Free Virus-72 Hours to Live by Ray Jay Perreault Page B

Memorial. Arnold swung his chair
around and looked around the room as he thought. He noticed the
stuffed lion, which Beth had left on a chair during her last visit.
The lion was watching him; he smiled waiting for the faint roar
from his daughter.
    There was the typical noise and activity of
the White House. His life was quiet now that Abby and his children
were in Europe, so the sound of his personal communicator buzzing
startled him. Only a few people could reach him directly so it
immediately got his attention.
    Glancing at it, he could tell who it was,
"Yes, Eddy."
    "Mr. President I'm sorry to disturb you but
there is something I've got to show you."
    "Ok, I'll let you in just this one last
time," he said with a little humor although he suspected the
subject wouldn't be very funny.
    Within minutes, Eddy walked down the hallway
from his office, knocked on the door and swung it open. The
president looked up at him as he strode across the quiet carpet to
the president's desk.
    "Mr. President, if I may, there is an
explosion of information on the net about this virus. The reports
say it's popping in hundreds of cities, the WHO, and the world
community is getting cranked up. The press is eating it alive and
everyone is wondering what is happening."
    The president moved his chair and let Eddy
approach, "Computer bring up Hovarti virus summary."
    "Yes, Mr. Purser."
    The curved computer screen presented a
series of summaries and Eddy touched the ones he wanted to be left
on the screen.
    The president glanced at the large screen
and could see dynamic updating to the summaries. While he was
looking at the images, Eddy's communicator buzzed and as he glanced
at the display screen, "Mr. President it is Dr. Caster from the
CDC, and he doesn't look happy."
    "Eddy, let me take it," the president said
as Eddy handed him the communicator.
    "Paul this is the president. Eddy was just
updating me on the Internet and news feeds, they are throwing out
some dire predictions. Some of our allies are talking about travel
restrictions?"
    "Yes sir, there is a concern. Dr. Powers,
the epidemiologist we sent, should have checked in with us by now,
and we are still trying to reach her. When she got there, she went
to a care center immediately. Unfortunately, it was remote. As soon
as we hear back from her, I'll pass the information to your office.
The news that I'm getting is just as dire as what you see on the
Internet. It does appear to be occurring spontaneously in a large
number of cities. Unfortunately, it's also occurring in the US. We
haven't been able to confirm all of the cases but they appear to be
the virus. Sir, I can't explain it, this type of outbreak has never
occurred before. "
    "What about travel restrictions in eastern
Europe?"
    "Sir, I've heard some locals are restricting
travel but I haven't heard of any of the nation's declaring it.
They are talking about it, but I don't think they have made the
declaration yet."
    "Is there anything we can do to limit the
spread in the United States?"
    "Yes sir, we have the option of travel
restrictions and quarantine centers also."
    "Paul, I don't want to panic the people, go
ahead and start the process for quarantine centers. Let me know if,
and when you need to make the announcement. We'll consider the
travel restrictions."
    "Please put together a press release along
with my office summarizing everything and try to get this under
control before we have panic worldwide."
    "Yes sir, Mr. President."
    "Thanks, Paul, please keep us current. Call
Eddy anytime 24/7 until we get this understood."
    "Yes, sir."
    The president handed the communicator back
to his chief of staff.
    "Eddy check with Walt at the U.N. and see
what he's hearing."
    "Yes Sir."
    Date – 2051.51325 (12:04 PM)
    "Judy, who is with the president? I've got
to see him immediately," said Eddy.
    "Sir, he is with the Argentinian
President."
    "Please interrupt him and tell him something
of extreme importance is happening and he must be