Episode 16

The chief medic stepped inside the mobile surgery that had arrived an hour before. As she gazed down upon the unfortunate manager, she muttered wearily, “I just hope that this pill theory is wrong.”

She took a scalpel from the tray and expertly sliced the cadaver from groin to the chest. As she prised the flesh open, she peered inside.

“Usual mass of blood I see.”

She felt around the liver and felt how squashy it had become.

“I was expecting that at least. Nothing unusual so far.”

Her gloved hands found the kidneys that had collapsed completely before reaching the stomach area. She cut this open and saw that the sack was drowned in fresh blood.

“All the vessels collapsed I see. Typical viral effects.”

She returned to the head and taking a bone saw opened up the skull.

“Oh no...”

She had expected the blood vessels to collapse and this had indeed happened. However, the actual grey flesh had turned into a thick goo.

She finished the gruesome task and after going through the shower unit stepped outside. When she rejoined the officer, she whispered grimly.

“I found something really nasty. The brain had disintegrated completely. That is not typical of Ebola, nor any virus that I know about.”

Ben turned to the detective.

“It’s been weaponised then.”

“That is the obvious conclusion,” the chief medic said. “If this thing gets out, billions will perish.”

“The mayor has sealed the town off mam,” Harris informed her. “Will that be enough?”

“I just hope so.”

A colleague wandered over and whispered something.

“More bad news?” Ben enquired.

“We lost the ambulance crew and the mortician. That is five so far.”

“How is the bell boy doing?” Harris asked.

“Pretty poorly. Thankfully the hospital reports no further cases.”

“We might just have dodged a bullet then,” Ben suggested.

“You better hope we have,” she said grimly.”

As darkness fell upon the stricken town, the mayor had at last made a public broadcast. The people listened politely to the reassuring words, despite the obvious fact of the military blockade.

Elsewhere though, a group of unruly late teens had other thoughts.

“What right have they to decide who can enter and leave?” Albrecht asked.

“The mayor is only doing his best for us,” Collage countered.

“Do you two fancy waiting here to die?” Rabone said. “They won’t be able to stop this thing.”

“The mayor said that only five had died remember,” Collage pointed out.

“He is a politician. That is what he’s supposed to say. I bet the tolls much higher.”

“So what do you want to do?” Albrecht said.

“I just want to survive this thing. Surely the army cannot cover the entire town.”

Albrecht began to figure out what Rabone meant.

“We find a breach in their wall you mean?”

“There must be one. I fancy heading west toward the coast. Plenty of clean, fresh air there.”

“Perhaps we should try it,” Albrecht said.

“Are you two insane?” Collage asked. “Those guys are armed to the teeth.”

“I seriously doubt they would shoot,” Rabone pointed out. “Once we break through they couldn’t possibly stop us.”

“I’m with you,” Albrecht said firmly.

Collage shook his head.

“I’m doing what the mayor suggested and staying put. You two will never get out.”

His friends grinned at him as they headed for the door. Just beyond, stood the sleek black sports car that Rabone had recently purchased.

“This babe can outrun anything.”

He climbed inside and kicked the engine into life.

“What about Collage?” Albrecht asked.

“He won’t say anything mate. Just think eh? Within the hour we shall be well gone.”

He switched the headlights on and gunned the engine fiercely. As it sped off, he negotiated the road network until they reached the western freeway.

“So far so good mate,” Rabone muttered as he slammed his foot to the metal. The bumper lifted as they hit ninety, hurtling into the darkness around them.

As the vehicle sped down the carriageway, a series of red lights appeared.

“That’s the roadblock,” Albrecht warned.

“Just you hang on.”

The troopers watched as the vehicle hurtled towards them, a wooden barrier blocking the road.

“He appears to be determined,” the officer muttered. “Fire warning shots.”

The troopers opened up but the car continued bearing down.

“We just have to crash that barrier!” Rabone hissed as he pointed the bonnet at what he thought was the weakest point.

“The ruddy fools!” the officer shouted as his men dashed for safety.

The bonnet smashed into the barrier, the wheels blowing as they struck the concrete blocks hidden behind it. The vehicle slewed wildly before the rear took to the air.

The troopers watched helplessly as it cart wheeled three times before exploding into yellow flame.

The following morning the major held what proved to be the final meeting with his crisis staff.

The chief medic was present and delivered an optimistic report.

“Despite the deaths sir, I feel that this outbreak is now over and that decontamination measures can be initiated.”

“How long will that take.”

“About forty-eight hours. Then the hospital and hotel can be reopened.”

As the mayor nodded with satisfaction, the major spoke up.

“If that is the case, then the roadblocks can be lifted today.”

“Would you support that mam?”

“I can’t see the point of maintaining them sir.”

The mayor sighed with relief.

“Open the roads major and pull the troops back to barracks.”

As night fell and the infected areas were thoroughly deep cleaned,
Ben sat at home typing up his report for the local paper.

“We were damn lucky this time. Sometimes I wonder when that luck will run out.”

He typed in the last sentence and then poured himself a large wine.
As he sipped slowly at the French red, Harris tapped upon his door.

“You are a sight for sore eyes.”

“I just popped in to complete the picture mate. Final checks confirmed that our man was working alone.”

“That is good news Harris. Any news from Russia?”
The detective shook his head.

“They are denying any involvement.”

Ben sighed loudly.

“Only an experienced virologist could have created that pill. My real fear is that another one will turn up.”

The detective smiled.

“Then I have some better news. The government has just banned the carrying of pillboxes and pouches. That should help.”

Ben tried to smile, glancing back into the lounge.

“I’ll leave you to that wine mate,” the detective said wandering off.

Ben closed the door gently and muttered, “As if that will work.”