Chapter Twenty-Six
That evening, James was resting, watching the news channel when Carolyn and John walked through the door. He felt more himself, his bruising fading fast. After giving James an injection which would hopefully kill off the tardigrades, they sat together to discuss what had happened and what would be their next move.
"How much of the vaccine and antidote do we have so I can take it through?"
"Hold a moment. You're in no fit state to go anywhere and until you are clear and a lot stronger you stay here."
"I don't mean immediately. Come on love, the other side is sinking or it was the last time I was there and it could only have gotten worse."
"You are lucky to be alive, and may still have the virus inside you. So, until we are sure, you are staying here; besides, what if you are a carrier? You could pass the virus on to others and kill thousands." He had passed clear and he had repeated the test twice more but she knew the virus could stay hidden and inactive in the testicles for quite a while and re-emerge without warning.
What she said jolted him into a reality he hadn't contemplated. "I'll be up in my room," and he walked out.
"He's annoyed. I didn't mean to upset him."
"Not annoyed, worried after you said he could be a carrier; add concern for the people the other side and you have a very worried person."
"I'll go and talk with him."
"Leave him for a while but you need to answer his question about taking through the antidote and vaccine, you just ignored him."
"I didn't mean to. I'm just so worried about him." She went to his room and lightly tapped on the door.
He opened it and stood in the doorway. "You could have walked in without knocking." He moved from the door keeping his distance. Tears were in her eyes as she moved towards him and opened her arms making to hug him. He quickly pulled himself away and moved towards the window. "Get back, I could still carry the virus."
She stood back from him. "Love, please, I didn't mean to sound sharp. I get paralysed with worry. I thought I lost you. You are clear, I was just making a point that the virus can stay dormant in the testicles for a year or more."
"I know you are worried for me, and I feel the same way towards you and worry about passing the virus over. You were there every second for me. I just need to be sure I'm not a danger to you and John. The three of us have been through hell and back the last few weeks and the pressure is showing on us. You more than myself. I was unconscious most of the time while you were the one nursing me wondering if I'd get through the ordeal. I want to hold and love you but we must be sure," his eyes filled with tears. "I should be the one apologising and thanking you. I'm here and alive because of you. Let's take it one day at a time. I was foolish to even mention going into the other dimension until my strength returns. You have a right to be annoyed at my foolishness. You need to rest. I'll see you in the morning and to be sure I'll have sperm, saliva and faeces samples ready for you to analyse. You will have to take the blood sample."
The following day she analysed the samples proving James was clear of the Ebola virus but still showed live tardigrades in his blood but that was to be expected at this stage. One test was not sufficient and he would need to be retested at least a few more times over the coming weeks. Going to the other realm played on his mind. The work undertaken at the university proved successful and they were confident they had a tool to battle the virus and protect via immunisation. She analysed several more samples from James over the coming weeks until she felt comfortable he was clear of tardigrades and other contaminants and that evening the three of them sat together over a celebratory meal with plenty of wine while avoiding the obvious of when James was going back to the other dimension.
While the Canarias proved to be a major problem for the multiple organisations involved, they had gained control of the crisis but the cost had been high. In the UK, infections were in the hundreds but because of the quick responses from the authorities acting on the warnings given, the terrorists had been thwarted virtually at every turn and most of those involved were either dead or in prison. One disturbing piece of news was that a bomb at Abisali's flat killed ten residents and one female terrorist and they realised he had gotten away.
At breakfast the following day, Carolyn mentioned how the university had been given a ten million pounds grant to carry on research into Ebola and to set up a facility to produce the vaccine and antidote for mass distribution, with further grant money promised in the future. Donald and his team had been nominated for a special award and he had become something of a celebrity.
"When I spoke with him yesterday, he wanted to mention our role in the project but I reminded him of our agreement that we are to be kept out of it and not mention our names when giving his acceptance speech or print our names in any document or report. He wasn't happy about taking full credit, but I assured him it is what we wanted and are happy to stay anonymous so he reluctantly agreed.
James now felt the time was right. "Could I have a hundred vials and the final formula to take through in the next few days?" He looked at Carolyn, "it's time."
She nodded. "I've been expecting you to say something since you've had your final all clear and wondered why you've waited. I'm fine with it, well not fine, more resigned to the situation. I'll get everything arranged over the next few days. You're still a long way off full strength and need to get plenty of rest."
Five days later, James, carrying a backpack filled with vaccine, walked into the other realm at two in the morning. Streetlights were out, rubbish piled at the side of houses waiting for collection. The moon shone bright and a crispy chilliness cut into the air. No sound was heard as he made his way to his flat. It had been a while since he was last here and he collected his mail from the mailbox, mostly junk. He poured himself a whiskey and went to turn on the television but decided to leave it and took his drink into the bedroom, undressed, drank it in one swallow and was soon asleep.
He waited until after breakfast before he turned on the television. A lot had happened since he was last here but even he wasn't prepared for the utter chaos and suffering spewing forth. The virus had spread around the world, not one country, from what he could see, had escaped. The Canarias were a write-off, no one allowed in and no one allowed out on pain of being shot. Europe was in a mess, rioting, murder and civil disobedience were commonplace. Bodies left were exposed for days until they were bundled away little more that refuse to be collected and dumped. In the UK, over half a million had been reported as victims of Ebola with a high proportion already dead. No figure of deaths had been given but he suspected the authorities to be underplaying things by trying to minimise panic but the population was not fooled. Rioting was quickly stamped upon, often with violent outcomes, using high powered water cannons. The police were not coping, the army was out in force. Public assembling of more than five people was made an offence and any gathering was immediately broken up often resulting in more violence. Shooting of looters had become an everyday occurrence and often it went unreported, a situation that would have been unheard of a few months ago.
In India, the army had opened fire on a large crowd of protesters; casualties were in the thousands creating even further unrest resulting in an escalation of violence. Some cities were abandoned by the authorities leaving the population to fend for themselves. Bodies were buried in mass graves, thrown one on top of the other and quickly covered. He'd hear one report saying that hundreds of bodies had been stacked and burnt in one giant bonfire in China. The middle east was a hotbed of unrest as different factions struggled to get the upper hand. Hard-line Muslims rose against passive Muslims, classifying them as apostates. The world had gone mad. The authorities closed churches and mosques as congregations were considered a public gathering causing yet further unrest. Food was in short supply. Many refused to work, staying inside their houses but they had little to eat. Food stores were raided and had to be protected by armed guards. Schools had not actually closed but they might well have as attendance was practically zero among pupils and teachers. With the volume of people around the world dying, a cold shiver shot through James' body. Eventually, there must be equilibrium within the two dimensions, and that would mean a large loss of life in his dimension. Only those people that would not change the timeline of history would survive.
He phoned Debra and left a message. Within the hour she replied asking where had he been as they had all but given up on him. He asked if she and Jennie could meet him as soon as possible at his flat. They arrived at two that afternoon. With what had happened over the last few months Jennie's work had consumed her, kept her mind focused on saving others and catching the perpetrators of this despicable crime, pushing her grief into the background. At first, they were cold and rather indifferent towards him for leaving it so long but after he explained he'd been an Ebola victim their attitude warmed towards him. He told them about the vaccine and antidote and they needed to contact a laboratory but to have kept him out of the frame, handing Debra the formula.
"Inject a living creature into the bloodstream?"
"It works. There are other elements in the mix and you need to purge the body afterward of the creatures. Follow what I've given you and it will work."
"I will never be able to get this accepted. It will take years to get this through the system."