Dead Hunger: The Flex Sheridan Chronicle by Eric A. Shelman Page A

obtained, now strapped across our shoulders.  Gem, holding Trina, had settled for the Gl ock tucked into her waistband , her precious Uzi left behind for the time being .
    The door looked secure.  The camera was there as Hemp said it would be, and we all looked up at it and waved our arms.  Gem had had an idea for a sign, which we made in the truck before coming out.  It said:
     
    UNINFECTED .  
    NEED HELP !
     
    I had a black Sharpie in the glove compartment and we’d used the inside cover of the old Suburban’s maintenance record book.  It wasn’t that big, but it should do it if anyone was inside to read it.   While we realized it would be clear we were not one of them , we wanted to stress the point that we were well aware of them.
    “Do you hear that?” I asked.
    Everyone was quiet for a moment.  “Yes.  Sounds like a generator ,” said Hemp.
    “Then somebody’s alive?” Gem said.
    “Here’s hoping.”   I pounded on the door, and we stood back and looked again at the camera.  I thrust the sign right in front of the camera again.
    An intercom clicked.  “Dr. Chatsworth, is that you?”
    Hemp’s eyes brightened.  “Uh, yes, it is.  Who is that, please?”
    “It’s Max, Dr. Chats – I mean, Max Romero!”
    “Max, God it’s good to hear your voice.  Can you allow us to come in?  What’s the situation inside?”
    “Jesus, Dr. Chatsworth.  I can’t tell you how happy I am you’re here.  I’m . . . well, I’m locked in side one of the labs right now.  Some of our people were infected, and I barely made it in here.  Jesus, Dr.  Franklin Lang – or what used to be Dr. Lang – attacked me.   And what the hell was that noise?  About ten minutes ago I heard a loud rumbling sound and the ground actually shook beneath my feet! ”
    Gem spoke up.  “A passenger plane crashed outside and slid into your building number one.  It was an enormous explosion.”
    “Jesus.  I was on the phone with Dr. Snipes and Dr. Wilder.  They were in building one working on some documentation .  I guess they’re . . .”
    “They’re gone, I’m afraid, ” said Gem.  “That building is rubble , and what’s not destroyed is burning .  I’m sorry.”
    The smoke was beginning to build where we stood, and it was getting thick and hard to breathe.  There was a light breeze blowing the smoke and fumes in our direction, and along with the wind created by the fire itself, I knew we couldn’t stay out here for long.  I tried to be tolerant as Hemp got a feel for the landscape of things.
    Hemp looked at us and shook his head.  “ They weren’t exactly friends , but I did work closely with Dr. Lang.  He was an excellent scientist .  Max, do you have control of the door switch from there?”
    “Yes, Dr. Chatsworth, I can buzz the door from here, but you have to be careful.  I see you’ve got weapons, and that’s good, because at this point, I have no idea what you’ll find in the unsecured areas of the building.”
    “What of the EIS staff?” Hemp asked.  He turned to us and said “Epidemic Intelligence Service.  These are the ones to get busy when a new threat appears.”  He looked again at the camera.  “Have any of them been able to initiate an analysis of this?”
    I was getting impatient.  “I hate to inter rupt Hemp, but woul d you mind if he buzzes us in?  We’re pretty exposed out here.”
    Gem spoke up.  “Flex, we’d better get as much information as we can before we go inside.  Hemp’s talking to him now, but once we gain access, we have no idea what we’re going to run into or if we’ll ever get to him at all .”  She looked up at the camera and shrugged.  “Sorry, Max, but there’s no guarantee we’ll make it to you or that you’ll be alive if and when we do get there.”
    “I understand,” Max said.  “What else can I tell you, Dr. Chatsworth?”
    “Can you tell me if the abnormals – that’s what we’re calling them for the time being –