The Pandemic Sequence (Book 3): The Tilian Cure Read Online Free PDF Page A

did.
    “That’s not part of the plan. It’s too risky,” he told her.
    “He’s the reason for all of this!” her voice rose sharply. “The virus, the aftermath, Andrew… it all goes back to him. He needs to pay.”
    “I agree, and he will. But you’re talking about assassinating a member of the National Council. Even if you got close enough, it’s a suicide mission,” he could hear the pleading in his voice. “His guards will kill you or arrest you before you could even think about getting away.”
    “And that’s my choice to make.”
    Mike was stunned briefly by the coldness in her voice. Her eyes shone brightly against the pallor of her skin. It was a steely vengeance that emanated from her, a vengeance with which he was too familiar. He also knew there would be little to dissuade such a powerful drive. If there remained a piece of his heart yet unbroken from the long years of struggle and loss, he could now feel it crack and splinter as he understood the toll Andrew’s death had exacted from her. She’s become me.
    Fighting back the sudden moisture in his eyes, he whispered softly to her. “Andrew wouldn’t want you to throw your life away like this.”
    “Don’t use him to try and talk me out of this,” she snapped as she wiped away her own tears of sorrow and anger. “We’ve talked for so many years about finding a cure. Finding a way to stop this. But we’ve been going about it the wrong way… fighting the symptoms, but not stopping the cause. Adam Duncan is the cause.”
    She was right, he knew. Even after the Tilian Virus laid waste to the world, even after a small pocket of survivors worked to rebuild a society, Duncan had continued his research, continued his work on the Ira Project. Perhaps sensing his acquiescence, Michelle offered her modifications to the mission.
    “Matt and I will get the ARCs first. Then, he can bring them to you while I go after Duncan. He can’t help me with Duncan, and you know it. The ARCs are too important to risk him getting killed or captured by protecting me.”
    With a voice no longer serving him, Mike could only nod his head in reluctant agreement. Erik’s words from the rooftop that morning whispered in his mind: There’s not many of us left now. He could not help but feel that he was soon to lose another.
     
* * *
     
    Over the next two days, resources were divided among the two teams in preparation for their respective missions. The Fort Polk facility provided ample amounts of food and water, but it was far lacking in a greater need. The hasty escape from New Cuba allowed little time for the gathering of ammunition, and much of it had been spent in reaching the facility. A thorough search of the surrounding buildings had yielded some additional weapons, but the total fell far short of what Mike would have preferred. Much of the arsenal had been emptied by those that had survived the initial viral outbreak, and then by others, scavenging over the interceding years.
    One boon of the military base however, was the obtainment of operable vehicles that had not been removed or stolen. Several Humvees were still in working condition, with one supporting a mounted .50 caliber machine gun. Perhaps the best find was a small water craft Matt assured the others could make the crossing to New Cuba, once it was towed the eighty miles to the Louisiana coast. Like ammunition, fuel was in short supply, but Mike believed each team would have enough to reach their separate destinations provided there were no forced excursions.
    It was decided that the ARC, once removed from the broadcast tower, would be sent with Mike, Lisa, and Erik in their search for Paul. Matt and Michelle had a much shorter run on land thus decreasing their need for the device. The hunt for Paul and his team would be less specific and direct, though Lisa knew the planned roads the convoy would take.
    The ease in readying vehicles and supplies, twas in stark contrast to the unease amongst the