cpatricia.unnaturalexposure-第33部分

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most　instantly。
　'I'm　talking　to　him；'　I　said。　'Are　you　guys　there？'
　'We're　there。　He's　got　to　stay　on　longer；'　my　niece　said。　'There　are　so　many　trunk　lines；　and　we　got　to　line　up　all　the　phone　panies　to　trap　and　trace。　Your　last　call　was　ing　in　from　Dallas。'
　'You're　kidding；'　I　said　in　dismay。
　'That's　not　the　origin；　just　a　switch　it　was　routed　through。　We　didn't　get　any　farther　because　he　disconnected。　Keep　trying。　Sounds　like　this　guy's　some　kind　of　religious　nut。'
　
　
　11
　
　LATER　THAT　MORNING　I　left　in　a　taxi　as　the　sun　was　getting　high　in　the　clouds。　I　had　nothing　but　the　clothes　on　my　back；　all　of　which　had　been　sterilized　in　the　autoclave　or　gassed。　I　was　in　a　hurry；　and　guarding　a　large　white　cardboard　box　printed　with　PERISHABLE　RUSH！　RUSH！　and　IMPORTANT　KEEP　UPRIGHT　and　other　big　blue　warnings。
　Like　a　Chinese　puzzle；　my　package　was　boxes　within　boxes　containing　BioPacks。　Inside　these　were　Bio…tubes　of　Lila　Pruitt's　liver；　spleen　and　spinal　fluid；　protected　by　fiber…board　shields；　and　bubble　and　corrugated　wrap。　All　of　it　was　packed　in　dry　ice　with　INFECTIOUS　SUBSTANCE　and　DANGER　stickers　warning　anyone　who　got　beyond　the　first　layer。　Obviously；　I　could　not　let　my　cargo　out　of　sight。　In　addition　to　its　well…proven　hazard；　it　could　be　evidence　should　it　turn　out　that　Pruitt　was　a　homicide。　At　the　Baltimore…Washington　International　airport；　I　found　a　pay　phone　and　called　Rose。
　'USAMRIID　has　my　medical　bag　and　microscope：　I　didn't　waste　time。　'See　what　you　can　do　about　getting　them　shipped　overnight。　I'm　at　BWI；　en　route　to　CDC。'
　'I've　been　trying　to　page　you；'　she　said。
　'Maybe　they　can　return　that　to　me；　too。'　I　tried　to　remember　what　else　I　was　missing。　'And　the　phone；'　I　added。
　'You　got　a　report　back　that　you　might　find　interesting。　The　animal　hairs　that　turned　up　with　the　torso。　Rabbit　and　monkey　hairs。'
　'Bizarre；'　was　the　only　thing　I　could　think　to　say。
　'I　hate　to　tell　you　this　news。　The　media's　been　calling　about　the　Carrie　Grethen　case。　Apparently；　something's　been　leaked。'
　'Goddamn　it！'　I　exclaimed　as　I　thought　about　Ring。
　'What　do　you　want　me　to　do？'　she　asked。
　'How　about　calling　Benton。　I　don't　know　what　to　say。　I'm　a　little　overwhelmed。'
　'You　sound　that　way。'
　I　looked　at　my　watch。　'Rose；　I've　got　to　go　fight　my　way　on　a　plane。　They　didn't　want　to　let　me　through　X…ray；　and　I　know　what's　going　to　happen　when　I　try　to　board　with　this　thing。'
　It　was　exactly　what　I　expected。　When　I　walked　into　the　cabin；　a　flight　attendant　took　one　look　and　smiled。
　'Here。'　She　held　out　her　hands。　'Let　me　put　this　in　baggage　for　you。'
　'It's　got　to　stay　with　me；'　I　said。
　'It　won't　fit　in　an　overhead　rack　or　under　your　seat；　ma'am。'　Her　smile　got　tight；　the　line　behind　me　getting　longer。
　'Can　we　discuss　this　out　of　traffic？'　I　said；　moving　into　the　kitchen。
　She　was　right　next　to　me；　hovering　close。　'Ma'am；　this　flight　is　overbooked。　We　simply　don't　have　room。'
　'Here；'　I　said；　showing　her　the　paperwork。
　Her　eyes　scanned　the　red…bordered　Declaration　For　Dangerous　Goods；　and　froze　halfway　down　a　column　where　it　was　typed　that　I　was　transporting　'Infectious　substances　affecting　humans。'　She　glanced　nervously　around　the　kitchen　and　moved　me　closer　to　the　rest　rooms。
　'Regulations　require　that　only　a　trained　person　can　handle　dangerous　goods　like　these；'　I　reasonably　explained。　'So　it　has　to　stay　with　me。'
　'What　is　it？'　she　whispered；　her　eyes　round。
　'Autopsy　specimens。'
　'Mother　of　God。'
　She　immediately　grabbed　her　seating　chart。　Soon　after；　I　was　escorted　to　an　empty　row　in　first　class；　near　the　back。　'Just　put　it　on　the　seat　next　to　you。　It's　not　going　to　leak　or　anything？'　she　asked。
　'I'll　guard　it　with　my　life；'　I　promised。
　'We　should　have　a　lot　of　vacancies　up　here　unless　a　bunch　of　people　upgrade。　But　don't　you　worry。　I'll　steer　everyone。'　She　motioned　with　her　arms；　as　if　she　were　driving。
　No　one　came　near　me　or　my　box。　I　drank　coffee　during　a　very　peaceful　flight　to　Atlanta；　feeling　naked　without　my　pager　or　phone；　but　overjoyed　to　be　on　my　own。　In　the　Atlanta　airport；　I　took　one　moving　sidewalk　and　escalator　after　another；　traveling　what　seemed　miles；　before　I　got　outside　and　found　a　taxi。
　We　followed　85　North　to　Druid　Hills　Road；　where　soon　we　were　passing　pawnshops　and　auto　rentals；　then　vast　jungles　of　poison　oak　and　kudzu；　and　strip　malls。　The　Center　for　Disease　Control　and　Prevention　was　in　the　midst　of　the　parking　decks　and　parking　lots　of　Emory　University。　Across　the　street　from　the　American　Cancer　Society；　CDC　was　six　floors　of　tan　brick　trimmed　with　gray。　I　checked　in　at　a　desk　that　had　guards　and　closed　circuit　TV。
　'This　is　going　to　Bio　Level　4；　where　I'm　meeting　Dr　Bret　Martin　in　the　atrium；'　I　explained。
　'Ma'am；　you'll　need　an　escort；'　one　of　the　guards　said。
　'Good；'　I　said　as　he　reached　for　the　phone。　'I　always　get　lost。'
　I　followed　him　to　the　back　of　the　building；　where　the　facility　was　new　and　under　intense　surveillance。　There　were　cameras　everywhere；　the　glass　bulletproof；　and　corridors　were　catwalks　with　grated　floors。　We　passed　bacteria　and　influenza　labs；　and　the　red　brick　and　concrete　area　for　rabies　and　AIDS。
　'This　is　impressive；'　I　said；　for　I　had　not　been　here　in　several　years。
　'Yeah；　it　is。　They　got　all　the　security　you　might　want。　Cameras；　motion　detectors　at　all　exits　and　entrances。　All　the　trash　is　boiled　and　burned；　and　they　use　these　filters　for　the　air　so　anything　that　es　in　is　killed。　Except　the　scientists。'　He　laughed　as　he　used　a　card　key　to　open　a　door。　'So　what　bad　news　you　carrying　in？'
　'That's　what　I'm　here　to　find　out；'　I　said；　and　we　were　in　the　atrium　now。
　BL…4　was　really　nothing　more　than　a　huge　laminar　flow　hood　with　thick　walls　of　concrete　and　steel。　It　was　a　building　within　a　building；　its　windows　covered　with　blinds。　Labs　were　behind　thick　walls　of　glass；　and　the　only　blue…suited　scientists　working　this　furloughed　day　were　those　who　had　cared　enough　to　e　in　anyway。
　'This　thing　with　the　government；'　the　guard　was　saying　as　he　shook　his　head。　'What　they　think？　These　diseases　like　Ebola　gonna　wait　until　the　budget　gets　straight？'　He　shook　his　head　some　more。
　He　escorted　me　past　containment　rooms　that　were　dark；　and　labs　with　no　one　in　them；　then　empty　rabbit　cages　in　a　corridor　and　rooms　for　large　primates。　A　monkey　looked　at　me　through　bars　and　glass；　his　eyes　so　human　they　unnerved　me；　and　I　thought　of　what　Rose　had　said。　Deadoc　had　transferred　monkey　and　rabbit　hairs　to　a　victim　I　knew　he　had　touched。　He　might　work　in　a　place　like　this。
　'They　throw　waste　at　you；'　the　guard　said　as　we　walked　on。　'Same　thing　their　animal　rights　activists　do。　Kinda　fits；　don't　you　think？'
　My　anxiety　was　getting　stronger。
　'Where　are　we　going？'　I　asked。
　'Where　the　good　doctor　told　me　to　bring　you；　ma'am；'　he　said；　and　we　were　on　another　level　of　catwalk　now；　heading　into　another　part　of　the　building。
　We　passed　through　a　door；　where　Revco　ultra　low　temperature　freezers　looked　like　puters　the　size　of　large　copying　machines。　They　were　locked　and　out　of　place　in　this　corridor；　where　a　heavy　man　in　a　lab　coat　was　waiting　for　me。　He　had　baby…fine　blond　hair；　and　was　perspiring。
　'I'm　Bret　Martin；'　he　said；　offering　me　his　hand。　'Thanks。'　He　nodded　at　the　guard；　indicating　he　was　dismissed。
　I　handed　Martin　my　cardboard　box。
　'This　is　where　we　keep　our　smallpox　stock；'　he　said；　nodding　at　the　freezers　as　he　set　my　box　on　top　of　one　of　them。　'Locked　up　at　seventy　degrees　centigrade　below　zero。　What　can　I　say？'　He　shrugged。　'These　freezers　are　out　in　the　hall　because　we　have　no　room　anyplace　else　in　maximum　containment。　Rather　coincidental　you　should　give　this　to　me。　Not　that　I'm　expecting　your　disease　to　be　the　same。'
　'All　of　this　is　smallpox？'　I　asked；　amazed　as　I　looked　around。
　'Not　all；　and　not　for　long；　though；　since　for　the　first　time　ever　on　this　planet　we've　made　a　conscious　decision　to　eliminate　a　species。'
　'The　irony；'　I　said。　'When　the　species　you're　talking　about　has　eliminated　millions。'
　'So　you　think　we　should　just　take　all　this　source　disease　and　autoclave　it。'
　His　expression　said　what　I　was　used　to　hearing。　Life　was　much　more　plicated　than　I　presented　it；　and　only　people　like　him　recognized　the　subtler　shades。
　'I'm　not　saying　we　should　destroy　anything；'　I　replied。　'Not　at　all。　Actually；　probably　we　shouldn't。　Because　of　this。'　I　looked　at　the　box　I　had　just　given　him。　'Our　autoclaving　smallpox　certainly　won't　mean　it's　gone。　I　guess　it's　like　any　other　weapon。'
　'You　and　me　both。　I'd　sure　like　to　know　where　the　Russians　are　hiding　their　variola　stock　virus　these　days；　and　if　they've　sold　any　of　it　to　the　Middle　East；　North　Korea。'
　'You'll　do　PCR　on　this？'　I　said。
　'Yes。'
　'Right　away？'
　'As　fast　as　we　can。'
　'Please；'　I　said。　'This　is　an　emergency。'
　'That's　why　I'm　standing　here　now；'　he　said。　'The　government　considers　me　nonessential。　I　should　be　at　home。'
　'I've　got　photographs　that　USAMRIID　was　kind　enough　to　develop　while　I　was　in　the　Slammer；'　I　said　with　a　trace　of　irony。
　'I　want　to　see　them。'
　We　took　the　elevator　back　up；　getting　off　on　the　fourth　floor。　He　led　me　into　a　conference　room　where　staff　met　to　devise　strategies　against　terrible　scourges　they　couldn't　always　identify。　Usually　bacteriologists；　epidemiologists；　people　in　charge　of　quarantines；　munications；　special　pathogens　and　PCR　assembled　in　the　room。　But　it　was　quiet；　no　one　was　here　but　us。
　'Right　now；'　Martin　said；　'I'm　all　you've　got。'
　I　got　a　thick　envelope　out　of　my　purse；　and　he　began　to　go　through　the　photographs。　For　a　moment；　he　stared　as　if　transfixed；　at　color　prints　of　the　torso　and　those　of　Lila　Pruitt。
　'Good　God；'　he　said。　'I　think　we　should　look　at　transpiration　routes　right　away。　Everybody　who　might　have　had　contact。　And　I　mean；　fast。'
　'We　can　do　that　on　Tangier；'　I　said。　'Maybe。'
　'Definitely　not　chicken　pox　or　measles。　No　way；　Jose；'　he　said。　'Definitely　pox…related。'
　He　went　through　photographs　of　the　severed　hands　and　feet；　his　eyes　wide。
　'Wow。'　He　stared　without　blinking；　light　reflecting　on　his　glasses。　'What　the　hell　is　this？'
　'He　calls　himself　deadoc；'　I　said。　'He　sent　me　graphic　files　through　AOL。　Ano