accident that she was immune. They studied her, they studied others. She was the reason they became so intensely interested in the Tiloks in the first place. It was the immunity thing.'
'According to the summary the antivirus and vaccine AVCD-4 appeared to work,' Kier said.
'Our guys think so too.'
'So it was the immunity theory that kept them studying the Tiloks.'
'Yup. But the Tiloks apparently have another genetic difference. Evidently a retroviral event in the Tiloks' history left a DNA segment in their genes that combined with Tillman's vector virus, RA-4TV, through natural reassortment. Out came a mutated version of the RA-4TV, called RA-4TVM, and it's a killer. Actually the original RA-4T virus was not as harmless as they thought. They got in a hurry because they were so excited about the vector application.
'Tillman's people couldn't cure either RA-4T or RA-4TVM until just recently. But it escaped into the U.S. population and Tillman's known it for two years. Often people have no symptoms for four or five years. Then they start dying. Some could live a long time. We think Tillman's been working over the past months to make it look like the virus originated on a mink farm on the Tilok reservation.'
'So how did the Tilok get RA-4TV in the first place?'
'The short answer, we don't know, but we sure as hell want to find out. We do know he was using the Tilok people to test the progress and cure rate of the AVCD-4 antivirus when used to control the run-amok RA-4TVM virus. And any of its mutations. When the RA-4TV reassorted itself and mutated to become RA-4TVM-that part we're sure was an accident. Probably isn't likely to happen in anything but a Tilok body. The bad news is that we don't have the cure for the RA-4TVM. Tillman does. It's in Volume Six. And the antivirus and vaccine were on that plane.'
'So my tribe and the rest of the country are at risk if we don't get the cure?'
'Yes. From the now long escaped RA-4TVM. Do you have Volume Six?' Doyle stared into Kier's eyes when he asked.
'How widespread is it?'
'We don't know exactly. Tillman purposely gave it to quite a few Tiloks at the clinic because he and Rawlins were desperate to know how it would spread and how it would act with the vaccine and the antivirus. Through some absolute fluke Rawlins's wife got it early on. By the time they got the cure fully developed, she was too far gone. If left untreated long enough it invades the brain. Although it's curable if you treat it early, the later stages cause neurological damage with symptomatology similar to Alzheimer's. The brain damage is irreversible, even if you kill the virus. The virus spreads from person to person in a manner similar to AIDS, but frankly more easily. It can be passed by saliva, I'm told.'
'That would really make them desperate.'
'It sure would. Imagine the liability. Even if they could cure it. Now, do you have Volume Six or don't you? I must know.'
Kier's face was a stony mask. 'I don't know how the FBI could let this happen. You know so much.'
'Listen, we've got to find the cure for this mutated virus before we take in Tillman. Otherwise he bargains with it for his freedom. We've also got to find Volume Six and get the evidence. A lot of our information came from a witness who was on that plane and is now dead.'
Kier shook his head.
'Their technology is the discovery of the century, if not the millennium.' Doyle struggled to get up, but Kier kept him down. 'Rawlins made this sixth volume to take the power out of the hands of an absolute nutter. If the FBI can get Volume Six, we might find the house of horrors where they keep all the brain-damaged clones. Maybe what he's done with the Tiloks and how to fix it. Heard enough to help me?'
'What about the plane and the soldiers?'
'Tillman must have learned Rawlins was turning on him. He had to bury Rawlins and all records of illegal activity. So he thinks up a plane crash. Step one is to get Rawlins to agree to move the lab. Step two is to make sure that all the evidence of illegal or controversial stuff is destroyed except what's being moved on this plane to the secret new lab. Step three is to load Rawlins and his closest cronies on the plane with all their records. Four, drop the important research materials to Tillman before a preset bomb explodes the plane over the ocean. Five, convince the government that all the records are gone, destroyed in the 'accidental' crash.
'We watched while the bastard got the plane off right under our noses. Somebody on our team screwed up. I'm guessing that when Tillman's men pulled their guns and prepared for the drop, the scientists were ready. They had prepared for something like this, brought their own guns maybe. The thugs were supposed to parachute down with the lab equipment and records. Instead, there's a shootout and the plane crash-lands near the drop site instead of exploding over the ocean.'
'That would explain the second explosion.'
'They picked your mountain for the drop because it was near their clinic and in line with a runway on the coast. Those footprints from the plane must have been somebody who survived the crash.' Kier shrugged in reply.
Kier hesitated.
'You gotta tell me.'
'How do I know you're the FBI?' asked Kier. 'How do I know you or the FBI haven't made a deal with the devil? It wouldn't be the first time.'
Doyle sighed. 'Look, I don't know where you get your ideas, but this isn't the movies. Sure, Tillman has friends in high places like you'd expect, but if we can get hard evidence, he's cooked.'
'Where's Tillman, then? Let's find him.'
'What's not getting through here is that Tillman's going after Mayfield. It's the best way to get you alive.'
Kier felt the words like an electric shock. Of course. Tillman knew about him and Jessie. The way she walked so close. From the track.
'I should have realized,' he said, standing. 'He's already tried that once. I've got to backtrack. Alone.'
'You'll have a lot better luck with me. Think about it. The two of us can walk right out in the open as long as we're together.'
Kier considered. Doyle was right.
Chapter 32
The lessons we're taught as children must be learned again in hard times.
Kier and Doyle backtracked Kier's trail toward Jessie. When they reached the edge of the forest next to the pasture, Kier stopped. Using a small light, he examined the tracks in the earth near a puddle. All of the imprints were made by large boots. After proceeding another fifty yards, he once again examined the ground. He found a track-Jessie's boot-and a print immediately behind hers. Kier recognized it as that of the lone stalker on the mountain. A few yards farther Kier could see that Jessie had been scuffing.
The look on Kier's face told Doyle what he needed to know.
'He found her.'
Kier nodded, his hatred of Tillman and fear for Jessie displacing everything else.
'What's your name again?' Kier asked, now able to see the man's face clearly for the first time. He was square jawed, with handsome Anglo features dominated by bushy red eyebrows and long, neat sideburns.
'I'm Quartz on the radio. The men know me by Doyle.'
'Okay, Doyle, it looks like he's taking her to the house. I'd guess if we wait, we'll hear from him over the radio. If we follow them, we'll walk into a trap.'
At that moment, Doyle's radio crackled. 'Base to Iron. Do you copy?'
