One Great Year (50 page)

“We will easily sweep away the shattered bits of charity left behind. People are compassionate only until they are threatened, when
their
lives,
their
family, and
their
skin are set to be burned, their sympathy and selflessness leaves them.”

Zahn had chosen Australia because it had allowed for containment. He had considered other locations—Hawaii, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Malaysia—but they were all too risky or too small. He wanted to make a big impact, but it was imperative that he maintain control of the volatile bug. He didn't want to wipe out the planet … not yet.

Some flights had departed Australia before the threat was known, the people on them unaware of what was happening until they arrived at their destinations, where they were aggressively quarantined for days. Others, who had taken off only shortly after them but had been infected, had crashed mid-ocean when their crews swiftly succumbed to the illness.

Leaders around the globe scrambled to reassure their citizens, with only empty guarantees to offer. None of them knew what had happened or why, but the Americans and British had quickly commanded a quarantine and containment of the infected continent. After that, no planes had left Australian airspace and no boats had left her harbors, though many, large and small, had tried. They had been turned around or blown apart. Either way, the result had been certain death.

The American president had watched in real time like everyone else. He had been moved to a well-guarded, undisclosed location and was preparing to address the American people. Just before he was due to go on air, he received a call from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I am going on shortly. I hope you have something to tell me that I can use,” the president said, while his hair and make-up people fussed over him. They removed the protective paper that had been guarding his collar from thick face powder as he carefully checked his profile. It was more important than ever that he looked calm and reassured; the dark circles under his eyes must be well camouflaged for the taping.

“I have information Mr. President, but I'm not sure how much you can use on air,” the general replied.

The president was intrigued, and he irritably waved away the people buzzing around him. “Go,” he commanded, and the room immediately emptied. When the door finally closed, he urged the general to continue.

“The situation in Australia was caused by an ancient virus called Nobu, unknown to the modern world. I don't know how it was released.” The general paused, giving the leader a brief moment to comprehend what he was hearing.

“How do you know this? Why haven't I heard of this ‘Nooboo' virus?”

“It was accidentally discovered by NASA over a decade ago during a mission to Lake Untersee, Antarctica. It's untraceable. I'm sure I don't have to explain.”

“NASA? Then how the hell did it get into the hands of people who would do
this
?”

“No one has taken responsibility for it yet,” the general replied.

“Don't give me useless fucking answers I already have!” the president barked angrily.

“There's been a pharmaceutical company working with the virus—top secret—that's all we know.”

“Which one, God damn it! Find out who fucked up!” the president shouted.

“We know which one. It's owned by a corporation linked to a friend of yours, Oswald Zahn.”

“Ozzie? Good, now we're getting somewhere! Get Oswald Zahn on the other line right away!” the president shouted to his assistant, who heard him through the door. She knew better than to ever venture beyond shouting distance. There were no secrets from Shirley.

“Find out who fucked up, whose plan it was to annihilate half the globe, and why. And don't call me again until you do!” The president clicked off, and threw the cellphone onto the sofa beside him. It bounced and hit the floor with a clunk.

The president made a reassuring address to the American public and the waiting world, imparting no new information. He apologized to the grieving families of the US soldiers who had been stationed, and died, in Australia. He assured public safety. He promised to share information as he received it. He promised to do everything he could for those tourists and others still alive, trapped, in the small scattered towns of the outback. In other words, he lied. The president had no intention of telling anyone what the virus might be until he had a plan to combat it, and he sure as hell wasn't sending any more Americans to Australia without an antidote.

When the lights and the cameras switched off, Shirley was standing in the wings. She rushed to her boss, a phone outstretched. “Zahn,” was all she said.

“Ozzie!” the president said jovially, with his best politician smile habitually pasted to his face, despite the caller's inability to see him.

“Mr. President,” Zahn said. Helghul listened from beside him, impressed.

“I'm calling about one of your companies … they've done some work with a particularly vicious strain of virus.”

“I keep my distance from the day to day of my investments. Not my area of expertise. I prefer the starlets and casting couches,” he said, chuckling.

“We both know there isn't anything you don't know about your business, Ozzie. I don't care who dropped the ball, which families or influences are behind this. I just need you to look into it and help
my
people out.”

“From what I understand, Mr. President,
your
people have already taken over the files … the labs and everything else. I got a call an hour ago. I told them to cooperate in every way. I'm just as bewildered and concerned about this as you are.”

“We don't want to be next. No doubt the perpetrators are poised to release the virus again. I don't want people out there panicking. It brings out the worst.”

“They already are sir, but I'll do everything I can,” Zahn declared before he hung up.

“Are you going to help him?” Elijah asked.

“Better,” Grey Elder responded, and he began to eagerly dial his phone, setting the next stage of his plan in motion.

Two days later, Zahn's call to the president's private line was immediately answered.

“We have a vaccine. We can prevent what happened in Australia from happening again,” Zahn declared.

“Thank God! How soon, how many people? What kind of timeline are we looking at?” the president asked, releasing a breath that felt like it had been held for a week. The deep creases in his forehead eased slightly.

“We can start immediately and keep up production of the vaccine while we expand to less populated areas. I've put all my resources into getting this done as soon as possible.”

“How much? What's this going to cost us, Ozzie?”

“Nothing. I'm willing to provide the serum at no expense,” Zahn replied.

“To whom? You can't mean to all of America, that would cost … millions,” the president exclaimed.

“No, sir,” Zahn said. “To the entire world, and it'll cost billions.”

“It's too good to be true,” the president said.

And it was.

Television and Internet focused on every possible aspect of the chaos surrounding the events in Australia. The topic hijacked regular broadcasts, cycling the devastating home-shot images over and over. People were riveted to the gruesome show, and Grey Elder was elated by the swell in dark, loathsome energy around the globe. The world had tuned in, blogged, and Tweeted, theorizing about the vile pictures coming from down under. Confusion and terror monopolized all modes of communication, and still no one had heard of the Nobu virus or its vaccine.

There were little pockets of Australia's outback that had managed to avoid infection, but the Nobu would eventually find them unless they stayed far from the infected zones. There was no hope of rescue; not even the leaders of the World Health Organization would risk contamination to visit the continent. There were no attempts to enter the region, which was completely cordoned off—the airspace and seaports were guarded by allied air and naval forces. Experts on biological warfare gathered at the nearly empty United Nations building in New York to confer, but they dared not enter the infected area either. They remained completely stymied by what they had seen from a distance. All around the world fear bubbled and swelled, and Grey Elder let the pot stew.

The name “Nobu” started to emerge, first on the Internet and then eventually on mainstream news channels, intentionally leaked by Zahn. Still, little was known about what Nobu was or how the outbreak had occurred. People speculated and cried out for an explanation. Zahn understood that the unknown caused more chaos and fear than even the nastiest reality, so he offered no more information. He delayed the announcement and onset of vaccination intentionally, reveling in the panic that gripped the world. Everywhere there were rushes to hoard water, supplies, and any variety of flu drug available.

Riots had broken out in many places. At a big-box store in Kentucky, a pharmacist had refused to sell unprescribed malaria antibiotics to frantic customers and three people had died, including a seven-year-old girl who was crushed by a toppled display shelf.

Theories about terrorism abounded but became confused when people wondered why the easygoing Aussies had been attacked, not a more likely target.

“They are all disposable. I have faith in the selfish, fear-driven nature of humankind. They will come like rodents to a feast,” Zahn explained to Elijah from their safe haven on the outskirts of Giza. It was dangerous in the ancient city now; violence and unrest had become the norm. The hotels had been ransacked and abandoned.

The American president once again appeared on television, this time to confirm the rumors about the Nobu virus and to announce the offer of humanitarian aid by Oswald Zahn.

“You have to tell the world that it was terrorism and we don't know the perpetrator, Mr. President. They have to know how grave it truly is; no sugar-coating it. People have to fear that it could happen anywhere or they won't agree to be vaccinated. All of the countries, even our enemies, have to be on board. There has to be urgency and full proliferation. We don't want that virus taking hold and mutating on us,” Zahn coached over the telephone.

“I can handle it,” the president assured. He hung up and cleared his throat, preparing his most convincing Churchill voice.

The countdown began. “Three, two, …”

“My fellow Americans and our friends around the world, this is indeed a dark time in history and for humankind. I am here to tell you that what occurred in Australia was not an accident. The innocent people of that unfortunate land were deliberately murdered without provocation, without warning, by the intentional release of the Nobu virus. The United States and our allies are outraged at this horrific and blatant disregard for life,” he said predictably, failing to mention NASA' s link to the bacteria.

“We still do not know who is responsible for this heinous crime, but we will find them and hold them accountable. I guarantee it. It is imperative that we pull together now. Do not panic.

“An antidote to this syndrome has been produced. American humanitarian Oswald Zahn has rallied his considerable resources in the interest of helping the world. In conjunction with his many charitable organizations and the government of the United States, the vaccine will be made available to everyone, free of charge. No one who chooses to be vaccinated will be denied. This man,” he said, pointing to the still picture behind him, “this savior, has come to the aid of his country and the world, and offers the only known protection from this cruel virus.”

The feed snapped off and flickered, and suddenly a prerecorded clipping of a composed Zahn took over the world screens. His chiseled, handsome face and voice were blasted in every language across the globe simultaneously. The world watched skeptically, desperate for answers and reassurance.

“I am not a savior,” Zahn began pragmatically. “I come in this uncertain time to lead the way
out
of confusion and fear. I am a citizen of the
world
, not of one country. White, black, brown, yellow—it doesn't matter to me. We are all the same underneath our skin and in our hearts. We are all in this together.

“I have made arrangements to make the antidote available in most major cities immediately. We will expand out from there as we are able. It is my hope that each and every one of you will be vaccinated within a month,” he said emphatically. “You must each think of yourself and your family now, and do what
you
need to do to survive.

“We don't know who is responsible for this act against humanity, but we can protect ourselves, though it must be done quickly—we have no idea when and where the terrorists could strike again.

“Vaccination will be your choice. The vaccine has no side effects and will only leave a small crescent-shaped scar on the inner wrist. Protected, we can all move forward, unified in this terrifying time of chaos.”