Forest Park: A Zombie Novel Read Online Free PDF

research into practical beneficial medical research. The world was on the verge of a gold rush on a molecular level. We took full advantage of the new funds provided to us, and tinkered with the virus.”
    The Doctor leaned forward in his chair.
    “What did you do, Doctor?” Asked Shapinkov.             
    “We created an aggressive airborne version of H5N1,” the Doctor said, “a super flu. At the time, it was marvelous, and it also proved that old habits die hard. We had the greatest killer virus the world had ever seen at our disposal; its effects would have been catastrophic if released. Then a few months later, we discovered a vaccine, which would stop H5N1 in its tracks, but unfortunately, it would have also rendered our super flu useless. To this very day, the existence of the vaccine remains a secret; regardless of how tempting it was to profit from it.”
    Shapinkov could see the excitement growing on his friend’s face.
    “Russia had gained the edge once again, Aleksandr, thanks to us, the once disgraced and ill-treated scientists,” the Doctor said as he leaned over and slapped Shapinkov’s thigh as if they were enjoying a laugh together. “We proved ourselves useful once more. Nuclear war would devastate the planet. However, biological weapons could conceivably win a global war, if it ever came to it and if the release was tightly controlled and timed --- if blame could not be attributed to Russia. We had the vaccine to win! Of course, some of our people would have to die; a sacrifice is always required.”
    “What has this got to do with MKII?” Asked Shapinkov. “I knew that MKII isn’t only flu.”
    Dr. Vatutan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. They’ve both lost it, he thought.
    “Avian Influenza is a natural occurring virus, like the Spanish Flu H1N1 of 1918-19. It is a pandemic waiting to happen; all that is required is time. However, if I’m being honest, it is because Mother Nature has her own way of creating balance --- a yin and yang. It may be unscientific to believe such a thing, but I am an old man. You see, I believe when one species has grown beyond nature’s control, nature will find a way to knock that species down, and sometimes that knocking equates to extinction. There are more extinct species now, than living species. Consider that for a moment, Aleksandr. Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection puts forward the proposition that only the strongest will thrive and survive.  Through natural selection the toughest genes would continue to exist and over time, adapt to new environments and challenges. This theory of dominance coupled with time would bring about adaptations that would evolve a species, or in some cases viruses --- every living thing.”
    Shapinkov nodded in agreement; he had a basic understanding of Darwin’s theories.
    “It’s generally accepted that man came from highly evolved ape-like creatures, and dinosaurs are the early relatives of birds --- time and environmental conditions shaped changes along the way using aggressive genes and adaptations due to events. It’s no different with viruses. New strands of viruses thrive while the older strands become the building blocks of our immune systems, or in other words, older viruses become the data banks our immune system relies upon to defeat fresh strands. Over time, our immune system creates antibodies that can defeat a virus or the virus evolves into a new lesser deadly strand and ceases to become the menace it was --- a virus doesn’t gain by killing the host, it’s the exact opposite. If the host dies, the virus loses as well. The aim of a virus is to keep the victim alive long enough to spread infection. The ideal virus would keep the victim living indefinitely to pass on the virus to whomever the victim made contact with. However, the most radical idea would be a virus that could go so far as to kill the host, but still maintain the control of contact and infection, but that