Free For Those In Peril (Book 2): The Outbreak by Colin M. Drysdale Page B

situation, but a lot of innocent people are going to end up dead.’
    ‘Surely they wouldn’t do that, would they? Just shoot anyone they see.’
    ‘The
soldiers are going to do what they’re told. They’ll be scared; they’ll be
panicking; they’re going to shoot first and ask questions later.’ She crossed
her arms as she stood beside me facing the screen. ‘I’ve seen it before, when I
was in Africa: when soldiers are faced with a threat like this, one where they
can’t tell the enemy from the innocent, one where they’re so heavily
outnumbered; they stop thinking and just do whatever they’ve been told to do.’
    I was
about to say something when the picture on the television changed. The woman had
disappeared and instead they appeared to be showing a football match. Given the
situation, this seemed odd. I turned my attention to it as a voice-over put it
in context.
    ‘This
footage was recorded in Glasgow a few hours ago, at Ibrox football stadium,
where the home team was taking on its local rival. It’s still not clear quite
what happened, but it seems that somehow someone with the infection got into the
crowd. Younger viewers and those of a nervous disposition might want to look
away now.’
    Suddenly, the camera shifted from following the players on the pitch and zoomed
in on an area high in one of the stands, where it looked like people had started
fighting. The commentators could be heard tutting and criticising the fans. Then
the violence started to spread, slowly at first, then faster and faster as more
and more people became infected, turned, and then passed it on. Those who could,
struggled onto the pitch, trying to escape the violence that was engulfing them.
Others, those who were already infected, pursued them, pulling them down,
tearing them apart. The camera kept having to pull further and further back to
keep all of the action in the frame. By this time, the commentators where
shouting over each other as they tried to understand what was going on. Then
there was a crash and one of them yelled. A scuffle could be heard in the
background, as well as swearing and screaming, and then the screen went blank.
    A
second later this was replaced by the live feed from Downing Street and the
reporter was speaking again. ‘That was the scene at the Rangers-Celtic match
earlier today, and it shows how quickly the Haitian Rabies Virus can sweep
through a crowd. This is the justification that the army are using for their
shoot-on-sight policy for anyone who is known, or even suspected, to have the
disease. Remember, there’s no cure for rabies, no treatment once people start
showing symptoms, and they are claiming that only if the number of infected can
be kept to a minimum, can there be any hope of stopping this outbreak. A
military spokesman has already warned that if this strategy doesn’t work, more
serious measures may have to be taken. Back to you in the studio.’
    A
man’s voice cut in. ‘Hold on, Michelle. “More serious measures”? Do you know
what they mean by that?’
    The
woman held her finger to her ear and then glanced down at the bundle of papers
she was holding. She shuffled through these, trying to find the one she was
searching for. When she found it, she looked back at the camera. ‘All we’ve been
told is that the current strategy is to shoot any people who are infected, or
who are suspected of being infected, on sight. If it looks like this strategy is
failing, then they will reassess the situation and consider whether more serious
measures need to be implemented.’
    ‘That
doesn’t sound good.’ Claire turned to me. ‘How fast can this boat go?’
    ‘About
four miles an hour tops.’
    Claire
considered this for a moment. ‘What are we doing now?’
    ‘About
three. Why? What are you thinking?’
    ‘I’m
thinking they aren’t going to be able to handle this just by shooting people.
There are too many already infected