Decrease

Tuesday - September 14

"Hey, John," says Jim, "have you given any thought of what I spoke to you about yesterday?"

Trying to refresh my memory about yesterday, I remember I wasn't listening to Jim. "Um... well, I don't know yet, Jim. Can I think about it some more?"

"Sure, buddy. I just need an answer and soon. Okay?" as he slaps my back.

"Sure, Jim, I'll get back to you." I look at Jim, and say, "I've got to go. I have a lot to do."

"Yeah, yeah, go, man. I'll talk to you later."

I give Jim a wave as I hurry off to see if Monica and Ted have had any luck in their research.

When I reach Monica's office door, I look at the red folder thinking about its contents. Should I let Monica and Ted see this? I open the folder and take out all of the pages, except for the one with the dates and initials. I roll the other pages up and tuck them deep inside my lab coat pocket. I press on the pocket to make sure they're secure.

Just when I was about to knock on the door, I hear Monica calling out my name, "John."

I turn around and ask, "Hey, did you have any luck in finding the cancelled researches yet?"

"Have I!" she exclaims.

Monica commands her office door to open. She heads over to her desk and picks up the phone and dials Ted's extension. I sit down and rest my eyes for a few moments.

"Ted, this is Monica. I have the cancelled research list and John and I are in my office. Get over here, now! Okay?" Monica hangs up the phone.

I clear my throat, and say, "Monica, I want you to know that since none of us are able to communicate with the outside world, well... I'm, I'm scared, too. I can't get in touch with Claire. For the first time in my life, I feel so helpless." My voice cracks, as I try not to become emotional. Monica forces a smile, as she too tries to hold back tears.

The silence between the two of us was uncanny. It was as if both of us know that this pandemic may be out of our control. We're both frightened, and we both know that if we can't find the cure, then we know that humanity may seize to exist.

We both jump when someone knocks on the door. Monica gets up to open it, when Ted bursts through with abounding energy and overwhelming enthusiasm, which somehow enlightens Monica and me; even though our fears may become our worse nightmares. Ted pulls a chair away from the wall so that all of us can sit in a circle.

"Okay, Monica, what do we have?" Ted asks ecstatically.

Monica pulls out the spreadsheet she printed from R & D and hands it to me. It doesn't look like there's a whole lot of information, not until I start to glance over it and notice something I have just recently seen.

"This," I say, as I point to some initials, "is the key right here."

"How do you know?" asks Ted.

I open the red folder and pull out the list of dates with the initials R.A.D. I place the page next to the spreadsheet. Ted and Monica look at each other in astonishment. I look at them both and say, "This is the cancelled research we need to find. R.A.D. did something that made the CDC uncomfortable. We need to find out what it was, and quick!"

Monica says, "Wait, John, I found something else. I don't know what it means yet, but maybe you two might. I found this symbol, or stamp, that was printed next to a research number. The research number is twenty-eight."

"Twenty-eight?" I ask.

"Does that mean something to you, John?" she asks.

I put my hand into my lab coat pocket and pull out the rolled pages from the red folder. I unfold two of them. The one with the symbol and the one with the number twenty-eight printed on it. I lay them both on the desk so Ted and Monica could see.

"Holy crap!" Ted responds. "Where did you get this, John?"

"I found it on my desk about ten minutes ago. I don't know who put it there, but someone obviously wants us to find something; but what?"

"Okay. It's damn clear to me that R.A.D. did something that the CDC disliked. They tried to sweep it under the rug, but I believe R.A.D. is the one behind this pandemic. We need to find this person and fast!" I tell Ted and Monica.

"Where do we start, John?" asks Monica.

"I have to go to Julie's office. I need my dad's old files. Everything had to go through him, and the research dates correspond with the time when he was head of the CDC." I start to get up when Monica's phone begins to ring. I sit back down, waiting to see who it is.

Monica picks up the phone and says, "Hello, this is Dr. Stewart."

Ted and I hear Monica say thank you when she hangs up from the caller. She gets up from her desk and walks over to a shelf where the television's remote control is located. She turns on the television, places the remote back where she got it from, and walks back to her chair stating that the president is about to speak. All three of us give our full attention to the president.

The news station announces that the President of the United States is about to speak. With poise and confidence, the president begins.

"Good evening. As of noon today, the world's scientific community has united in order to understand a horrific discovery that has been unfolding since Monday. Early last Thursday, three bodies were discovered. Their remains are too gruesome to describe. On Monday, three more bodies were found at different locations. Earlier today, other countries throughout the world have also discovered bodies, many bodies, in the same horrible condition. As of this moment, Martial Law is enforced. I know that this will be difficult for many, especially for the destitute. In any case, all citizens must seek shelter immediately. No one is to be out in public between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Those not following curfew, will be detained." The president lowers her head, then after clearing her throat continues.

"I have received an unofficial count from other countries, as well as from our own, on how many bodies have been discovered. The number, so far, is approximately... 27,000."

I jump out of my chair and spin around to look at Ted and Monica's reaction. None of us could speak. I return to my seat.

"The CDC, along with the military, governments, and medical community is working diligently to find out just exactly what this unwelcome intruder is and how to eradicate it from our planet. What we do know, so far, is that once the victim becomes contaminated, death is imminent. It cannot be reversed."

Monica starts to cry and Ted gets up to comfort her.

"Friends, I don't know what lies ahead, but I ask that you pray that this devastation against humanity comes to a halt, and quickly. I ask that everyone keep an eye out for their neighbor. We don't know how it occurs, but we ask that you stay vigilant and report anything out of the ordinary, no matter how extraordinary it may be."

The president pauses. She looks directly into the camera, trying not to project her own fears. "If you're a person who believes in a higher authority, then I ask that you pray. Pray for us all. Thank you and good night."

The president stands up and turns around to look out the Oval office window. The camera fades away and the local news returns.

Ted tries to comfort Monica, whose weeping much harder. I've got to contact Claire. But how? How?

Our silence becomes broken when Monica's phone rings again. Monica is too upset to answer, so I get up, and answering in a low, dreary tone, I say, "Dr. Bennett." I listen intently to the caller. Then I hang up and turn around and stare at the television screen. I go to the shelf to get the remote to turn off the television. I throw the remote on the table instead, and with a deep, grim feeling inside my whole being, I say, "That was Julie. Within the last two hours, over five thousand more bodies have been discovered."

I look at Monica as I gaze into her puffed, teary, heartbroken blue eyes, and in grimace say, "Over a thousand of them have been found in New York." Monica stands, and then faints. Ted tries to catch her, but she hits the floor hard. Ted bends down to tend to her. I walk over to the window and see the streets becoming void of people for the first time in over twenty-five years. I place my hand on the window, and whisper, "Claire, I love you, baby." I begin to cry.