Carrion Virus (Book 2): The Athena Protocol

Carrion Virus (Book 2): The Athena Protocol by M.W. Duncan Page B

Book: Carrion Virus (Book 2): The Athena Protocol by M.W. Duncan Read Free Book Online
Authors: M.W. Duncan
Tags: Zombie
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Christ, it’s a mess. The CAF have been using lethal force. It’s only a matter of time before this gets out. We’re losing men, too many. Some are refusing to go out into the field. You know what? I don’t blame them. I’m close to halting all our operations. We’re not rat catchers, Eric. I need you back here.”
    It was a pleading repetition.
    “What about Carter?”
    “He’s twisted his ankle on a mission. He’s hobbling about, not fit to lead. A car will pick you up tomorrow morning. I’ll see you in the evening.”
    The line went dead. Eric stood in the hallway for a time, the children were still cleaning up the fallout of their gifts.
    “You have to go back?” Jacqui seemed to appear from nowhere.
    Eric nodded. He didn’t want to say the word. His chested ached.
    “When?”
    “Tomorrow morning.”
    She touched his cheek. “We still have today. Let’s make it special.”
    “The kids?”
    “They’ll understand. Their Christmas joy will keep them elated.”
    Eric took hold of Jacqui’s hand, harder than he meant to. “You remember what I said last night?”
    She nodded, her eyes full of quiet strength and yet some doubt. “I remember.” She kissed Eric. “Always come back to us.”
    “I will.”
     

 
    Chapter Four
    Days Of Uncertainty
     
    While Ryan Bannister sat on the plane flying over the darkened world, a thought struck him. How little understanding people possessed of each other. On the outside, he likely seemed a normal holidaymaker, perhaps heading to see loved ones for the holiday season. In reality, he was a gifted and integral part of the facilitation of something stupendous.
    It was a fleeting retrospection, no doubt his mind scrambling in its cataclysmic attempts to rationalise his role in all things. In the lonely hours he told himself that all he did was deliver the package, one of his design of course, but someone else would have been paid to take his place. No matter what he told himself, deep down Ryan Bannister knew he sold his soul for a huge sum of cash and entered into a conspiracy he wished to know nothing about.
    The landing was turbulent. He took his first steps on Japanese soil in the rain. The journey was particularly arduous, with time-consuming screening for infection at every transfer point. And it was all about to start again.
    Another blood test was required at the arrivals section at Boarder Control. Japanese Defence Force soldiers wore protective gloves and surgical masks, their rifles rested on slings but all kept their hands resting close to the triggers.
    Ryan was toward the back of the queue, underwent the blood test and passport checks and was then ushered through to baggage collection. Soldiers patrolled every corner of the airport. It was the Christmas period. Ryan expected to see more commuters. At times there seemed to be more armed personnel than travellers.
    Announcements in Japanese were made over the public address system. People elbowed each other vying for a prime spot at the carousel. A baby screamed in its mother’s arms. A child clinging to its father’s leg looked up at him with an inane curiosity. A couple kissed. A large man’s finger was busy digging into his ear. A woman behind him sneezed and sneezed and sneezed again. A young man, too tall for his coat sipped on a can of Diet Coke. He wished he was elsewhere.
    Ryan shook his head at the absurd direction his life had gone of late. Poor decisions lead to screwed-up situations. He knew that.
    He slipped his arm through the second strap of his backpack. It was the only luggage that he cared to bring. How long would he be in Japan? The opportunity to hammer out the finer points of the trip never presented itself. Or, more so, Ryan was shit-scared and plodded along leaving his brain in his arse where it couldn’t get him into more trouble.
    A Japanese man in an expensive dark suit headed his way, his bald head still damp from the rain. Ryan looked away, hoping the man was focused on

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