Russian Federation base, Port of Murmansk, 26
th
June 2014, 1500 hours.
Spooks, Gladstone and Portman, the Doobie Brothers of elite tactical ‘fixer’ teams, stayed close to Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn Shepherd. It seemed as though every time she turned a corner amid the maze of cargo containers, one or both of them were there.
“Portman. Where is the ladies’ room in this place? Oh, and I trust you won’t be accompanying me while I go, will you?” Evie asked.
“I have my orders, Ma’am, but no, I won’t go that far. Second turn on your right, then first left, and straight ahead. It’s signed, Ma’am.” Portman smiled, “I’ll leave that to Gladstone.” He muttered.
Evie found her way to the restroom and immediately pulled out her notepad and a pencil. She scribbled a short message, tore off the page, and folded it into her palm. Acutely aware of the fact that the room could have ears, Evie made a point of rattling the toilet roll holder and flushing, albeit a vacuum toilet, rather than water fed. To anyone eavesdropping, the effect would be the same. Evelyn Shepherd just needed to go.
True to Portman’s prophecy, Gladstone casually leant against the corrugated wall of the container corridor, fiddling with his phone. He might just as well have been wearing a sign which read “I’m watching you!” Evie thought.
“Gladstone, how nice to see you again,” Evie smiled, her tone genuine. “You know the labs are classified, don’t you? Need-to-know, and all that spy stuff. I’ll be in mine for the rest of the afternoon if you need anything. Have fun!” Evie smiled as she passed him.
The barely subdued frown of frustration on Gladstone’s face said it all.
Evie settled into her new surroundings. The lab, while small, was extremely well equipped for her needs. Monitors and machines all had ready lights waiting. There were testing stations and sealable specimen containers ready for use as well as an array of tools of the trade. Her laptop, always with her belongings wherever she went, now sat neatly on the melamine surface of the only free table. A padded, backless stool served to complete the station. A hiss from the airlock announced the arrival of Charles.
“Fitz. How are things progressing?” Evie asked.
Charles brought his forefinger to his lips and then touched his ear before pointing at the room itself.
Evie lowered her voice to a mere whisper and continued. “Did you get the boys kitted out, are they on their way yet?”
“All sorted. They should be flying real soon. The helicopter will make a few passes over the surrounding area; it’ll be faster that way. The Russian military has already mobilised search parties to look for the missing shipmates. They were heavily armed too, at the request of your friend, Aslanov.”
“Good, good. I mean, good that they are on their way. With luck, they’ll find the survivors before the military do. What’s with the shadows everywhere I go, can you do something about that? It’s a little unnerving. Can you get a note to Nathan? How long before we get to board the ship?” Evie whispered.
“Ah, you mean the goon squad. Yes, yes. I had to strike a deal to use their helicopter I’m afraid. It seems they want in on any action. We should be able to board soon, I hope. Secretary of Defence Chapman authorised it so at least we’re legitimate. He did require assurances that we wouldn’t stir up a storm here. You get what I mean.” Charles winked. He had answered all three questions, his double yes cloaked.
“Yes,” Evie said, a little too loudly, “good idea. Let’s prep the lab ready for the samples. It’ll save time.”
“Agreed,” Charles replied boldly, playing along.
A few minutes of overstated clattering and banging, along with numerous voiced comments about random things, created the impression of scientists at work—exactly what Charles and Evie wanted. Evie slipped Charles the scribbled note.
*****
The tell-tale hiss of the airlock pre-empted the entrance of both Commander Rostok and Dr Aslanov.
“Gentlemen.” Charles beamed. “It might be fitting to let us know before you enter the lab. When we begin sampling, it could be very dangerous to be just walking straight in, but I’m sure you know that already, right?” Charles smiled. He continued before any response, “Dr Aslanov, do you have any medical updates for us so far? I’m assuming you’ll have had your teams inside the vessel already?” Charles asked.
“My apologies, Dr Fitzgerald. My fault for the unannounced intrusion.” Rostok began. “We’re ready for you to board the
Baltic Wanderer
now,” he stated.
Evie closed the laptop as Dr Aslanov approached the desk.
“We have some samples that we could send over for examination, doctor. I have arranged bio-suits for you both, naturally. When you are ready? It would be helpful if we could share information freely. You are a specialist in your field, Dr Shepherd, as am I, but two heads are better than just the one, as I’m sure you will agree, Dr Fitzgerald,” Aslanov sneered.
“Two heads? Indeed, Doctor, indeed. You’ll be the first to know if
we
find anything, I can assure you.” Charles nodded politely. “Commander, thank you for permitting us access so fast. Time is critical here. Shall we?” He smiled.
Commander Rostok led the way, followed by Charles and Evie, who noticed Aslanov gaze at the closed laptop just before he followed. Evie made a mental note to utilise one of the lockers should she ever need to leave the lab for any great length of time in the future.
*****
The scene around the stricken freighter was one of order. Cordons and guards surrounded the embedded bow of the vessel, while airbags had already been deployed the length of the hull to keep it afloat, assisted by numerous smaller tugboats. The ship itself resembled a movie set. Lighting stand arrays illuminated every square metre of the deck.
A sealed air contamination unit took an imposing stand at the entrance to a footbridge. Two guards stood on either side. Erected between what remained of the bow and the harbour wall, the bridge served to provide safe access due to the angle of the ship, which prevented the usual means of entry. Adorning biochemical body suits, Doctors Shepherd and Aslanov passed through the airlock system and onto the slanted deck of the
Baltic Wanderer
.
Several suited teams milled over individually assigned areas.
White ants foraging for anything useful,
Evie thought. Memories of the initial outbreak at Salby flooded her mind; a shiver ran through her, unnoticed by Aslanov thanks to the bio-suit.
“We will begin here, Shepherd,” Aslanov stated.
“Doctor Shepherd, even to you, Doctor Aslanov.” Evie corrected.
From the windows of the bridge, Evie had a much better view of the scale of the damage that the impact of the vessel had caused. The harbour wall had been no match for the sheer bulk of the freighter. At full speed, the vessel simply carved a new gateway through it, ploughing up the harbour until the resistance from the land finally stopped it.
“Do we know who he is?” Evie queried.
“We do. He is, or he
was
, Captain Olov Bochorov. He was the son of a seafarer, an experienced helmsman of over thirty years. What we need to know is who, or what, did this to him,” Aslanov stated.
Evie took swabs from the body, snapped each one into an airtight container, and then examined the Captain for any signs of the tell-tale jelly residue of the virus. There were none. His injuries caused him to bleed out. Death, while not instantaneous, would have followed swiftly after the blow to his midsection. A blood trail to the console suggested that he attempted to move after he was attacked, Evie noted.
“I would estimate that this man has been dead for at least six to eight weeks. What do you think, Doctor?” Evie queried.
“I concur. The state of decomposition backs that estimation up. We have found no trace of any viral element in this area. The wounds inflicted upon him suggest a brutal, savage attack with a sharp object. He wasn’t just slashed, he was hacked.”
“Are there any other victims on the bridge?” Evie asked.
“No. It seems the other bodies are scattered below decks. Three have since washed up on the shoreline south of the harbour. We’ll need to examine them in due course. They have been moved to a secure bio facility. Come, we’ll go to the ship’s hold. I think you’ll find that much more interesting,” Aslanov hinted.
*****
Commander Rostok requested the presence of Dr Fitzgerald at yet another meeting. On the way, Charles took the opportunity to see Nathan and Stewey as they prepared for the flight back home. At the landing area, both soldiers loaded their newly acquired kit.
“Sir, good to see you,” Stewey began, “Anything we need to know?”
“Staff Sergeant Stewall, all set? They have only just been granted access to the ship. Sampling and tests will follow later today—the results will be a day or two after that. The helicopter will stay low heading south, not too far inland, you’re supposed to be going back to the UK, remember. It’ll drop you a few miles out. When it does, you two need to disappear. Whatever you do, don’t get caught by the military. Oh, Cross, while I remember, Evelyn asked me to pass you this.”
“Thank you, sir. How is she?”
“We’re playing chess with the Russians. They know that we know something as much as we know they suspect something. It’ll be cat and mouse for a good while yet. Evie is doing just fine. I’ll keep an eye on her while you’re hunting. You best get going, and be careful both of you. I want you both in one piece, understood?” Charles stated.
“Yes, Sir!” both soldiers replied.
Charles swept out of the room; his long, white medical coat added a very theatrical illusion to his exit.
*****
The stench leading down to the cavernous cargo area, not to mention hazardous footing due to an adhesive mixture of body fluid and grain, added to Evie’s sense of dread at what would be found. Dismembered limbs littered the walkways and stairs along the way, and yet in the cargo hold area, no remains were found. Evidence to suggest one, possibly two people, had cleared out a small area hidden deep in the shadows, remained. Used bandages, still with antibacterial cream residue, littered the corner.
Evie noticed strips of tape and cleaning wipes and bent to collect samples of each. Urine and faeces were also present, covered by a thin layer of the grain seeds, samples were taken of both. Evie locked onto a patch of a dried jelly-like substance, presumably where the victim had once been. She bent to take a swab and then casually kicked grain over the position with the tip of her covered shoes.
“Dr Aslanov!” Evie waved at the suited biochemist. “Here, look at this,” Evie beckoned.
“Found something?”
“Looks like someone remained alive down here for quite some time—possibly injured too. The remains of a basic medical kit, by the looks of it from a vehicle, are in the corner there.” Evie stated.
Further inspection of the area produced cutlery and used plates and cups. Evie sealed each item in a plastic bag with an identifying label, timed and dated.
“We need to cordon off this area, limit access, so that I can do a thorough sweep and swab. Anyone here could contaminate from another area of the ship which would hinder our progress, Dr Aslanov,” Evie stated boldly.
Her intention was to keep Aslanov busy with the minor finds, the medical kit and cutlery to begin with. Evie already suspected there had been two people here, one looking after the other. It was the other which concerned her most.
It wasn’t difficult to figure out that if the injured second person carried the virus, he or she
should
already be dead. The evidence so far suggested otherwise, which would mean some kind of mutation had occurred within the subject. The mutation could prove to be pivotal in the coming weeks and increased the urgency to find those two people before the Russians did. Evie had to try to throw Aslanov off the trail of any new strain of the virus.
“I agree, Doctor. I will go back to my lab and begin testing on some of these samples. We have enough to begin with. Will you join me or do you prefer to remain a little longer to oversee the cordons?” Aslanov asked, keen to get a head start on testing the samples.
“I think it’s best I stay here until it’s sealed off. There could be more to be found, and I don’t want people destroying any potential samples. I’ll return to my lab and begin testing on the samples I have as soon as this area is locked down,” Evie said, casually sealing another plastic bag with grain samples inside.
“Very well. I will check in with you later tonight so that we can discuss any findings.” Aslanov announced.
“I’ll look forward to it, Doctor. Until then.” Evie smiled.
She waited for Aslanov to climb the iron stairway out of sight of her position. Sure that she couldn’t be observed, she returned to the area where the jelly-like residue had been found. Sure enough, upon clearing away the layer of grain, a sizeable amount of the thick, black-speckled, coagulated substance remained. Unmistakeably viral blood, it would contain the original DNA of the victim.
In essence, there was the key to identifying not only the carrier, but also a potentially new strain. Evie scraped up the last of the sample, then took a small bottle of bleach-based, antibacterial spray, and lightly dusted the area, before covering it once more with a layer of grain. Further investigation revealed a single hairgrip, close to the foot of the stairway into the hold. Sadly, no giveaway strand of hair remained, but the clip could still provide cells at a microscopic level, which would answer at least one question.