Dead Hunger IV: Evolution (44 page)

“At any time, were you exposed to the vapor?  The new vapor?”

Serena shook her head.  “No, I don’t believe so at all.  It started coming in through the window, but I got out right away.  David came right after.”

“Good question,” said Hemp.  “
I hadn’t thought of it.  I’m n
ot sure why, after what happened with Lisa.”

The doctor lifted a bag from the floor that he carried with him wherever he we
nt.  He opened it and removed a device that Hemp recognized as an indirect ophthalmoscope.   He put it on his head, but did not lower the lenses.

“Now I’m no expert with this thing, but I got it as soon as I heard about Lisa’s eyes turning red.  I’m basically
trying to see if there may be small
effects to your eyes that I can’t see without
it
.”

Serena looked concerned.  “You think I may have breathed it in without knowing it?” she asked.

“It’s possible,” said Scofield.  “You said it was coming in through the other window, and there is the possibility that
tiny
particles of it reached you without you being able to actually see it in front of you.  Just hold your head still for a second.”

She did, and h
e pivoted the lenses over his eyes and held a separate lens up to her left eye.  When he was done, he moved to her right.

Scofield leaned back and moved the lenses away from his eyes. 
“I don’t see a thing.  Looks like you’re in the clear, Serena.”

“Thank God.”

“Okay,” said Hemp.  “
You can get back to Dave now.  If anyone needs us and
it’s not an emergency, tell them we’ll be out momentarily, if you would, please.”

“Thank you both,” she said.  “I feel better.”

“So do we,” said Scofield. 

After she left, Hemp looked at the doctor.  “Right now I have t
w
o specimens; I have the head of a zombie
I
refer to as
Corn Silk, because her hair was straight and with a sheen I would not associate with the
other
creatures out there.  She was also in charge, if that is possible.”

“
I call them that now, too,” said Scofield.  “Zombies.  Just like in the movies, for Christ’s sake.  You say she acted like she was i
n charge?”

Hemp nodded.  “She seemed to be directing the remainder of the group, despite being physically injured.  Multiple breaks to her legs as far as I could tell from a distance and the way she was moving.”

“Directing them how?” asked Scofield.

“Perhaps telepathically, which believe me, is not a word I use very often.”

“Are you shitting me?”

“Wish I were,” said Hemp.  “But the answer is no.  So I have her head for brain analysis.  The other is alive, also from one of the infecteds that I believe possessed this telepathic ability – excuse me,
possesses
.”

Scofield turned his head like a dog that swore he heard the word “walk.”

“You think it still has the ability?”

“I can’t rule it out, doctor.  She hasn’t exhibited
signs of it
, but she was pregnant
at the time of her conversion just like the one that initially controlled Lisa
, and that’s a red flag
to me
. 
It directly relates
to the estrogen levels I mentioned earlier.”

“I’m going to help.  I know you’ve had Charlie working with you, but with her being in the family way, it’s not wise.”

“Already decided,” said Hemp.  “She’s her own girl, to be sure, but if I’ve got anything to say about it, she’s done with
all research and
rescue operations.”

“Good.  What’s first?” asked Scofield.

“I’ve had a thought,” said Hemp.  “Do we have tanks of pure oxygen?”

“We do,” said Scofield.  “Hasn’t been much need for it, so we’ve got a few.  Luckily, there was a separate storage facility for the tanks at the hospital, so when they torched it, the tanks were spared.  They’re at the lab.”

“I thought so.  Good. 
I want to create a pure oxygen environment, and I want to put the head in there to see what happens to it when it’s isolated from this element coming out of the earth.”

“Any
ideas
on what will happen?” asked Scofield.

“No
ne
,” said Hemp.  “But I thought of it at around 3:00 in the morning a couple of days ago, so it’s on my list.”

“And what about the one you call Corn Silk?”

“We need to get a look at the brain.  Depending on the results of these tests, we might need another live rotter to work with.”

“A pregnant one?”

“No,” said Hemp.  “
I’m fairly certain that’s n
ot necessary.  I
got
a sample of the new vapor
earlier today
, and if I can make a new wafer, it might defend against this new threat.”

“You think so?”

Hemp shrugged.  “It really depends on how different it is.  It doesn’t incapacitate its victims as the other, pink vapor does.  The scarlet brand seems to have only the one purpose; allowing control of uninfecteds.  A new offensive weapon for them.  I’d like to see what results by combining it with the gas, then urushiol, the same way the other wafers were created.  I’ve no doubt it will do something.”

“You’re going to need a volunteer to take it, right?”

“Yes, preferably female, but I’m not sure that will make a difference.”

“I’m ready, so long as nobody needs me,” said Scofield.  “I’ll check and meet you there.”

There was a quick knock on the door, and Flex opened it, his face red.  “Sorry, guys.  Have either of you seen Eddie or
Ian?”

“The kids?” asked Scofield.  “Sorry, but I don’t know their names well enough to answer.”

“Yeah.  I think the bastards stole Gem’s car.”

Hemp stood up.  “Why?  Did anyone see them leave?”

“No, but Gem left the keys in it, and it’s gone.  They’re nowhere to be found and the other kids suck at lyin’.
  They said they probably went to find Jimmy and Nikki, which is exactly what got everyone in a fix earlier.
”

“Flex, I can’t go help you find them,” said Hemp.  “I’m sorry, but I have some important tests to do here.”

“No need.  A couple of guys volunteered, so I’ll take them with me.  I don’t know ‘em, but Kev said they’re top notch, former
police and
military.  They’ll probably teach me some junk.”

“Good,” said Hemp.  “How is Kev?”

Flex’s expression turned grim.  “He said he’s got a headache.  The ladies dressed all of his wounds with the urushiol, but Hemp, he’s cuffed to the cot.  He insisted.”

“It’s best,” said Hemp.  “We can’t take any chances.”

“Just between me, you guys and the lamppost,” said Flex, “the headache is one of the earliest signs we know of.  I don’t want anyone too close to him.”

“Understood,” said Hemp.

“I gotta go,” said Flex.  “Radio will be on, so just give it a shot if you need me.”

“Be careful,” said Scofield.  “Get back here in one piece.”

“Will do,” said Flex.  “Learn stuff.”

He closed the door.

Hemp looked at the doctor.  “Forget what I said earlier. 
We need a hyperbaric chamber.”

“You’re in luck, my boy,” said Scofield with a smile.  “There was a one-man job stored with the oxygen tanks at the hospital.  Looked to be in great shape, so it’s been installed in the lab.”

“You may turn out to be the best thing to happen to the world since …”
he trailed off, embarrassed.

“Since you?” asked Scofield.

“I didn’t want to sound like an asshole,” said Hemp.  “But yes. 
I suppose I was thinking s
ince me.”

“Well, take the credit, son.  You deserve it.  Now we got work to do, don’t we?”

“We certainly do,” said Hemp.  “I want to get Kev in
that chamber now.  We can manufacture a smaller one for the head.  I don’t think Kev would appreciate having it inside with him.”

“You’re probably right about that,” said the doctor.

*****

Lawrence West, by all accounts Flex had heard, was one of the leading African American businessmen in
Concord
, but he was also a fitness buff.  If Flex had to guess, he’d put West’s biceps at 22”, and that was a conservative estimate.  His legs were hidden beneath long, thick cargo pants, but Flex guessed they were equally substantial.

West was about four inches taller than Flex, who was around 6’ tall.  He was a serious man who did not smile easily, but that was no indication of who he normally was, Flex knew.

He’d probably lost his family and most of his friends.  Since the ratz and walking dead had invaded Concord in earnest, smiling was fast becoming a lost art. 

And while Flex knew
that
his
somewhat lighthearted
way of dealing with things was similar to
that of Gem and his closest friends
, it wasn’t commonplace because most people were scared shitless and
probably certain that sooner rather than later they would
die a horrible death
.

Most smiles were nothing more t
han masks these days.

The other guy in the truck was
not
Nelson Moore. 
Nelson
had
offered
to go, but Flex smelled weed on him af
ter he came back inside after a quick trip to the alley behind
the bar.  Flex didn’t care if
he
got stoned, but he damned sure wasn’t going to cover Flex’s
ass
in that condition
, ninja star throwing champion or not
.

Waylon Bell
, the other guy in the car did instill confidence; he was in his
mid-fifties
,
and
had served on the Concord PD for over twenty years before retiring just before the outbreak. 
He was an unusual case; his entire family was safe.  Wife, and a twin boy and girl, all immune to poison ivy, therefore protected from the metamorphosis.

Bell had managed to keep them safe.

In sharp contrast to West’s short, neat hair,
Bell was mostly bald, with the hair on the sides and back of his head now down past his shoulders.  Bell kept a thin rubber band tied around a pony tail and still wore his police uniform.  Flex guessed the uniform once fit him perfectly, and had grown tight following his retirement.  Now it hung loosely on him.

The two Glock 19s in his side holsters had probably been
well-used at the police gun range
, and that made Flex feel just fine about the addition to the search party.

“Gem,” said Flex, approaching her before heading out.  “Be careful, stay inside, okay?”

“I will,” she said.

“You do know I can’t tell when you’re lying, right?”

“Yes.”

“Are you lying?”

“Not this time.  Promise,” she s
aid.  “Be safe, Mr. Sheridan. 
Or I’ll kick your ass.”

“Now I know you’re not lying.  Gem, w
atch Kev like a hawk.  I think Hemp’s got something
in mind
, but
for now,
don’t
let anyone near
Kev
u
nless he asks for water or food or something.”

“I’ll look at that as a good sign if he does,” said Gem.  “Now go find those kids, babe.

*****

It was dark, and a soft snow
flurry
had begun to fall in Concord.  Flex wore, as did most people now, a down-filled nylon jacket lightweight enough not to hinder his ability to shoulder a weapon if required, but effective enough to stave off the bitter cold.

“No damned weather reports anymore,” said Flex.  “The sky looked pretty ominous earlier, too.”

“It’s gonna be a good snow,” said Bell.  “I can call ‘em pretty good.”

“Wish this bitch had four-wheel dri
ve,” said Flex
.

“Nice truck,” said West.  “Military
issue
?”

“No.  Hemp Chatsworth, expert in all firearms as well as mechanical engineer, designed it in a few minutes.  Built it in a few more.”

“Talented,” said West.  “Since I’m riding shotgun, you might want to show me how to use it.”

“Easy,” said Flex.  “See that A/B switch there, mounted to the dash?”

“I do,” said West.