Havana stadium was still packed with the people. For Pauline, the triage system had worked exceedingly well.

Three weeks had now passed since the detonations and the number of cases continued to drop sharply.

As she sponged the body of an elderly man, one of her women dashed over.

“There is a young boy over by the far corner who is showing signs of the firepox virus.”

Pauline shook her head sadly.

“Are you sure?”

The woman nodded.

“I better take a look at him then.”

She followed the nurse over the tiled floor and toward the far left corner, where the six year old lay.

“Where are his parents?”

“The disease took them out,” the woman replied.

Kneeling by his side Pauline placed a thermometer in his mouth and counted off the seconds.

“Let’s have a look eh?”

The young chap smiled weakly as she glanced at the gauge.

“One hundred seven is not a good sign.”

“Is there anywhere we can put him?” the nurse asked.

Pauline shook her head.

“Just try to make him comfortable eh?”

The young man started coughing violently then, thick goo seeming to ooze from the side of his mouth.

“A major outbreak here could well be disastrous,” Pauline muttered.

The boy groaned as another coughing fit took a firm hold.

Pauline sat and checked his forehead.

“He’s dry and crisp. It certainly looks like firepox.”

His body suddenly went into spasm and a white smoke began to pour from his chest area. As the temperature rose rapidly, the skin charred before crumbling into a fine ash.

Pauline shook her head sadly and said slowly, “Get a refuse bag and clear up. I just hope that he was the last.”

She moved away as the sorry remains were quietly disposed off, unaware that the emergency committee was meeting for an entirely different reason.
...
The tall official sat at the large table, listening to the latest report regarding the unexpected disappearance of Maria.

“Those holding her are demanding a million in return.”

“We can’t pay that,” another said. “The money is needed to turn this
country around.”

“What is more important?” another said. “The safety of our leader or the infrastructure?”

There was loud grumblings at this cold-blooded comment.

“Without her firm leadership this island would have crumbled long ago.”

“That is certainly true,” another said. “Though I too balk at the hefty ransom demand.”

Nefonza banged his fist down hard and the squabbling stopped.

“Whatever we think of their motives, the point is that they are holding all the cards.”

“Are you advocating payment?” an official asked.

“Not as such. We should at the very least try to buy some time.”

As he said this, a secretary rushed into the room and whispered something into his crooked ear.

“Gentlemen,” he said solemnly. “I have just been informed of another outbreak at the stadium. It seems that we have other concerns now.”

This unwanted news overshadowed the hostage crisis.

“We should clear it out,” an official muttered.

Nefonza shook his head.

“We have no place to put them. I’ll go over and take a look for myself and report back here.”

As he stood an official asked, “What of Maria?”

Nefonza looked grim.

“For the moment she will have to look after herself.”

He marched out as Pauline watched a fourth victim self-combust before her eyes.

“There is no rhyme of reason to this. It simply appears to be selecting victims at random.”

The woman beside her looked rather worried.

“What if we go down with it?”

“Then my dear, our worries will be over.”

She heard a tumult from the entrance and saw a government official striding into the stadium.

“It must be some clown from the committee,” Pauline muttered.

“Perhaps he has a plan?”

Pauline shook her head.

“I somehow doubt that.”

Nefonza smiled as he reached them.

“How bad is it?” he asked glancing around.

“We have lost ten within the last hour sir,” Pauline replied.

“This is not good. Perhaps moving some on would be a better idea.”

“Where would you suggest sir?”

The official thought this over.

“The old party building is certainly large enough.”

“That old thing sir?” Pauline said with some shock.

“You would agree that containment is our top priority.”

“Of course but we get very little warning sir. We could simply transfer it from one location to the next.”

Another nurse rushed over as they spoke.

“We have another two cases mam.”

“Excuse me sir,” Pauline said following the lady over.

Nefonza decided to see for himself, and followed the nursing staff across the packed floor.

The two cases lay against the far wall coughing violently.

“They have a high temperature mam,” Pauline was told as she arrived.

“You see sir what we are dealing with?”

Nefonza nodded grimly.

The victims suddenly went into spasm and thick smoke rose around them. The horrified official watched, as most of the bodies were rapidly reduced to a thin ash.

“We need help over here.”

Nefonza recognised the female voice and turning sharply, saw Cheryl helping her friend into the sick area.

Pauline dashed over as Fronter was laid down.

“How long has he been ill?” Pauline asked.

“It came on within the last hour,” Cheryl replied.

She saw the tall official and tried to smile at him.

“You are well?” he asked with understandable concern.

“At the moment yes.”

Pauline glanced at the gauge and shook her head sadly.

“It’s far too high. I’m so sorry.”

“You mean he won’t make it?” Cheryl asked.

Pauline nodded as the trooper went into a violent coughing bout.

“I strongly suggest that you get yourself home,” the official suggested.

Cheryl shook her head.

“I’m staying put mate.”

Fronter coughed before suddenly entering the burn out phase.

“Good grief!” Cheryl muttered as her friend disintegrated before her eyes.

Pauline stood sadly and turned to the official.

“You know what this means don’t you?”

“That it has got out,” Nefonza replied coldly.

“It certainly has,” Pauline said as two more cases struggled inside.

The official had not liked what he saw and became determined to stamp it out. He quickly questioned the latest cases and determined they had come from one of the city’s tower blocks.

“What do you mean to do?” Cheryl asked. “I came from there too.”

Nefonza took her to one side.

“I strongly suggest that you find somewhere else to stay my dear.”

She watched him rush off, as a cold feeling gripped her spinal cord.

The tall official made his way back to the emergency committee, and reported the events that were now unfolding within the battered capitol.

“We have no choice,” he argued. “If we do not nip this in the bud, many more of our people will die.”

The other members glanced at each other sadly and nodded.

“What about Maria?” an official asked.

The official had reached a decision on this too.

“Let them have the money but make damn sure that the notes are infected. At least we’ll get her back.”
...
The flats stood quietly as the sunlight beamed down upon them. Within that building, the number of cases was slowly escalating. Terrified residents had now sealed themselves within their homes, unaware of the horror to come.

It was the line of army trucks that was the first hint of trouble. As they drew to a halt, troops dressed in combat gear jumped out, a few of them sporting a short cylinder upon their backs.

As the armed men sealed the block off, the flamethrower team entered and began making their way toward the fifteenth and top floor.

As they clambered up the stone steps, two of the infected reached the basement by the only lift. They had been infected within that hour, and now stood coughing their tortured guts up.

As the lift doors opened and they staggered up, dark muzzles were levelled, and the weapons barked their uncompromising response.

The team had reached the top floor at last and unbridled their metallic tubes. Without an order, they sprayed the door with orange flame before retreating toward the next floor.

As doors ignited, those trapped inside screamed for mercy. Those screams were simply ignored.

One couple suspected what was up and waited by the door as the fire team arrived upon their floor. They threw the door open and tried to rush the surprised troopers.

A burst of flame cut them down as the team moved on.

Cheryl was now standing at a discreet distance watching the windows bellow smoke as the fires caught hold.

“They can’t be really doing this.”

She saw an unfortunate resident plummet from the top floor like some demented Roman candle.

There was a sickening crunch as he hit the cold pavement outside as the fire team stepped outside at last.

“All done.”

The building was rapidly being engulfed in flame now, as the shocked cop looked on. Thick black smoke drifted across the city as another victim combusted at the stadium.

Cheryl simply stood stock still watching the carnage, inflicted by a desperate government. She turned away and started to walk away quickly, but a short cough drew her up.

“Must be the damn smoke.”
...
Pauline had just watched an eighteenth month old babe disintegrate, as she was cradled in her mom’s safe arms. She turned away, as her agile mind counted the recent causality rate.

“That’s forty now. How long have we got I wonder?”

She heard a sudden commotion at the main entrance and saw a group of armed troopers arrive.

“What the hell are they doing here?”

She was about to give them a piece of her mind when they suddenly opened fire.

As bullets streaked in all directions, the sick simply lay at repose as Pauline and her staff dived for cover.

She saw the troops moving deliberately from the door, spraying bullets toward the sick and well in equal measure.

She rolled to one side as a grenade was tossed in her direction.
After the concussion, she lay quite still as the team continued their gruesome orders.

She heard a familiar cry as one of her nurses fell under that metallic hail. A careless boot struck her chest but Pauline absorbed it without any sign of resistance.

The team moved across the floor, firing toward the blood soaked floor as some of the sick attempted to crawl away.

The team made sure that these attempts were entirely futile.
Pauline remained silent as the team left at last. Only after twenty minutes had passed, did she dare to open her eyes.

The once proud stadium was now a charnel house. A woman only a few feet away was staring at her with glazed eyes. Blood trickling from a fatal head wound.

Pauline ignored her and managed to stand upon her feet. She gazed around for signs of life, but of course, there was none.

She shook her head before making her way toward the bloodstained exit, and possible safety.

She peeked out at the sunlight, noting that the street was empty. As she stepped outside, a figure turned the corner into view.

“Cheryl?”

The unhappy cop ran toward her.

“I’m glad that you are okay. What was all that shooting about?”

“They massacred all my staff and patients.”

“They set fire to my block as well,” Cheryl replied.

“No point sticking around here,” the nurse whispered. “Where are you off to?”

“I really don’t know.”

The cop coughed again.

“Don’t worry; it’s just a frog in my throat.”

“Why not come back with me then?” Pauline suggested.

“I’ve nowhere else to go. Is it far?”

Pauline shook her head.

“It’s about four blocks from here. I just hope the damned troops
have not fired it.”

Cheryl nodded and took her warm arm.

“Let’s go then my dear.”

As they headed off toward the safety of a home, dark clouds gathered overhead as the rain arrived at last.