Free The Lingering by Ben Brown

control. He’s terrified that the doctor’s discovery will put him out of business.”
    Bishop nodded slowly. “The Westbourne Corporation is the largest privately owned business in the world. It turns over billions of pounds, all derived from one thing – the shipping and handling of The Lingering. If the doctor’s discovery brings an end to the disease, then he’s out of business. Apparently he’s willing to do anything to protect his interests.”
    Archer returned to his seat and gathered his composure. “Let’s cut to the chase. What do you want my team to do?”
    Dr Bartholomew looked at Bishop, and he nodded for her to explain. “I need to get some tissue from one of the oldest Lingering, which means I have to get to Australia.”
    Archer perched himself on the edge of his seat. “Wait, you want to head to a country full of The Lingering, and then you want to find the oldest one? That’s suicide! There must be hundreds of thousands of Lingering there by now.”
    She smiled weakly, but it did little to hide her fear. “We estimate there are closer to ten million Lingering, but I don’t think they’ll be an issue. Think about it. If they’re still feeding the oldest of The Lingering, then they have to keep them close to where the human guards are. Besides, we don’t necessarily need the tissue of the oldest one, just tissue from one that was around at the time of the outbreak. I think these oldest ones will be kept together, so they should be easy to locate.”
    “Our Intel suggests that they keep them somewhere in the old abandoned city of Melbourne,” said Bishop as he headed back to his seat.
    Bartholomew looked at the old man and nodded. She then returned her gaze to Archer. “We need to get in and out unnoticed. Hopefully no one will ever know we were there.”
    Archer looked towards Bishop. “How do you propose to get us there, Boss? Australia is covered by a no fly zone.”
    “Shipments of The Lingering pass through Tasmania first, and general shipping is used to move supplies to the region. These shipments are protected by the Royal Navy, so you, your team and Dr Bartholomew will be aboard the HMS Singleton. Once the ship reaches Bass Strait, a chopper will take you all to the mainland. If the chopper keeps a meter above the sea, then radar won’t be able to detect it.”
    Archer nodded and crossed his arms. “Do we have anyone on the inside?”
    Bishop shook his head. “No, you’ll be on your own. The chopper will return to the drop-off point after ninety-six hours. If you’re not there, it’s ordered to leave without you.”
    Archer got to his feet with the file Bishop had given him, held tightly in hand. “I take it all the info I need is in here?” He raised the file and gestured to it.
    Bishop nodded. “It is.”
    “Okay then, I’m going to break the news to my team.” He shook Bishop’s hand. “Boss,” he shook Bartholomew’s next. “Doctor,” then he headed for the door.
    “Nathan.”
    Archer turned and saw Bishop looking more concerned than he had ever seen him before. “Yes, Boss?”
    “Make it clear to your men that this may be a one-way trip.”
    “Boss, we always think our missions are one-way, this one is no different.”
    Bishop smiled weakly. “Good show. Now, I’m sure you have lots to do, so get to it.”
    Archer nodded, and then both he and Bartholomew left.
     
    As they walked back to the lifts, Archer asked, “Doctor, have you ever had to face a biter?”
    She stopped and stared at him. “Mr Archer, you know I don’t like those types of words. They are demeaning and …”
    Archer held up his hand. “Yeah-yeah, you can preach to me later. Just answer the question.”
    “Of course I’ve dealt with, ‘biters’, as you call them.”
    “So you’ve faced them in the field?”
    She averted her eyes from his, and looked back towards Bishop’s office. “Yes, I’ve dealt with them in the field.”
    “Doctor, look at me.” She turned her eyes