“For all intents and purposes, Europe is completely shut down,” Girard said. “Everyone has locked themselves inside. The only ones moving around are military and other government personnel.”
“It’s the same here in Hong Kong,” Chang said. “And throughout the rest of Asia. Borders are closed, but it’s an unnecessary step. No one wants to go anywhere.”
“Any reports of illness?” Perez asked.
“Yes,” Girard said. “It’s scattered, but growing.”
“Same thing here,” Chang replied.
“Dr. Fisher, are we still working on the same timeline?” Perez asked.
With those who’d been at Bluebird either dead or at least temporarily out of communication, Fisher became the head Project scientist. He had been on the team who worked on perfecting KV-27a.
“Yes,” the doctor said in his distinctive monotone. “Our latest tests of samples taken from dispersal points in various locations indicate the agent is working as planned. I would say reports of illness will no longer be ‘scattered’ by midnight.”
It was exactly as Perez hoped.
“Kind of ironic,” Dr. Lassiter said. “That it’ll basically hit tomorrow.”
“Not ironic at all,” Dr. Fisher told him. “I believe that was the plan.”
No one said anything for a few seconds, then Perez leaned forward. “All right. We’ll reconvene at midnight my time.”
As Perez reached for the keyboard to turn off the system, Dr. Lassiter said, “Merry Christmas, world.”
Perez paused for a moment before disconnecting the call.
36
It hadn’t been a simple matter to get Ash back to the Bunker. The only vehicles that hadn’t been wrecked in the attack on the Ranch were three motorcycles kept in the Bunker, and with Ash unconscious, there was no way he could be transported on one.
Lizzie Drexel’s vehicle was also not an option. It had been blown apart with everything else when the garage exploded.
The best they could do right away was get one of the motorcycles down the tunnel, muscle it up through the hatch, and send their only medic, Lily Franklin, out to do what she could. Ten minutes later they sent a second bike with two men, the one in back carrying a stretcher.
Once Lily had Ash as stabilized as she could get him, they loaded him onto the stretcher, and alternated between carrying him and pushing the motorbikes back to the Bunker.
Matt was at the end of the tunnel when they arrived.
“How is he?” he asked Lily as soon as she climbed down through the hatch.
“A broken arm. Ribs cracked. Undoubtedly a concussion. There might be some internal damage, too, but there’s not much I can do about that.” She took a breath. “We need to get somebody here who can handle that kind of thing.”
“Is he conscious yet?”
“No.”
Once they had maneuvered Ash through the hatch and into the Bunker, they took him straight to the medical area and transferred him to the bed next to Gagnon.
A moment or two later, footsteps pounded down the hall, skidding to a stop outside the door. A half second later, Josie rushed in.
Matt grabbed her around the shoulders. “Josie, you need to stand back.”
“Let me go!” She squirmed in his arms, trying to break free. “He’s my dad! Let me go!”
She twisted again, dropped down out of his grasp, and ran to the bed.
“Dad? Dad, can you hear me?”
Tentatively she touched her father’s shoulder and shook it.
“Dad, wake up.”
“He can’t,” Lily said. “I gave him something to keep him under.”
“Why?”
“If he wakes, he’d be in a lot of pain. It’s better if he rests now.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
Lily shot a worried glance at Matt before looking back at Josie. “We’re doing all we can.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Matt stepped in next to them. “It’s the best answer she can give. You don’t want her to lie, do you?”
Looking dejected, Josie shook her head.
“You want to stay here with him?” Matt asked.
“Yes,” she said quickly.
He nodded toward a chair sitting against the wall, and one of the men brought it over. Josie sat down and slipped her hand into her father’s.
Matt waited a moment, then quietly left the room. With the exception of Lily, the others did the same. Once they were far enough away from Josie, Matt said, “I need a man on each bike to head out and find a doctor, preferably a surgeon, just in case.”
“I’ll go,” one man said.
“Me, too,” another offered.
The man beside him raised his hand. “And me.”
“No,” a new voice called out from down the hall. “I’ll be the third.”
Chloe was walking quickly toward them, the look on her face daring anyone to challenge her.
After the two bikes that had been used were refueled, and the third was lifted out of the Bunker, Chloe and the other two raced off.
Matt watched them until they disappeared. Then, instead of going back down into the tunnel, he walked over to the edge of the woods, and looked for the first time at the still smoldering hulk that had once been their headquarters.
A snowflake fell on the back of his hand, and another flew by his face, but he barely noticed. He stared at the remains of the Lodge, remembering all that had happened there, the good and the bad. It had been more than just a place to meet and make plans.
It had been his home.
But, as devastating as it was to see it this way, he knew the horrors that were about to come would be much worse.
37
The mood at the cabin is somber. Though they’ve been able to warm up Laurie, her pulse is still weak, and when she speaks it’s like she doesn’t know where she is. She needs a doctor.
While there may be one somewhere in the area, the only doctors they know about for sure are the ones down the mountain, back in Ridgecrest. But because of the snow, the drive would be dangerous at best, and quite possibly deadly.
Mr. Weber sees no choice, though. He can’t just sit and watch his daughter fade away.
Because the Gables’ car is the only one with chains, Martina’s father agrees to let him take it. At least this means those at the cabin will still have a radio.
Mrs. Weber wants to go, too, but her husband insists on her staying. Her sniffles are disguised by her tears. As much as she wants to believe she got out of Los Angeles without being exposed, it is just wishful thinking. Soon she will be too sick to get out of bed, and by then she won’t be the only one not feeling well.
But that is hours away. Now they all stand near the front door, watching Mr. Weber drive Laurie away.
No one says what they’re all thinking, that they wonder if the two will ever come back.
They won’t.
But Martina is the only one who will know that for sure.
Josie realizes the drug in her father’s system is supposed to keep him asleep. But his eyes have started to move under their lids, and every once in a while his body jerks one way or the other.
“Wake up,” she says, keeping her voice low so the woman who’s been taking care of him doesn’t hear her. “Come on, Dad. Wake up.”
But he remains unconscious, living through whatever dream is playing in his mind.
“Wake up, Dad,” she said one more time, knowing he won’t.
Chloe drives faster than she should in the falling snow, but she has finally reached the main highway, and can’t help but go as quickly as possible. Ash’s life is on the line, and she must do everything she can to save him.