Free The Parasite War by Tim Sullivan Page A

of."
    "Claire," said Alex. "The other day you expressed doubt that the colloids had been created in a lab. Do you think this epidemic can possibly be a natural mutation of some virus?"
    "Virus or not, I don't think it originated on Earth," Siegel said simply.
    Nobody said anything. It seemed to Alex that she had stated what they had all suspected for some time, but that no one had dared to say it aloud, perhaps out of some atavistic fear that saying it might make it come true.
    "It's Invasion of the Body Snatchers time," Flash said, after a long moment.
    "Something like that," Siegel nodded. "It's my guess that the virus drifts in space, perhaps clinging to meteorites until one falls to a planet with life on it. Then it infects some of the local lifeforms until it figures out which one is the most neurologically complex."
    "Yes," Alex said, "it managed to do that rather quickly. But what's it been doing since the end of the war and the present? Why is it all of a sudden directing attacks, capturing armories, stuff like that? My guess is that the past few years have been a time of analysis for the colloids. Not only have they consumed their hosts, but they've studied them at the same time. Now they've mastered the nervous systems of their victims, perhaps even using areas of the brain that we have not developed ourselves."
    "That might account for the telepathic communication," Jo said. "Maybe they're using the human mind as a kind of communication device."
    "The human nervous system's electrical impulses might make a very good broadcasting system, if they could be appropriately channeled," Dr. Siegel said.
    "But the broadcast time is limited, if the body is being used for food," Flash said.
    "Which must mean that the brain is the last to be eaten." This came from the seemingly catatonic Elvin.
    "Maybe not. Maybe there's some interaction between the colloid and neural tissue."
    Flash shuddered involuntarily. "Inside the skull, man. We're talking about inside the fuckin' skull."
    "Look," Jo said. "Can it be that we're making the whole thing too complicated? I mean, what about Occam's razor, or whatever you call that law? Why are we dreaming up this wild scenario, when there's a simple explanation?"
    "Well . . . " Siegel stared at her.
    "We've been attacked by groups of infected people, right? Does that prove they're telepathic? No, it just proves that some of them have banded together."
    "What about the armory?" Alex asked.
    "Maybe they have some dim idea that they could use the weapons kept inside. That doesn't prove that an alien virus is making them into its own personal army, does it?"
    "Quite plausible," said Siegel. "Except for one thing. Why are the infected so intent on attacking and killing any uninfected human?"
    "For God's sake, we've been attacking each other for three years. It's a kill or be killed world outside our little hideaway. These infected people are sick, dying, and yet they've banded together. They gotten it together sooner than we did, in fact."
    "Good point, Jo," Flash said. "What do you say to that, Doc?"
    Siegel said nothing, but went to a barred window and stared out at the shadowy branches.
    Alex was puzzled by her desultory action. And he was a little surprised by Jo's plausible scenario. She had seemed to believe that the infected were working in concert this afternoon. And yet he had to admit that her theory was easier to believe in than an invasion from space.
    "Doctor Siegel," he said, "do you have anything to add?"
    The old woman seemed infinitely sad and lost, as she said, "No."
    Alex glanced at Jo, but she avoided his eye. Flash jerked his head toward the window, as if to say that something was wrong with Siegel.
    "Are you all right, Claire?" Alex asked.
    "Probably not," she replied. "You see, Alex, I neglected to mention something that might be pertinent to this discussion."
    "Something about the colloids?"
    "No, something about me."
    Alex moved closer, seeing a tear glistening on her