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Authors: Gunnar Duvstig

The Nightmare Scenario

BOOK: The Nightmare Scenario
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THE NIGHTMARE

SCENARIO

BY

GUNNAR DUVSTIG

Copyright © 2014 Gunnar Duvstig
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 1500612839
ISBN 13: 9781500612832

To the brave, highly skilled and

committed men and women

who dedicate their lives

to fight pandemic disease

and

in memoriam

Anna Porshag
,

whose story this really is

Recent stories of pandemics in books and movies have been based more on fantasies than medical realism
.

That is unfortunate, as reality is more frightening
than all that fiction
.

What follows is what we really fear
.

This is the nightmare scenario
.

CONTENTS

INTROITUS: (Introduction)

28 TH OF JUNE, MIDDAY, PAPUA PROVINCE, EASTERN INDONESIA

PRIMORIS CONTACTUS: (First contact)

JULY 8TH, DINNERTIME, THE REFORM CLUB, 104 PALL MALL, LONDON

JULY 8TH, AROUND 10 PM, 18 KENSINGTON SQUARE, FORMER RESIDENCE OF JOHN STUART MILL

JULY 10TH, 6 AM, STRATEGIC HEALTH AND OPERATIONS CENTRE, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

JULY 10TH, 10 PM, JAKARTA AIRPORT, INDONESIA

JULY 14TH, 10 AM, CDC HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA

ITA INFIT: (And so it begins)

JULY 28TH, FINALE OF THE SECOND ACT, LA SCALA, MILAN, ITALY

SIMULTANEOUSLY, CDC HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA

JULY 29TH, 8 AM, 63 IZMAYLOVSKY PROSPEKT, MOSCOW

JULY 29TH, 9 AM, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

JULY 29TH, DAWN, THE MARRIOTT HOTEL, ATLANTA, GEORGIA

JULY 29TH, 9 AM, CDC HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA

JULY 29TH, 3 PM, LOBBY, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

DIUS PRETERITUS: (Of days past)

SEVEN YEARS EARLIER, OCTOBER 9TH, 9 AM, BAGGAGE CLAIM, BALTIMORE WASHINGTON AIRPORT

TWO HOURS LATER, WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM, WASHINGTON D.C.

EQIUTAT IN PESTILENTIA: (Pestilence rides in)

JULY 30TH, MORNING MEETING, DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

JULY 30TH, SUNSET, PRIVATE JET INBOUND FOR BABULLAH AIRPORT, TERNATE, MALUKU ISLANDS, EASTERN INDONESIA

JULY 30TH, 7 PM, 63 IZMAYLOVSKY PROSPEKT, MOSCOW

JULY 30TH, 3 PM, SHOC, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

JULY 30TH, MIDFLIGHT, SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHT SQ21 FROM NEWARK TO SINGAPORE

JULY 30TH, 5 PM, DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 1ST, AFTER MIDNIGHT, SHOC, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 3RD, JUST BEFORE SUNSET, DISTRICT HOSPITAL, TERNATE, MALUKU ISLANDS, EASTERN INDONESIA

AUGUST 3RD, 3PM, THE MEN’S ROOM, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 2ND, 10 AM, THE WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM, WASHINGTON D.C.

NUNC IN MONDO: (Now for the world)

AUGUST 4TH, 7 PM, MAKESHIFT CAMP, MARE, MALUKU ISLANDS, EASTERN INDONESIA

AUGUST 5TH, 8 AM, WHO MANAGEMENT FLOOR CORRIDOR, GENEVA

AUGUST 5TH, 5 PM, SHOC, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 6TH, 10 AM, DISTRICT HOSPITAL, TERNATE, MALUKU ISLANDS, EASTERN INDONESIA

AUGUST 6TH, 9 AM, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 6TH, 8 PM, MAKESHIFT CAMP, MARE, MALUKU ISLANDS, EASTERN INDONESIA

AUGUST 7TH, 9 AM, DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 8TH, 8 AM, INFECTIOUS DISEASE WARD, HOSPITAL KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

AUGUST 8TH, 3 AM, AEOLUS RESIDENCE, LAUSANNE

AUGUST 8TH, 5 PM, GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLENARY HALL, UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

AUGUST 8TH, 9 PM, OUTSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE, THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON D.C.

INITIUM FINIS: (The beginning of the end)

AUGUST 10TH, 4 PM, WHO REGIONAL OFFICE, MAHATARNA GANDHI MARG, NEW DELHI

AUGUST 10TH, 11 A.M., SHOC, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 10TH, 6 P.M., FISHING VILLAGE, THREE MILES DOWNRIVER FROM HKA-U-IN, MAGWE PROVINCE, MYANMAR

AUGUST 10TH LUNCHTIME, SHOC, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 11TH, MORNING, AEOLUS’S SUITE, WHO REGIONAL OFFICE, 22, SHAM NATH MARG, NEW DELHI

WHO SITUATION UPDATE REPORT: A/Singapore/4/2015(H1N1) – 2015/08/12

AUGUST 12TH, LATE AFTERNOON, MAIN LAB, DIRECTORATE FOR DISEASE CONTROL, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

WHO SITUATION UPDATE REPORT: A/Singapore/4/2015(H1N1) – 2015/08/13

AUGUST 13TH, SOMETIME DURING THE NIGHT, AEOLUS’S SUITE, WHO REGIONAL OFFICE, SHAM NATH MARG, NEW DELHI

WHO SITUATION UPDATE REPORT: A/Singapore/4/2015(H1N1) – 2015/08/14

AUGUST 16TH, END OF LUNCH, THE VECTOR INSTITUTE, KOLTSOVO, NOVOSIBIRSK OBLAST, RUSSIA

AUGUST 16TH 5 PM, LOCAL BBC OFFICE, JALAN IMAM BONJOL 80, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

MALUM QUOD HOMINES FACUIT: (The evil that men do)

AUGUST 18TH, MIDMORNING, DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE, WHO HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA

AUGUST 18TH, 9 AM, THE WHITE HOUSE BASEMENT LEVEL, WASHINGTON D.C.

AUGUST 19TH, 12 AM, 10 MILES NORTH OF CHOUCH’ON VILLAGE, CHAGANG PROVINCE, NORTH KOREA

POSTREMO AGMINE PRAESIDO: (The last line of defense)

AUGUST 20TH, SUNRISE, WESTBOUND, OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

AUGUST 20TH, END OF DAYSHIFT, QUARANTINE ZONE, WHO REGIONAL OFFICE, SHAM NATH MARG, NEW DELHI

AUGUST 20TH, 1 P.M., GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLENARY HALL, UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

AUGUST 20TH, MIDNIGHT, OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, WHO REGIONAL OFFICE, SHAM NATH MARG, NEW DELHI

AUGUST 21ST, 5 P.M., AEOLUS’S TEMPORARY OFFICE, OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON D.C.

AUGUST 21ST, 10 A.M., H1N1 WAR ROOM, OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON D.C.

AUGUST 21ST, 2 P.M., AEOLUS’S TEMPORARY OFFICE, OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON D.C.

AUGUST 21ST, 3 P.M., CORNER OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AND 17TH STREET, WASHINGTON D.C.

AUGUST 21ST, 4 P.M., 1869 BRENTWOOD ROAD, ABINGTON, PHILADELPHIA SUBURB, PENNSYLVANIA

AUGUST 22ND, 5 A.M., PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, FOUR SEASONS, 2800 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, WASHINGTON D.C.

AUGUST 22ND, 3 P.M., WIND MOBILE NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER, ATHENS

AUGUST 22ND, 10 A.M., THE SITUATION ROOM, PRESIDENTIAL BUNKER TWO, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

UT VETERA VINCULA RUMPERE: (As old bonds break)

AUGUST 22ND, 4 P.M., PATIENT WARD, WHO REGIONAL OFFICE, SHAM NATH MARG, NEW DELHI

AUGUST 23RD, 10 A.M., THE SITUATION ROOM, PRESIDENTIAL BUNKER TWO, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

AUGUST 23RD, 4 P.M., HIGHWAY 159, SOUTH-WEST-BOUND, NEARING TARLTON, OHIO

AUGUST 23RD, 5 P.M., AEOLUS QUARTERS, PRESIDENTIAL BUNKER TWO, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

AUGUST 22ND, 4 P.M., PATIENT WARD, WHO REGIONAL OFFICE, SHAM NATH MARG, NEW DELHI

AUGUST 22ND, 3 P.M., VIA APPIA ANTICA, SOUTHEAST BOUND, ROME

AUGUST 24TH, MIDDAY, INTERSTATE 95, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BORDER, EN ROUTE TO COLUMBIA

AUGUST 24TH, NOON, AEOLUS’S QUARTERS, PRESIDENTIAL BUNKER TWO, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

AUGUST 24TH, 5 P.M., 107 OAKLEY STREET, KNIGHTSBRIDGE, LONDON

AUGUST 24TH, AFTERNOON, THE SITUATION ROOM, PRESIDENTIAL BUNKER TWO, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

AUGUST 24TH, 6 P.M., CHURCH OF THE SEVENTH SEAL, BOISE, IDAHO

AUGUST 25TH, LATE MORNING, WILLIAM LANE’S MOUNTAIN CABIN, MONTANA

AUGUST 25TH, MIDNIGHT, CORRIDOR TO LIVING QUARTERS, PRESIDENTIAL BUNKER TWO, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

AUGUST 26TH, END OF DAILY MORNING SERVICE, MARIENKIRCHE, KARL-LIEBKNECHT-STRAßE, BERLIN

SIMULTANEOUSLY, 7 RUE LACHARRIÈRE, PARIS

AUGUST 26TH, 8 A.M., THE SITUATION ROOM, PRESIDENTIAL BUNKER TWO, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

REQUIEM AETERNAM: (Eternal rest)

AUGUST 27TH, 8 A.M., EN ROUTE TO WILLIAM LANE’S MOUNTAIN CABIN COMPOUND, MONTANA

AUGUST 27TH, SUNSET, CATHOLIC MISSION OF THE SERVANT SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH, PAPUA PROVINCE, INDONESIA

AUGUST 27TH, MIDDAY, INTERSTATE 94, NORTHWEST BOUND FROM MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

AUGUST 27TH, DINNERTIME, KENSINGTON SQUARE, LONDON

PHOENIX ORTUS: (Phoenix rising)

EPILOGUE

THREE YEARS LATER, MIDDAY, PAPUA PROVINCE, EASTERN INDONESIA

NOTA AUCTORIS: (Author’s note)

UOCABILARIUS: (Glossary)

Organizations

Medical Terminology

INTROITUS

(Introduction)

28
TH
OF JUNE, MIDDAY, PAPUA PROVINCE, EASTERN INDONESIA

R
osalinda Mendez, or “Sister Rosa” as she was known to her fellow nuns, cherished the sound of crickets humming along with the buzz of her scooter as she rode down the small dirt trail. It made her feel close to nature. It made her feel close to God.

As usual on Wednesdays she was on her way for her visit to one of the remote villages of the Asmat tribe. The small village didn’t have much contact with the rest of the world. Nowadays they had some of the basic conveniences of modern life, like T-shirts and other western clothing items, but they preferred their old ways, and they preferred to be left alone.

They accepted Rosalinda though. They had become accustomed to her visits and the simple goods she brought, like matches or blankets, and most importantly, the way she cared for the sick. She always made a point of ensuring the medicine man received the credit for her cures.
Yet it was clear to the villagers that for all the medicine man’s powers, Rosalinda was helping him somehow, and they appreciated her for it.

She had joined the order at a young age, having been brought in as a child from the streets of Manila, finding a kind of peace and tranquility she had never known before in the strict routines of the convent. As she grew older, she heard the calling to spread the blessings of Christianity. She became a missionary.

God led her to Indonesia, or more precisely, the Eastern Papua province. The Papua area had several indigenous tribes, with little or no contact with the Western world, and as such they were untouched by the decadence that followed with it. She arrived in hope that these people would be more open to salvation than the busy inner-city dwellers of the bustling metropolises, sprawling around the world.

Gaining access to the villages had proven difficult. The Asmati were suspicious by nature. She finally found a way in when she read about the Nobel Laureate Carlton Gajdusek’s work on curbing Kuru disease among the South Fore tribes in Papua New Guinea. The way in was through the children. She camped away from the tribe, befriending the children running around outside the village by playing with them and offering them treats. Once she entered the village, surrounded by cheering children like a Pied Piper of Hamelin in reverse, the elders recognized that she was not bringing demons to their homes.

She had, however, quickly given up hope of converting the tribes. They had their own ways and were
not open to changing them. Though disappointed at first, she later came to accept it. She was helping them have a better life. Surely, she was still doing God’s work.

As she approached the outskirts of the village, she noticed that something was wrong, very wrong. The village was silent. There were no children playing outside the huts. The children were
always
playing, running about, giggling and screaming with excitement.

She skipped off her scooter and took off toward the nearest hut. What she found when she entered shocked her cold. On the mud floor laid a family: father, mother and child, completely immobile, as if dead. She bent down and felt for a pulse but found none.

With rising fear and a racing heart, she ran out and into the next hut. A similar scene faced her: mother lying completely still, embracing her young son. This time, she didn’t bother to feel for a pulse. The compact stench of rotting flesh that hit her as she entered the hut was proof enough. The deeper into the village she went, the more powerful the ammonia-like smell. Her eyes watered and she had to cover her nose with her veil to prevent herself from gagging.

She broke into a run, peering into hut after hut. It was the same scene everywhere. Dead. All dead. What curse had struck down on these innocent people?

She forced herself onward, head spinning.

When she reached the center, where the villagers would gather around the fire at night, she suddenly heard a faint sobbing from a hut to her left. She pushed
aside the straw door and entered the darkness. Right inside the door was another body, still and rigid.

She located the source of the sound. A young child, no more than three years old, was curled up in a corner, arms clutched around his knees. Next to him was a pile of green mangos, half of them eaten, and a cauldron filled with water. Judging by the amount of mango skins, the mother must have been dead for days, her last act, before strength had left her, having been to gather supplies for her son.

BOOK: The Nightmare Scenario
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