Emperor of a Dead World (20 page)

“How do you know all this?”

“Dr. Manette and I corresponded via email. In any event, Dr. Robert agreed this was something new. As they studied the disease, the patients became even worse. Both became hostile and aggressive and no longer seemed human. In fact, they appeared possessed and acted like demons that just wanted to kill. While the two doctors were still performing tests, another doctor arrived. This new doctor, Dr. Solator, was a military doctor. He arrived with soldiers and took over the operation. The first thing he did was refuse to let anyone leave the colony. You see, he already had people in a very secluded place. A place designed for keeping sick people away from others. After this, he cancelled the Father Damien tours and had military contractors construct a secret hospital near the Father’s old church. It was an amazing feat. They completed the structure in less than three months.” He stopped and sighed. “Shortly after the facility was completed my communication with Dr. Manette ceased. About six months later, the first attacks began. The rest is conjecture but I have reason to believe it is true.”

“Please tell me your theory,” Brad prodded.

The doctor sipped his coffee. “When the military got involved they saw an opportunity for a biological killing machine. A device that would do nothing but kill and it killed or maimed anyone it met. Their opinion was, if it killed, great, if it wounded, even better. The wounded became infected and they soon become killing machines themselves.”

“Why do they not attack each other?” Lisa asked.

“They are the same species,” the doctor shrugged. “Even ferocious lions can live together without killing each other. You see, they only attack things that are different from them or appear as a threat. Like animals, they know each other by sight and smell. I am sure you have noticed their horrid appearance and putrid odor.”

They both signified they had.

“They suffer this condition because their skin is dying.”

“Why are some people affected faster than others,” Brad asked.

The doctor shrugged again. “Apparently, some people are more susceptible than others. I am also sure it matters how much of the virus you receive. The more cuts you get, the larger the dose. A small scratch will not affect someone as much as multiple wounds. I also believe the faster your heart is pounding the faster the virus will spread.”

“If the military actually used these things, how did they intend to keep them from going into areas outside the war zone?”

“The military believed they would starve to death or die of thirst in a matter of days. All the soldiers had to do was lock down the area and keep the things contained for a short while.”

“Are they going to starve?” Lisa asked.

“Unfortunately no. They do not die as quickly as first believed. They seem to survive off the nutrients of their skin and the fat content of their body. This is why the skin is dying.”

“Why would the military release these things before they were thoroughly tested,” Brad asked with disgust.

“They were not released. One escaped.”

“How,” Lisa asked.

“Someone from the island must have contracted the disease and gotten onto an airplane,” the doctor reasoned.

“How did you come to this conclusion?” Brad asked.

“Shortly before the horrors began, I saw a news story that attracted my interest. A flight from LAX to Dulles international had to land in Columbus Ohio because of a passenger disturbance. The Columbus Post reported that as soon as the plane touched down the emergency doors flew open and people slid and tumbled down the inflatable ramps and ran for their lives from a man that was attacking everyone. The Police shot and killed the man but not until after he had already injured many people. The hospital sent most of them away because they did not understand the disease and they thought the injuries were minor.”

“Is this when everything began?” Lisa asked.

“Yes and no,” the doctor replied. “The man from Hawaii became sick right away because he had direct contact with the host. Those he infected had an incubation period of about three weeks. During this time, they were highly contagious. A cough in the face could transmit the disease. As I said, their skin began to die and if you slept in the same bed or sat in the same chair, you risked becoming infected. So many people became sick so fast that the hospitals became flooded and they had no choice but to send people home. They even rejected some that had temperatures over one hundred degrees. As more people became sick, fear spread as quickly as the disease. The media grabbed onto this fear and they started talking about a super virus. Now if someone in a seat behind you on an airplane coughed, fights broke out and the pilot had to land. After this, they had to clean the entire plane from top to bottom.”

“I remember this,” Brad exclaimed,” but I thought it was Ebola.

The doctor laughed. “That is what they wanted us to believe.”

“It was never Ebola?” Lisa asked.

“The two are surprisingly familiar,” Dr. Moreau replied. “They are transmitted in a similar way and the viruses look very much alike.”

“The doctors couldn’t tell the difference,” Brad exclaimed.

“The Ebola story was very big at the time and most had never seen the disease except in books. Besides, what are the odds of something so similar yet so different appearing at the same time?”

Brad shrugged and resumed his meal.

“In all fairness they never had time for an accurate diagnosis. The first attacks seemed to be random acts of violence and within days, thousands of crazed people were terrorizing the streets. Soon thousands become hundreds of thousands and these became millions. You see Brad,” the doctor shrugged, “I had an advantage over those original doctors. I knew the beginning of the story and I only needed to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I have also had the opportunity to observe and examine these things with the knowledge of what they are.” 

“You said the first instance you saw was a flight from Los Angeles?”

“There are several flights from Hawaii to LAX every day,” the doctor informed him. “The infected man must have come in contact with several people at the airport in LA. The ones in Columbus that were not hurt badly continued on to Dulles and other cities around the world. These people in turn infected others that continued on to their own destinations.”

“What happened to the man the police killed?”

We did a Google search for autopsy reports on the man but we could find none. We could not even find out where the body went or who the man was. He just simply disappeared.”

“What about the people he killed?”

“He did not kill anyone. He was still slow at the time. He only infected a lot of people because of the close quarters. When these things are alone and have lots of victims to choose from, they only scratch and move on in an attempt to infect as many as possible. If there are many of them and few victims, they can focus on killing. Now that there are so few victims, these things have evolved and become faster in an effort to beat out their rivals in getting to their prey. Believe me, these things have gotten much faster. This is why you cannot go to Sacramento. You faced one and it almost killed you. Imagine facing thousands of them. You could not possibly hope to survive.” He looked down not wanting to continue.

There is something you are not telling us,” Brad persisted.

The doctor took a sip of coffee then set the cup down and sighed. “The reason they do not starve is because they have learned how to adapt. Human nature or actually the nature of all living things, even in their condition, is to survive. When they attack, their intent is no longer murder. It is now self-preservation.” He stopped and took a deep breath then slowly let it out.

“Please go on doctor.”

“In order to survive,” he continued with reservation, “they eat what they kill. If you are attacked by those demons to the north, they will tear you apart and devour your flesh.”

“Oh my God,” Lisa exclaimed. “Is that what that thing would have done if it had caught us?”

“I am afraid so.”

She pushed her food away and held her stomach. “I think I am going to be sick.”

“The restroom is just inside.”

“Please come with me and stand outside the door,” she said to Brad.

Part 2

Chapter 17

Doctor Manette stood on the lani of his condominium at the Whitecaps resort and gazed out over the surf. The coconut trees were bending to the strong ocean breeze and the palm leaves made such a racket that he could barely hear Mozart playing a sonata on his stereo in the background.

“It looks like Maui is having a little shower,” he called to his wife in the kitchen.

She did not hear.

Glancing to the right he added, “Lana’i is wearing his cloud hat as usual. I suppose it keeps him warm on these brisk mornings.”

Mrs. Manette’s back was toward him while she unloaded the dishwasher.

Staring further into the distance he remarked, “Kaho’olawe is trying to peak through though I am sure he is growing quite impatient with the morning mist.”

“What,” she called back to him. “Are you speaking to me?”

Doctor Manette smiled and asked, “Is there any coffee?” His wife had often heard his morning ramblings about the islands and he spared her the recap.

“I can’t hear a word you’re saying out here,” she fired back as she came out with a cup of java in her hand.

He took it with a smile, held it to his nose and sniffed. “Molokai blend,” he remarked. “Is there no more Kona?”

“When I give you Kona you want Molokai. When I give you Molokai, you want Kona. When I give you…”

“I’m sorry,” he laughed. “It is just that I cannot see the Big Island through the mist and I miss it.”

“What are you talking about,” she scoffed as she turned her gaze out across the ocean. “The big island is too far off. You cannot possibly see it from here.”

“Sometimes I can,” he argued, “when it is very clear.”

“You are impossible,” she huffed. “Drink the Molokai.”

“I would rather have Kona.”

“There is simply no pleasing you.”

“Seeing you my love is all the pleasure I require.”

“You are a very smart man Doctor Manette, sometimes too smart.”

He shrugged but before he could respond, the phone rang.

Mrs. Manette stepped into the condominium and answered on the third ring. As she picked up the phone, the doctor glanced at his reflection on the sliding glass door. Gazing back was a sixty five year old man with a balding head. The hair that was fortunate enough to remain had already turned gray and the face of this apparition, once handsome, was now old and tired.

“It is Dr. Solator,” she called back. “He says it is urgent.”

He removed his glasses and wiped his hand across his face. “What could possibly be urgent on this island?”

She held out the phone and did not respond.

After replacing his glasses, he walked over and took the phone. “Dr. Manette,” he said into the receiver.

The voice on the other end was familiar, urgent and to the point. “You must come here right now,” Dr. Solator insisted.

“What is this about?” Dr. Manette demanded.

“Not over the phone,” Dr. Solator replied.

“I don’t understand why…”

“Listen,” Dr. Solator interrupted. “The boy got out.”

“Impossible!”

“I’m afraid not. Someone hiked down the mountain and the boy attacked him.”

“I thought they had canceled all permits due to the rabies incident.”

“It is impossible to control everyone.”

“In any event,” Dr. Manette stated as he turned from his wife and spoke softly. “I do not understand how the boy could get out. The guards we have are not just ordinary islanders. These men are trained at keeping people in.”

“Just get here as soon as possible,” Dr. Solator flashed. The connection went dead.

Dr. Manette listened to the dial tone for a moment before he hung up.

“What is it?” his wife asked. She had been watching him throughout the entire conversation.

“Trouble at the hospital,” he replied.

“Trouble, what kind of trouble?” she persisted.

“A problem with a patient,” he shrugged as if it were nothing.

“What kind of problem? What did he say?”

The phone rang. Dr. Manette answered.

“Dr. Solator apologizes,” said the young girl on the other end of the line. “He needs a second opinion and he would like you to come here right away. He did not give me any more information than that.” She paused and Dr. Manette could hear a voice in the background. “Am I clear,” she asked. “He did not give me any more information than that.”

“I understand.” He hung up the phone. “That was Lucy,” he said to his wife. “Dr. Solator needs my opinion on a patient but he did not tell her any more than that. He just needs me there now.” Dr. Manette almost sighed with relief that the doctor had made a follow-up call to pacify his wife. Doctor Solator knew Mrs. Manette and he was aware how persistent she could be.

“This does not make any sense,” she said suspiciously. “You said there was trouble at the hospital.”

“I will explain everything when I get back.” He kissed her then rushed out the door.

Filled with thoughts over what could have gone wrong, he headed down the 450 then along the 460 and turned right after the tobacco store onto the 470. As he drove, he wondered how the boy could possibly have gotten out. On autopilot by this time, he almost stopped at the coffee shop for a cup of Kona but instead stayed straight on the 470 and glanced at his watch hoping he would miss the mules. 8:10 am. They had not yet set out. He then remembered the mule rides were temporarily on hold. Half a mile before the Kalaupapa lookout, he turned off the road and headed into the brush then traveled along a route that appeared to be nothing more than a mule trail. After traversing less than one hundred yards, he stopped in front of a gate and two armed men in military fatigues immediately stepped forward. Each held an M-4 Carbine rifle in his hands and wore a Colt .45 in a holster. 

“State your business,” the first uniformed man roared.

“Doctor Manette, here at the request of Dr. Solator,” he calmly replied as he held up his ID to the unfamiliar guard.

“Right this way Doctor,” the man replied.

The soldier led the doctor to a Humvee and held the door for him. Before the doctor had even belted in, the man in the driver’s seat pushed the accelerator and raced down the mountain to the hospital. Though Dr. Manette had ridden this course many times, he had never had such a rough ride as this.

When he arrived at the bottom, Dr. Solator hurried out to greet him. “Thank you for coming so quickly,” he remarked as he led the doctor along.

“How did this happen?”

“The boy overpowered an orderly that came to feed him then ran out the door and encountered the hiker.”

“Wasn’t the orderly trained?”

“Yes, but the boy has gotten much more aggressive.”

“Is he still free?”

“No, we have captured him and he is now secure.”

“What about the man he attacked?”

“We have him as well.”

“Where was he attacked?”

“Not far from the church.”

“Was he alone?”

“His wife was in the restroom. She was unharmed.”

“How did your men find him?”

“A nurse saw the boy leave and sounded the alarm. When he attacked the man, one of the guards heard his screams and called for assistance. Two others showed up and sedated the boy.”

“How is the orderly?”

“He is dead.”

Dr. Manette shook his head. “I don’t understand how the boy got outside.”

“Only certain rooms are designed to keep people in. All the outside doors are made to keep people out.”

“Where have you put the new victim?”

“In the infirmary,” Dr. Solator replied.

“Everyone that came in contact with these two must be quarantined.”

Dr. Solator thought for a moment. “The boy and the man are in our control. The orderly is dead. Other than that there are three guards and myself.”

“Are you sure that is all?”

“I believe so.”

“We must be sure.”

“I am personally questioning everyone here.”

Doctor Manette sighed and thought for a moment. “Let me see the man.”

“Right this way.”

Dr. Solator punched in his code at the door then they headed down a secure hallway and stopped in front of a glass window. The boy was strapped to a bed in a secure room. The adjoining room contained the man he had attacked and a third room housed the original leper.

“Are you sure they cannot get out?”

“They are in a secure building strapped to beds in secure rooms that you must walk down a secure hallway to get to. Yes, I would say they are going nowhere.”

“The boy got out. What are you doing about the exit doors? We cannot afford to have this happen again. People will ask questions.”

“You need not concern yourself with that,” Dr. Solator replied with annoyance. “I will deal with it.”

“Then I will concern myself with this. Is it possible the boy came in contact with anyone we have not thought of?”

“Doctor Robert has questioned the locals and he is checking hiking permits. We have accounted for everyone.”

“Everyone,” Dr. Manette asked with skepticism.

“This is a very small and nosey community Doctor. People do not wander around without someone noticing them. Believe me; every resident knows what his neighbor is doing. If they are not sitting next to you they are looking in your window watching you.”

“Then how did they miss this man and his wife.”

Doctor Solator shrugged with annoyance.

“You are correct that these people are very nosey and that is why we must be careful to protect our secrets. There is no need to start a panic. Where are the ones that came in contact with these two?”

“Three are locked in observation rooms, the fourth is standing in front of you and the fifth is dead.”

“It appears you have everything under control.”

“I first contained the situation,” Dr. Solator assured him, “Then I called you.”

“You did the right thing,” Doctor Manette said as he turned his gaze toward the new inmate. He was struggling and glaring at the doctors with hatred in his eyes. “Strange that he would show signs so quickly.”

“I agree.”

“Where is the man’s wife?”

“We took her back to her condo.”

“What have you told her?”

“Snake bite.”

“There are no poisonous snakes in Hawaii.”

“There are no cases of rabies either. Sometimes things just happen.”

“When Dr. Robert returns I need to speak with him right away.”

“I appreciate your expertise Doctor but this is now a military operation and that means I am in charge. I do not take orders from you.”

“I agree with you one hundred percent. You are in charge and that means you are the one that screwed up.”

Dr. Solator frowned and departed.

Dr. Manette watched him leave then called to a nurse. “Sedate that patient.”

“I have already given him enough for an elephant,” she replied.”

Dr. Manette gazed at the man glaring back at him and trying to get loose. Without turning to the nurse he said, “Give him more.”

When the man calmed down Dr. Manette donned his hazard attire and examined him. All his symptoms were the same as the other two. He was extremely aggressive with no normal brain function. Another interesting fact is that his skin was dying and he had a very pungent odor. In addition, the man had no reflex action and no sense of feeling. When tapped on the knee or elbow there was no reaction and when poked with a pin his skin did not twitch. For all intents and purposes, he appeared to be in a very violent coma. In fact, the only thing that separated this man from a corpse was his burning desire to kill.

Once the doctor completed his examination, he headed to see the guards that were involved in capturing the boy. As he walked down the hall, he met Dr. Robert coming to see him.

“Good day Doctor. How is the new patient?”

“The same as the other two,” Dr. Manette shrugged. “Whatever is causing their condition is very fast acting.” He paused then added, “As far as you know, have any other civilians come in contact with the diseased one.”