Invasion

"This Doc M guy," Sheila said. "Yesterday he asked us what we had on the sedimentation rate for that section of DNA which we knew contained the virus."

"We sent him our estimate, didn't we?" Nancy asked.

"I sent exactly what you gave me," Jonathan said. "Even the part about our centrifuge not being able to reach such an RPM."

"Well, apparently he has access to one that can," Sheila said.

"Let me see," Nancy said to Sheila. She took the page and read it. "My gosh, we're closer to isolating the virus than we thought."

"Exactly," Sheila said. "Isolating the virus is not an antibody or a vaccine, but it is an important step. Maybe the single largest step."

"What time is it?" Jesse asked.

"Ten-thirty," Pitt said, holding his watch up to his face to see the dial. It was dark beneath the trees on the bluff overlooking the university campus. Jesse, Pitt, Cassy, Nancy, and Jonathan were sitting in the van. They had arrived a half hour earlier, but Jesse had insisted they wait. He didn't want anyone going into the medical center until the eleven o'clock shift change. He was counting on the general confusion at that time to facilitate getting what they needed and getting it out of there.

"We'll start at ten forty-five," Jesse said.

From their vantage point they could see that a number of the university asphalt parking lots had been dug up. Lights were strung across some of the open areas created and infected people were busy planting vegetables.

"They certainly are well organized," Jesse said. "Look at the way they work together without any conversation."

"But where are the cars going to park?" Pitt asked.

"That's taking environmentalism to an extreme."

"Maybe they intend not to have cars," Cassy said. "After all, cars are major polluters."

"They do seem to be cleaning up the city," Nancy said. "You have to give them credit for that."

"They're probably cleaning up the whole planet," Cassy said. "In a curious way it's making us look bad. I guess it takes an outsider to appreciate what we've always taken for granted."

"Stop it," Jesse said. "You're starting to sound as if you are on their side."

"It's almost time," Pitt said. "Now here's what I think. Jonathan and I should go into the medical lab in the hospital. I know my way around in there, and Jonathan knows computers. Between the two of us, we'll be able to decide what we need and carry it."

"I think I should stay with Jonathan," Nancy said.

"Mom!" Jonathan moaned. "You have to go to a pharmacy, and you don't need me there. Pitt needs me."

"It's true," Pitt said.

"Cassy and I will go with Nancy," Jesse said. "We'll use the pharmacy in the supermarket, so while she's getting the drugs she needs, we'll load up on groceries."

"All right," Pitt said. "We'll meet back here in thirty minutes."

"Better say forty-five," Jesse said. "We got a little farther to walk."

"Okay," Pitt said. "It's time. Let's go!"

They climbed out of the van. Nancy gave Jonathan a quick hug. Pitt grabbed Cassy's arm.

"Be careful," Pitt said.

"You too," Cassy said.

"Remember, everybody," Jonathan said. "Put a big shit-eating grin on your face and hold it. It's what all of them do."

"Jonathan!" Nancy admonished.

They are about to move off when Cassy grabbed Pitt's arm. When he turned, she gave him a kiss on the lips. Then Cassy ran after Nancy and Jesse while Pitt caught up with Jonathan. They all moved off into the night.

The picture was one of Cassy taken six months previously. It had been shot in an alpinelike meadow with wildflowers forming a natural bed. Cassy was lying down with her thick hair splayed out around her head like a dark halo. She was impishly smiling at the camera.

Beau's wrinkled, rubberlike hand reached out. The long snakelike fingers wrapped around the framed photo and lifted it and drew it closer to his eyes. Their inherent glow served to illuminate the picture so Beau could more clearly make out Cassy's features. He was sitting in the upstairs library with the lights off. Even the bank of monitors was off. The only light was an anemic moonbeam that slanted through the windows.

Beau became aware that someone had entered the room behind him.

"Can I turn on the light?" Alexander asked.

"If you must," Beau said.

Illumination filled the room. Beau's eyes narrowed.

"Is there something wrong, Beau?" Alexander asked before he saw the photo in Beau's hands.

Beau didn't answer.

"If you don't mind me saying," Alexander said, "you shouldn't be obsessing on an individual like this. It is not our way. It is against the collective good."

"I've tried to resist," Beau admitted. "But I can't help it."

Beau slammed the framed photo face down on the table. The glass shattered.

"As my DNA replicates it is supposed to supplant the human DNA, yet the wiring in my brain continues to evoke these human emotions.''

"I've felt something of what you speak," Alexander admitted. "But my former mate had a genetic flaw, and she did not pass the awakening stage. I suppose that made it easier."