The Beginning of the End Read Online Free PDF Page B

federal security center for disease control in
Ottawa.”
    “We have created a
supply of serum large enough to dose every man, woman and child in
the world. Not only can we guarantee them a dose, but we can do it in
twenty four hours.”
    Bob rubbed his hand
across the top of the cold cardboard box and asked, “How is that
possible?”
    With a triumphant
smirk, Sophie announced, “It’s soluble!”
    “What?”
    “Yes. It was a
breakthrough Dr. Marcil, and I had two years ago. Nobody heard about
it because our whole program is top secret. The serum can be mixed
with any fluid. Your government has planned for an incident just like
this. They plan on adding ZMapp to your reservoirs and water
filtration plants. People will be able to self-medicate, and not even
realize they're doing it. Because the serum is built from a protein
base, ZMapp is harmless in any amounts. Theoretically, after dosing
the water supply, the entire US could be vaccinated by dinnertime
tomorrow.”
    The conversation was
ended by a click above their heads, “Dr. Marcil!”
    “Yes, MARIA!”
    “I’m receiving a
call from Dr. Miranda Frost. Would you like me to put it through?”
    “Colonel Aiken, I
believe you are an acquaintance of Dr. Frost. She’s on-site at Palo
Alto.” Bob nodded his head yes.
    “Well in that case,
MARIA put her on speaker.”

Chapter 9
    October 3rd 3:15pm
    The speaker above their
heads clicked again, followed by three short beeps.
    “Hello Dr. Frost.
This is Dr. Marcil here. You're on with Dr. Simone, Major Besson and
Colonel Aiken. How is the situation in Palo Alto, Dr. Frost?” The
entire group was focused on the speaker now.
    “Dr. Marcil, I’m
not going to sugar coat it. It’s bad! The worst I’ve ever seen.
The Alto Strain has mutated and is now airborne with a survival rate
of zero!”
    Out of the corner of
his eye, Dr. Marcil caught Bob’s mouth fall open for the third time
today.
    “Miranda, It’s Bob
here. What do you mean survival rate of zero? That’s not possible
with the resources we have.”
    “I wish that were
true, Bob. This thing is killing people 72 hours after first
symptoms.” Bob sat and listened in disbelief, “Miranda. What's
the total extent of the situation there?”
    Miranda paused as
though she was calculating the damage. “We’ve lost it, Bob!”
    Bob’s hand
instinctively touched his forehead as he looked up at the speaker in
the ceiling. “Oh my god Miranda! We’ve lost the entire Intensive
Care Unit?”
    “No Bob, We’ve lost
Palo Alto!”
    “Oh my!” came from
the corner of the room as Bob looked over to see Sophie stepping
back, reaching for the chair to balance herself.
    The speaker in the
ceiling began to hum again catching Bob’s attention. Miranda came
on pleading, “Bob, we need you here now!”
    Bob surveyed the room,
his eyes locking on the boxes of ZMapp, “Miranda, we'll be there in
eight hours!”
    “Please hurry, Bob!”
Miranda pleaded before hearing the distinctive click from the call
being disconnected.
    Bob turned to Major
Besson, “Can you get me a cargo jet in the next hour?” Jean-Luc
looked at the gloom on Sophie’s face, then back at Bob again,
“Colonel, I can have a jet loaded with your ZMapp and in the air in
sixty minutes.”
    “Doctor Marcil, I’m
going to have to steal some of your ZMapp serum.” Bob said
apologetically.
    Dr. Marcil stepped into
the threshold of the cooler, admiring his life’s work and answered,
“A certain condition comes with ZMapp, Colonel.” Bob gave the
doctor and inquisitive look, “What is the condition Doctor?”
    Doctor Marcil reached
out and touched the rough cardboard surface and spoke again, “I
created the ZMapp Colonel. It doesn’t go anywhere without me.”
    “Us!” The three men
watched a faint Sophie rising from her chair, “We created ZMapp
Doctor, and it doesn’t go anywhere without us!”
    By the time Sophie had
stood up, Jean-Luc was already on the phone making the