Journey to the Catskills : The Battle for Control

by Pinckney, Dan

• ISBN13: 9781462070046
• ISBN10: 1462070043
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-01-12
• Publisher: Textstream

Summary

In Mexico City a biologically engineered strain of the Ebola virus has been released by terrorists and quickly begins to spread, claiming innocent lives worldwide. As the United States attempts to deal with the consequences, a second attack is launched. Nuclear bombs are launched, exploding in Baghdad, Moscow, and Washington, DC. The death toll rises exponentially. National infrastructures fail, and governments collapse. In the ensuing chaos, those who survive are forced to live their lives in a world without rules. When information about the location of a cure of the virus is released by the CDC, a mass migration of millions of fearful and infected survivors begins. A small group of survivors led by a unit of the Massachusetts Army National Guard are the fi rst to arrive at the research facility, where they immediately find themselves charged with distributing the cure. But those driven by good intentions are not the only ones who come in search of the cure; a confrontation seems imminent. Only time will tell what kind of world the survivors of the disaster will manage to create together.

Excerpts

January 23rd - Mexico - 8:10 am: The morning dawned gray with a threatening sky and one could almost smell the impending rain, but for one passenger at the main terminal in the Mexico City Airport, the weather wasn't a concern. Exiting the plane from Lisbon, Sirah, quietly made his way past the other travelers, carefully shifting his eyes from left to right. He had arrived at his final destination after a round-about route, flying from Iran to Saudi Arabia, then to Egypt, then Spain, and then to Portugal, and now, some thirty two hours, landing in Mexico, his final destination. As he approached customs, he noticed the single American scanning individuals as they entered the terminal, and he struggled to suppress a shudder. Even here, the American CIA has their tentacles, he thought. Well it's too late. He walked quickly toward customs, wanting to push the older woman with her three children out of the way when they temporarily blocked his path. He saw the path clear to his right and moved quickly in that direction, aptly dodging one of the youngsters who cut in front of him. The old woman yelled, he wasn't sure if it was at him, or at the child, but he quietly moved on without looking back. As he approached customs, he noticed the soldiers armed with automatic weapons. They were professional, neither smiling, nor grimacing; well, so was he. As he waited for his turn, he threw a casual look over his shoulder, and saw what he feared most. The CIA agent was staring in his direction, occasionally looking down at a series of photographs in his hands. Sirah smiled under his breath, as he shifted the bag in his hand, and in a carefully rehearsed move, reached in and removed his passport, rubbing his hand briefly over the vial of aftershave. It was there, and if need be, he could open it in a second. It would mean his death, but it would also unleash the death that was contained within. He chanced a second look at the CIA agent, the man watched him for a second more, then shifted his gaze to another group of departing passengers. A few moments later, Sirah, his passport now safely back in his bag, casually headed toward the door. Once there, he hailed a taxi, and as he entered, he threw a casual glance back toward the airport door. That was when he received the greatest shock he ever had. The man he had guessed was a CIA agent, was standing there, watching him. His blood ran cold for a moment, and he quickly sat down and clutched his bag to his chest. He had been prepared to die before, but once past the danger, he was elated. He didn't want to die, not yet. He wanted to be able to continue his plan and watch as America died, but that looked less and less likely now. Still, the CIA man let him leave, and he had the deadly virus. He would have to act quickly. There was still a chance he could complete his mission and fly to his next assignment, but if he was right, the enemy knew he was here, and his mission was in jeopardy. He would have to act quickly and take the next available flight out. Phase one of his operation was about to be completed, and phase two would be the final strike, but he had to act quickly. Time was his enemy now. Chapter 5 January 26th - Mexico - 10:07 am: Utilizing a rented van, Siarh was now ready to strike. Swathed in protective clothing, he cracked opened the side door and simply squirted the virus out in short streams, splashing the deadly liquid onto any innocent victim who happened to walk into his path. In minutes the virus had spread quickly to numerous victims, who inadvertently passed it along to others in their travels. Located in such a centralized location, the virus is quickly spread throughout the city, and very soon reaches the airport, where those who are infected transfer it throughout the entire country, and to locations beyond its borders. The virus was released in the center of Mexico City, and the "Burrito Bug", as it was first coined by an American newspaper editor after reports begin to emerge, is operating as designed. Doctors soon discover that the drug is resistant to all known antibiotics, concentrates in the lungs before spreading throughout the rest of the body. Embedding itself in the warm membrane of the alveoli, the virus first appears to be a strain of some type flu, though once entrenched it gains strength, though it doesn't affect everyone the same way. Because of its location in the lungs, the disease now becomes an airborne virus, which is rapidly spread through common contact. Even with the use of surgical masks and gloves, the disease can penetrate layers of cloth, which comes as a dismay to medical personnel. Only the use of full biological suits, which are in short supply in Mexico, prevents the drug from spreading further. Once firmly embedded the virus causes the lungs to deteriorate and the victims cannot take in enough air to support their bodies; some people last in this condition for weeks, but most succumb within five or six days. The virus also has an unexpected result, it weakens a bit as it travels, allowing people to survive longer and longer, but in the long run, the results are always the same, death occurs. The C. D. C after making a preliminary report that the disease appears to be synthetic in nature, and they have classified it as a terrorist attack. In time open sores appeared on the victims, causing a general warning to be spread, but it was too late. The virus was active and spreading.