Emperor of a Dead World (39 page)

“How can it not be simple,” the sailor snapped. “Either they are here and alive or they are not.”

“They were here but now they are there,” the man said pointing east.

Brad looked up and shuddered. “They are in San Francisco?”

“Yes.”

“Are they alive?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

Brad jumped to his feet and grabbed the man by the shirt. “Tell me clearly. Are they alive or not?”

“I am sorry. Please release me and I will try to explain.”

Brad slowly let the man go.

“I wish you would come inside. There is another man that knows the details and can explain this much better than I.”

Brad looked toward the building and several people had come out and were watching him with fear in their eyes.

“I am sorry,” he called to them. “My name is Brad and I have come in search of my parents. I have just learned that for some reason they are in that horrifying city and I need to know all the details. Can anyone please help me understand why they are not safely on this island?”

A tall, distinguished man of about fifty stepped forward. “Hello, I am Professor Johnson.” After shaking Brad’s hand, he took the picture that the other man was holding. He showed it to an attractive older woman then handed it back to Brad. “Are these your parents?”

“Yes.”

“I can explain the things you need to know but it is very unlikely I will successfully dispel your anguish.”

“The truth cannot possibly be nearly as frightening as what you just said,” Brad replied.

The woman took Brad by the hand and said with refined politeness, “My name is Mrs. Johnson and I am that gentleman’s wife. Your mother and I are very good friends.”

“Then can you please tell me what has happened?”

“Please come inside where we can sit comfortably. I assure you, if there is anything we can do to set your mind at ease we will do so.”

“I am sorry to act like this,” Brad apologized. “It is just that I have been through so much in my effort to find them. I have traveled very far and… I am sorry. My parents do not even know that I am alive. I had the fever when they left and they probably think I am one of those things.”

“You had the fever,” the professor asked in shock as he gazed at Brad. “How long ago was this?”

“More than four years,” Brad replied as he met the man’s gaze.

“Incredible, how long were you ill?”

“I’m not sure. Almost a month I believe.”

“Astonishing,” the professor remarked as he glanced at his wife. “I have never heard of such a thing. What symptoms did you have?”

“I was sick with a fever and slept for about three weeks. When I awoke I was very thirsty and had red blotches over my entire body.”

“Red blotches,” Mrs. Johnson gasped as she felt his forehead.

“Doctor Gachet must be informed at once,” Professor Johnson declared. “Please come with us.”

Brad followed them to the building. While they walked, the couple spoke silently so that Brad could not hear. Once inside, Brad stopped.

“I understand your curiosity of my illness but before we go any further I must hear about my parents.”

“This is not simple curiosity my boy.”

“Then I must insist,” demanded Brad. “If you do not tell me of my parent’s whereabouts right now I will be forced to travel to the mainland and find them without your help.”

“That would be suicide,” the professor said in astonishment.

“If I told you of the things I have done you would be more concerned with me standing here than you are with the creatures over there.”

Everyone took a step back.

“He is very distraught,” the sailor said as he stepped forward. “I assure you we are good people and we have never harmed anyone.”

“Unless they tried to harm us first,” the guard said as he stood next to Brad.

The sailor motioned for the guard to stand down. “We did not come here for trouble,” he continued. “We came here to reunite Brad with his family. Any information you can supply will be greatly appreciated.”

Brad put his hands over his face and took a deep breath. “He is right,” Brad resumed as he motioned to the sailor. “Once again I apologize. I just need to hear everything you can tell me of my parents.”

“Please come have a seat,” Mrs. Johnson motioned. “My husband and I will tell you everything.”

Brad followed them into a room and sat on a couch. Mrs. Johnson sat next to him and held both his hands within her own.

“What is your name sir?” Professor Johnson asked the sailor.

“Sam, Sam the sailor or Sailor Sam if you prefer,” he smiled.

Professor Johnson shook his hand then sat on the other side of Brad and pulled out a pipe, which he neither filled nor lit. “We came to the capital in droves,” he began as he chewed on his pipe. “There were thousands of us. Many more than the officials had anticipated and way too many for them to accommodate. They had no choice but to turn people away. Of course, anyone left outside soon fell victim to the diseased.”

“This is something no one could have prepared for,” Mrs. Johnson interjected as she patted Brad’s hand.

“The situation soon became desperate,” the Professor continued as he moved his pipe to the other side of his mouth. “The food and water ran out and there was no way to get more. I myself did not know but the men in charge were taking a tally of the people and trying to decide whom they should save. They determined value based on education and credentials. Doctors, teachers and people with skills were highest on the list. I never saw this list,” he shrugged, “so I never knew who was on it. I simply determined the outcome by getting to know the people here. In any event, they brought most of us to this island on helicopters. Some came over on boats, which we have used them to go back and forth for supplies. My wife and I came over on one of the first trips but those that came later told us of the horrors they experienced. Fights broke out and innocent people that had a so-called right to come were murdered. During all the chaos, the diseased made it into the shelter. It was total pandemonium but the brave pilots kept going back for more people. In the end,” he sighed, “the pilots no longer returned.”

“You have not mentioned my parents.”

“They were on one of the helicopters,” he replied as he tapped the pipe nervously on his leg. “Your father was an engineer and your mother was a teacher. No one came to this island without at least a college education. Children were naturally exempt. Of course, any we find now we rescue. The only qualification is that they do not carry the disease.” He now looked closely at Brad’s face.

“I would have succumbed a long time ago,” Brad assured him. “Please tell me of my parents.”

“I apologize,” the professor said, “I do not mean to stare.”

“Please go on,” Brad persisted.

“In order to survive, we often make supply runs. Usually the younger ones go but your father insisted on doing his share and your mother demanded to go along.”

“When did they leave?”

“Three days now,” he said as he began chewing on his pipe again. “They along with ten others went to Chinatown for supplies.”

“I have seen that city. How could they possibly hope to go that far into it?”

“Dr. Gachet reasoned that if we wore coats smeared with the blood of the diseased we could safety walk amongst them. Using this ploy, our people have gone ashore many times over the years.” 

“I came to the same conclusion myself,” Brad said.

“You have done much more than that,” the sailor added.

“Please continue,” Brad said to the professor.

“Wearing these coats they entered the city,” the professor stated as he began to put his pipe away then thought about it and began chewing on it again. “When they got to Chinatown they found four survivors in a restaurant. These people did not speak English and our people did not speak Chinese but they were able to convey to the Chinese that they should come with them.” The professor looked toward his wife and sighed. “Unfortunately, they did not have enough coats so they had to share them. After draping a coat over one survivor and one rescuer there were now four pairs and eight singles. The single people carried as many provisions as they could handle. Arranged in this manner, they headed out but as soon as they left the building, the rescued people became very frightened because the diseased were everywhere. They did not even make it the length of the block before one of them broke and ran taking the coat with him. When the others saw this, they followed also taking the coats. I do not think they meant to steal the coats, I do not think they even knew their value. I think they just ran in terror and gripped onto the coats out of instinct.”

“Wait a minute,” Brad interrupted. “How had these people survived in this city for so long?”

“I cannot answer that,” Professor Johnson shrugged. “But in any event, two of the people now without the protective coats were your parents. Some others ran over and concealed them under their coats but the diseased were out of control and running ramped. Five people ran with your parents, two chased after the Chinese and the final three headed off in other directions. The only clear path your father’s group saw was up the hill and further into the city. They took this route and looked for any safe haven they could find. After about three blocks, your father realized your mother was limping badly. In all the excitement, she had twisted her ankle. The nearest place they found was the Grace Cathedral so they rushed inside. Of the seven people in your father’s group, only five made it into the church. Of the ones that went with the Chinese, at least one rescuer and one Chinese fell prey to the diseased. The others we know nothing about. All we know is that no one made it back to the boat.”

“How do you know all of this,” Brad asked.

“Your father’s group barricaded themselves inside the church,” the Professor continued. “There were five people and only three coats. Your mother had a sprained ankle and she could not walk. They knew if they carried her, the diseased would see this as irregular and most likely attack. Faced with this predicament, they decided that two of the people would take two coats and try to make it to the boat so they could go for help. Both made it to the boat but only one made it out of the harbor. The man that told me this story is here but it is too painful for him to repeat it.”

“Can he take me into the city?”

“I cannot ask him to do that.”

“What about someone else?”

“They have tried but it is impossible.” He put his pipe away. “The recent activity got the diseased so riled up that no one can get close enough to get off the boats. The last people that went were forced to turn around before they even got half way into the harbor.”

Brad turned to the sailor. “Unload the boat. I need the radio set up.”

The man headed off with all but one guard who remained with Brad.

“Radio?” the Professor asked.

“Yes, I need to communicate with my people. I am going to rescue my parents.”

“I am afraid you will not even get ashore,” the professor insisted.

“I guarantee, I will not only get ashore, I will bring my parents back here with me.”

The Professor made eye contact with his wife then noticed that Dr. Gachet had joined them. “Dr. Gachet,” the Professor said as he rose, “I would like you to meet Brad.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” the doctor said as he shook Brad’s hand.

“Brad tells me he has survived the disease.”

“You don’t say,” Dr. Gachet said with a slight chuckle.

“After three weeks of fever he awoke with red blotches.”

This news aroused Dr. Gachet’s curiosity and he looked closely at Brad’s face. “May I examine you?”

Brad glanced at the Professor then turned back to the doctor. “What kind of doctor are you?”

“I study infectious disease.”

“What are your credentials?”

“I went to Harvard Medical School and worked at the CDC.”

“Do you have any references?” Brad joked.

“Yes, Dr. Robert from the CDC and Dr. Manette from Harvard."

Brad’s eyes opened wide. “Do you also know a Dr. Moreau?”

Now the doctor took a step back. “How do you know him?”

“I met him in Palo Alto about three years ago. He told me a story about the other two you just mentioned.”

The doctor reflected for a moment. “You say three years ago?”

“Yes, I met him after the outbreak. He and many others are in Palo Alto and they are quite safe.”

“You have not spoken to him for three years. How can you be certain he is safe?”

“I communicate with him all the time via my drone.”

“Interesting,” Dr. Gachet smiled. “So he still lives.” He gazed at Brad. “I would like to hear more, perhaps while I am examining you.”

Brad shrugged. “Tell me what you know about the disease and I will tell you what I know about the ones that caused it.”

“You are a very interesting man,” the doctor replied. “I am afraid I do not know much about the disease but you can surely teach me plenty.”