below the collar bone. “Oh... Sorry.”

  Max looked down. “It’s all right. Are you going to try some breakfast?”

  Susan grimaced. “No. I still feel sick.”

  He lowered her back. “If I make you up a glucose drink, will you at least try to get that down?”

  “I’ll try,” she sighed.

  “I need to set up a drip for Joseph, then I’ll get you and Judith sorted.”

  Half an hour later Max returned to the lab. “I’ve brought you something to eat.”

  “Just leave it there,” Judith said, her attention focused on the computer screen.

  Max ignored her and brought the food over. “You must have something.”

  She reached for the plate and ate as she worked.

  “Any luck?”

  “There’s a solution in the fridge, EB1765, which they were quite hopeful about. They were also thinking about trying some of the cancer treatments that enhanced the immune system, but we don’t have any of them on site.”

  “Do you think you’ll have anything to try quite soon?”

  Judith looked around, concerned. “Why – how bad is she?”

  “She’s not good, although a little better after the fluids, but Joseph has deteriorated so fast it’s really alarming. I’ve attached a drip, but he won’t wake up.”

  Judith shook her head. “He’s much older than Susan and the close proximity he had with Hannah would have made sure he initially got a really big dose.” She returned her attention to the screen. “Leave me to it. We’ve got nothing to lose; I’ll check out that formula and see if it’s more likely to be a killer than a cure. If not, then we’ll give it a shot.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The Disease Control Centre, Chantry Wood, Kent

  Judith rubbed the syringe between her hands to warm the contents. “Joseph. I’m going to give you an injection.”

  Joseph’s eyes half opened and he nodded to acknowledge he had heard.

  Susan had been put back on fluids after having difficulty keeping anything down, including her glucose drink. She had already had her jab five minutes ago, along with a shot of morphine to help with the pain, she was increasingly suffering, and was now sleeping.

  Judith administered the injection and then helped Joseph, who was looking progressively frailer, into a comfortable position.

  “Are you warm enough?”

  “Ye... Yes,” he whispered, his voice so weak he could hardly be heard.

  “Are you in pain?”

  He shook his head. “So tired, just so tired.”

  His eyes rolled back into his head and Judith thought he was going to sleep, when suddenly Joseph started fitting.

  His body rigid, he convulsed and thrashed with increasing ferocity and it was all that she and Max could do to stop him hurting himself.

  Seconds past and the fit continued. Blood sprayed from Joseph’s mouth, then Max called, “He’s choking, get him onto his front.”

  Rolling him from the cot, they managed to tip him onto his stomach just as his body stiffened.

  “Heart attack,” Judith called, as Joseph trembled violently. “Get me a shot of adrenaline.”

  Max sprinted from the room, down to the lab and across to the drugs cabinet. For precious seconds he searched for the required item before grabbing a fresh syringe and running back to the office. He filled the needle along the way and arrived with the injection prepped, to find Judith doing heart massage.

  She administered it straight into his sternum and then waited for a response; when none came, she listened to his chest.

  Max stood, ready to fill the syringe again if required but, when Joseph remained silent and still, Judith looked up. “He’s dead.”

  “Do you think it could have been the serum?” Max asked in horror.

  “No.” Judith examined Joseph more closely. She lifted his shirt to find bruised, mottled skin colouring his abdomen. “I think he died from low blood pressure due to blood loss. That’s what’s brought on the heart attack.”

  He looked over to Susan, who had remained sleeping throughout.

  Judith stood. “Monitor Susan carefully. Keep a close eye on her whilst I continue with the research, but first you can help me move Joseph.”

  Max shook his head ferociously. “Not outside with the others.”

  “No. We’ll put him in Professor Ramsey’s office and we’ll bury him tomorrow.”

  ****

  “Susan’s temperature has gone down,�
� Max said brightly when he took Judith her evening meal later that day.

  Judith looked up, her face alive with excitement. “Thank goodness! Let’s pray this works. There was another solution in the fridge they thought might offer some hope, but I’m not sure I want to use it as it killed twenty five percent of the animals they tried it on. It could be they were giving too high a dose, but I’ll need to look into it. Either way, any improvement is promising.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  The Disease Control Centre, Chantry Wood, Kent

  “Judith.” Max touched her shoulder, to wake her. “Judith.”

  The virologist lifted her head, bleary eyed. For a moment she looked confused, before focusing properly on the nurse. “What?” She sat up straight and rubbed her face, yawning. “I fell asleep didn’t I?”

  “Susan’s dead,” Max said, bluntly.

  Judith looked up, shocked and now fully awake. “But she seemed to be getting better.”

  “Her temperature dropped a little bit more, then it started to creep up again. It seemed to settle a little bit higher; not as high as it had been, but certainly higher. Throughout, she stayed sleeping, then suddenly I realised she’d stopped breathing. I tried to revive her and even used the adrenaline, but I couldn’t get her back.”

  “So it’s now just you and me,” Judith said, sadly.

  Max nodded, solemnly. “I’ve put her with Joseph. We’ll bury them both in the morning.”

  ****

  The moment it was light the next day, Max was up digging two graves, side by side, on the edge of the woods just beyond the car park. With Judith’s help he moved the two bodies outside and, after a brief blessing, covered them over with the displaced soil.

  “We’re like Adam and Eve in reverse,” Max said, as the pair stood contemplating their friend’s lives and the brief time they had lived so closely together.