Chapter 7

The irony of the situation did not escape him. All the information they had on the virus had come from a source that could hardly be considered trustworthy. Victor Ortez former leader of the UFF, now dead, thanks to Tatum. But even though Ortez was responsible for the death of Tatum's brother, Wilson, the former rebel leader insisted that he was not the reason for the death of his compatriots in Catalina.

He said they only burned the corpses of the villagers there because their disease was contagious, but Dean still hoped that he would see the evidence of the said disease with his own eyes rather than believe the word of a dead person.

"Well, it probably isn't something that's found in nature," Pierre was saying, still sounding incredibly irritated. "Doctor Edison headed up the biological weapons department at D&N Initiative, so let's just assume that the virus he nested was actually made."

Dean gasped. "Yeah, and it's probably a mutated strain of something, which means it's doubtful that a vaccine exists for that."

"Can't be government-sanctioned either. The President has been firm about his position on the manufacturing of biological weapons." Pierre said.

Dean was far more cynical. "Oh, this is government. But I guess the President doesn't know anything about it. I think there is a bad apple trying to poison all the fruits on the apple tree."

"Maybe." Pierre said. "Look, just get your ass back here, Dean. Ina and her hacker friend are now focused on Project Taurus and they are trying to find out who is behind that project. Once we have names, Tatum said we will go stateside to investigate."

He raised an eyebrow. "The captain actually thinks it's safe for us to go home?"

"The captain is tired of being on the run, and he can't wait to marry the girl he loves." Pierre replied dryly.

"And perfectly willing to risk our necks to make it happen, I see." The remark was only half-serious. He knows that Captain Guiller Tatum is willing to sacrifice his own life just for his crew, so Dean will reciprocate that sentiment. Tatum and Pierre were the only friends he had in this godforsaken world.

"Okay, well, let's go back to the beginning, and we'll figure out our next move from there," he said.

"Sounds good. Just be careful, Dean."

"I've always been on the lookout for you, Pierre." He said jokingly.

He cut off their conversation and put the phone back in the duffel bag. He slung the bag over his shoulder and headed for the open doorway of the unlit barn.

He was just crossing the threshold when the helicopter rotors echoed in the air. His eyes widened as he looked up at the sky, and sure enough, glimpsed bluish lights winking amid the black backdrop. A second later, a military chopper whizzed overhead, followed by a second chopper, and then a third.

Looks like something bad is going on.

He didn't bother ducking out of sight; he was shrouded by shadows, so nobody would be able to spot him all the way from the road. Chewing on the inside of his cheek, he watched as half a dozen Jeeps sped along the one-lane dirt road. It wasn't just one or two riding in the said Jeeps, but the sea of navy blue-and-gold uniforms said it all. San Jose military.

"Where are you hurrying off to, boys?" he murmured, eyeing the scene with interest.

Probably some skirmish with the UFF that needed to be handled, or at least that was what he guessed until he noticed three black medic vans sandwiched between the passing Jeeps. The vans were the equivalent of an American ambulance, yet the sirens weren't wailing, and the headlights were off.

Dean frowned. If the military did respond to an emergency, why did they come out looking suspiciously like the ambulances? They should be running fast and their headlights should be on.

Unless the military didn't want anyone to know there was a medical emergency in progress.

As his shoulders stiffened, Dean moved away from the barn with purposeful strides. He took two steps in the direction of his Jeep before remembering that the damn vehicle was out of gas.

"It's really stupid," he said softly.

Because he knew that the priest also didn't have a car, so there was no chance that he would be able to follow where the military was going. Unless he walks on it, which would be pointless. And by the time he was able to track the soldiers if there was any emergency, it should have been announced yesterday.

Damn, he really needs a car. He scanned his brain, trying to remember if there were any cars at that farm he'd spotted five or six miles east of the church. Or maybe he'll run to where the Doctors International clinic is and steal a parked car there, but the clinic is two hours away from the church, so--

Suddenly, he was interrupted by the loud sound of a horse.

Dean immediately turned to the barn, his jaw tensing as he realized the solution to his problem was right beyond that door.

But...If he steals the priest's horse, will he go to hell?

He sighed deeply. Yeah, probably.

Besides, it had been a long time since he last rode a horse. Maybe he's still in his second year of high school.

But, hey, isn't riding a horse just like riding a bike?

When he made up his mind, he walked over to the barn and chose the very first horse. Twenty minutes later, the healthier-looking of the two horses was saddled up and Dean was leading the spotted horse out of his stall. He just made sure to leave five-hundred dollars in the barn in order to console the old priest.

-----

"I will go with you," Liza declared.

"Just stay here," Thalia said to her. He put the flashlight and its extra batteries in her backpack.

"Doc Thal--"

"Don't argue about it, Liz. It's a day off for those on duty for the forty-eight-hour shift, Kelvin isn't here yet. Now that I'll be gone for a while, it's just Nasir and Trina will be left to do duty here at the clinic tonight if you go with me. They need you here, Liz."

A frustrated breath flew out of Liza's mouth. "Fine. But radio me once you get there."

"I will," she promised her.

She zipped up her bag and marched out of the supply room, with Liza following her.

"Did Kelvin tell you what emergency he was talking about?" Liza asked.

"No. He didn't tell me anything." She pretended to adjust the straps of her bag, just so she wouldn't have to meet the nurse's eyes.

Don't come here.

She kept remembering Kelvin's warning to her not to go to that place. She wanted to tell Liza about what Kelvin said, but she didn't want her colleague to panic. Besides, the radio was static when she talked to Kelvin, maybe she just heard it wrong.

Don't come here.

Does Kelvin really think that she just followed what he said? If her friend and colleague was in trouble, there was no chance of Thalia staying away.

"I'll get one of our cars," she said to her nurse friend, then she took the hanging key from the bulletin board. "You know my car can't be swept there."

Liza still looked unhappy as the two women stepped outside. "Be careful driving, love. And contact the clinic immediately once you get to the town of Esmeralda."

"I will."

She got into the pickup truck and put the key in the ignition. She tried to start it several times until finally the car's engine came to life.

Poking her head out the open window, she waved at the nurse and managed a smile loaded with encouragement. "I'll just call you when I get there."

It was already dark when Thalia made her way to the main road. The weak glow of the pickup truck's headlight didn't offer much help in lighting the way, fortunately he had memorized the way. In the eight months she was assigned to San Jose, it was impossible for her not to master the road, but she still couldn't run fast. Most of the time, those who live here in San Jose don't have cars, so the residents here just let their goats, cats or dogs walk around in the middle of the road.

Esmeralda was about seventy miles northwest in the remote woodlands at the base of the mountain. In the morning, it only takes about an hour to drive there, but Thalia doesn't want to speed up her pace so it usually takes about two hours to get to the town of Esmeralda.

And since she couldn't see five feet in front of her for the duration of her drive, a light appeared out of nowhere and she gaped at the unexpected sight before her.

*****