The Undead | Day 25 [The Heat]

by Haywood, RR

  The destruction would be on an epic scale with an expected loss of 98 – 99% to our species. However, that destruction will mostly be limited to our species only.

  That is the thing causing so much upset because although 98 - 99% of the population would most likely die, we can expect 1 - 2% to live and make use of the infrastructure left largely in place. (1 to 2% of seven billion is still a significant number)

  The roads will still be there, the shops, the vehicles, the houses, airfields, fuels, technologies. The farms. The crops.

  The air would be cleaner too. In fact, there would be an enormously positive impact from a 98% reduction in the human species.

  However. The contentious point is this:

  The release of the Panacea does not guarantee that 2% of the population will be left,

  In fact. The data very strongly suggests that nuclear and weapons of mass destruction will be used which leaves a tainted, broken war-torn world decimated to a point we are put into negative evolution. We’re talking an extinction level event here. Not just for people. For everything.

  Those findings then prompted a discussion:

  What would happen if C was released for targeted culling prior to A being released?

  It is abhorrent of course, and no sane person in their right mind would ever do it, but, as Alexander says, we must consider all options.

  ‘How can we eliminate that which we do not consider?’

  Professor Hussein is refusing to even consider such a thing, he will not discuss it, not for one second, and further, he is disrupting the whole project.

  Hussein is quite possibly the world’s foremost expert in virology, so from all of us he has perhaps the best scientific grasp of this, but if Hussein is not careful, I can see him being removed from the entire project for his bullying and aggressive nature.

  Prof Donegal’s background is in immunology, and next to Hussein, he has the fullest understanding of the scientific nature of the contagion.

  That expert knowledge mixed with such strong personalities within such an enclosed environment is certainly creating fireworks and causing a great deal of very heated debate.

  That aside, I am having a blast and have made some very dear friends. Albert is a breath of fresh air and always ready with a joke, a quip, a comment or timely observation for me when I break from heated discussions to cool off and gain some perspective.

  Albert is also a deceptively intelligent man too, and a great sounding board when I really do need to clear my mind and talk things through. He has a grasp of the project and what it’s about.

  I wanted to start lifting weights to get a bit more muscle. (Albert has very muscular arms) but he said I should focus on my heart and lungs with strength conditioning. He was quite serious about it too. He said fitness and stamina are more important than looking good in a tight top.

  It is paying off too. I feel great.

  Camilla said my tummy looked flatter and my love handles are reducing, she also said she liked seeing my little love handles and podgy belly.

  If anyone else ever referred to my stomach as podgy I would have been mortified but coming from Camilla it was fine. I’m spending a lot of time with Camilla now. We talk for hours.

  Surprisingly, she and Albert both really like Hussein, but aren’t too fond of Donegal. Strange how we all see people differently, but then neither Albert nor Camilla have to spend hours locked in ever-increasing debate with them.

  I think about Camilla a lot. I do wonder if she has any romantic inclination towards me, but then I look at myself in the mirror and realise a woman like Camilla would never lower herself to be with a chap like me.

  Signing off.

  NB

  November 15th

  The last couple of weeks have not really progressed very far at all as we seem to be stuck in the same arguments between Professors’ Hussein & Donegal.

  Alexander really needs to step in now. I, and several other scientists, have said as much to him.

  ‘Really, Alexander. This is becoming tiresome and draining,’ I said to him only this morning.

  ‘How we react and how we respond is representative of how the world will react, we must see it through,’ he said.

  The good news is the stalemate means I have plenty of time on my hands, which is being increasingly spent with Albert and Camilla, and a great little threesome of friends we have become too.

  NB

  November 20th

  Still no blasted change. Why on earth are they funding such an extravagant hypothetical research project only to allow it to collapse into vicious bloody debates that is dividing the whole facility?

  And why isn’t Alexander taking action?

  Professor Donegal and approx. 45% of the scientists are on one side with their fervent belief that C should be released to cull the population before the Panacea is released.

  Professor Hussein and approx. 40% of the scientists are on the other side with their also fervent belief that we have an absolute moral obligation to release the Panacea.

  The problem is that Hussein, despite having the moral upper hand, is aggressive and angry, so although his points are valid, and what he says makes sense, he is turning people away because of his character.

  Donegal, however, is charismatic and uses great humour to draw people in. Whereas Hussein just glowers and slams his hands on the desks and throws doors open so they bang into walls.

  Surprisingly, both sides have equal numbers of scientists that proclaim faith in the major religions, and those scientists of faith have made use of their religious teachings and understandings to add weight to their arguments.

  It’s all very tiresome.

  I, however, am falling head over heels in love with Camilla and cannot stop thinking about her, but the thought of making a move terrifies me. What if she rejects me? What if I have read it all wrong?

  It’s all very confusing.

  Signing off.

  NB

  November 21st

  An incredible thing has happened.

  After I finished work last night, I sought the company of Albert.

  (Albert agrees with me that any form of culling is just disgusting and there is a clear moral responsibility to release the Panacea).

  We exercised and then went for a swim, at which point Camilla joined us. She also agrees with me and Albert that culling is out of the question.

  ‘I can’t see why they are even considering it,’ she said.

  We then sat in the jacuzzi for a long time, laughing and joking until I remarked I would miss the evening meal. Albert and Camilla shared a look and a whisper, then Camilla told me to go with Albert to his rooms.

  Albert guided me into the service area used by the staff and snuck me into his room. It was very neat too, and exactly what you’d expect from an ex-military type.

  I took the chair by the desk while he sat on the bed and we chatted about the whole blasted culling thing again.

  ‘A thing like that should never happen,’ Albert said firmly before Camilla came in with a tray of pizzas in one hand and a box of beer bottles in the other.

  ‘You look like a man that needs beer and pizza,’ she told me with a smile.

  I was genuinely touched. Really and truly. I’ve never had friends before, not like that anyway.

  Albert told jokes and we laughed until my sides hurt. He even told a story about a soldier he once knew that blew a cow up. It was awful of course to think of a poor cow being blown up, but the way Albert told the story did make us cry with laughter.

  After a while, Camilla complained that her bottom was getting numb from sitting on the floor and stood up to massage her cheeks with such a mock pained face it made Albert and I roar with laughter.

  She tutted, swiped our heads and plonked down on my lap, which made me go silent and stunned and Albert to laugh even harder at my expression. But I must admit we had drunk quite a few bottles of beer by that time.

  Camilla then looped her arms around
my neck and stretched up to put her feet on Albert’s desk to snuggle in and get comfy. It was magical. Then the beer ran out.

  ‘The beer’s run out,’ Albert said, nodding at Camilla.

  ‘Get some more then,’ she retorted.

  ‘I’m old and stink of piss. You’re a woman.’ He clicked his fingers then ducked and rolled from the shoe thrown at his head while I laughed.

  ‘I’ll get some more,’ he said with a grumble. ‘Don’t touch my bed…’

  ‘Quick, get up…’ Camilla said once Albert and left. She grabbed my hand and pulled me onto his bed while giggling and laughing.

  ‘He said to leave his bed alone,’ I said, or rather I slurred, and probably stammered quite a bit too.

  ‘Pah!’ she said and pulled me down a little too hard, so we ended up rolling over each other on his mattress. That’s when she kissed me. I froze in shock. It was over within a second then she pulled back and watched me closely before we both burst out laughing at what we just did.

  Albert came back to us sitting up on his bed with mock innocent expressions. He tried to glare and said he wasn’t sharing the beer, but he did, and we drank more.

  Not being used to drinking alcohol, the beer soon took effect and I toddled off to use Albert’s bathroom and was very surprised to see an old-fashioned cut-throat razor on the side next to the basin.

  ‘Albert!’ I called out. ‘What on earth is this?’

  ‘WHAT?’ he shouted from the other room.

  I carried out it while laughing to show Camilla. ‘Bloody old cut-throat razor…’

  Camilla’s reaction was quite unexpected. ‘Albert!’ she whispered angrily, giving him a dark look.

  ‘You’d better hand that over, Neal. It’s very sharp,’ Albert said, moving very swiftly from the chair to pluck the thing from my hand.

  ‘Albert, put it away,’ Camilla said, shaking her head at him. They almost seemed sober at that point, but then I was very drunk so I couldn’t be sure of anything.

  ‘Not allowed these here,’ Albert said, winking at me. ‘Mum’s the word eh?’

  ‘But… but… You’re all beardy,’ I told Albert, pointing at his greying whiskers in case he didn’t know where his beard was.

  ‘For my neck and cheeks, hair grows all over the place when you get old,’ he quipped, laughing as he pocketed the razor. ‘Anyway. Stop going through my kit and drink your beer.’

  Later, when Albert dozed off and started snoring. Camilla said I had to go back to my rooms and that she would walk me home.

  ‘In case you get lost,’ she slurred, nodding at me seriously.

  We went quietly, in the way of drunk people crashing into tables and falling over potted plants and it took a good five minutes to get that blasted swipe card through the narrow slot thing on my bedroom door.

  It did work eventually, and I turned to bid the lady a good night.

  ‘I shall bid you a good night my lady,’ I said deeply, offering a bow.

  ‘Dear me, Dr Barrett, do you need an invitation in writing?’

  ‘For what?’ I enquired, somewhat drunkenly.

  She tutted, pushed me into my room, closed the door and took her blouse off.

  ‘Oh,’ I said, blinking and staring as she reached back to unclasp her bra. ‘I say, will this invitation be forthcoming soon?’

  ‘Idiot,’ she laughed that wonderful laugh and the rest was truly an amazing experience. I was very drunk I hasten to add and no doubt my love-making skills were perhaps not as developed as some, but Camilla said it was really good and even said she almost orgasmed too, which is very rare for a first time apparently (for a woman that is.) (Not that I would know.)

  A most incredible thing indeed. I am in love!!!

  Signing off.

  NB

  November 22nd

  So many things are happening, and I need to get my thoughts in order.

  Camilla came to my room last night and truth be told I was still feeling hungover from the previous night’s excessive drinking, but I was still very pleased to see her. She said she couldn’t stay long and seemed somewhat stressed.

  ‘I can’t stay long,’ she said quietly once the door was closed. ‘Albert found something.’

  ‘Found something?’ I asked. ‘What has he found?’

  ‘I’ll tell you, but you have to promise me you won’t say anything.’

  ‘Of course, I won’t,’ I said, then feared this might be an integrity test of sorts, but then figured we had got drunk and had sex already, so any potential integrity test was well and truly blown.

  ‘You look worried, Neal,’ she said on seeing my expression.

  ‘Scientists looking worried are par for the course I’m afraid. Now, whatever is going on?’

  She did look ravishing in the subdued light of my room and I’ll admit I wanted to kiss her but did not quite know how to prompt such a thing into happening.

  Camilla went to speak, stopped, saw my expression again, appeared to work out my concerns, tutted, smiled and kissed me very passionately.

  ‘Better?’ she asked.

  I couldn’t reply, due to my current state of arousal so I stammered and swallowed a few times at which point she pulled her skirt up and her knickers down then pulled me onto the bed while freeing me from my trousers. It was amazing too! If somewhat quick. I think it was quicker than when I was drunk if I am honest, but Camilla said it was wonderful and that she very nearly orgasmed again, and that I just needed to build my staying power up a bit, but then added that I was lovely and she adored me very much, but could I get off now as she really needed to talk to me.

  ‘Albert’s found another level,’ she said from the bathroom.

  ‘A what now?’ I asked, my legs still somewhat rubbery from the passionate sex.

  ‘Come closer,’ she whispered.

  I went closer, blanching at the sight of her sitting on the toilet with her knickers round her ankles.

  ‘There’s another level below us. A whole complex of… Neal? Are you listening?’

  ‘Yes. Yes, of course. Another level eh? Well, we are in a UN facility so it stands to reason there will be other-.’

  ‘No, listen,’ she said urgently, standing up to wipe and yank her knickers up while talking. ‘Albert said he saw test subjects in laboratories, rats and mice and he said he saw monkeys with red eyes going absolutely nuts. He said some of them were withered, like emaciated and were attacking the bars of their cages so hard their hands and feet were all broken but they appeared ignorant of any pain.’

  ‘What?’ I asked, suddenly very alarmed.

  Camilla came closer, her voice very hushed. ‘Albert said the wild animals were in a section marked C and the healthy animals were in a section marked A. He saw another section marked B but it was empty…’

  ‘Gosh. Right. Well.’

  ‘It’s real… The Panacea is real.’

  ‘Ah now, one must not jump to conclusions. As I said, we are in a UN funded complex so what Albert saw could be any manner of thing. Chemicals, disease research, weaponised diseases like Anthrax or…’

  ‘Neal! They have two active sections marked A and C. A were healthy. C were wild. It fits exactly what they said about the contagion. This is not a table-top exercise. This is real.’

  ‘Okay, right, well that’s a good thing. Wow! The Panacea exists.’

  ‘So does the other thing.’

  ‘What other thing?’

  ‘The bad thing. C. The violent one. Albert said it was terrible. He said all the animals in that section were going absolutely crazy.’

  ‘Ah now, yes, yes I can see how that would look but sadly, that’s how these science chaps do things. They have to test them on animals you see, and I know it’s controversial and awful for any creature to suffer.’

  ‘Neal, listen to me! To be at the level of undertaking live subject trials, in the same place and at the same time as pulling in the world’s best scientists, and then leaving those scientists to reflect on the reacti
on of the world to a point of near mutiny tends to suggest they are in a very advanced position…’

  I was rather taken aback at Camilla’s manner and studied her anew. ‘I say Camilla, are you really just a receptionist?’

  She smiled, or rather winced. ‘Yes, of course. I’m just very concerned… Why are you looking at me like that?’

  ‘Are you a spy?’

  ‘A spy? Neal, have you heard yourself? Do I look like a spy?’

  ‘Well. I don’t know. What does a spy look like?’

  ‘Who would I by spying for?’

  ‘The Russians?’

  ‘The Russians are a member state of the United Nations. They joined in 1945 when they were still the USSR…’

  ‘Right. I see.’

  ‘Okay, yes I am a spy.’

  ‘I knew it!’

  ‘You did not know it.’

  ‘You’re right. I didn’t know it.’

  ‘And I’m not Russian. I’m British. Anyway. We need your help.’

  ‘Did you only have sex with me because you’re a spy?’

  ‘What!? No! Of course not. I liked you, like you I mean. I like you. You’re so sweet and honestly, I really was this close to orgasming.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘Anyway, Albert said… Why do you look so offended?’

  ‘I’m not offended.’

  ‘Now you even sound offended.’

  ‘It’s fine.’

  ‘Okay, Albert said we have to monitor now but we have to… Okay listen, I did not just have sex with you because of this.’

  ‘Right.’

  ‘I could have picked anyone.’