‘We have about another twenty miles down Route 87 to a town called Colorado Springs,’ said Rashim. ‘Then we will have to take the road west up into the mountains. The research campus is up there.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘Waldstein is up there in those mountains … waiting for us.’
‘My God.’ Maddy shuddered. ‘Say it like that, Rashim … you make it sound like we’re heading towards Mount Doom to drop the frikkin’ ring in.’
‘Mount Doom?’ He shrugged. He didn’t get the reference. ‘I do wonder if Liam might be right, though. We will have no idea if we are walking into a trap until it is too late to do anything about it.’
Heywood perked up. ‘Trap?’
Maddy glared at Rashim for his careless blunder. ‘This is all about getting answers, Rashim.’
‘Trap?’ said Heywood again. ‘What’s this about a –’
‘It’s nothing,’ she answered quickly. ‘Just Rashim being a drama queen.’
Heywood narrowed his eyes. ‘No … Missy, I ain’t an idiot. He jus’ said trap, an’ he wasn’t makin’ light of that fact.’
Rashim shrugged at Maddy. ‘You might as well tell him.’
‘Tell me what?’
Maddy sighed. ‘Well, let’s just say we have some history with Waldstein. It’s not all great.’
‘History?’
‘He … Well, we had a bit of a falling out. A misunderstanding.’
‘He tried to take us out,’ said Rashim.
‘Yuh … Thanks for that, Rashim.’
‘Take you out?’ Heywood’s eyes rounded. ‘You mean –’
Maddy raised her hand and nodded at Charley who was distracted, busy gazing at the flickering movie on the holo-screen. ‘Yeah … but look, that was down to a misunderstanding. Garbled communications. It’s a long story, Heywood; the short story is that we’re all friends now. We’ve come here because Waldstein invited us here.’
‘Invited you for what?’
‘To discuss what’s going to happen. What we need to do to prevent it.’
‘So the other guy … Leon?’
‘Liam. He’s one of us, a colleague.’
‘An’ what’s he doin’? Is he back in your base or somethin’?’
‘He’s looking into something else.’ Maddy waved that away. ‘It’s not important. The only important thing right now is getting to see Waldstein and having this meeting. That literally is all that matters, Heywood. If we’re going to change this world … that is literally all that –’
‘Maddy!’ Becks interrupted.
‘What?’
‘Maddy.’ She pointed towards the holo-screen behind the counter. ‘It appears something significant has just happened.’
They all turned to look at the glowing blue screen to see that the old movie had been interrupted by a news bulletin. A silver-haired presenter with a solemn face was on. Then footage: bodies littering a city street.
‘OhMyGod. Something’s up,’ whispered Maddy.
‘That your plague?’ asked Heywood.
‘Not yet, it shouldn’t be.’ She half stood up. ‘Excuse me?’ she called out to the waitress. ‘Miss?’
The waitress stirred from her daydream and pulled out her order pad. ‘What’ll it be?’
‘Nothing. Can you just turn the volume up?’ She pointed at the holo-screen. ‘Turn the news up for me?’
The waitress tucked the pad back in her pocket, turned round and hand-swiped the volume up.
‘… of men, women and children. As yet it is unclear from this tactical-cam footage whether we’re looking at a chemical or biological weapon.’
Ticker-tape was rolling along the bottom: +++Thousands discovered dead in North Korean town+++
‘The bodies were found by a pathfinder unit of Pacific Union land forces earlier this morning. Shortly after broadcasting this footage, all communication was lost with the unit …’
‘I believe that must be it,’ said Rashim. He looked at Maddy. ‘Our date was only approximate. This must be the beginning of it.’
The newscaster was back on the screen. ‘Military intelligence agencies have been issuing warnings that North Korea has been developing and stockpiling bioweapons for some time now. It seems the attack in the north by the Pacific Union has provoked the regime into deploying one of these weapons systems.’
‘On their own people by the look of it,’ added Maddy. ‘Why do that? Why not drop it on their enemy?’
‘Bioweapons are most efficient when deployed among civilian populations,’ said Becks.
Rashim nodded. ‘That’s right. I am sure the North Koreans would have preferred Tokyo if they had a way of getting it deployed over there.’
‘Assuming it’s a North Korean weapon,’ said Maddy.
‘… experts from FSWRD, the Federal States’ Weapons Research and Development Agency, have been examining this footage and despatched a scramble team to the area. President Gonzalez, Foreign Secretary Jessica Clinton and Defense Secretary Jonas Goodman are said to be in Tokyo where peace talks are being hosted, and right now are in discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister and attempting to make contact with one of the generals of the North Korean Ruling Committee in order to broker a temporary ceasefire …’
‘So … I guess this is it,’ said Maddy. ‘Three days earlier than we thought, then.’
‘Is this the disease that’s gonna make everyone sick?’ asked Charley.
‘Yeah.’ Maddy nodded slowly, her eyes glued to the screen and barely hearing the girl. ‘This is it.’
CHAPTER 32
First century, Jerusalem
‘It’s got to be down there, Bob … I’m sure of it. I saw Mayan symbols carved into that wall.’
Bob nodded. ‘Those symbols are unique. There is no record of them in any other … written language … other than in that one section of the Voynich Manuscript.’ His voice was little more than a croak that sounded like a load of broken parts rustling around in a paper bag. ‘I believe we have correctly located the second transmitter.’
‘Jay-zus, don’t talk, Bob. You’ll damage your throat even more. Just whisper or something.’
Bob adjusted the bloodstained rag wrapped round his neck. ‘The wound will heal, Liam.’
‘But your voice … is that going to be permanently broken?’
‘I do not know whether the injury –’
‘Hey …’ Liam raised his hands in apology. ‘My mistake. Look, just whisper, fella … OK? Let your voice rest for a bit.’
They had managed to find a room for the night: a grubby tavern that stank of the animal faeces outside. It was located off a narrow rat run in the upper city, a part of Jerusalem that was considered a no-go slum by the Romans who patrolled the streets.
Word of the riot in the temple grounds had spread right across the city. The entire cohort garrisoning Fortress Antonia had been turned out and suddenly become very visible, combing the streets of Jerusalem and arresting known firebrands and troublemakers.
Liam was certain they were trawling every back alley, marketplace, goat pen and stable for either the blasphemous prophet from Nazareth who’d claimed in front of too many witnesses that he was the son of Jehovah, or the giant of a man who had been the very first to step up beside him and make a stand against the corrupt temple authorities … and subsequently wrought bloody havoc in the courtyard of the Gentiles.
They had little option but to hole up in here for the rest of today and tonight. Liam needed to keep Bob hidden; the support unit stood out too much. Everyone in Jerusalem, it seemed, was talking about nothing else but the Courageous Giant and the Prophet from Nazareth. They were just going to have to lie low for the moment. Tomorrow at midday, just outside the city to the east, on that hillside among the olive trees, their return portal was due to open. Maybe they could hang on here until just before dawn, sneak out of the city while everyone was still asleep and then wait for the portal up there on the hill. The most important thing for now was to stay out of sight.
&nb
sp; ‘So, what happened to Jesus? I didn’t see him.’
‘Some of the men who were travelling with him … took him away,’ Bob replied with a rasping whisper. ‘They did that when the Romans came down from the wall. He was reluctant to leave.’
‘The men? You mean his disciples?’
Bob nodded.
‘Do you think we’ve messed up history?’
Bob pursed his lips. ‘An account of the temple riot is in the Bible.’ He shrugged. ‘The Romans getting involved in suppressing it, that is not. I believe we have caused contamination.’
‘Hmmm … then we may have to do some tidying up after us.’
‘Agreed.’
Later in the afternoon, Liam decided to chance his luck and leave their room to get some food. He left Bob hiding up there. Even making an appearance downstairs in this small backstreet tavern was probably pushing their luck. Every tongue was wagging about the giant.
Liam climbed down the rough wooden ladder that led from their room under the eaves into a low-ceilinged storeroom. The tavern’s owner had taken them this way, and warned them that if they took anything without asking he’d know. He’d told them he knew exactly how much of everything was in here in case they had an urge to sneak down and help themselves. Amphorae of wine and olive oil were stacked against one wall; flat loaves of barley-flour bread were stacked like roof tiles against another. Smoked and dried fish hung from hooks along a roof beam, while dried dates sat in a large wicker basket.
Liam ducked below the low beams and headed towards a narrow doorway that opened into the tavern. He could hear the murmur of male voices. It sounded busy. He wished he still had that prayer shawl over his head as a disguise, but he chided himself for being paranoid. The only person anyone was going to recognize was Bob.
He queried his bud for the Aramaic for ‘Can we have some food, please?’ and practised it quietly a couple of times, then stepped through the doorway.
The owner was busy pouring out cups of wine. The tavern was as busy as it had sounded, every roughly hewn bench and table occupied by men of all ages.
Liam managed one step inside before he heard a voice call out, which his bud quietly translated. ‘That’s him! That’s the one who bid the giant to leave the temple!’
Every head in the tavern turned Liam’s way.
‘He … he is the one who commanded the giant to come with him!’
Liam froze, as the nearest of the tavern’s patrons got up from their seats. An elderly man hurried towards him. Liam was half expecting him to lash out with a fist or a bread knife, but instead he grasped Liam’s arm. ‘At last! Someone has the courage to show them!’ His lips parted and he offered Liam a broad gap-toothed smile. ‘You and your giant friend … you showed them!’
Another man came over, his face half covered by a thick dark beard. ‘The Pharisees, they treat us like simple fools! Take our money for their prayers!’ He slapped Liam’s shoulder. ‘Now they are cowering inside their temple like frightened dogs!’
‘You are the one from Nazareth? The speaker who the priests have been warning us to denounce?’
Liam looked at their widened eyes. Jay-zus. They think I’m …
He hurriedly whispered words to be translated by his bud. ‘No. You are confusing me with a different –!’
But the old man standing right beside him heard the whispered English. The old man and the bearded one exchanged a wide-eyed glance. ‘You heard him?’ said the latter. ‘He spoke in that foreign tongue! The one he commanded the giant with!’
Liam shook his head. ‘No … no … this is –’
The man with the beard grasped Liam’s hand. ‘Word has spread throughout Galilee … we know you promised to come to the city for Passover. To throw the priests out!’ He was grinning with excitement. ‘To throw Herod Antipas out …’
Liam shook his head frantically. ‘No! Look … see … you’ve got the wrong –’
‘People in this city will follow you, my friend! I assure you, they will follow one who is brave enough to say what needs saying.’
A third man, younger, joined them. ‘I heard it was said you … you actually called the temple your father’s house?!’
The old man scowled at that. ‘That would be blasphemy!’
‘No! No … that wasn’t me!’
‘Blasphemy! Blasphemy!’ The young man laughed at him. ‘Listen to you, old fool. You sound just like those purple ladies in the temple.’ He turned to Liam. ‘Was that you? Did you say that?’
‘Look! I think –’
‘The old ways … our faith, it’s been corrupted by the Pharisees.’ The young man shouldered the others aside. ‘My cousin saw you speak in Cana. The things you said? He said you are the one who will free all Judaea from the Romans, from Herod!’
Liam backed out of the tavern, through the doorway towards the storeroom. ‘What? No! Jay-zus! I’m not who you think I am!’
The young man turned to the others. ‘Did you hear him? Do you others hear that? He speaks in the unknown tongue! He speaks in the tongue of the angels!’
Liam turned round and began to hurriedly climb the ladder.
Great. Just bloody great.
CHAPTER 33
2070, Rocky Mountains
It took them three days to make their way twenty miles down towards Colorado Springs. By which time the mysterious pathogen now had its official name, Kosong-ni – named after the small town in the northern mountains of North Korea where it had first appeared.
Yesterday outbreaks of the same pathogen had been reported in Beijing, Mumbai and Moscow. This morning the big news story had been about an outbreak in New London. The current theory getting prominent news-stream time was that cultures of Kosong-ni must have been smuggled out of North Korea some weeks ago, into a number of cities around the world, and released within twenty-four hours of each other. That Kosong-ni was some kind of non-discriminating doomsday weapon of North Korean origin was not in question. The pathogen’s DNA had been quite clearly engineered from the ground up. The generals of the North Korean Ruling Committee – all of them or perhaps just a rogue element – could have had this bioweapon ready to go for years, but had held it back for a special occasion like this; and now they’d decided that their regime was facing its final days and the rest of the world deserved to go down along with them.
There was another terrifying development to the fast-breaking news story: it was official … the pathogen was airborne.
Increasingly desperate containment measures were being announced by the hour. Intercontinental shuttle lines worldwide had been the very first thing to be locked down. China, Japan, Taiwan and a dozen other Pacific Rim countries had already closed their borders by the end of the first day. The United EuroStates general assembly had been slower off the mark; three days after Day One, and they were busy discussing the possibility of a lockdown between member states. This morning there was news that the Austra-Zealand Airforce had firebombed a flotilla of overladen refugee ships heading from Bali towards the northern coast of mainland Australia. King George VII and the immediate British royal family had been evacuated from New London and granted temporary residence in the Scottish republic.
The road heading south towards Colorado Springs became slightly busier on the first day, very busy on the second, and today … it was clogged with a mixture of e-Car and foot traffic – a logjam of people heading away from the more densely populated north, an about-turn on the usual steady trickle of hopeful migrants heading north for Denver.
Maddy wasn’t surprised to see how quickly panic had taken hold, how ready people were to believe that this was it: the Big One, the sweeping pandemic that would be the great global leveller. That Kosong-ni wasn’t just another seasonal animal-flu false alarm sensationalized by the media … but the Real Deal, an end-of-mankind-as-we-know-it plague.
Heywood explained that some unpleasant bioweapons had been used not so long ago during the Kashmir War. The general population had seen enough grisly ne
ws footage of the results of biological warfare to be ready to panic at the mere mention of a trigger word like ‘outbreak’. That and the fact that – both Heywood and Charley had said it before – everyone in this time knew that something was coming.
So here it finally was.
By the afternoon of the third day, the gradual build-up on Route 87 had become a slow-moving tide that ground to a halt just a few miles short of Colorado Springs. The overcast sky was beginning to spit drops of rain as Maddy and the others weaved their way through a long tail of parked e-Cars and e-Trams, even a number of hand-pulled carts, towards a baying crowd of people. Over heads and shoulders Maddy could see a roadblock fifty yards ahead of them. A spool of razor wire had been stretched across the highway, automated gun sentries set up either side of it with information screens erected above them. A company of soldiers in white bio-hazard suits and dark masks had emerged from several parked-up APCs and waited beyond the wire, ready, it seemed, to open fire on the crowd building up in front of them.
One of the men in bio-hazard suits was squawking some repeated announcement through a PA system, but his words were all but lost beneath the squalling noise of the crowd. On the screens either side of the roadblock a short message was looping in English and Spanish.
+++K-N virus outbreaks in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona. Return north IMMEDIATELY+++
‘My God,’ said Maddy. She turned to Rashim. ‘It can’t have got over here already?!’
‘You heard the news. Perhaps it was deployed in many places at once,’ replied Rashim. ‘Perhaps even here in the FSA?’