“He’s a molecular biologist, John. I think he knows a lot about viruses in general.”
“Yeah … that would make sense, but there’s just something about the guy I can’t tag.”
“He’s kind of a loner, but I’ve met a lot of guys like him in the academic community. They just don’t have the capacity for small talk, but when they say something, you’d better listen.”
“True. I’m also starting to worry about Leo. I can tell that he’s having a hard time dealing with the fact that Sarah’s disappeared. He seems to clam up about things that are really bothering him.”
“I know. His mind has been somewhere else today. I guess the thought of what they might do to her is probably too horrible for him to think about … much less talk about.”
“I wonder how she survived the virus. I mean, that’s really something to think about.”
“I’ll leave that to the scientists to figure out, but there is one thing I can tell you. We’ll be going after her. You can count on that.”
The theme song from
“You’ve got to be kidding,” John said. “Your ringtone is the theme from
Alon grinned as he fumbled for his phone. “It’s one of my favorite movies … seems kind of fitting right now.”
Alon answered and listened briefly before shoving the small phone back in his pocket. “We have to go … now. They want us back on the yacht yesterday.”
“What’s up?”
“Alex didn’t say. He just said they wanted us back onboard ASAP.”
Alon tossed some Euros on the table before they both began dodging cars as they raced across the street to the dock. Running toward the yacht, they saw an official-looking vehicle drive away as Lev stood on the bridge and watched. He waved them up before disappearing back inside.
As soon as they arrived on the bridge, they saw the captain on the phone and felt the rumble from the engines below, signaling an imminent departure.
“Where’s Lev?”
Alex jerked his thumb back toward the navigation table around the corner. They could see that Leo and Lev were hastily poring over charts with Moshe.
“What’s going on?”
Lev glanced up from his charts. “We’ve been ordered out of the harbor.”
“What?”
“The authorities here in Monaco were pretty tight-lipped in giving us a reason. They said something about being short on fuel and told us to leave.”
“John and I just spoke to the harbormaster. He said they had plenty of fuel.”
“We know. Something’s going on and they don’t want us here. They can do what they want … it’s their harbor, but the Carmela’s never been turned away before … anywhere.”
“What about the pathogen?” Alon asked. “Have there been any reports here locally?”
“Nothing.”
Moshe was twirling one end of his moustache. “It’s possible they believe we’ve come into contact with the virus, but whatever the reason, we’ve touched a nerve somewhere and they want us out of here.”
“This place is a haven for international yachts,” Alon said. “A lot of very powerful people live here … rich people with influence …” Alon’s voice trailed off when he realized the significance of his last statement.
Lev looked up from his charts. “Exactly … rich people with influence, and some of them don’t want us here for some reason.”
“What are we going to do?”
Alex flicked a switch on the console. “We’re leaving.”
“Where to … Israel?”
Lev looked out through the expansive windows at the dazzling harbor of Monte Carlo before answering. “No … we’re going back to Spain.”
CHAPTER 28
Fourteen hours after they had eased away from the dock at Monaco, the Carmela glided into the harbor at
Below decks, Lev was lowering the yacht’s large stern door down into the water when Moshe came running down into the aft compartment, waving a sheet of paper.
“The pathogen!”
Lev froze. Moshe looked frightened.
“It’s a bulletin from the World Health Organization. The virus … it’s popping up all over the world! All commercial aircraft have now been permanently grounded, and every seaport in the world has suspended their shipping operations. The world is shutting down.”
Lev lit a cigar and watched the smoke drift out over the water. “I’ve had a feeling all along that this was coming. Call Daniel at the villa and tell him to have the staff seal all the entrances and double security … and lock down the boat. Don’t let anyone go ashore.”
“What about the Spanish scientists?”
“They can go if they want, but they have to understand that if they decide to go they won’t be allowed back onboard.”
“I’ll tell them.”
The two men crossed the compartment’s aluminum grating and climbed the stairs to the main deck. “Where is everyone?” Lev asked.
“I believe they’re all gathering in the command center.”
A sudden, ear-splitting blast from a siren startled both men as a patrol boat from the Spanish Navy motored up next to the yacht. Standing on the bow, they saw a white-uniformed officer holding a megaphone in his hand as he braced himself against a large deck-mounted gun.
“Ahoy there on the Carmela.” The Spanish naval officer waved and tried to remain upright on the rolling deck of his boat. “We’ve been ordered to inform all boats in the harbor that they are now under quarantine. You may anchor here, but no one will be allowed to come ashore. There will be no exceptions. Anyone trying to land on Spanish soil will be arrested and sent to a quarantine camp. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but these are emergency measures and will be strictly enforced. Spain’s borders are now closed until further notice.”
The young officer managed an apologetic smile before the patrol boat turned and sped away toward a large ship entering the harbor.
“This kind of changes things,” Moshe said.
Lev puffed on his cigar as he watched the navy boat grow smaller in the distance. “Yes, it does.”
The two men looked at one another-two old warriors who had seen combat together more times than they could remember. Lev calmly snuffed out his cigar before both men trudged up to the command center. Once inside, they immediately spotted the small red dots lighting up all over the large, multi-colored electronic map of the world above their heads.
“I assume those dots indicate the spread of the pathogen?” Lev said.
Holding a phone in each hand, the female communications officer looked back over her shoulder. “Yes, sir. The computer is automatically updating the display as we receive new information. I have the Vatican on line one and the command center at the villa is on the sat phone. I could use a little help here.” She shoved the ship-to- shore radio phone into Lev’s hand.
“Hello …”
“Lev … is that you?” It was the voice of Bishop Morelli.
“Yes, Anthony. What’s happening in Rome?”
“Nothing right now. We think that Rome and the parts of Italy that have already been hit by the pathogen are probably safe from this new outbreak, but we’re not taking any chances. People have been told to remain in their homes for now.”
“Has there been even a hint about where this virus is coming from or how it targets its victims?”
