The Malthus Pandemic

by Terry Morgan

Seven o'clock, Bangkok time and Daniel and Anna were eating at the roadside close to their hotel. Daniel was still desperate to know if Solomon's phone had been tracked. Finally, Colin phoned with the news.

  "We've tracked it to Soi 11, Sukhumvit. I don't know Bangkok, Daniel, but I've looked at a Google map of the area and it looks like a busy area. Am I right?"

  "Oh yes," said Daniel and looked at Anna. They were sitting in Soi 11. Their hotel was also in Soi 11. They had just walked the full length of Soi 11 looking for somewhere to eat. "It's busy - bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels. I can vouch for that. And where are we with Interpol?"

  "I'm expecting to hear that a Red notice is going out within the hour for GOB. That was requested by Washington. That means that, if he is in Thailand, then the Thai Police can issue a formal arrest warrant and begin the search with a view to extradition. It's paperwork, Daniel but things are moving fast - frustrating but fast."

  "And Solomon?" asked Daniel.

  "Mm," said Colin. "He's proving more difficult. Interpol action hinges on the problem you already highlighted - what's he actually done? The definition of his crime. Has he committed one? Is he a terrorism threat? I'm getting asked for real evidence all the time. This is the head scratching that's going on. But, believe me, Daniel, it's our report they're using. They no longer suspect we are cranks. And someone has spoken to Virex and Biox and discovered what we knew all along - Solomon worked for them and disappeared along with Virex's research material. They've come clean. They've had to. And I suspect you might not get chased by Charles Brady for a while. He's both embarrassed and worried about his company's reputation and the implications for him personally.

  "So, for Solomon, until we get more information, I suspect we might end up with a Blue Notice - a so-called request for additional information about a person in relation to a crime. Virex might press charges but, without much more evidence, I don't see that as on a scale needing Interpol."

  "So, yet another reason why I need to continue to check Solomon out, Colin."

  "Yes," agreed Colin. "And WHO have also sprung to life which might help to nail him. This is all Larry's doing. He's been putting pressure on them through Senator Collis and the US Department of Health. Pressure is being applied to clarify the source of the outbreaks in Thailand and Nigeria. But they are struggling because, without direct evidence that this is a laboratory engineered virus that has either escaped or has been deliberately released, they are unwilling to say. Larry thinks they are beginning to suspect that what he's been telling them for several weeks is true. And I suspect the WHO are fully aware of our report as well - it's gone that high.

  "And if you've not had enough different colour notices for one day, how about an Interpol Orange Notice? We're trying it. This warns police and other international organisations about potential threats from disguised weapons or other dangerous materials. No-one knows whether lethal Flu viruses being shipped around under uncontrolled conditions fit into this category."

  Colin stopped. "So - enough to go on with? And, by the way, where are you?" he added.

  "Soi 11, Sukhumvit, Colin. It's where half the world seems to hang out. Co-incidence or what?"

  "Christ," said Colin. "I call that convenient. Just you go careful young man."