“Maybe because he contracted the disease from someone who was already in the hemorrhagic phase. Maybe he skipped the respiratory phase.”
“Which means the disease has two separate courses, depending on whom you contract it from—and what stage they’re in.” Peyton thought for a moment. “There’s something else: the Dadaab refugee camps were being infected at roughly the same time as this village.”
Jonas nodded.
“The Americans couldn’t have infected them,” Peyton said. “From their travel log, they were pretty far north of Dadaab.”
“Maybe they interacted with a trucker who was heading south?”
“Could be. But for the pathogen to amplify this much in such a short period of time strikes me as wrong.” She pointed to the map. “It’s like it’s erupting everywhere in the region at the same time. How is that possible?”
Jonas stared at the map. “An index patient who infected a large group of travelers, maybe attendees at a funeral, or a meeting of representatives from dozens of villages? Could be infected food.”
Peyton’s mind flashed to Desmond Hughes. He had sent the package of food to the two Americans. What if the villagers had received similar packages? Desmond’s call a few nights ago ran through her mind. It had ended with the words: I think you’re in danger.
She looked around to be sure she and Jonas were alone in the tent. Her voice barely above a whisper, she said, “I know it sounds crazy, but I still think this is bioterror.”
Jonas exhaled. “Okay, let’s assume it is, and play it out. Al-Shabaab is the resident terror group in the area. If they could get a biological agent, it would certainly accomplish their goal of destabilizing Kenya. They want to take over the government and set up a fundamental Islamic state. The outbreak is a pretty drastic way to go about it, but it could set up an opportunity for them.”
“So the motive is there.”
“Yeah, but let’s face it, this is way over their head.”
“Maybe they had help,” Peyton said.
“Maybe. But from whom, and why?” Jonas studied the map. “Look, I think it’s within the realm of possibility, but I don’t count it as likely. Maybe we’re just looking for a group of five people who were infected at the same time. They could have set off the outbreaks at Dadaab, the airport, Mandera, and the surrounding villages. That seems more likely to me.”
Hannah stepped inside the tent and handed Peyton a warm MRE and a bottle of water, both of which she badly needed. She thanked the young physician, who nodded and stepped back. While Peyton and Jonas studied the map, Hannah took out her satphone, dialed, and waited.
She spoke softly, then raised her voice. “How long?” She paused. “Hold the line.”
Hannah put the phone to her shoulder. “Millen has been in the first cave for an hour and a half. He hasn’t checked in for over an hour.”
“Who’s on the line?” Peyton asked.
“Kito, the local guide.”
“Put him on speaker.”
Hannah hit a button on the phone. “Kito, I’ve got Doctors Shaw and Becker here.”
“Hello, doctors.”
“Kito, did Millen bring an extra hazmat suit?” Peyton asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Are you comfortable putting the suit on and going into the cave to see if you can make radio contact with him or find him?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the man said instantly. “I will do my best.”
“Good. We appreciate that very much. Millen should have left chemlights along his path. If the trail of lights stops, search the area for him. He may have been injured during a cave-in or accident.”
“All right.”
“Keep us posted, Kito. Thank you.”
Hannah hung up, and Peyton looked into the young EIS officer’s eyes. “We’ll find him, Hannah.”
The three physicians spent the early afternoon coordinating with teams in other villages and prepping the camp for disassembly. They planned to leave at dawn the next morning.
By two p.m., they still hadn’t heard anything from Kito or Millen. Hannah had tried to call Kito’s satphone, but had gotten no answer. Hannah was growing increasingly worried. So were Peyton and Jonas, though neither of the older epidemiologists voiced their fears. Peyton decided to send another SUV loaded with four of Colonel Magoro’s men to the first cave Millen was supposed to search—just in case Kito found Millen injured and needed help transporting him out of the cave.
At two thirty, Peyton called Elliott Shapiro’s cell phone. Even after five years in the field without him, she had to admit that it calmed her to hear his voice. And going over the situation with him would help her get her head around what was happening.
She stood outside the large tent, out of earshot of Jonas and the staff.
“What are you thinking?” Elliott asked. “How could it have spread so quickly?”
“We’ve got a few theories. There could have been a group of four to ten people the index patient infected; they would have been traveling throughout the region and would have quickly spread the pathogen.”
“Makes sense.”
“However, I can’t help thinking it could be another method of transmission.”
“Like what? Infected blood? A burial?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” Peyton watched the Kenyan soldiers patrolling the camp. “What’s happening on your end?” She badly wanted to know how Lucas Turner was doing, but she resisted asking specifically.
“A lot,” Elliott said. “The US has suspended all travel to Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. We’ve also banned anyone from that region, and anyone who has recently traveled in that region, from entering the US. We’re not alone: Europe has followed suit, Australia, most of Asia as well. They say it will be the death nail in the Kenyan economy.”
“True. But I think it needs to be done.”
“I agree. Also, there’s been a new development here. We’re tracking another outbreak.”