Free Murray Leinster by The Best of Murray Leinster (1976)

seated himself with great composure. His attempt at shaving had not been very successful. He was in
    every way a disreputable contrast to the invading general’s dapper splendor.
    ‘I asked for this interview,’ said Mors matter-of-factly, ‘to ask if you are prepared to surrender the troops under your command. You mentioned once that I was the ranking officer of my army in your hands. I doubt that you have captured any other. Sol seem to be the person to make the demand.’
    General Vladek made a violent gesture. Then he composed himself. But he breathed quickly, and his cheek twitched, and his teeth showed when he smiled. He did not look conspicuously sane.
    ‘What is this epidemic?’ he demanded in deadly quietness. ‘My men die at the rate of ten thousand a day! Your citizens do not! We have lost thirty-five thousand men in four days, and so far not more than six civilians native to Kantolia have been stricken! What is it, Mars?’
    Surgeon General Mors leaned back in his chair. He showed no sign of triumph.
    ‘It would be an - organism we developed,’ he said heavily. ‘The official designation is CK-211. I understand that it is an artificial mutation, a variation on a fairly common bacterium. I have been told that it could be described as a dwarf form of one of the diplococci. It is hardly larger than a virus molecule. You would not expect me to be more precise.’
    General Vladek’s nostrils distended.
    ‘Ah-h-h-h!’ he said with deadly softness. ‘It is no normal plague! It is biological war! Too cowardly to fight as honorable men fight, your nation—’ s There is no war between our countries,’ said Surgeon General Mors, prosaically, ‘and you invaded our country like a brigand, making your own rules for attack. So we made our own rules for defense. If you surrender the troops under your command, there is a good chance that we can save their lives. Have you given thought to the matter?’
    General Vladek’s cheeks twitched. His hands shookwith hate. ‘Tell me the truth,’ he said hoarsely, ‘and I will have you shot. I will concede so much! I promise that I will have you shot! But if you do not—’
    ‘I think you are being absurd, General,’ said Mors stolidly. ‘As I recall the details, death occurs on the third day after infection, usually within a few hours of the appearance of the first noticeable symptoms. Sulfa, streptomycin, and penicillin are ineffective against this particular strain, which was especially bred up to be resistant to such drugs. Also, from my recollection, the patient is infectious almost from the instant of his own infection. I think you understate your losses. Moreover, in an epidemic of this sort, the death rate should mount geometrically until natural immunes and the lack of susceptibles lower it.’
    Mors paused, and said inquiringly, s You have ordered your men to abstain from all contact with the civil population?’
    General Vladek panted with fury.
    ‘I suspected intention when the plague began! My medical corps insisted that since only my men were infected, its cause must be contaminated supplies from home! I ordered my troops to subsist on local supplies and distributed our rations among the people - for revenge in case your spies in our supply system were responsible! But the rate of infection tripled! And your people do not die! My men die! Only my men.’
    Surgeon General Mors nodded. His eyes were somber, yet very resolute.
    ‘That is natural,’ he observed. ‘Our population is immune.’ Then he said explanatorily. ‘We have immunized practically our entire population against certain formerly prevalent diseases. And included in the injection given to each citizen was a fraction of a very interesting formula which produces immunity to diplococci in a quite new fashion.’
    The dapper General Vladek sat frozen and speechless, in a rage so murderous that he seemed almost calm.
    ‘It makes symbiosis possible,’ said Surgeon General Mors, in an