“Huh?” Andrews didn’t catch the reference. “I’m almost positive they’ll follow the sound. It’s like a drug. They’ll want more.”
“We need to test this. As quickly as possible.”
Andrews smiled. “Yes, sir.” Andrews suddenly paused and stared at him. “Um…how?”
“How do you think? In the field, you idiot,” Vickers barked. “I need to have them all gathered into one place. Preferably one place in a clearing. High ground. Easy to spot.”
“Oh.” Andrews was beginning to realize Vickers intent. “Very well, sir. I’ll see to it.”
“No. You won’t,” Vickers sneered. “I’ll see to it. Prepare the ultrasound device for testing, captain. Set it to the proper frequency and maximum volume. Or…loudest setting. Just do whatever you have to do so that it can be heard the easiest by these things.”
“Yes, sir.” Andrews suddenly felt dejected. It was his discovery, and now some grunt would be field testing it. He sighed as he turned and stepped from the trailer. “I’ll have it ready momentarily, sir.”
Vickers followed him from the trailer, noting that as soon as it was turned off, the creatures began to stir from their calmed mood, gnashing their teeth and screaming once more. Vickers eyed the two civilians and shook his head. He didn’t envy what would soon become of them.
“Are you certain?” Dr. Andersson asked as he stared at his computer. Vivian LaRue’s image stared back at him via video conference, and the look on her face confirmed how serious she was. Neils slumped in his chair. “And this is the same virus we discovered in the Neanderthal?”
“Joseph swears it is an exact match.” Vivian settled in closer to the camera. “He claims there has been no genetic drift from the samples we published.” Her accent lilted as she gestured wildly with her hands. “This is unheard of, Neils!”
“I agree,” he replied, stroking at his chin. “With the amount of time alone, the virus should have mutated hundreds, if not thousands of times.”
Vivian shook her head. “I’ve yet to tell you the worst part,” she nearly whispered. “They’re planning to infect people with it. Healthy people!”
Neils collapsed into his chair, his face momentarily slipping out of view from the camera. “No! They don’t know what they’re doing. This disease may well have caused Neanderthals to become extinct…if they allow modern man to be exposed…”
“They’ve already been exposed,” Vivian explained. “They plan to test on more of them.” She glanced over her shoulder then checked her watch. “Joseph’s expecting me to meet him there shortly.”
“You mustn’t!” Neils exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “You’ll be stepping into Ground Zero.”
“You think I don’t know this?” Her eyes filled with tears. “I thought I cared for this man and now…” she trailed off.
Neils gave a slight gasp, unaware of the situation. “I had no idea, Vivian,” he replied softly. “What will you do?”
“He is expecting me. What can I do?”
“You mustn’t go,” Neils answered. “It is far too dangerous.”
“He will know that something is wrong if I do not,” she whispered. “I offered to contact you and he became upset.”
“I would think he would!” Neils practically yelled. “Look at what they are doing!” He sat back in his chair and considered her options. “You should run away. Go back to the E.U.”
“I cannot. My work…”
“You could work anywhere. You could work here with me.” His voice had a tone of pleading in it that she recognized, but refused to acknowledge.
“What if I could stop them, Neils? What if I could go there and perhaps toss the monkey wrench into their plans?”
He shook his head vehemently. “It is too dangerous.” He stood and began pacing, not caring that he was walking out of the frame of the camera. “This is the military, no? They cannot be reasoned with.” He stepped back into the frame and leaned toward the screen. “You can’t do it.”
“Neils, I really don’t think I have a choice.” She sighed and shook her head, her hair falling down and covering her face. “But I might be able to derail their efforts.”
His eyes narrowed as he stared at her image. “How? You know what it’s like working with a military group. Remember when we tried to work with the Legion?”
She nodded and smiled sadly. “This isn’t the Legion, Neils. This is the United States military. They have rules,” she said, hoping she was right.
“Obviously not if they plan to infect healthy people!”
Vivian hung her head in defeat. She knew he was right. “And if I can somehow taint their samples? Or maybe switch the virus with saline? Or simply let the people that they intend to infect somehow know what is coming so that they can avoid the vector…I don’t know!” She shook her fists at the screen in frustration. “But I feel responsible for this. I have to do something!”
Neils sighed and slumped back in his chair. Finally, he raised his eyes to meet hers and nodded. “Very well,” he said softly. “Do what you must.” He leaned closer to the screen and met her gaze, “But promise me you will be careful. And if there is any way possible for you to transmit their intentions to me, do so! I’ll hold on to it in case you are successful,” he promised. “But if you are not…I’ll expose them to the world.”
Chapter 8
Bob Jennings continued down the road, checking each car that he came across. On more than one occasion, he came across an open car, but no keys. Bob knew better than to try to hotwire the damned thing. That crap only worked on television. And even if he could get it to start, the steering column was still locked, so he couldn’t steer it. He needed something with the keys in it!
As he sat in the front seat of a Volkswagen, he searched the meager contents for anything he might find
