The Peeling: Book 1 (Jeremy's Choice) by Iain Rob Wright Page A

end to the
situation in sight, there is a fear that the current number of casualties is
just a small percentage of what will turn out to be the final number.”
    Sarah
Lane took over again.  “While both Private and Public sectors are working
tirelessly to find both a cause and a solution, it is clear that the world is
suffering under what can only be described as – a global plague .  
Commonly referred to as The Peeling, the unknown virus has spread throughout
our nation and others with a virulence never before seen, making even the Spanish
flu epidemic seem tame.  Affecting the young and old alike, there is
currently no clear vector for contraction.  Government officials admit to
knowing nothing about its origin and very little about its pathology.  As
previously stated, all members of the public are advised to remain inside their
homes and avoid all contact with anyone besides their immediate family. 
The military have been permitted to use force where necessary to ensure the
spread of the infection is contained.”
    Jeremy
swallowed back a mouthful of stomach acid.  His reflux had gotten bad the
last few days and his pills were at home.  If he had a job anyplace else,
he would have left by now, but the news reports were a national requirement
while the crisis lasted and, as such, so too was the safety of its
messengers.  Jeremy’s security job, in many ways, was a matter of national
security.  Pity for England he was just a middle-aged slob with bad acid.
    At
fifty-two, Jeremy’s limbs were stiffer than they used to be and his arthritic
bones ached more often than not.  He was certainly willing to take a stand
against anyone looking for trouble, but he couldn’t claim truthfully that he
was the best man for the job.  Most days he just hung around in the
doorway, half asleep, from nine in the morning till six at night.  Then he went
home to his wife – unless he had somewhere else to be.  That was why all
of these people in the studio right now were such a thorn in his side; they
forced him to concentrate and stay focused despite his weary mind’s desire to
shut off.  Most of the people didn’t even need to be there – they were
just clerks and office assistants from other floors and departments – but no
one wanted to leave while news was still coming through.  Everyone wanted to
know more about the disease – in case it got them .  Their
fear and panic was almost palpable and Jeremy could sense it hanging over the
dimly-lit room like a soiled blanket of poisonous air. 
    “As we
have little fresh news to report from official sources,” Tom told the audience
at home.  “We will be turning the air over to you – the public.  For
the next two hours we want to hear from you , Great Britain.  We
want you to tell us what you’ve seen, and what are your thoughts are about the
peeling?  Do you have it?  Does someone you love have it?  Is
there any advice you can give to help others out there?  We want to hear
from you now.”
    Jeremy
didn’t know what they expected to get from the public that they didn’t know
already.  It was well-documented that the disease started with a tingling
sensation in the hands and feet – sometimes the nose and ears – before moving
on to a streaming cold and flu-like symptoms.  After a day-or-so of runny
nostrils and messy sneezing, the virus really started its magic.  Jeremy
shuddered to think about what The Peeling did to a human body then.
    “Okay,
we have our first caller,” Sarah reported.  “We have Keith on
line-1.  Hello, Keith.”
    “Hiya,
Sarah.  Hiya, Tom.  I just want to say that you’ve been a constant
comfort during these last few days.  I don’t have any family and not being
able to leave the house has been really hard on me.”
    “It’s
been hard on a lot of people,” Tom said.  “But right now the only way to
stay safe is to lock yourself away.”
    “Do
you have the peeling, Keith?” Sarah asked in her typical caring