Part 3 (2/2)
The TV crackled into life.
”Please stand by for a news flash.”
All their laughing ceased.
”Samples taken from the victims of the mystery virus have been sent to all the world's major laboratories for a.n.a.lysis. We have to report, that almost five thousand people have now died, and an epidemic warning has been issued. A leaked doc.u.ment has been printed in a Russian newspaper, claiming that the factory that was blown up, was in fact, being used to develop biological weapons. The Russian president has strongly denied this, claiming that all such experiments ceased in 2010. World leaders, however, remain unconvinced and have accused Russia of violating the world treaty of 2011, banning all such weapons.”
”If it is a biological weapon that has escaped,” Steve said, ”I hope they've got an antidote, cos if they haven't, at the rate it kills, we're in serious trouble.”
”Who's hungry?” Clare broke in, sensing the heaviness descending on the children. All hands went up. ”Right,” she said, ”Sh.e.l.ley take down the orders, and don't forget Rufus. Chris, get on to room-service, let's eat!”
”Well done Sweetie,” Steve whispered into Clare's ear. ”Sorry I got a bit carried away there with the doom and gloom stuff.”
”That's all right Hun,” she said, ”but we must watch out for the kids, this could get rough.”
Room-service lived up to expectations, and all hunger was well satisfied, even Rufus was lying down after eating so much. ”You get them ready for bed,” Steve said a while later, ”I'll take first watch.”
”Do you think that's necessary?” Clare asked.
”I don't know, but better safe than sorry. I'll keep an eye on Star Labs just in case they come back.”
”OK Hun, call me when you need to sleep.”
Clare took the kids to the bathroom to explain what was happening. ”From now on,” she said softly, ”life is going to change quite drastically. No work for mummy and daddy, and no school for you two.”
Chris' face lit up at the thought of no school, and especially, no school play, but it was short lived, he knew that something must be very wrong for all this to be happening.
”Are we in trouble mommy?” Sh.e.l.ley asked innocently.
”No sweetheart, not for anything we've done at least, but there are some bad people out there who want to hurt mummy and daddy, so we have to make sure they don't find us. Daddy has been very clever and brought us here very near to where he used to work.”
”They'll never find us here mom,” Chris jumped in, ”they won't think to look for us here, right under their noses.”
”No, they won't son, that's why we're here. Now get ready for bed, we need all our strength for tomorrow.”
The young Foresters duly obeyed and went to bed. Rufus curled up at Chris' feet, and for once, Chris was glad he was there. Somehow, it made him feel safer.
”Night sis,” he said softly.
”Night bruv',” she replied.
”Night Rufus,” they both said, in unison.
Morning came. ”Are you awake Steve?” Clare asked.
”Sure Sweetie, did anything happen?”
”No, not much. There were some soldiers hanging around the main entrance, but they didn't do much. Star Labs looks empty, do you think they've abandoned the building?”
”Probably,” Steve replied, ”my guess is that they are heading for a secret location somewhere.”
”Any idea where?”
”None that I can think of at this moment, but then, it is six am!” Clare slipped into Steve's bed and they slept for another couple of hours.
The TV awakened them. ”What time is it?” Clare called out to whom ever it was who was up.
”It's eight thirty mummy,” came Sh.e.l.ley's reply.
”Be a good girl and make mommy some coffee would you,”
”OK,” she said, gleefully, running off to the corner table where all the drinks items were kept.
”Any news yet?” Steve said groggily.
Clare was at the TV flicking through the channels.
”Ah, here's something.” She answered.
”There have been outbreaks of the mystery virus in France, Belgium and Holland. As no one is yet sure how the infection is transmitted, all access to the various laboratories where samples have been sent, has been restricted. The president has been on Television imploring people to remain calm. 'As yet,' he stated, 'there is no sign of the virus in the United States, and we will take every precaution to make sure it stays that way'. The death toll has reached fifty thousand, and world leaders are calling on the Russian president to make a statement as to the origin of this virus. Most now believe that it is indeed a biological weapon that is the cause, and are calling for the Russians to release the antidote. Further, there is now some evidence to support the sabotage theory that has been circulating on the Internet. Several religious cults have claimed that it is the end of the world.”
”Heavy stuff,” Clare commented. ”What if they don't have an antidote Hun? It may be that the virus was an old one being kept in storage. There may not be an antidote for it.”
”Doesn't bear thinking about,” Steve answered. ”If there's no antidote already in stock, an awful lot of people are going to die out there. We need to think seriously about what we're going to do Sweetie, just in case.”
”We could head to the mountains.” Clare suggested.
”Yes, we could, but almost everyone else will think of that, and it only takes one person to carry the bug...”
”I see what you mean, what should we do then?”
”I know this will sound daft Sweetie, but the only place that's safe might be a very long way away.” He pointed up as he said this.
”You mean?”
”Yes, I do,” he said, ”the Moon.”
Clare laughed, even Sh.e.l.ley laughed, but Chris looked at his dad and said, ”Whoa...”
”Hey! Something's happening at Star Labs,” Chris said, excitedly. Steve and Clare ran to the window to see what it was. A large black limousine had pulled up at the main entrance, and a very important looking man got out. He talked for a few minutes with the soldiers who were posted there, then got back into his car and was driven away. About ten minutes later, Steve's mobile phone rang. The sound made everyone freeze where they were. ”Don't answer it daddy,” Sh.e.l.ley begged.
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