Part 2 of All 43 extracts from my novel Silent Lips, which deals with a deadlly virus that leads to New York City being quarantined (available as an eBook for ONLY 99 CENTS!)
For Part 1 (posts 1 to 32) check the earlier post.
Post 33 - BEYOND DOUBT
Extract from my novel Silent Lips, which deals with a deadly virus that leads to New York City being quarantined (available as an eBook for ONLY 99 cents):
It is my considered judgement, Mr President, the general's flat voice had said softly a few minutes ago, that we are licked. If this was a declared war with another nation then I would unhesitatingly recommend that we sue for peace, at any price.
He sighed and turned back to the spare figure of the officer.
The black lined report lay on the table between them.
"General, you are recommending an act of aggression against the Russians that amounts to an act of war without any declaration of war, something we have never done before."
The man opposite him nodded.
"If your basic assumption that the Russians have been responsible for the introduction of the disease into the country is incorrect, then your proposal would lead to a spread of the disease from our land to the rest of the world."
He bent forward, his large head shadowed, and stared sombrely at the military man.
"We would be responsible for the end of the world if it is unchecked."
"Yes, sir. I have considered that, sir. But there is a better than even chance in my mind that they did bring it to us and that they do have an antidote."
The President flipped through the report until he found the summary.
He read it again and then stared at the general.
"You are proposing that we introduce the disease into Russia and see whether they have an antidote. If they do then we will insist on its being provided to us or we will declare war on them, using all weapons at our disposal."
General Holcroft nodded.
"All the contingency plans are ready, sir. We have selected the Russian personnel in the jails in Europe to be used to carry the disease back into the country. Our own people are also on standby. As you know, sir, some of our troops in the city are infected. We would be using them. Some have volunteered; they know they are going to die. We have had dry runs in the past, sir. They have all worked out. All the men we slipped into Russia came back. The routes are all planned and are all still available, despite the fact that the Russians have tightened up their security on their borders. The last team came out a few hours ago."
The President pushed his Chair back and strode to the window again.
He spoke with his back to Holcroft.
"What if we are wrong, general? What if they did not do it?"
He turned, his eyes burning into the other man's.
"We have not established beyond doubt that they did. If we had, then I would authorise the operation. I would have no other choice. You told me that you thought others might have gotten to the Russian monument and perhaps introduced the toxins into it, if it did come from the monument. How do we find out?"
Holcroft smiled thinly.
"I believe we might try one last thing, sir."
He leant forward in his chair and explained his plan in some detail.
The President listened in silence, then he stood up signalling that the meeting was over.
"It is the lesser of two evils, general. You are authorised to implement it immediately. Just make sure it works."Post 34 - THE HIGHEST PRINCIPLE
Extract from my novel Silent Lips, which deals with a deadly virus that leads to New York City being quarantined (available as an eBook for ONLY 99 cents):
He stared at the steel shuttered window, his hands busy sealing the tape on the girl's arm. "Fuck you, Marshall! You know she would bleed to death if I didn't do something."
The impersonal voice came over the speaker: "You know the rules. You are supposed to avoid contact as much as possible."
It died away and he waited, knowing what would come.
Several seconds passed.
"I am sorry, Schmiedli."
Marshall's voice was quieter, the anger gone.
"We have sealed the area off. You will have to be tested to see if you are infected before we can let you out. Please strip and lie down on the spare table."
Johan Schmiedli stared at the closed window, the words still repeating in his mind. He knew the routine; he also knew there was no appeal against it.
It had all been spelled out to him when he started here: the highest principle was to keep as many of the doctors healthy as possible, because they were the only hope in the search for a cure.
Slowly he stripped his clothes off, dropping them on the floor. He tossed his wristwatch on top of the untidy pile and swung his feet up onto the table.
"Your glasses."
He took them off and threw them onto the clothes; now he really felt vulnerable and naked. He twisted his head and watched the artificial arms, moving towards the table.
"We will be going through the usual tests. You must help as much as you can."
There was a pause as the first arm dropped slowly to his arm, the needle entering his arm. He winced and forced his arm to stay where it was, resisting the urge to tear it away.
"We are going to use the anaesthetic now. A general one."
The second arm holding the gas mask dropped towards his face and he forced himself to look up into it as it fell. It sank over his face and he heard the slight hissing of the gas; the metallic voice of Marshall came over the intercom, sounding a little apologetic.
"I'm sorry, Johan."
He felt the world slow down and a heavy weight fall on his body as the gas took hold.Post 35 - MY TRADE
Extract from my novel Silent Lips, which deals with a deadly virus that leads to New York City being quarantined (available as an eBook for ONLY 99 cents):
"I come for my trade," the boy said. He had his hands under the seat of the wooden chair, and lifted it a bit, moving it towards the table.
"What trade?"
"I sold him stuff."
The chair moved another fraction closer to the bill.
"Who did you sell to?"
"The man." The little boy gestured at the room.
"I see."
Burton reached for the bill and moved it closer to the table's edge.
"A young man?"
"Yeah. That's him."
"What did you sell him?"
The chair scraped closer to the table.
"Blood."
Burton took out a ten and placed it on top of the twenty.
"What blood?"
"My blood."
