Flatline Virus: When Zombies Evolved

Flatline Virus

When Zombies Evolved

By William D. Gibson

Copyright 2011 William Gibson

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Important Stuff

This is a work of fiction. Although Silver City, the Border Patrol, the State of New Mexico, Italy, and other organizations or places are real, I have taken fictional liberties with them. So if you live or work there, don't look for your house or your neighbor's, or think you know someone. You won't. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, is coincidental.

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Introduction

The science too often doesn't support the fiction, even if it is a novel to do with the living dead. A lot of science fiction readers want a story, which while incredible, makes an effort to support the premise with some sort of scientific explanation. That's what you get here, I hope.

For Steve, a Border Patrol Agent in the boot heel of New Mexico, the epidemic began at work on the border. Two illegal border crossers died unexpectedly in a holding cell in the Lordsburg station. Before the doctor arrived, their bodies moved, falling off a bench where they had been placed. An endogenous retrovirus, latent and undetected in our DNA for thousands of years, had been triggered into an active state. It used the dead as a host and its genomic code replicated rapidly within the cells of its host human and took control over the cells, systems and functions of its former living body. Like other viruses, it evolved based on the process of natural selection, always improving its ability to pass itself on to the next host, only much more quickly than other viral pathogens. The virus became more efficient in its control of the dead hosts. Their motor and cognitive skills improved steadily. Their numbers increased. The CDC was unable to find a timely solution, a vaccine or an anti-viral drug as the deaths and ultimately the hordes of dead, continued to build, threatening the very continuation of humanity. The virus had advanced to where differences between the living and the dead were becoming difficult to distinguish. Could the epidemic be stopped? Let's find out.

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Chapter 1

Lordsburg, New Mexico

Border Patrol Station

5:50 AM – Day 1

Steve Spalding, a Border Patrol Agent, assigned to the station in Lordsburg, New Mexico, arrived for work just before his shift. Agents in Lordsburg patrol the eighty plus miles along the border and three thousand square miles of surrounding area from the New Mexico boot heel to Douglas in southeastern Arizona. Steve was a seven year veteran of the service, and loved his work. This morning he couldn’t wait to see if he’d won his bet with Jimmie Pickett, his friend and another Border Patrol Agent (BPA). It was Jimmie’s last shift of the week.

Once inside the station, Steve spotted Pickett. How many did you get last night, four, five? asked Steve.

You owe me twenty-five bucks, Spalding, said Jimmie. I got my ten. They’re in one of the holding cells. See for yourself.

This friendly competition started a couple years ago when the two first met. It didn’t take long before arguably the two most competent and competitive agents had to test each other. Now, maybe four or five times a year, Spalding and Pickett would bet with each other to see which one could bring in the most illegal border-crossers or drug runners in one week. This time Steve bet that Jimmie couldn’t bring in ten in one week. Pickett had the night shift for the last five days and that’s when the action is. The illegals move mostly at night. They are harder to detect and it is cooler. The heat of the desert is brutal. Every month, and more during the summer, Lordsburg-based agents find bodies of dead border-crossers in their rounds patrolling areas around the hot desert border.

Steve dug a twenty and a five dollar bill out of his pocket for Jimmie. I didn’t think you’d make it this week, you lucky stiff, he said. This was your last night on the bet.

Both looked over the ten illegals. I caught their trail just after they crossed Guadalupe Canyon Road, said Jimmie, They had slowed down. Two of them are in bad shape, maybe heat stroke. They didn’t even run. I probably could have put them all in the Chevy Tahoe, but I called for help and Rod helped me process ‘em and bring ‘em in. We gave ‘em water and Rudy called the doctor. He’ll be here soon.

As the two agents looked into the cell, eight of the illegals, or ‘tonks’, were visibly agitated (tonk being the nickname given illegals; it was the sound that was made when an agent’s heavy flashlight was only theoretically used to coerce a difficult illegal).

Mister, take us out, one of the illegals said, He is dead. Nos va a morder. Please take us out.

Steve, Jimmie, and all Border Patrol Agents spoke Spanish. It was a requirement of the job. Many were fluent from their background, while others, like Steve, picked it up during their instruction at the Border Patrol Training Academy in Artesia, New Mexico. The 19 week course is the longest and considered to be among the most challenging of all governmental law enforcement programs. Don’t be in such a hurry, tonk. You’ll be fine until we move you all out later this morning, said Jimmie in perfect formal Spanish, except for the ‘tonk’ reference. Jimmie turned to Steve.

Steve, did you hear him say they’ll get bitten? asked Jimmie.

Yeah, that’s what I thought he said, but it doesn’t make sense. Maybe he’s got heat stroke. Rudy will have him checked by the Doc when he gets here.

The Mexican insisted, Please, please, mister. Look, he is dead now.

Can’t be, said Jimmie.

Jimmie, he may be right; look, he’s on the floor, said Steve, We need to check it out.

Steve, Jimmie, and another of the agents put nine illegals in another cell, after which they examined the sick Mexican, now laying on the cell’s cement floor. He’s not breathing and I don’t get a pulse, said Steve. Christ, he didn’t look that bad an hour ago. Rudy, said Steve to one of the administrative personnel, See where the doctor is.

Steve and Jimmie placed the sick illegal on a bench in the cell. Rudy called Dr. Martinez again who said he’d be there within five minutes.

Dr. Martinez arrived within the time as promised, and, instead of treating an illegal for dehydration or heat stroke, made the unfortunate call of the time of death. He's dead as of 7:05 a.m. Make sure you call the Medical Examiner on this one.

I will, said Rudy. That's policy. Jimmie, you’ve got a lot of paperwork to do, referring to the untimely death of an illegal while in the hands of the Border Patrol.

As Dr. Martinez was leaving, the eight illegals began shouting at him, Juan is also dead. Take him away. Please get him out.

Jimmie yelled at them to keep quiet.

Rudy summoned Dr. Martinez and brought him back to the cell area. Together they removed the body from the cell housing the illegals. The doctor checked him and sure enough, the second sick border-crosser was dead, too. The body, now having been moved to another cell, seemed to relieve a high level of anxiety among the eight left. They made it clear they didn't want to be in the same cell as one of their dead brethren, at least for long.

Once the doctor had left, Rudy called the New Mexico State's Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI), the state's centralized Medical Examiner function. The OMI told Rudy that a Medical Examiner would be there within a few hours and required the bodies to remain where they were. Rudy assured them they would. He retrieved a couple blankets, placed one over each corpse, locked the cell, and went back to what he was doing before Steve came in.

Steve headed down to southeast Arizona for the day’s work. Jimmie started the paperwork he would need to document and describe the details surrounding the unexpected deaths. There would be questions to answer about this, Jimmie thought. Not good.

It was about 11:00 a.m. later the same morning in the Lordsburg Station. The illegals had been processed and were on their way back to the Mexican border to be transferred to Mexican authorities there. Rudy and several officers were intently working on the flow of paperwork which plagues the Border Patrol activities, when one of the corpses dropped off the bench and onto the floor, scaring the shit out of those five or six who heard the ka-thumping sound.

What the hell was that? asked Rudy to whomever was listening. Did you hear that?

One of the dead bodies fell off the bench, said an agent. If I didn’t know better, I thought it moved. We’d better put it back. The OMI will be here soon. They didn’t want it moved, did they?

OK, give me a hand with the stiff, said Rudy. Rudy opened the cell, and he and the agent stooped down to pick up the corpse, when it lunged at Rudy, grabbed his hand, and bit him hard. Rudy pulled away quickly and yelled. The corpse continued to move, crawling toward Rudy and the agent. Rudy instinctively kicked it in the head, but it kept on coming. They backed up quickly toward the cell door and closed it.

What the hell just happened? The tonk isn’t dead. He bit me. He’s still moving. Look’s like he’s hungry. Shit, let’s put some cuffs on him until the Medical Examiner gets here. Together, they went back into the cell, threw a rope around the moving dead person, drew it tight, and cuffed his legs and managed to put the illegal in handcuffs behind his back. While the body continued to move, they left it in the cell, locked. They tied a burlap bag around its head so they wouldn’t have to look at it. Real creepy, thought Rudy.

A few minutes later, the Medical Examiner, Dr. Joseph Sanchez, arrived. Before he entered the confinement area, he listened to Rudy’s story, without rolling his eyes. Joe knew Rudy well enough to treat his words seriously. OK, let’s take a look, he said.

When Rudy escorted the ME into the prisoner confinement area, the two saw something which seemed beyond belief. One corpse was on his knees, pressed against the bars, sticking his hand through, groping. His eyes were open, tuned in on the two headed his way, as if they were his lunch. The other corpse with the bag on his head had bitten through his hand restraints, and was making his way over to the corner where his dead cellmate was.

Jesus, this is a first. I’ve never had to do this before, but in order to examine these bodies, I’ll have to get some assistance to restrain them. They look a little dangerous. When I examine bodies, they can’t be moving. Moving bodies that bite. Wow, that bites.

Rudy stood by the ME. Dr. Sanchez said, When that one sticks his hand through the bars, grab it and pull it tight, so I can give him a tranquilizer shot, said the ME. Rudy did as he was told; the ME gave the corpse a shot of strong tranquilizer, and waited. Nothing. It didn’t even seem to slow the dead one down. He continued to squirm, trying to bite Rudy’s hand through the bars.

Alright, that didn’t work. We need a little more help. Can you ask some of your co-workers to help us? I’d like to get both of these non-living, moving bite machines on a table or gurney, strapped in, so I can complete this examination. Movement after death is one thing. This is a little ridiculous.

Rudy rounded up the seven Border Patrol Agents or other administrative personnel on location. Orders were given by the ME as to what he wanted. Meanwhile Rudy continued to hold one dead illegal’s arms through the bars, while the agents wrestled the other corpse onto a gurney and strapped it in. With some difficulty, they managed to do the same for the other one.

After an hour or so, Dr. Sanchez had completed his exams and called Rudy over as well as the Station Chief. This is what my report will read, in essence.

First, both are dead, despite how alive they may look. There are no pulses. Their hearts have stopped. They are not breathing. The bodies are cold. It’s my belief that the putrefaction process of decay and decomposition does not appear to have stopped, although it’s maybe a little slower than usual. That’s it for details on why they are dead. However, they do display attributes of the living. The eyes and mouth are open. They can see. Their eyes follow you. They seem to want to bite or eat…me, or you, or whoever is nearest. They can hear. I say that because their eyes also move toward sound. Whatever state these corpses are in now, it’s not the living, and they have limited cognitive and motor skills. You see how slowly they move, can’t stand up, and so forth. Shit, rigor mortis must have set in to some extent. They cannot communicate; at least I couldn’t detect any ability in this respect. They seem to look at me as if I was a meal, not someone respecting the dead.

Lastly, Rudy, get that bite attended to. We don’t know what they may be carrying for diseases. I’ve never seen anything like this, ever. But I will say that during the last month or so, several local funeral home owners have reported some occasional limited movement in corpses after death. I thought it was hokum until now.

I have a contact at the CDC in Atlanta. They need to hear about this. You will likely be hearing from them. Meanwhile, call a funeral home and get these bodies out of here. Be sure to brief the funeral home on what they’re getting. Tell them not to do anything until they hear from me or the CDC.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Atlanta, GA

9:00 AM – Day 2

Susan Belanger, Ph.D. and M.D., and an assistant to the Deputy Director of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, took the call from the New Mexico OMI’s Dr. Joseph Sanchez, who performed the initial work at Lordsburg.

Susan, I’m glad you were in. I’ve got two strange cases here in Lordsburg you need to investigate. I’ve got two dead bodies moving, seeing, hearing, as if they were alive…somewhat. I declared them dead, but it’s as if they’re not. I know it sounds unbelievable. You’ve got to see it to believe it.

"Joe, it’s good to hear from you. As incredible as it sounds, we’ve already got one of these under wraps here in Atlanta. We’ve had five other reports of similar cases, from Texas to California. I am going to send out two EIS Officers from the Epidemic Intelligence Service. These guys are more commonly known around here as the ‘Disease Detectives’. They will be on their way there as soon as I get off the phone. Our Special Pathogens Branch is especially interested in this in that the contagion may be viral. This appears to be a brand new emerging disease that could need special handling if it’s Biosafety Level 4. We are beginning to think it is.

By under wraps, you mean you have a dead body moving in Atlanta? asked Joe.

We have had one under observation and investigation for two days. We’re going through a complete round of tests, including pathogen source, DNA sampling, everything. We’re trying to get ahead of this. We’ll be happy to have another two victims to examine. We’ve got to get a plan of attack out to the public as soon as we can, including details of where this started; when; what are the symptoms; whether viral, bacterial or whatever; how to treat the disease; patterns in the victims or outbreak areas, and so forth.

Susan, I’ll send you my report, if it’s any help. There are a few funeral directors that have reported to our office that bodies have moved after death, but from what I’ve witnessed, it’s more than just movement. If these corpses get any more mobile, they’ll be walking the streets and then there’ll be some panic. You’ve got to come up with some answers.

I know. Send me your report, Joe. You’ll need to stay in Lordsburg until our team gets there. The EIS Officers will need to debrief you as well as any other persons who have come in contact with the two bodies. One more thing, do you have the bodies under your control?

No, they’re being held by a local funeral parlor owner I know.

Joe, that may be OK for other cases, but not this. I’d like you to take control of the bodies ASAP. Pack them in ice; and until you take possession of them, call the funeral home owner and don’t allow any access to the bodies under any circumstances. Treat the bodies according to Biosafety level 2 precautions.

OK, Sue, I’ll take care of it.

Thanks, Joe.

Border Patrol Station

Lordsburg, New Mexico

Day 3

BPA Steve Spalding parked his Chevy Tahoe in the station secure parking lot as he finished his daily work detail in the southeast Arizona border area, accompanied by his work buddy, Jimmie Pickett.

Jimmie, you recognize that truck with the trailer? asked Steve.

Nope, something's up.

Both of them had noticed a unfamiliar truck in the lot with an unusual industrial trailer in tow. As Steve and Jimmie entered the station main entrance, Rudy, engaged in conversation with a couple of men both of them did not recognize, spotted Steve and shouted out to him and Jimmie.

Hey single boy, come on over here, we have some visitors that want to talk to you. You, too, Jimmie. Rudy quickly explained to the officers that Steve was getting married in a few days. The two EIS Officers from the CDC stood up and greeted Steve and Jimmie. One stuck out his hand to Jimmie first, then Steve.

Hello, Mr. Spalding and Mr. Pickett, I'm Rick Barlow from the CDC in Atlanta. I'm here with Jack Ellsbury. We're officers from the Office of Epidemic Intelligence who are assigned to this case. We're here to investigate the possible existence of a new pathogen which evidenced itself two days ago here at the station. I understand you and Mr. Pickett were here. Is that correct?

Yeah, that's right. Two tonks died and a few hours later, they came back to life. I was here when they died but not the last part when they come back to life, said Steve.

Jimmie described the night he brought in the illegals, two being sick from the getgo. He showed the ‘disease detectives" exactly where on a Border Patrol map he picked up their trail and finally arrested them. Steve, Jimmie, and Rudy all agreed on the timeline of the deaths and movement in the cells in the station. The CDC representatives found it interesting that the other illegals seemed to sense, or perhaps know, that something was going to happen with their dead co-border-crossers.

The CDC took a sample of the blood of each of the three. Rudy told them he had been bitten and had been on antibiotics for a day. His temperature was slightly elevated, but other than that, felt no other symptoms of any sickness.

Steve and Jimmie told the officers that residents in the Douglas, Arizona area, right on the border, had seen single border crossers wandering at night. They heard that one farmer had shot one who attacked his children, but couldn’t confirm the story. Word was that this one had acted weirdly, didn’t speak, and smelled awful, like something rotten.

The EIS reps told them they had the two bodies in their trailer, packed in ice. They were taking them back to Atlanta for further investigation. They thanked Rudy and the two others for their astute observations and left.

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Chapter 2

Silver City, New Mexico

Day 6

Tom Welker had prepared for this for years. He moved to Silver City for a reason. It was a just large enough and small enough place where law enforcement authorities would not be looking for him. Silver City had its light tourist trade, a few artsy shops, some local artists and galleries, a small state university, and some local natural attractions like the Gila National Forest and the Gila Cliff Dwellings. But for many, it was off the beaten track. If you wanted mainstream mall-type shopping, other than Wal-Mart, you had a two plus hour drive to Las Cruces, or another half hour or so to El Paso. Tucson was the option in the opposite direction three hours away. If you wanted to fly a national airline you flew from either El Paso or Tucson. Local residents of Silver City didn’t think it was a big deal to drive in to pick you up at the airport two or three hours away. Tom Welker dealt in drugs, or used to. For twenty years, he played a key role in the illegal economy of marijuana west and south of Douglas, Arizona. For his last ten years in the business, he was responsible for the marijuana production, harvesting, transportation