Virals(22)

Carl emerged from the building and scanned his surroundings. His gaze landed on the back gate. Standing in the deluge, he looked wretched but determined.

My camouflage wouldn't survive close inspection. Movement would give me away. Only the driving rain had protected me this far.

As Carl stepped toward the fence, the clouds pulled out all stoppers. Rain fell in torrents.

Carl looked up, reconsidered. Shaking his head, he retreated toward the dryness of the inside world.

Miracle. Thanking various deities, I rose to a squat and crab-scuttled into the forest.





The ole bunker had never looked so good.

Commandeering the back room, I stripped and wrung out my sopping clothes. Fail. Soaked stayed soaked.

I rejoined the others in the main chamber and together we constructed a makeshift recovery ward for Coop. After, Ben sat on the bench, a bundle of beach towels before him. Coop lay inside, alternating between dozing and halfheartedly licking rain from his fur.

The ride back had been a horror. Rain and seawater drenched us as Sewee struggled over head-high breakers. Seasickness claimed more victims than Hi.

Huddled in the stern, I'd tried my best to keep Coop dry. Everyone had been nervous. When we finally slipped into the bunker's cove, I'd whispered a quiet prayer of thanks. To whom, I wasn't sure.

"What now?" Hi was ruffling Coop's outrageously oversized ears. "I know squat about caring for a sick pup."

"Re-hang his IV bags," I instructed. "We'll need to change them when they run out." The pilfered supplies were lined up on our table. "Until then, we keep Coop warm and hydrated and try to get him to eat."

And hope.

It was the best we could do.

Coop lay on his side, looking miserable. I hated keeping him in the bell collar but had no choice. Without it he'd rip out the IV tubes.

I proposed a plan. "We'll take shifts. I'll watch Coop today. Let's meet here before school tomorrow and set up a rotation. Bring any dog supplies you can find at home."

"No blabbing," instructed Hi. "This fiasco stays secret or we're all screwed."

Shelton raised a hand. "What happens when Coop's better?"

"If he beats the virus, he'll be immune," I said. "We can find him a normal home." I couldn't keep the dog. Kit was opposed. And knew him. But we'd craft Coop a good life somewhere.

"I'm dead serious." Hi wouldn't let up. "Secret. Undisclosed. Covert. Let's swear a blood oath or something. Lock it in."

Shelton chuckled. "Fine." He took a knee. "I swear on my life, I'll never breathe a word about the dog."

"Ditto," said Ben. He caught a sharp look from Hi. "Okay, okay!" Air quotes. "I swear. Happy?"

"Somewhat. Tory?"

"I promise, Hi. Not a word."

I looked down at Coop, sleeping in his improvised burrow. "I'll take care of you," I whispered. "Just get well."

Outside, thunder rolled.





CHAPTER 15


Dr. Marcus Karsten went cold.

Standing just inside the door to his secret laboratory--the entry upon which he'd misplaced so much faith--he could see that his fears had been realized.

Subject A was gone.

Impossible!

One hour earlier, Karsten had been at home reviewing papers. The phone rang. Annoyed at the interruption, he'd answered.

Carl from the institute. Someone had broken into Lab Six. The esteemed professor had dropped the receiver and raced to his car, panicked.

Karsten sped to the marina, running red lights. Wrangling a boat, he'd ordered the captain to take the short way to Loggerhead Island, tide notwithstanding. Paid double. Speed was everything.

Karsten had talked down his nerves during the rain-soaked crossing. No one knew about the upstairs lab, he told himself. His secret was safe.

The guards couldn't even open the electronic lock he'd special-ordered. No one else had the combination. Once he determined what had triggered the alarm, he'd slip off to double-check the hidden room.

Slowly, Karsten's fear turned to anger. Some lazy tech must've needed supplies and didn't want to fill out the paperwork. Typical. Whoever tripped that alarm would get both barrels.

Upon landing, Karsten hurried directly from the dock to Lab Six. The downpour did little to improve his mood.

Carl waited outside on the steps. Now sporting a massive black raincoat, he resembled an enormous bowling ball on legs. A nervous one.

Karsten scowled upon seeing the guard. This buffoon is the best we can do for security?

"Out with it," Karsten demanded. "Was there a breakin? Was anything taken?"

"Uh . . . we, uh . . . I mean, I don't know."

Despite his bulk, Carl stood barely five feet tall. Karsten towered above him, glowering.

"Doctor. Sir." Carl added, just to be safe.

"Check. The. Video. Tape." Slowly. Karsten had no time for fools, and considered Carl one short step above.

"That's just it, sir." Carl wished he were anywhere else on the planet. "We can't. The recorder broke last week, and the replacement is still on backorder."

Karsten closed his eyes, willing self-control. He vaguely remembered a memo to that effect. "Did you examine the locks?"