Page 41 of Night of the Living Manny
She flashed him a grim smile before heading inside. Okay. He stood there a moment, trying to figure out what to do next. God, his head hurt.
“Get the Hummer checked out, Liam. Do that first, then get it unloaded,” he said aloud.
He went to the workbench to pull on gloves and a painting mask. Then he got the heavy-duty cleaner and the disposable towels.
He cleaned carefully, absolutely needing to keep any infection from his family. When he was done, he tossed everything into the biohazard tub with the lid. He had an incinerator in the basement.
Then Liam began the process of bringing things into the cabin and getting them caught up.
Susanna and Brenden were inside, Brenden unpacking grocery items. “Moose went out,” Brenden reported. “No sign of trouble.”
“Good deal. Here’s the first load.”
“Got it.”
“Dad, I can’t get the generator going,” Susanna said.
“Okay. I’ll look after I unload the rest. Pete and Britt?”
“On the couch in the living room with games and Moose.”
“Good deal. I’m going for another load.”
“I’ll help if Susanna will keep watch here.” The note in Brenden’s voice told Liam he was done waiting for an explanation.
“I’ve got this. Just be careful.” Susanna nodded at him, her face so serious.
“You know it, kiddo.” He led Brenden to the garage. “Okay, so I guess I need to fill you in.”
“I think so too.”
“I’ve been working at a lab, that much was true, but the things the lab is making…. It’s dangerous. My wife and I were working on an antidote and working to keep the project from coming to fruition.” He didn’t know how to explain it.
“Wait, so you mean you and your wife were like… ecoterrorists?”
“More like people committed to keeping particular breakthroughs contained.” It had all seemed so romantic and kinda silly when they started out. They’d felt like superspies and had laughed hard over all the precautions they had to take.
“So now what? How did it get uncontained?”
“My assistant. Greg. He stole the virus. He fucked up in the transfer and ended up contaminated.” The transfer had gone all wrong, according to the call Steven had received. Greg had been loose for days, seeing who knew how many fucking people. Infecting them.
“So what about the—the thing we hit with the car?” Brenden was pale, but Liam had to give him credit; he was composed.
“An infected person.” There was no reason to lie. “It takes five days for the infection to affect brain function, seven days for it to take over. In ten days, you become… the virus itself. The first few days are just painful, but after that….” Liam shuddered.
“So that was someone Greg saw? A week ago?”
“Or someone who saw someone who saw Greg. Probably not an accident they were at our house.” Liam sighed. “I’m sorry. I never thought this would be a danger to you. It all escalated so damn fast.”
“What? You just…. You’re telling me you created zombies?” Brenden waved his hands in the air.
“Of a sort, yes. They’re not the undead. The virus will kill them anytime beyond the full life cycle. Ten days or more and they drop.” Liam hated that look on Brenden’s face.
“Ten days.”
“I was trying to keep them from developing it. I am working on the antidote.” He was one of the good guys, after all.
“I’m just in shock a little.” Brenden snorted. “Maybe I need chocolate.”
