vaccine, so count yourself as one of the lucky ones.”
“Boy, am I a lucky guy or what?” He laughed. “Is that what you put inside that glass sculpture?”
“Ingenious contraption wouldn’t you say! Putting it in that glass liger was a stroke of genius and a brilliant Trojan horse,” Lenny said. “I see you picked up a passenger, Colonel. How valiant of you trying to save an old island girl.”
“Are you on this island right now?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Did you know that Cooke’s has more webcams on it than any other island in the country? It’s some kind of scientific experiment to track some stupid bird. All the problems in the world and we waste precious resources on a stupid bird. In any case, I’ve been watching that island go to hell since you arrived yesterday. Fine job disabling all the boats and keeping people from leaving the island. Things are going to get real interesting from here on in.”
“How interesting?”
“You think you feel sick now? Wait until the liger wakes from his long nap. Then you’ll really see an angry beast at play.”
“How long is the incubation period?”
“It’s a very quick turnaround, and that’s about all I’m going to say on the matter. So be prepared for what happens next, Colonel. What you see now is mere child’s play compared to the next phase. And now with the power out, everyone and their sister will be using their cell phones to try to call their loved ones. It might very well be the last call any of them ever makes.”
“Christ! Are you planning to kill everyone on this island?”
Lenny laughed. “Who said anything about killing? Killing is not the end goal, Colonel, which only proves that you’re the one with the sick mind. Just remember, if anyone from the mainland comes on this island to help, I won’t hesitate to release the liger virus into the general population. Only when I give the word can anyone make their way onto Cooke’s. Understand?”
Before Tag could reply, the line went dead. He sat back in his seat and tried to regain his composure. He felt exhausted from driving around the island, and wanted only to return inside the house and rest. There was nothing he could do in his condition but recuperate and hope his health improved. Maybe this virus would wash over him quickly. Or maybe it might take days, possibly weeks to fully regain his health. He struggled to open the car door and push himself off the leather seat. Feeling lightheaded, he rested both elbows on the roof while waiting to regain his balance.
He was about to turn around and head back inside when he noticed a small group of people walking up Sandy Lane and toward the house. Though his vision remained blurred, and even further impaired by the sunlight, he counted six people making their way up the street. They seemed to be carrying sticks and clubs, and they had on leather jackets. Biker gangs had always enjoyed making the day trip to the island and hanging out at one of the few gritty taverns in town, drinking beer, playing pool and listening to country music. And as long as they were left alone, they usually didn’t cause any problems. The group picked up their pace, seemingly in a hurry to catch up with the two of them. Tag tried to move, but his legs felt wobbly. If he headed back up to his house, he might not make it. Instead, he reached in and grabbed his M4, then positioned himself over the roof. A helicopter buzzed over Casco Bay and toward the mainland.
He called out for Versa, who quickly walked back over to his side of the street and stood watching the group hobbling toward them.
“If only I had my rifle, I could have stayed home and taken care of myself. I wouldn’t have needed your help, Colonel.”
“Trust me, Versa, you wouldn’t have made it five minutes there by yourself. You’re much better off here with us.”
“Those bastards had no right breaking into my place like that. Where’s the goddamn Portland coppers when you really need
“Boy, am I a lucky guy or what?” He laughed. “Is that what you put inside that glass sculpture?”
“Ingenious contraption wouldn’t you say! Putting it in that glass liger was a stroke of genius and a brilliant Trojan horse,” Lenny said. “I see you picked up a passenger, Colonel. How valiant of you trying to save an old island girl.”
“Are you on this island right now?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Did you know that Cooke’s has more webcams on it than any other island in the country? It’s some kind of scientific experiment to track some stupid bird. All the problems in the world and we waste precious resources on a stupid bird. In any case, I’ve been watching that island go to hell since you arrived yesterday. Fine job disabling all the boats and keeping people from leaving the island. Things are going to get real interesting from here on in.”
“How interesting?”
“You think you feel sick now? Wait until the liger wakes from his long nap. Then you’ll really see an angry beast at play.”
“How long is the incubation period?”
“It’s a very quick turnaround, and that’s about all I’m going to say on the matter. So be prepared for what happens next, Colonel. What you see now is mere child’s play compared to the next phase. And now with the power out, everyone and their sister will be using their cell phones to try to call their loved ones. It might very well be the last call any of them ever makes.”
“Christ! Are you planning to kill everyone on this island?”
Lenny laughed. “Who said anything about killing? Killing is not the end goal, Colonel, which only proves that you’re the one with the sick mind. Just remember, if anyone from the mainland comes on this island to help, I won’t hesitate to release the liger virus into the general population. Only when I give the word can anyone make their way onto Cooke’s. Understand?”
Before Tag could reply, the line went dead. He sat back in his seat and tried to regain his composure. He felt exhausted from driving around the island, and wanted only to return inside the house and rest. There was nothing he could do in his condition but recuperate and hope his health improved. Maybe this virus would wash over him quickly. Or maybe it might take days, possibly weeks to fully regain his health. He struggled to open the car door and push himself off the leather seat. Feeling lightheaded, he rested both elbows on the roof while waiting to regain his balance.
He was about to turn around and head back inside when he noticed a small group of people walking up Sandy Lane and toward the house. Though his vision remained blurred, and even further impaired by the sunlight, he counted six people making their way up the street. They seemed to be carrying sticks and clubs, and they had on leather jackets. Biker gangs had always enjoyed making the day trip to the island and hanging out at one of the few gritty taverns in town, drinking beer, playing pool and listening to country music. And as long as they were left alone, they usually didn’t cause any problems. The group picked up their pace, seemingly in a hurry to catch up with the two of them. Tag tried to move, but his legs felt wobbly. If he headed back up to his house, he might not make it. Instead, he reached in and grabbed his M4, then positioned himself over the roof. A helicopter buzzed over Casco Bay and toward the mainland.
He called out for Versa, who quickly walked back over to his side of the street and stood watching the group hobbling toward them.
“If only I had my rifle, I could have stayed home and taken care of myself. I wouldn’t have needed your help, Colonel.”
“Trust me, Versa, you wouldn’t have made it five minutes there by yourself. You’re much better off here with us.”
“Those bastards had no right breaking into my place like that. Where’s the goddamn Portland coppers when you really need
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