CHIMERA

by Marshall Huffman

  “That is a total fabrication. Whoever said that is just trying to undermine what we are trying to accomplish. That is totally reprehensible. We are doing our absolute best to aid and care for the sick and infected. Anyone saying otherwise is misrepresenting the facts.”

  “Alright Governor McClain. And has anyone been shot or killed at the facility that is not related to the virus.”

  “Young lady, I don’t know where you are getting your information but you certainly need to check your sources a little better before you dare ask such a question,” he said angrily, rising from his seat.

  “Governor, I would like for you to comment on a couple of pictures,” she said, taking them out of an envelope and sliding them across his desk.

  He looked down and turned pale. The razor wire was in clear focus with the medical facility in the background. He looked at the second one. It showed armed guards standing around men and women as they were being pulled from the truck. The third one showed a man being dragged with hands under both arms by guards, off to one of the large buildings.

  “Where did you get these? These are fakes. Someone has manipulated them. You have been duped Ms. Meeks,” he said, tossing them over to her side of the desk.

  “You see the thing is, I was there. I was right next to the photographer. They are not fakes. I even saw your so called guards shoot a man who refused to cooperate. They riddled his body with bullets while he lay on the ground.”

  “That is a damned lie. I don’t know what you think you are trying to prove but let me tell you Ms. Meeks. I will crush you if you continue with this line of reporting. Those are nothing but false accusations. You have nothing but a few crappy pictures. Everyone knows you investigative reporters just look for the dirt and never talk about the good. All you want is to bring people down. Your kind are trash. You can’t be a real reporter so this is what you stoop to. Now get out of this office and don’t you ever come back. Do I make myself clear, Ms. Meeks?”

  She stood, picked up the pictures and put them in the envelope.

  “Have a nice day Governor,” she said and walked out of the room.

  She could hear him throwing something. She just smiled and walked on.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  Buck came rushing into the trailer and grabbed Randal.

  “It's one of my guys,” he said breathlessly, “He was working on the winch and ripped his suit.”

  “Where is he?”

  “Outside in the truck.”

  Both Randal and Mark rushed out. He was sitting on the tailgate pinching a rip together on his leg. Randal examined it for several seconds.

  “Well, the good news is that it’s pretty far down. You had a positive pressure on the suit so that helps as well. How long was it ripped before you noticed it?”

  “Not long. I felt a tug and then thought, oh hell. I reached down and there it was. I pinched it off immediately as best I could.”

  “Then what?”

  “I told Buck. He practically threw me in the truck and we took off.”

  “What do you think?” Buck asked anxiously.

  “At this point there is not much we can do. I honestly think he should be okay. The rip isn’t very big and with the pressure and all he should be okay. It was quick thinking to grab the spot and pinch it off. It would have been better if you had put tape over it but all things considered, I think you will be fine.”

  “Man, we have gone all this time and not one accident and the day before we lower the thing, this happens,” Buck said shaking his head.

  “You guys need to keep a roll of duct tape handy. If something like this happens again, cover the rip but also wrap tape around the area above the tear. It will help prevent the air from traveling up to the mouth,” Mark added.

  “I’ll damn sure have a roll with me before we even go back down there. Man, this stinks.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t get your name,” Randal said to the guy sitting on the tailgate.

  “Shelton Farley.”

  “Okay Shelton, here is what I want you to do. I want you to head over to that trailer over there,” Mark said pointing to a similar one to theirs, “Tell them we sent you and explain what happened. They will draw some blood and then they will isolate you. I hate to do it to you but it has to be done.”

  “Can I call my wife and let her know?”

  “Of course. Make sure she understands it just a precaution.”

  “Understood. Thanks.”

  “For what? We haven’t done anything so far. If we come up with a vaccine, then you can thank us,” Mark said patting the man on the shoulder.

  Buck walked him over to the trailer.

  “Buck sure takes things hard,” Mark said as they walked off.

  “He cares. He is a darn good man. If one of his workers gets hurt, he never misses a pay check. Not many like him anymore,” Randal replied.

  **

  The editor threw the printout on his desk and looked up at Jane.

  “No way am I going to let you run that story. It doesn’t matter if he got mad. It doesn’t matter that he threw you out of his office. I’ve seen the pictures and there is nothing in them to support your accusations. What the hell are you thinking? Concentration Camps. Are you just trying to get us sued?” he said his voice starting to rise.

  “Look, that part may be a little over the top but the rest is true. You can see the razor wire. The patrols and dogs are right there,” she said tapping the picture.

  “I don’t see the building in the background. I see a man with a dog. I see razor wire but I damn sure don’t recognize what’s in the background. This could be anyplace. I am telling you to drop this right now. I don’t want to hear another word about this. The Governor is trying to prevent the spread of this damned virus. Why are you so intent on making a mountain out of a mole hill?” he almost yelled, his face starting to turn red.

  “Are we reporters or cheerleaders for the Governor? He said he was an old friend of yours,” she shot back and realized as soon as the words were out of her mouth it was the wrong thing to say to her boss.

  “Jane. You do pretty good work. You have done some good stories but you are an employee of this paper. I will put up with a lot of guff from my reporters. It shows they are passionate about their work. But there is a line that I am not willing to let them cross and you just crossed it. I am calling security to have you escorted out of the building. Your desk will be emptied and all personal items delivered to your home. As of this moment, you no longer work for this paper. I want your press pass right now,” he said holding his hand out.

  “Look, I'm sorry. I didn’t...”

  “Stop. I don’t care how you meant it. You as much as accused me of covering up for the Governor and I will not tolerate that. You are finished at this paper,” he said.

  She stood there, trying to hold back the tears. She unclipped her security tag and press-pass and laid them on his desk.

  “Security will escort you out of the building. Do not go to your desk. Wait right here,” he said and dialed.

  A few minutes later two guards walked in. She started to say something but he just held up his hand.

  “Don’t. I don’t want to hear it.”

  Her co-workers gawked as she walked between the two guards leading her out of the newsroom.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  “I think that went pretty well,” Buck said as the two men exited the gondola.

  “Seems pretty straightforward,” Mark said.

  “Yeah, kind of like driving a Bobcat front loader,” Jones replied.

  “Well hopefully it will be just that easy when you are five miles down and it is pitch black,” Buck reminded them.

  “I would like to do one more trial run first thing in the morning and then we should be good to go.”

  “No need for that,” Jones said tapping the side of his head, “I've got it all logged away right here.”

  “Nevertheless, I would like to do a quick trial just to be sure.�
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  “Whatever man. I’m cool with it.”

  Randal looked at Mark and rolled his eyes.

  “Alright, we meet here at 8:30 a.m. If all goes well, we should have you strapped in and ready to descend by no later than 11:00 a.m.,” Buck told them.

  Randal jumped in the driver side of the pickup and Mark sat in the passenger seat. Jones got in the rear and they drove back to the entrance of the mine.

  “So what do you guys think?” Jones asked, leaning forward between the two men.

  “I think it shouldn’t be too bad. It’s a hell of a long way down but I trust Buck one hundred percent,” Mark said.

  “I mean about what’s down there.”

  “Oh, heck I don’t have a clue. If I did I sure wouldn’t get in that damn thing tomorrow,” Mark replied.

  “Yeah but you must have some idea or why go?”

  “That’s the point. We don’t have an idea and as scientists that isn’t acceptable. This, whatever it is, could happen again someplace else unless we understand what happened. It’s kind of like an airplane crash. To fix future problems you have to reconstruct what happened. That’s what we are hoping to determine by going down there,” Randal answered.

  “Why not just send a camera down?” Jones asked.

  “A couple of reasons. It’s not like underwater where you can maneuver around with propulsion. Nothing like that exists yet. It may someday but not now. The second reason is that if it is something that we can stop then it will take a human. Someone who can assess exactly what we are up against and then take the best course of action,” Mark replied.

  “Yeah, that makes sense. So you and I are going to kind of scout out the situation and do what we can to fix it,” Jones said leaning back.

  “Or determine the best course of action to stop it, whatever ‘it’ is.”

  “Got it,” Jones replied.

  **

  “You know,” Mark said after they had dropped off Jones, “I don’t trust that guy very much.”

  “Me either. I saw him nosing around, checking things out quite a bit since he arrived.”

  “Maybe we’re just paranoid. He could just be the curious type.”

  “Maybe, but I wouldn’t count on it. Remember he is from the military so they have a vested interest in what you find. I would be pretty darn cautious while you are down there. Stay alert,” Randal warned.

  “That sound like good advice,” Mark agreed.

  **

  CTV NEWS – President Toll announced today that even with the CDC twenty-four hour a day efforts, the death count continues to climb. Over thirty-one million Americans have died or been contaminated. Four states still remain free of the Chimera Virus as it has being officially named.

  President Toll also noted that the number of dead around the world has topped one hundred million. These numbers, she said, do not include China or North Korea which have not released any figures.

  Rioting has taken a number of lives as well. According to the latest figures, over forty thousand have died during riots all across the nation. Some of the most bloody battles have happened in suburbs of larger cities. The number of injured is believed to be well over one hundred thousand.

  In other news, Governor McClain announced that he was pleased with the way the first medical treatment facility has been operating. He said that it had, “exceeded his expectations”, in helping to curb the spread of the Chimera Virus. When asked for statistics, he said that they were being collated and would be released very soon.

  **

  Senator Long sat across from President Toll sipping a cup of coffee.

  “And you know this first hand?” she asked.

  “No, not first hand. I mean I talked extensively with Governor McClain and he said that the spreading of the virus had taken a significant decline.”

  “Significant decline. I wonder what that means? Ten percent? Twenty? More?”

  “I’m sure we will know more after they release the figures. He said that they should be available within the next two weeks.”

  “And in the meantime, he wants to go ahead and open a second facility.”

  “Actually three more facilities,” the Senator said smiling.

  “Three,” she said softly looking up at the ceiling.

  “Three,” she repeated.

  “Well if it is working why not? He may have the right approach. CDC hasn’t been of much use have they? What have they really accomplished? They put out a nice list of things to do and not to do but the virus continues to spread.”

  “Senator I hope you are not suggesting they are to blame for all of this.”

  “Oh goodness no. I was just making an observation. The virus is still here and it is still spreading. Little headway is being made.”

  He was right, Toll thought. Even the DVCT had made no progress.

  “When does he plan to increase the number of these facilities?

  “Well, funding is some of the problem. Our economy is all but decimated. We have no foreign trade. States are out of funds as revenues have plummeted to a trickle. Federal taxes are due on the fifteenth of this month but you know it will be next to nothing. People are simply not going to or can’t pay them. These containment camps seem to be our best hope of limiting the spread of the virus,” he told her.

  He was absolutely right on all counts. We had no foreign trade and Federal Taxes will be virtually a joke. Corporations have limited or no sales to speak of so revenue will be nothing more than a drop in the bucket.

  “Tell the Governor I will do what I can to find some money to help him with the containment centers. I do want to see the statistics on how well this is really working before much longer. I may get some money to him but I need proof of its effectiveness,” President Toll told the Senator.

  “I understand. Thank you for your support. I will relay your message about the importance of the statistical analysis.”

  “Alright Senator. Thank you for keeping me informed,” the President said.

  “Always a pleasure, Madam President.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  “Jane are you sure you want to do this? Now that the Governor knows you have spied on the facility they could have increased the patrols.”

  “He isn’t worried about me any longer. I got fired so I’m no longer a threat to him. He has bigger fish to fry than me,” she assured him.

  “Look, I’ll go with you but if I don’t like what I see I’ll just keep on going.”

  “Me too Jane,” her other companion said.

  “Jimmy, Frank, it will be alright. I’m telling you. They have no idea where I was hiding. The patrols are a long way off from the knoll I used.”

  “Like I said, I’ll go but if it looks wrong, I’m out of there,” Frank told her.

  “Same goes for me,” Jimmy echoed.

  “Fine. We’ll check it out and make sure you’re satisfied before we start snooping.”

  “Even if we do get a bunch of good pictures with the facility in the background and all of that, you are out of a job. What good is this really going to do? Is it just revenge?”

  “No Frank. People need to know about this. How would you like it if your neighbor called and reported that she knew you had a relative that has the virus? The trucks roar up; you are thrown in and hauled to the facility. They run tests and if you’re clean you are set free. If not you're confined. Basically until you die.”

  “Yeah but it does stop the spread. I mean if I have it and pass it on, how will it ever stop?”

  “Look, you’re missing the point. It’s the way they do it. Once you are in that truck you are at their mercy. Some people resist. I saw with my own eyes what can happen. They shot and killed a man because he fought back.”

  “Well maybe he shouldn’t have fought back. Just gotten tested."

  “Damn Jimmy. The last time I checked this was America. We don’t haul people out of their houses just because someone doesn’t like us. That was what the KGB did in Russia. Yo
u’re saying the end justifies the means. I don’t think that is what the Constitution says,” she said adamantly.

  “Okay, okay. Don’t blow a fuse. I’m going with you so chill.”

  “There is a point to my going, that’s all I’m saying,” she replied.

  “We got it,” Jimmy said.

  **

  Buck had been in the mine since early in the morning, checking and rechecking every part of the machine. He had laid out spare parts next to each area where a failure might occur. Spare motors, servo units, fuses, tools and electrical parts were ready if something failed. He had even made sure the tools necessary to replace any part were right on hand.

  He was just going over the checklist one more time when the headlights of the CDC truck came down the tunnel. Randal, Mark and Jones got out and walked over to where he stood.

  “I guess this is it,” Mark said.

  “I guess so. My people have gone over every single piece of equipment and everything checks out,” he told the three men.

  “So we do one more run through and then down we go?” Mark asked.

  “Yes. Just a quick run through. It won’t take too long. I just want to make sure you retained everything.”

  “I’m ready,” Jones said.

  “Yes, well I’m not so we do the exercise once more,” Buck said.

  “I’m cool.”

  “Okay. I want you to get in the gondola and hook up the re-breathers. Check each other and make sure all connections are tight,” Buck told them.

  The two men climbed in the gondola and hooked up the breathing apparatus. They checked each other, making sure nothing was cross threaded or not tight enough.

  “All good,” Mark said.

  “Check,” Jones said.

  “Good, buckle your safety harnesses. Make sure both the primary and secondary ones are snapped on and the lock secure.”

  “Done,” Jones replied quickly.