* * *
“I assure you I decontaminated the outside before I brought it over,” Tom said, setting the cooler down on the doctor’s desk.
“Which is why you’re wearing nitrile gloves?” Curry said. So was he. And goggles and a light respirator. He opened up the cooler and pulled out one of the bags. “Should I ask?”
“There are people in the city who have pet monkeys,” Tom said, tonelessly. “They get zombieitis too.”
“It’s not zombieitis,” Dr. Curry said, examining the spinal cord. “Itis refers to inflammation. Positive for H7D3, though. Zombigenic? Nobody has a really good term yet. This ‘monkey’ would be about five foot seven at a guess…”
“And in good enough shape to chase a woman two blocks,” Tom said. “Fast monkey. Your point?”
“None, really,” Dr. Curry said. “I’ll be doing the work in the hot zone. And I suppose that twitting the person who brought it to me is one of the stupidest possible things I could do all things considered.”
“Doc, as long as you’re producing vaccine, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Tom said.
“That had a faintly sinister tone to it, Mr. Smith,” Dr. Curry said, starting to suit up.
“And if you think I’m
“I’ll keep that firmly in mind,” Curry said.
* * *
“Voila,” Curry said, holding up a vial from the door of Tom’s office. “Primer.”
“Come in all the way, please,” Tom said. “That wasn’t quick.”
It is, to say the least, a tedious procedure,” Curry said, closing the door. “The longest part as a process is separation through a medium. But I even checked the attenuation level. It’s good.”
“I need a detailed SOP on how to produce it,” Tom said, walking over and taking the vial. He held it up to the light, then paused. “Sorry about the sinister thing earlier. We need you for more than vaccine. This is an ongoing issue and I’ve convinced Dr. Bateman that you’re definitely needed on the evac. So you’re secure.”
“Trust you?” Curry said with a snort. He pulled out a couple of syringes. “Ready to shoot up?”
“Very,” Tom said. “And I’m, of course, trusting that this works and isn’t going to give me the virus. Or be some odd poison.”
“See how sinister things can get?” Curry said, pulling out a dose from the vial and rolling up his arm. “Me first. How’s that?”
“I can think of at least ten ways this could be a trick,” Tom said, injecting the biologist. “Starting with you’ve already given yourself the vaccine and this is just water.”
“Oh ye of little faith,” Curry said, shaking his head. “I take it you’re on the executive evac list? Like I want a zombie your size to go nuts onboard? How are we getting out, by the way?”
“Depends on the situation at the time,” Tom said. “Probably helo to the airport, then jets to the remote site. Which means I need vaccine for the pilots and crew as well. How much did you get?”
“Forty doses,” Curry said. “Of the primer.”
“From five…primates?” Tom said, grimacing. “That’s all?”
“That’s all,” Curry said. “Despite the nodules being visible, there’s not really a lot of virus there. Less than rabies for example. Roll up your sleeve.”
“Okay,” Tom said, taking off his shirt. There was no way he was getting the sleeves all the way up his shoulders. Then he rolled up his t-shirt sleeve. He held up his hand at the doctor. “Just… Gimme a second.”
“What’s wrong?” Curry said, then laughed. “Oh, my God. Seriously?”
“I’m okay with getting shot, knifed, blown up and shot again,” Tom said, grimacing. “Tatoos, even. I just don’t like needles, okay? Just…” He closed his eyes and turned his head to the side. “Just do it quick…”
“Said the virgin,” Curry said, stabbing in the needle and injecting the vaccine. “There, done, you big baby.”
“Uh, uh…” Tom said, shuddering. “I hate that. I really really do. Although I hate even more that you only got forty doses.”
“And that’s just primer,” Curry said, handing him a small black package. “More for your bully boys. That’s just the first dose for forty people. And figure on a minimum of ten percent wastage. And ten percent is low. We’re going to need a lot of…primates.”
“We’re looking at a minimum of two hundred doses for critical personnel alone,” Tom said. “Damnit.”
“Two hundred?” Curry said, his eyes wide. “You’ve got that many planes?”
“You forget the support staff at the remote site,” Tom said, putting his shirt back on. “The helo pilots aren’t part of the evac but they need to be vaccinated. Nor are certain critical personnel on this end. They all know that. But they’re holding out for the vaccine if nothing else. After the primaries the next goes to pilots to take vaccine to the remote site. There’s a schedule. But a minimum of two hundred doses. Two twenty if you’re talking ten percent wastage.”
“I’m going to need an assistant,” Curry said, shaking his head. “That’s more work than you realize.”
“I’ll put out an ad, shall I?” Tom said. “‘Minion wanted. Must have a complete lack of squeamishness and a sociopathic personality…’ Actually, if I thought they’d keep their mouth shut, I know a couple of people in the club industry like that… No, wouldn’t work… You?”
“Not anyone I’d trust,” Curry said, shrugging. “I mean… I’m trying to avoid thinking about what we’re doing.”
“Saving lives?” Tom said. “Come to think of it… What do you need in the way of an assistant?”
“Just someone with a strong stomach and good intelligence,” Curry said.
“How old?” Tom asked. “I mean, would an intelligent and…” He paused in thought. “Would an intelligent and
“A teenager?” Curry said, frowning. “I’m not…”
“I’m thinking of my niece,” Tom said. “She and her family are down lurking in the Hudson on a sailboat at the moment.”
“Thinking of jumping ship?” Curry asked, then frowned. “Or jumping
“There’s nothing wrong with a back-up plan,” Tom said, chuckling. “I presume
“This is a pretty big secret,” Curry pointed out.
“Which is going to get out, at least as rumor, before long,” Tom said. “I’ll get them in here and let you interview her. I’ll cover the specific details. That’s on me.”
“Are you going to clear it with Bateman?” Curry asked.
“Dr. Bateman does not need to know the details of the vaccine acquisition,” Tom said. “That way if it blows up in our face, he can sacrifice us both to the so-called justice system with a clear mind.”
“I can just feel the love,” Curry said. “You realize you’re putting your niece squarely in the crosshairs?”
“She can lie and say that she was just doing lab work and had no clue what she was doing,” Tom said, shrugging. “We cannot. But I’ll need to get her parent’s approval. Which means a trip to the River.” He picked up the vial and tossed it up and down. “I’m going to need the rest of this. Any specific requirements?”
“Keep it on ice,” Curry said. “Refrigerated anyway.”
“Get the rest to Dr. Simmons,” Tom said, walking to the door. “He has the schedule…”
CHAPTER 8
“Dad, we’ve got inbound,” Sophia said, ducking into the saloon.
“Harbor cops?” Steve said, setting his iPad down. He had to admit he was as bored as the girls just sitting in the harbor. But he also wasn’t leaving until Tom called it.
“Small fast boat,” Sophia said. “Open. Center console fishing boat I think. I only see one bloke.”
“Rig up,” Steve said, stepping up to the cockpit. He picked up a pair of binoculars and regarded the
