Cloud Dust: RD-1 (R-D #1)(73)

"They could be anywhere—they'll know we can make that connection, so it's likely they've abandoned the site. Once inside the U.S., they could go anywhere. They've had time to drive or fly away from Colfer after delivery of the drug. Corinne mentioned a small plane before, when Cutter was on his way to Canada. If they had something like that waiting, they really could be anywhere."

"I've ordered all departments to begin a search, but we don't have any specific targets. This is impossible," Madam President rose to pace. The rest of us rose with her—it wasn't proper etiquette to sit while the President stood.

I'd had my meeting with Rafe and Corinne much earlier—their guesses coincided with mine, so I felt comfortable presenting them to the President. Richard Farrell was on his way to Montana with three of his former collaborators—they'd be in charge of testing the Colfer water supply and sterilizing it afterward.

"What are we going to do with the ones who survived the drug?" the President asked.

"Are you sure all of them will live?" I asked.

"Roughly half of them are experiencing breathing problems. Those are the ones who don't look human anymore. Three of those can't speak. At least not in English."

"What do you think we should do?"

"Make them comfortable and let nature take its course."

"I think we ought to let Corinne decide."

"I want her kept away from this. It's upsetting enough for me. What do you think it will do to her? I sure as hell don't want her taking an unplanned vacation, again. We have to keep a tight leash on her and her abilities."

At that moment, I wanted to shout at the President. She considered Corinne an object—a tool to keep her alive and in office. If Corinne escaped, she couldn't control that asset. It made me angry. I reined that in and nodded my acceptance.

From then on, I planned to give Corinne as much free rein as I could. So far, she was the one keeping all of us alive. I knew enough to be grateful. Those around Cori cared about her. Madam President needed to get her thinking straight on this one.

I knew what Richard said the moment he learned there were survivors. "They wanted to kill everybody," he'd said. "But they rushed the use of the drug without testing it thoroughly. It's probable that they only used a limited sampling of victims. When all of them died, they determined the experiment a success."

If we didn't report what actually happened, then the ones behind the massacre would attempt to do it again. I had no idea how long it could take to produce enough of the drug to test it on a larger population, or whether it had to be placed in the water supply or could be delivered another way. I needed to speak with Richard again.

Soon.

*

Corinne

Auggie was exhausted when he returned from his meeting with the President. I knew there had to be some survivors who'd ingested the drug—the odds were in their favor. Madam President didn't want anyone to know. It wouldn't be difficult—hide the information and stick them somewhere so they couldn't get to anyone else.

That would present problems and Auggie knew that. The perpetrators would think their massacre a total success, when that wasn't the case. People had survived. Whether they could now comfortably live on the planet was anybody's guess.

"Cori," Auggie said. He'd found me sitting on the floor next to Rafe in the smaller kitchen, clutching a cup of coffee as if it were salvation in a world gone mad.

"Auggie?" I said, turning my eyes up to him.

"Let James know what you need in the computer department. Whatever you want, he'll provide. You'll have access to departmental files from anywhere my codes will work. Look at people. Anybody and everybody that you want. Tell me if there's anything I ought to know. While James is getting your equipment, try to get some sleep."

He turned and walked out of the kitchen without another word. "Thanks, Auggie," I called out softly.

*

Furniture and beds were moved in not long after, and Ilya and I made ours up. He pulled me onto it and settled my head against his shoulder.

Both of us were troubled by the events in Colfer. I worried about what could happen next—the possibilities were terrifying. "Cabbage, try to sleep," he murmured before kissing my forehead. "We cannot save the world if we do not have the strength."

*

Notes—Colonel Hunter

"I can't say for certain that they won't find another way to distribute the drug to a larger population," Richard said. He'd phoned back after I placed the initial call. "The victims here are similar to those we examined before—few are intact inside."

"You've seen this before—I mean before those we asked you to examine recently."

"Early on, when an incorrect dosage was given to a volunteer. It has to be carefully calculated."

"You have the calculations for those in the Program?"

"I do."

"Will you forward them to me?"

"Of course. Those who didn't ingest the drug are sequestered and are being given excuses as to why the bodies of their loved ones must be cremated—I believe the story is that others might be poisoned if the body remains intact."

I cursed at Richard's explanation. "What have they done with the drug survivors?" I asked. I wanted to blame the lies on the FBI, Homeland Security and the CIA, but ultimately, the President had to give permission. She'd left me out of those decisions.