Millen couldn’t imagine what it was like for the physician—being trapped in the place where he had worked, where he had saved lives and done so much good. A prisoner inside his own failing body, barely able to walk, unable to escape from a deserted, post-apocalyptic realm. Millen wondered how he would react if he were trapped alone inside the CDC building in Atlanta, the outside world having fallen apart. It was a nightmare. But the horror of this place hadn’t broken the Kenyan doctor’s will to live. Millen was glad.
For the most part, they walked in silence. Elim gasped for breath as he put one staggering leg in front of the other. Millen held him as best he could. It was a furnace inside the suit, and sweat poured down Millen’s face. He couldn’t wait to take it off, but he wouldn’t leave the man’s side, not until he was finished.
When Elim was too weak to proceed, Millen helped him back to his room and into bed.
“It’s amazing how quickly the muscles atrophy,” Elim said. “If disease doesn’t kill you, lying in bed will.”
Millen nodded.
Elim motioned to the cart. “There’s food there. Take some.”
“Thank you, but some people with me are scouring the town. We’ll be fine.”
“The rest of your team is here as well?”
“No. They’re gone. Our camp was raided while I was away. Most of my team was killed, along with the Kenyan soldiers assigned to protect us. Two of my team members were abducted.”
Elim exhaled heavily. “I’m sorry. Disasters are an opportunity for the worst of humanity. And the best.”
A pause, then Elim asked, “Were you close to your colleagues?”
Millen hesitated. “I’ve only been working with them for six months. But I was getting closer to one in particular. My…” he grasped for the right word, settled on, “roommate.”
Elim smiled. “Does your roommate have a name?”
“Hannah Watson.” Not knowing what else to say, Millen described her briefly. Talking about her actually helped; he didn’t realize before then how hard it was to think about her—or to even say her name.
Elim thought for a moment. “Yes. I remember her. She took the samples when you were here last. Very thorough.”
Millen smiled. “Yes. She’s very thorough.” He grew quiet. “They shot her when they invaded the camp. She was one of the ones who was abducted. I don’t know if she’s alive or dead.”
Elim spoke slowly. “I’ve recently learned the value of something I’ve never had much use for: faith. Last night, I thought I would never leave this room. Have faith and patience, Dr. Thomas. Time works miracles. We must have the courage to wait for them.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, sweat dripping from Millen’s brow, soaking his face, the taste of salt touching his lips.
When Elim had caught his breath, he asked, “If your team is gone, who is searching the town?”
“Survivors. From a village nearby.”
Elim looked surprised. “They were given ZMapp?”
“No. They survived the virus.”
“That’s good.”
“I’m taking them back to Atlanta. Hopefully we can study the antibodies for clues about how to treat the infection.”
“Have you told them?”
“I have. They know what they’re signing up for. They’ve agreed.”
“Good. It’s a good plan.”
“When will you be ready to move again?” Millen asked.
Elim peered out the window at the sun. “If you must, come again at sunset. It will be cooler.”
Halima and the other two survivors returned pushing a cart filled to the brim with produce and packaged food. They joined Millen in the main tent and sat around the long table, sharing in a bizarre feast of junk food, MREs, fresh produce, and soft drinks.
When the sun began to set over the rocky hills in the distance, Millen again donned the suit. He was about to coat it with chlorine when Elim emerged from the hospital, pushing the cart full of supplies that had stood in his room.
In seconds, Millen and the survivors were at his side.
“I didn’t want to spend another night in there,” Elim said, panting.
“I don’t blame you,” Millen said.
He introduced the Kenyan physician to the villagers, and the five of them made their way to the tent complex, which they set about transforming into a makeshift rehabilitation facility for Elim.
Chapter 51
In Atlanta, the day had gone mostly as Elliott had expected. The stock market crash had rattled everyone. It was a cloud that hung over the euphoria of Black Friday.
The most difficult part of his plan had been convincing the other five families to pool their money with his for the purchases, which together added up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. They had begun by renting two twenty-six-foot U-Haul trucks. They drove them to Costco and filled them with survival necessities. It was mostly food; Elliott planned to be near a freshwater source if worst came to worst.
Next, they purchased two high-end RVs. The price was exorbitant, but they carried a thirty-day money-back guarantee, and they only had to make a down payment—the remainder was financed. Elliott had assured his neighbors that within thirty days, they would either be incredibly glad to have the two homes on wheels—or they’d have their money back.
Now he sat in his study, watching the news, waiting for the event he believed would come.
He hoped he was wrong.
DAY 7
900,000,000 Infected
180,000 Dead
Chapter 52
Desmond’s captors were trying a new approach. Gone were the teams that showed him pictures and played music. Now three skinny white guys were camped out at a long folding table, typing on their laptops. Black cords snaked out of their computers, connecting to dozens of cell phones and tablets.
Periodically, the three stooges, as Desmond had nicknamed them, would erupt in an argument. They stood, shouted, paced, pointed, and threw their hands up. He couldn’t hear them, though—they had turned off the speaker in his cell—so he could only watch the three guys argue like a silent slapstick comedy.
He had almost drifted off to sleep when a fourth figure entered the scene beyond the thick glass wall. She struck a sharp contrast with the greasy-haired guys. She was tall, blond, with piercing green eyes. She glanced at Desmond, a glimmer of recognition in her eyes, then turned away. The exchange was so brief that he instantly wondered if he had imagined it. She focused her attention on a tablet and tapped several times.