President Burgess rejoined the conversation. “I’m all for free speech, but we can’t have these sorts of rumors getting out of control. It could cause widespread panic. And we all remember what happened to the stock market after 9/11, we almost went into financial melt-down. This is unprecedented. I’d hate to think what’d happen if this epidemic—”
“Not if, Mister President, when,” Quinn Martell butted in. The men gathered murmured their shock. Quinn knew he had their attention. “We all know, of the Black Death from history, but possibly not the devastating effect it had in Europe, I had to look this stuff up myself, estimates put the number at between half and two thirds of the population of Europe was wiped out.” He heard them gasp and continued. “To put that into our context, you’re talking over one hundred and fifty million Americans would die, that’s one hundred and fifty million.” He took in the open-mouthed stares from the military men. “Going back to Europe, the entire workforce perished and it caused a huge economic disaster, with no workers, the few that remained were able to barter themselves a decent living wage. Multiply that into today’s market place, and the turmoil would be incalculable, and please bear in mind these are underestimates. If the infected get to foreign countries — to our trading partners, well, you can draw your own conclusions.”
The President said. “We must recall all aircraft at once.”
“Already been implemented, Mister President,” said General Malloy.
The President’s face clouded over, and he said menacingly. “And when the hell were, you going to tell me?”
“As soon as was possible, sir, but it is our remit to do what is best for the nation in a crisis. You would’ve been informed in timely fashion. However, given your condition we thought it wise not to alarm you. We kept the VP in the loop.”
“That’s right Jim,” said smooth-looking Vice President Hamilton Parker, beaming his Hollywood-star smile. “It’s all under control. I’ve taken care of the situation, you can rely on me, and I have your back.”
“I don’t want you having my back,” snarled President Burgess. “If there’s a threat to our nation then I need to know, immediately.” He choked, coughed, spat something into his hands, worrying the assembly, and then recovered his composure. “Recalling the aircraft is a good start, but we need to block entry and exit to and from our airports, our docks, and we must throw up road blocks.”
General Malloy blustered. “Let’s not be rash, Mister President, do you have any idea of the man-power needed for such a scheme?”
Quinn said, “You’re going to have to find a way, because we’re talking about Armageddon, the worst bits of the Bible, this plague, or pestilence if you will, could potentially send us back to the dark ages.” He paused, as there were audible gasps from around the war room. “You have to take this threat seriously. Going back to the historic events in Europe, the Black Death wiped out tens of millions and that was at walking speed.”
“Let me show you our projections if this virus is left unattended, and bear in mind this is without anyone flying into another densely populated area and starting the whole process again.”
A map of mainland America replaced his face. “We’ve calculated that this has already happened.” The Florida Keyes and Miami turned bright red, “Day one,” the bottom third of Florida colored red, “Day two, we’re talking about the whole of Florida and parts of Alabama.” The map turned dark red in the corresponding area. “Day three, most of the southern states, day four…” He let the graphic do the talking as continental USA turned bright red, including parts of Canada and Mexico.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff were stunned into silence. From the huge monitors President Burgess cleared his throat. “We need to contain this information, let the material out bit by bit, let the nation absorb it slowly. Show them that we are in control of the situation and on top of it. We can’t be having the news leaking out until we’re ready,” he paused, wondering how to phrase the next question. “As I said earlier, I’m all for free speech, it’s a constitutional right, after all, but just this once, is there anything we can do to stop the email chatter from getting out of control?”
General Malloy stood and waited until he had everyone’s attention. “Already done, Mister President, since 0600 hours, we’ve managed to jam the major email carriers; they think it’s a glitch.”
The President allowed himself a brief smile, relief washing over him to this piece of news. “And cellular phones?”
“Since 0700 hours this morning. The Miami-Dade district immediately and we’ve worked on the other masts moving north until we’ve almost reached Orlando.”
“Well done, Jack, that’s excellent work.”
Quinn said. “Am I the only one to have grave misgivings about this affront to civil liberties?” No one else spoke, the Chiefs of Staff busied themselves making notes, “Oh, apparently I am.”
During the lull in conversation the VP seized the moment. “I’ve got my sources too, and I still say it’s terrorists. We know the Iraqis, Iranians and Syrians are stockpiling Anthrax and Ricin and god-knows what else, why not a modified form of the Black Death? By the time we realize it’s a foreign power behind the attack, it’ll be too late.”
“Duly noted,” said the President, nodding grimly. “Hamilton, I need you to take care of the day-to-day affairs of government.”
“You can rely on me, Jim,” the VP said.
“I’m going to have my hands full with this. I’m calling out the National Guard and we will go to Defcon three.”
“Mister President,” interrupted General Malloy. “I still think you’re being rash, this could backfire. This’ll only be the fourth time we’ve been on a Defcon three state of readiness, do you think Defcon three is necessary, after all, the last time was 9/11.”
“I’m prepared to stand by my decisions. We need to be decisive and pro-active not reactive. We cannot wait.”
The men gasped at the gravity of the statement. Eventually General Malloy tried again. “Mister President, we have had no other reports of the Black Death outside of the island, it could have blown out to sea.”
“If I’m wrong, I’ll look the biggest fool in history, no doubt lose my job, and become a laughing-stock, but if I’m right… well, let’s hope I’m wrong.” He sighed and then said. “If you need more convincing I’ll pass you over to the surgeon general, Quinn?”
“We; my department, the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta and the World Health Organization have been expecting a pandemic like this. It’s long overdue, the population has increased too fast, and this is nature’s way of culling the herd. From the evidence gathered so far this contagion has the potential to be what we call an E.L.E.-”
“In English, Quinn,” said President Burgess.
“It’s an extinction level event — in other words it’s the Doomsday infection.”
CHAPTER 7
THE ONSLAUGHT
09:45 AM
“Hey, Buddy?” The fat man shook Luke awake. Much to his surprise Luke had managed to drop off, unable to warn anyone, or be taken seriously, he’d shut his eyes and let much needed sleep wash over him.
The fat man dripped sweat, and pointed out of the window beyond Luke. “Correct me if I’m wrong but that ain’t London is it?”
Luke stared aghast to see that the airplane was skirting jungle-like treetops as it prepared to land.
The flight attendant showed the fat man back to his seat. “Fasten your seat-belt; this could be a bumpy landing.”
“Why are we landing here,” Luke asked her. “What’s going on?”