Pandemic

Haldane knelt down to get a closer view of the robed man who lay on his back. Several bullet holes riddled his chest and abdomen. His hand still clutched a rifle. His face was covered in the dust and dirt from the building's collapse, but Haldane still easily recognized Hazzir Kabaal from the photographs CNN had run nearly twenty-four hours a day.

Paddy nodded somberly. "Good," he said, but there was no celebration in his voice. Paddy pointed to what was left of the building. "They didn't have time to detonate this part of the complex," he yelled over the noise of machinery and other people. "The engineers say we can have a quick look. We have to be careful. The explosion weakened its walls. Could go at any moment."

Two soldiers led the site survey team in through the building's back door and down a short hallway, which opened into a large lab. Stepping inside, Haldane was surprised at how big it was. But the place was a mess. Centrifuges, fridges, incubators, and electronic analyzers lay upturned or smashed on the floor. Lab hoods had toppled onto the floor, joining the broken glass and papers strewn all about. Haldane knew that humans, not explosives, were responsible for the room's upheaval. Why? he wondered, but he didn't have time to stop and consider.

A thick door at the far end of the room caught his attention. Grabbing his specimen collection bag, he tapped Gwen on the shoulder and pointed to the door. They hurried over to it. Haldane had to put his full muscle power into yanking open the heavy steel door that was wedged stuck. When the door finally gave way and flung open, it slammed into the wall beside. The memory of Paddy's warning flashed ominously to Noah's mind.

About five feet in front of the first door was another door of the same type, but a block of wood for a doorstop held it open. They passed through the door into a smaller room. A row of cages lined the back wall. Haldane was amazed to see several of the cages rattling and to hear hoots and cries coming from within. When he looked closer, he saw that in a number of cages black-faced and white-chested African green monkeys glared at him in obvious agitation. Haldane felt sorry for the confused animals, but he knew there was nothing he could do for the potentially infectious primates.

"Noah!" Gwen called to him.

He strode over to where Gwen stood in front of a smaller stack of cages. None of these cages shook. When he arrived, Haldane immediately understood why. The monkeys inside were dead. But not from natural causes. The Plexiglas windows covering their cages had been shredded by gunfire.

Haldane turned to Gwen. "Why would they execute a bunch of monkeys?" he asked.

She just shook her head.

Haldane stooped down to pick up his bag. "Gwen, let's get some tissue and blood samples from these animals."

"The live ones?" She pointed at the rattling cages.

"Both!" He thumbed at the murdered monkeys.

As they were removing tourniquets, butterfly needles, and test tubes, a rumbling noise stopped both of them in mid-preparation. Dust sprayed down from the roof.

"Noah…" Savard said, her voice rising in alarm.

"I know. I know," he said. "We just need a couple of blood samples."

The walls creaked.

"We don't have time!" Gwen snapped. "The roof is going to collapse!"

"Go, Gwen!" Haldane waved at the door. "I'll just be another moment."

Gwen shook her head. "Not without you. Come on!" She grabbed for his arm and started to yank him away from the cage.

Haldane wriggled free, just as another pile of dust fell from the ceiling.

Paddy's voice yelled from outside. "Gwen, Noah, get the hell out of there!"

Haldane turned and ran to the bullet-riddled cages.

"Now, Noah!" Gwen screamed and waved her arms wildly at him.

"I'm coming," Haldane yelled. "Go."

She dashed for the doorway, but Haldane didn't follow. Instead, he fumbled with the door of one of the cages. But it was locked. With his elbow, he smashed a larger hole through the Plexiglas window.

"Come on, Noah!" Gwen yelled from where she stood at the doorway.

Hands trembling, he pulled away the rest of the plastic. He plunged both hands inside and grabbed hold of the dead monkey. He pulled it out and tucked it under his arm. "Go, go! I'm right behind," he shouted at Gwen.

Gwen sprinted through both doors into the main lab. Haldane ran ten paces behind. Large chunks of plaster fell from the ceiling in the main lab area. The whole building creaked and moaned.

Halfway across the floor Haldane caught up with Savard. She no longer ran, but hobbled on her bad ankle. Haldane slowed to take hold of her arm. "I'm fine! Go ahead and lead the way out!" she shouted at him and wriggled free of his grip.

Haldane jogged beside her.

"Go!" she screamed. "Lead the way for me!"