“I knew you were a coward, but I never would have thought you’d haul ass on me in a situation like that.” He leaned closer and used his free hand to protect his eyes from the blowback he knew would come from such a close shot.
“Hold on, man! I thought you baled on me. You peeled out and just fuckin’ left me!”
Squirrel’s face grimaced as he knelt over the man. “Bullshit. You saw me turn and ride into the ragers. The only reason you’re still breathing is because of me. And then you hauled ass in the opposite direction.”
Slug’s head shook violently side to side. “No way, man. I never saw you go into the crowd! I swear to god!” He swallowed hard and held a hand up, trying in vain to somehow block the bullet that would smear his brain matter across the pavement. “I was just trying to save my own skin!”
Squirrel clenched his teeth and glared at the coward sprawled on the ground. “No shit.”
He came to his feet and holstered the weapon. “You ever pull a fuckin’ stunt like that on me again…I’ll finish this.”
Slug nodded rapidly and tried to crab walk away from him. He got to his feet slowly and stared at his bike. “Fuck me, man. You trashed my ride.”
“It was a piece of shit before you wrecked it.” Squirrel straddled his Indian and kicked it off. “You best try to get her started. That crowd of ragers are just over that hill.”
Slug lifted the wrecked Harley and began checking it. He closed his eyes and prayed as he tried to start it.
Squirrel didn’t wait to see if it would run again. He kicked the bike into gear and pulled away, leaving Slug to his own devices.
Jason chewed nervously at his thumbnail while Vivian LaRue scanned the lab report. “As we suspected, you’re not infected.” She closed the folder and stared at him. “Neither are you immune.”
“Meaning?”
She shrugged. “You’ve been lucky as heck that you haven’t contracted the virus from your girlfriend.” She stood and dropped the lab report on her desk.
“Wait, so you mean…she could give it to me?”
Vivian turned and stared at him as though he were daft. “Of course. I remember telling you that she’s a carrier. We’ll have to use the same precautions in dealing with her as we would with any of the infected that had you so worried.”
Jason came to his feet. “Now hold on just a goddam second. Surely you don’t mean to keep her locked up like those other people?” He was practically yelling as he glared at her.
“Of course not. She’s completely lucid. And from what we can tell, she’s not likely to become asymptomatic.”
Jason gave her a confused stare. “What do you mean?”
Vivian sighed and set down her work in order to give him her full attention. “Mr. Anderson, it’s really quite simple. As long as she continues to behave like a normal person, she shall be treated as a normal person. However, we are aware she carries the virus in her system, so it is possible, however improbable, she could become symptomatic. In that case, she will be treated as any other infected person.”
Jason’s eyes darted side to side as he took in her words. “So, if she starts to act like the crazies, then she’ll be caged like one?”
Vivian sighed again. “Yes, that is a very simplistic way of putting it, but you are correct.”
“That ain’t right, doc. You know she isn’t infected.”
“Ah, but she is. She just isn’t reacting the same way you or I would if we were to become infected.” She took a deep breath and prepared for a tirade.
Jason slowly nodded. “So, as long as she keeps acting normal, she’s good, right?”
“Precisely!” She shot him a beaming smile. “I’m so glad you understand.”
Jason nodded slowly as he processed everything. Finally, he turned and gave her a solemn look. “What do you think the odds are she’ll stay normal?”
Vivian wasn’t expecting that question. “Honestly, Mr. Anderson, I think her odds are quite good. I know I explained to you about the different versions of the virus. How it mutated?” He nodded. “If we limit her interactions with others, keep her contained within the ship and ensure she doesn’t come into contact with people who are out and about, then we can safely assume she won’t be exposed to other versions of the virus. Then it’s safe to assume that her chances of becoming symptomatic are also limited.”
“Keep her locked up?”
She shook her head. “Not exactly. Just limit her exposure to others.” She pointed to the people coming and going outside her office. “Some of the people who work on this ship go to shore from time to time. With the different versions of the mutated virus out there, there is a slight possibility one of them could bring it back here. I’m not saying that her immune system wouldn’t also fight it off, or even allow her to be a carrier of the mutated virus, but there’s always the possibility that a different form would actually infect her and she could…turn.”
“How would they bring it back if they aren’t bitten?” He could feel his insides twisting at the possibility they could be trapped on a ship with infected people running about.
“The virus was originally made airborne. Those who were infected by the airborne version spread it by scratches or bites.” She shrugged. “There’s always the possibility that another mutated form might become viable under those same conditions.”
“So it could go airborne again?” He could feel his mouth go dry as he spoke.
She nodded slowly. “It’s a possibility.” She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’s not probable, but it is possible.”
He felt his legs go out from under him. “So then, it wouldn’t just be her…but all of us.”
She gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Exactly.”
Candy shook her head, her body stiff. “I don’t like it. Not one bit.”
