“Now, I will take questions but in an orderly fashion. But first, I must remind everyone that the President will be making a national address in two hours,” Ernie said as everyone raised their hands.
He pointed and a voice asked. “What about the reports we’ve heard from Mexico?”
“Yes, it’s been confirmed that there are horrifying death rates down there. The mutations reached them before making it here,” Ernie answered, pointing at another person.
“So, the mutations came from Mexico?”
Shaking his head, “Not that we know of because the mutations have been discovered in Europe, the Middle East, and all the way to China,” Ernie answered and pointed at another person.
“Have any survived the mutated virus?”
“Yes, no virus is one hundred percent fatal. If you get sick, you need to drink fluids and control your fever. Hospitals are pushed past their breaking point, so I caution you to use your own judgement about going to hospitals. I can guarantee you, the virus is at every hospital in the nation now,” Ernie told the reporter as he pointed.
“Is this the Rudolph flu we’ve heard of on the internet?”
Nodding, “From what we’ve gathered, we have to say it is,” Ernie said, pointing at another.
“What if people run out of food?”
“I suggest you ration what you have. It takes a long time to starve, but this virus will kill you in two weeks. Ration what you have until you are supplied by the Red Cross or the military,” Ernie answered, pointing.
“People have to work?”
“No, they don’t,” Ernie said, frowning. “The President has signed a presidential order eliminating all bills and interest for sixty days. There can be no repossessions, evictions, shutting off of utilities or any repercussions for financial reasons. Any business that does can be sued with unlimited damages for claims.”
“Whoa,” Arthur gasped and heard several people in the room gasp in shock as well, as Ernie pointed again.
“How many deaths have occurred here?”
“We are still getting numbers because over the last twenty-four hours, the death rate has skyrocketed but I can tell you, it’s over a million and climbing fast,” Ernie said and all the hands dropped down in shock. “Are we done?” he asked, looking around. “You can e-mail me questions and I suggest you pick up the mask on your way out, but don’t think that mask is a tank. Avoid people at all cost and thank you.”
Before Ernie turned to leave, everyone in the room bolted for the doors and the screen cut back to Mark who was staring off screen with a wide-open mouth. “Mark, we are on the air,” a voice said off camera.
Shaking his head, “Sorry, as you’ve just heard from Ernie Ostimer, Director of the CDC, the virus has mutated,” Mark said, visibly sweating. “The Rudolph virus is highly contagious and people need to avoid all contact with others.”
As Mark shuffled his papers, a ticker rolled across the bottom of the screen, repeating the answers to each question and all warnings. “Holy bitch balls, Batman,” Arthur mumbled, struggling to stand up. All he could think of was Wendy. He was certain Joseph would be okay in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Getting up, he headed to his computer. Dropping into his chair, he opened the folder for the servers in the basement, going through the library until he found a book on the avian flu virus and the different types.
He sat reading, just to keep his mind occupied for several hours. When his computer beeped, Arthur jumped in his chair and saw he had another e-mail from Wendy. He glanced at the clock on the computer and saw it was almost six p.m.
Moving the cursor over the e-mail, Arthur noticed it had been sent four hours ago as he clicked it open.
Hey Hun,
The captain just told us we can’t put into port until we are quarantined and he is going to look for another port on the eastern seaboard. The flu is here and people are dying. I’ve tried to call over a dozen times, but can’t get through. Got an e-mail from Joseph that he made it and is okay. He said he tried to get several to you, but they kept getting returned. He says he will find a way to get home before the end of summer.
I’m helping the doctor and nurse on the ship because I know I have it and can help others as long as I can. The sneezing started this morning and the fever will be starting soon. In the last three hours, we’ve had four hundred die and there was nothing we could do.
I promise you I will fight this, but you have to promise to stay safe for Joseph. Don’t get around anyone, you have to help our baby boy. I love you and you were the best thing to ever happen to me. Please stay safe for Joseph, I know he’s grown up, but he will need you after this.
I have to go, there is another code. I love you and if I make it through this, I will come home. If I don’t, I’ll wait for you.
Love you more than the world.
Arthur felt his chest get tight and had trouble breathing when he’d finished the message. Tears flowed from his face as he reread the letter. Through teary eyes, he clicked ‘respond’ and typed, ‘I love you, Wendy’.
It was all he could write before he started wailing. Finally, he clicked ‘send’ and fell out of his chair,
