Going Viral (24 page)
‘They’d have to be on foot, wouldn’t they?’
‘Yeah, but some might still try.’
‘Just do your best.’
He nodded and I left him to it.
People had started to come in for vaccination. Tom was wiping arms and applying vaccine, Clare was needling and Emily was sticking on plasters and taking their names. I realised it would move quicker with someone to help us with that, so I went and asked Gibb if he could spare one of his men to scribe. He found one and I set him to it. And the line moved that little bit faster…
My phone went – it was Sarah…
‘Herry, where
are
you, I’ve been trying to get you…’
‘It’s all right, you’ve got me now – what’s the problem?’
‘It’s Mum, she’s really ill, she’s come out in this terrible rash…’
I closed my eyes for a beat, then – ‘Stay where you are, I’ll be with you in five minutes.’
‘Five… but where
are
–?’
‘I’ll be there, OK?’
I shut her off, phoned the ambulance station and asked them to divert one of the ambulances, then went to find Gibb…
He was in the room he’d commandeered…
‘A word?’
‘What’s up?’
‘I’ve got a problem…’
He glanced at the soldier with him – ‘Jenkins, lose yourself a minute.’
Jenkins did that and I poured out the story… ‘I want to go myself, make sure she and my daughter are OK, but I don’t want to be accused of favouritism…’
‘Surely, it’s another contact,’ he said. ‘You’ve got every right to go and check it out, haven’t you?’
‘I shouldn’t leave…’
‘Go on, we’ll be fine. I’ll be here and you’ve got your mobile, haven’t you?’
‘Thanks,’ I said, and hurried out.
I stopped long enough to tell Clare I was checking another contact, then, drove off.
But I should have remembered Sod’s third law – that shit always hits in triplicate…
A few minutes after Herry had gone, Gibb went to the main hall to check things were going smoothly. They were - the line of vaccinees was moving and, from the smile on Private Benton’s face, he was enjoying himself working with the two women –
‘Sir,
sir
!’ Jenkins calling him from the office – ‘It’s roadblock two, urgent…’
He took the phone from Jenkins and listened for a moment, then –
‘I’ll be there,’ he snapped, and shut the phone off. ‘Fuck, fuck,
fuck
…’
‘Problem, sir?’
He looked at the vaccination line a moment, then made up his mind and went over to Clare –
‘I’m sorry ladies – and gent – but I’m going to have to borrow Benton for a while. We’ll be back as soon as we can. You two, come with me.’
They hurried out, clambered into the Land Rover and drove off.
‘What is it, sir?’ asked Jenkins, who was driving.
Gibb said between his teeth, ‘Some stupid bastard’s run the block and Cousins is down.’
‘Dead?’
‘Not yet, according to Parsons, but he will be if we don’t get him to hospital. We’ll bring him back to the hall for an ambulance –’
‘Couldn’t one of the ones coming in pick him up on the way, sir?’
‘They’re all coming from the south, Jenkins, while we, you might have noticed are travelling north.’
They roared up through the woods and rounded a bend to see the roadblock ahead. Cousins was lying on his back on the road and Parsons was putting something under his head.
‘Benton, you help Parsons get him onto the stretcher, Jenkins – help me find something more substantial to put across the road…’
*
In the Village Hall, all went well until a good looking, well-dressed man approached Clare.
‘Are you in charge?’ he asked diffidently.
She nodded.
He lowered his voice. ‘I wonder if I might trespass on your goodwill – I’m expecting an important international call and I didn’t realise how long the queue would be – I wonder if you might stretch a point and fit me in here?’
‘Bloody cheek,’ said the woman first in the queue behind him.
‘Oi, you, get to the back,’ came a voice from behind her.
Clare looked up. ‘I really don’t think we can,’ she began, ‘It won’t take long –’
‘You ‘eard ‘er, Prince - ‘ another voice – ‘Get to the back.’
Prince turned round. ‘I wasn’t aware I was speaking to you,’ he said…
Whether it was his bearing, his accent, or some prior knowledge of him – it was enough. The second protester came up and shoved him backwards – ‘You can wait like the rest of us –’
‘I said - ‘ Prince’s fist smacked into his nose, then the other into his gut – ‘I wasn’t talking to you…’
Two other men grabbed Prince and wrestled him to the floor, but as he went down, he clutched the edge of the table and the arm wipes, vaccine and waste containers went flying –
Tom tried to intervene, but was shoved roughly away –
Prince lashed out with his foot and caught someone’s shin –
A woman grabbed her husband as he tried to join in – ‘Don’t you
dare
Jim Payne…’
Clare shouted, Emily screamed and people crowded round the fighters –
Then a stentorian voice cracked out and everything stopped –
‘
What
the
HELL
is
going
on
?’
It was Brigg; he pushed through the melee and dragged one of the scrappers to his feet – ‘
YOU
–
get
over
there
against
the
wall
,
YOU
–
get
up
,
get
over
there
,
you
too
…’
Stunned, pugilists and wrestlers alike did as they were told… and Rebecca had a sudden insight into what old fashioned coppering really meant –
She pulled herself together – ‘What happened?’ she asked Clare, who quickly explained.
‘Right,’ said Brigg, ‘you three are under arrest, the rest of you, back into line –
now
!’
As they meekly did as they were told, Rebecca became aware of an ambulance siren… ‘You – ‘she said to the first man in the line – ‘Help him get the table up, and you – you can help her clear up the mess…’
The table was righted, the detritus cleared away, and order gradually restored.
‘Where are Major Gibb and Dr Smith?’ Brigg asked Clare. ‘I was told they’d be here.’
‘They were called away.’
‘
Both
of them? Surely they’d have left someone here… Ah!’ he said as Gibb came in. ‘Where the hell’ve you been?’ he asked him in an undertone.
Gibb curtly explained… ‘I’ve just got him into that ambulance, but it’ll be touch and go …’
‘What about Dr Smith?’
‘Called away to a new smallpox case,’ he said. ‘He should be back any minute… What happened here?’
‘While you were away,’ Brigg began, and told him…
‘Jesus wept,’ Gibb muttered in disgust.
‘Is there anywhere we lock these heroes away?’ Brigg indicated the sullen males standing in disgrace by the wall.
‘Is that really necessary, in the circumstances?’
‘Oh yes,’ Brigg began grimly, then – ‘Maybe not, I don’t suppose they’re going anywhere. I’ll get their names and addresses and turn them loose.’
Sarah must have watching out for me, because she’d opened the door before I could ring and thrown her arms round me.
‘Herry, what’s happening? I heard a helicopter landing, and sirens…’
I held her for a moment, then said, ‘Let’s have a look at your mother first.’
I followed her along the hall and up the wide, curving staircase. ‘Is Grace OK?’
‘She’s asleep – why shouldn’t she be OK?’
‘Let me see your mother first,’ I repeated.
I took one look at her and ushered Sarah out.
‘She’s got smallpox,’ I said.
She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together for a moment, then- ‘Is she going to be all right?’
‘How long has she been ill?’
‘I – about two or three days I think…’
‘Then if we get her to hospital now, she’s got every chance.’ I pulled out my phone and called an ambulance.
‘This is what you’ve been worried about, isn’t it?’
I took her hands... ‘An ambulance is on its way, you and Grace need to go with it and get vaccinated. This is important Sarah – can you remember whether you went into the County Stores around the 20th?’
‘
I
don’t know,’ she said wildly… ‘Probably, I’m always popping in for something…’
‘And you feel OK, no headache or joint pains?’
‘No… you think
I’ve
got it…?’
‘No, I don’t…’
God
please
…
The sound of the ambulance cut across us –
‘You get Grace ready, I’ll take them up to Pat.’
‘What will I need?’
‘Feeding stuff, nappies, night things – you’ll almost certainly need to stay.’
I went downstairs and opened the door just as it rang.
‘Up here…’
They gently transferred Pat to a stretcher and took her back down. Sarah and I got Grace into her baby seat and let the paramedic strap her in, then I held Sarah a moment before helping her into the back.
‘I’ll be along sometime tonight,’ I said.
‘Will you let Dad know?’
I nodded. The door shut. I stood watching as it drove away and vanished into the trees. Stood awhile longer, then phoned Roland.
‘How’s it going?’ I asked him.
‘All right.’ He sounded exhausted. ‘Seven’s full and Eight’s filling. Six is being evacuated.’
‘I’ve just sent you another, I’m afraid. Pat, my mother-in-law.’
‘Oh God Herry, I’m sorry…’
‘Sarah and Grace are with her. Obviously, they’ve been exposed, but I’m not sure exactly when.’
‘Do they have symptoms?’
‘Pat – plenty. Sarah and Grace, not yet, so could you make sure they’re both vaccinated the moment they get there?’
‘Are you sure about Grace – how old is she?’
‘Two months, and yes, I am sure – so long as she has immunoglobulin as well. She’s been heavily exposed, and the risk of that’s greater.’
‘All right.’
Very young children can get a nasty, even dangerous, infection from the vaccine, but I was in no doubt about which was the greater risk. Roland asked what was happening at my end and I gave him a quick précis.
Then I tried John, but was put through to answerphone.
It seemed heartless to leave such a message, but I had no idea when I’d be able to speak to him, so that’s what I did. I rang switchboard and told them to bleep him, then I drove back to the Village Hall.
As I drew up, Gibb hurried out to meet me.
‘OK?’ he asked.
‘No, not really,’ I said. I told him what had happened, then noticed Brigg inside ordering people around.
‘What’s going on here?’ I asked…
Gibb quickly explained about the injured soldier at the roadblock, the riot while he’d been away and Brigg’s intervention. He went on quietly, ‘I suggest we keep it to ourselves that it was your family you went to – just in case, eh?’
‘Thanks,’ I said.
We went in. Brigg pounced on me and took me into one of the smaller rooms.
‘You’ve heard what happened?’
I nodded. ‘Gibb just told me.’
‘It’ll be dark soon and I need to get the engineer vaccinated so we can examine the plant, but we’d better not try and push in after what’s happened…’
‘Bring him in here and I’ll do him.’
If anything, the engineer was even more nervous than Struthers, so I did it as quickly as I could. Brigg was hustling him away when I remembered the store keys and dug into my pocket –
‘You’ll need these,’ I called…
As soon as they’d gone, I rang Anne. Answerphone. I asked her to call me back. Checked the vaccination line… Clare had got it moving nicely again.
How much time had been wasted by the fight, I wondered? The queue snaked out of the door…
How were Marty and Struthers doing? I rang Marty, who told me that Struthers was all in.
‘How far on are you?’ I asked.
‘I’d guess we’ve done between two thirds and three quarters.’
I went over to the entrance and tried to estimate how many were waiting…
‘There’re at least fifty waiting here, so take Struthers home, then come
back and have a breather.’
As soon as I rang off, Anne called.
‘We’ve just about finished all the contacts,’ she said.
‘How many?’
‘I’ve ring vaccinated well over forty, and sent eight in. One more call to make – unless
they
tell me about someone else…’
‘Do it, then come back here.’
‘Is it bad?’
‘It has been. I’ll tell you later. Go and do your call.’
I went back to the line and asked Private Benton how many he thought they’d done so far. He did a quick count and told me about 150.
Halfway. Add another fifty for those outside, that meant around a hundred still to come in… I glanced at my watch… 6.30… counting the gap for the fight, we’d been going for around two hours, so maybe another two and a half would do it… 9.00…
Then Brigg and Rebecca came back in. We went to the side room again and they told me what they’d found…
They’d gowned up as I’d taught them, then gone up into the roof space, where Shane, the engineer, had shown them the air intake, the main duct and the smaller pipes that took the air to different parts of the store. Then he’d inspected the ports at the far end of each pipe until he’d found one that had been recently opened...
‘How did he know?’ I asked.
‘Scratches on the screw heads,’ Brigg replied.
He’d taken the cover off and shown them where the filter had been taken out. He checked a couple of the other pipes to make sure, but their filters were still in place. Then they’d hunted around until they’d found the missing filter hidden under the other pipes. They’d left it there for Forensic.
‘Did you notice where the duct came out in the store?’ I asked.
‘According to Shane, just over the main checkout.’
‘Exactly where the staff who went sick first were working.’
Shortly after that, they left.
I looked in on Gibb – he was on the phone to one of his patrols, so I left him to it and went back to the main hall. I thought I might as well make myself useful, so I made tea for the vaccinators. Gratefully received.
A car drew up. Marty.
‘Want some tea?’ I asked as he came in.
‘Coffee. Don’t care if it’s instant, just want caffeine and sugar.’
I made him one, strong, sweet and milky. He gulped it down and held out the mug for another.
‘Problems?’ I asked.
‘Some of them didn’t believe me at first, one got hysterical and another got bolshie – with poor old Struthers, who didn’t know how to handle it.’
‘Nasty?’
‘Could have been if I hadn’t been there. I soon put him right.’
This was said quietly but firmly, and I believed him. I found him a tin of biscuits.
‘Have a breather, but then I’m going to have to ask you to go out again. I’ll try and find you some help.’
He nodded. ‘It’d be appreciated.’ He looked at me. ‘Struthers did all right in the end, considering what he was like at first.’
‘Some people are like that,’ I said.
I left him to it and went to stand in for Clare, so that she could have a quick break, then did the same for the others. Marty went off at 6.45. I asked whereabouts he’d be and told him I’d try and send someone along to help.
Anne and Brendon came back shortly after that.
‘All done?’ I asked.
Anne nodded. ‘For now. I’m sure there’ll be more...’
I told them both to have a coffee, then sent Brendon to Marty, while Anne helped out in the vaccination line. I went to see Gibb, who told me that no one else had tried to break out.
‘Daresay we’ll get one or two idiots tonight, though,’ he said.
‘Can you have someone watch the stores? It’s not the thieving I’m worried about, it’s the risk of infection.’
‘I’ll do that.’
I phoned Fenella to bring her up to date.
Marty and Brendon finished and came back at 8.15. There were three houses Marty hadn’t been able to get a reply from, he assumed because the residents were away.
‘I’ll check tomorrow, just in case,’ he said.
The last vaccination was done a little after nine. Brendon volunteered to stay the night in case anyone else came in, or if there was an emergency.
I made a final call to Fenella while the others cleared up, had a word with Gibb, thanked everyone, then we drove back to Exeter. I dropped the others off at the hospital, then went to Ward Eight to see Roland, Sarah and Grace.
Pat was holding her own, Roland told me. Sarah seemed fine and Grace was sleeping. I stayed an hour with Sarah, then went home.
I couldn’t remember when I last felt so utterly knackered: body, soul, brain, everything. I showered, then forced myself to eat something, since I’d had next to nothing all day. Had some wine, thought about tomorrow and other stuff, went to bed.
Sleep –
ha
ha
– out of the question. Got up again and had more wine, hoping I wasn’t called… Eventually got to sleep somewhere between one and two.
A lousy sleep, riven with dreams I couldn’t remember. Got up again at eight feeling quite, quite rancid. It was a feeling curiously familiar, and in the shower, I realised what it was – like being a houseman again.
Brigg called me at just after nine.
‘We’re coming round,’ he said. ‘Stay where you are.’
He and Rebecca were with me twenty minutes later, not bad for a weekday morning. They refused coffee and made me sit down.
‘We’ve heard from John Amend-all,’ Brigg said, ‘or at least, the Home Office has. They’ve faxed me the letter, which I’ll show you in a minute.’
He looked at me grimly for a moment. ‘The thing is, he – they – have demanded a ransom they want in exchange for not starting any more outbreaks.’ He went on with some difficulty, ‘The really bad news is that they’ve also named you as the person they demand delivers it, the courier…’
