Emperor of a Dead World (43 page)

“Yes, I am aware of that,” Brad shrugged.

“Now that you have extended your ham antenna and increased its output wattage Danny monitors your radio communications as well.”

“Why did Danny not communicate with me?”

“Here is the problem,” the doctor said as he scratched his head. “Ham technology is old and we only recently found a unit and set it up. When it was ready, we realized we could listen but not reply. You see, your system was powerful enough to reach us but ours was not powerful enough to respond. It takes much more power to transmit than it does to receive. To transmit you must have power to send your signal but to receive you simply need an antenna to catch the signal. In any event, the boys were very busy with other things and the radio was low priority. Besides, we could not hear your radio until you increased its output so the whole thing is a moot point. Anyway, when we heard your communication with Tyrone we began preparing to assist you. We already had the drones because Danny has been working on nothing else since you were with us. We also had a fleet of rescue vehicles. You see, our people stay busy on projects to keep themselves occupied. Drones and rescue vehicles seemed like appropriate projects. In any event, though we had plenty of vehicles we did not know how we would get them past all those demons and into the city. Dennis knew of your friend in Phoenix so he sent a drone explaining the situation. Your friend Bubba along with his brother and uncle did not hesitate to come to your aide. I think you can fill in the pieces of the rescue from here.”

“I appreciate everything you have done doctor but why did you take the terrible risk of coming along yourself?”

“This morning before our rescue team set out Danny finally got the radio to communicate with the island. I spoke with Professor Johnson and he confirmed that you were already on your way. While we were speaking, Dr. Gachet entered the room and told me something very interesting. He said he had examined your blood and you contained antibodies that appeared to protect you from the virus.”

“What a minute,” Brad exclaimed. “Are you telling me that I am immune?”

“I already suspected this and the antibodies confirmed my beliefs.”

“This is why he survived,” Brad’s father said with excitement.

“Yes,” Dr. Moreau agreed. “That is why I decided to come along. I need to work with Dr. Gachet. I think together we can make a vaccine.”

“Can you cure those that have already succumbed to the disease?” Brad’s mother asked.

“I am afraid not but I believe I can keep people from becoming sick if infected.”

“Several of my men have been injured. We need to treat them as soon as possible.”

“Yes, it is imperative I administer the vaccine before the infection becomes irreversible.”

“Considering the things I have seen I am surprised they have not yet succumbed.”

“I am not surprised and here is my theory on that. At first, it took a week or two before people succumbed to the disease. As the virus mutated, people became sick much faster. Now perhaps living in this environment has made people more resistant to the infection. It is also possible that the people who have survived have a naturally higher tolerance to the virus. Of course, all of this is just conjecture. I still need to work with Dr. Gachet.” The doctor now glanced at Brad’s bloody bandage. “My I take a look?”

Brad pulled up his torn sleeve and removed the bandage. Upon seeing this, his mother screamed. Black puss covered the wound.

“Interesting,” the doctor remarked. “I have seen many wounds but none have looked like this.”

“That is how his first scratch looked,” Brad’s father said.

“His first scratch?” the doctor asked.

“Yes, the one he got several years ago.”

“That is a very good sign. It looks like your body is fighting back. I need to inspect the other men that have been wounded.”

The tattooed woman stepped up and spread her shirt open. Red claw marks ran across her chest.

“This is what I usually see,” the doctor said. “Your body is not fighting back.”

She sat down with a thud.

The doctor pulled out a penknife. “May I,” he asked Brad.

Brad held out his arm and the doctor cut him.

“Doctor, must you do that in front of his mother?” Brad’s father shot out as he glanced at his wife. The woman was very pale.

“I am very sorry ma’am. Please turn your head.”

When she looked away, the doctor scraped some blood from Brad then turned to the wounded woman. “May I,” he asked. She consented and he applied it to her wound then stepped back and watched. After a couple of minutes black puss formed where he had rubbed Brad’s blood.

“Amazing,” he said and now everyone, including Brad’s mother, stared at the wound. “It is already fighting back.”

“I cannot believe it is working so fast,” Brad said.

The doctor scratched his head. “When someone is clawed by a demon the virus goes into the bloodstream and infects the individual. It only makes sense that the antibodies would work the same way. They make their way into the blood and fight the virus. Who else is infected?”

Brad looked around. “Pull over to Tyrone’s boat,” he said to Sam.

“What happened to the creature that infected you?” the doctor asked Brad.

“He lost his head.”

“Too bad, I would like to have known its reaction.

“What do you mean?”

“If the antibodies can cure a sick man then maybe if enough of the virus is in the body, such as the case with the demons, the antibodies may actually kill it. How much blood have you lost?”

“Not much. I got the wound right before I entered the church and Tyrone bandaged me right away. Why?”

“I will need some blood to conduct my tests,” the doctor said.

“No problem,” Brad replied.

“After I treat the other men they should start to manufacture the antibodies and I can use their blood as well.”

At this point, they came alongside Tyrone’s boat. The man was sitting quietly.

Brad jumped onto the boat. “Let me see your wound.”

Tyrone did not look up.

“Do not make me ask again.”

Tyrone raised his shirt. Red marks ran across his abdomen. “I guess we are in the same boat,” he shrugged. “No pun intended.”

Brad sat next to him and looked closely at the claw marks. “Doctor, come over here,” he suddenly exclaimed.

Two men helped the doctor onto the boat. He glanced at Tyrone’s wound then put on his glasses for a closer look. Suddenly he turned to Brad, “Is this you’re doing?”

“Brad shook his head. “I have not touched him.”

“Ha,” the doctor clapped his hands. “This man possesses the antibodies as well.”

“What did you just say,” Tyrone asked.

Dr. Moreau pointed at Brad’s wound. “Do you see the black puss?”

“Yes, it is disgusting.”

“On the contrary, that is a sign that his antibodies are protecting him.”

“I knew it,” Tyrone exclaimed. “I knew you were immune.”

“He is not the only one.”

“What do you mean?” Tyrone asked.

“You possess antibodies as well.”

“I told you nothing could get me,” Tyrone laughed. He pulled his shirt up higher. “Take another look doctor and see what other things I have antibodies against.”

“I am afraid I can only inspect for this virus,” the doctor shrugged.

“The antibodies are there, I guarantee it,” Tyrone said with confidence.

“Would you come over here please,” Dr. Moreau called to the infected woman on the Rampage. 

She jumped onto the boat and the doctor pulled out his knife and stepped toward Tyrone.

“Whoa, take it easy doctor, what do you have in mind,” Tyrone rebelled.

“I need a little blood.”

Tyrone glanced at Brad.

“He did the same thing to me. He is just going to cut you a little.”

“I heard that in the hood a couple of times when I was a kid,” Tyrone smirked.

“Could I have your arm please?”

Tyrone presented his arm and the doctor cut him then wiped off some blood with his finger and turned to the wounded woman. She spread her shirt without him asking and the doctor wiped Tyrone’s blood onto her wound. He then stood back and everyone stared at the scratch marks. A couple of minutes later, black puss formed.

“What does that mean?” Tyrone asked.

“It means I have two donors,” the doctor smiled. “As soon as we get to the island I must work with Dr. Gachet and begin treatment on the infected men. Did you ever get sick?” he asked Tyrone.

“Never in my life,” stated Tyrone with pride.

“That is why your antibodies are not as predominant as Brad’s,” the doctor reasoned. “Though you have never been sick,” he insisted, “you are about to become very ill.”

“We will see about that,” Tyrone shot back.

The doctor smiled and said, “I find it interesting that two people from the same community share similar antibodies. Have you ever done anything that would cause you to exchange blood or other bodily fluids?”

“What are you getting at Doc?”

“Some close acts could cause this to happen.”

“Close acts?” Tyrone asked as he glared at the doctor.

“You two did spend a lot of time alone together.”

“We are not gay Doc,” Tyrone snapped.

“Wait a minute,” Brad exclaimed. “I got hurt and splattered blood in your face. You said some of it got in your mouth.”

“That would explain it,” Doctor Moreau concluded.

Tyrone shook his head. “I was already immune. You cannot take credit for this.”

“In any event,” the doctor stated as he climbed back onto the other boat. “You are both immune.”

“Man this is crazy,” Tyrone said. “Those creeps kept trying to kill us and all the while we were the cure.”

Brad sat back as he contemplated how many times he had put his own life at risk and how important it was to the world that he had survived. As he reflected, he remembered the night he had almost put a bullet into his own head.

“What did you see?” Brad’s father asked once the doctor was onboard.

“I have found another donor.”

“That is wonderful news.”

“Yes it is. I only hope I can treat these men in time to save them.” 

Chapter 36

Upon arrival at the island Dr. Moreau and Dr. Gachet immediately went to work drawing Brad and Tyrone’s blood so they could manufacture a serum. While they were doing this, some others set up an infirmary for the infected men. Of the two hundred people that had gone on the rescue mission, thirty-two died in action and nearly twice that many received wounds. To save these people, the residents of the island rallied together and donated time, materials and even their own beds for this cause. Once the makeshift hospital was ready, they brought in all the sick men and tied them to the beds for everyone’s safety.

Time was of the essence so the doctors quickly made a test serum to give to the sickest of the men. Dr. Moreau had brought along some of the things he needed for the serum and Dr. Gachet had already set up his lab before the ships arrived. If they lacked anything, they radioed Danny and he sent the materials on his drone.

Before they had the serum ready, three of the men turned hostile and the orderlies had to destroy them. When they finally had a dose to try, the first six men they treated died. Their illness had advanced to the point that the doctors believed the serum had killed them. Within minutes of injecting them, they reacted violently and died.

Though the first six men died, they still went on to treat number seven. They had no choice. To do nothing was to kill the man anyway. They injected him and watched closely. He tensed up and thrashed around like the others but a minute later he became quiet. After monitoring him for an hour, his reaction seemed favorable so they gave the serum to the next man. This man as well seemed to improve with the treatment. Their supply was short so they could only administer a small portion to each patient but at the end of twenty-four hours they had only lost three more men and at the end of a week, the doctors believed they had successfully made a cure. Though all the men suffered bad episodes and had red blotches over their entire bodies they all showed signs of recovery.

Brad also became sick and was bedridden for three days but Tyrone mystified the doctors. He had a slight fever and chills for about thirty-six hours but he never became sick like the others. His claim that nothing could harm him certainly appeared true. Even a direct wound from an advanced creature could not bring him down.

Once Brad was feeling better and the men were out of danger, he had another mission to go on. He needed to capture a few creatures so he could experiment with the serum. He had to know if it would kill them. To do this, he had some men build two cages. While they were doing this, some others made a strong fishing net and a couple of leashes similar to the ones animal control had used to handle vicious dogs. Brad’s intention was to net the creatures in the water and bring them back to the island for experiments.