Noah's Ark: Contagion by Harry Dayle Page A

have liked a bigger cabin. Crew rooms were notoriously small, but so far the committee had decided to only allow former passengers to take up jobs and earn improved accommodation. The system was only just getting started, and a lot of people who had paid for impressive and expensive suites were unhappy about being “kicked out” as they saw it. There was, however, general agreement that in this new world, privileges like more space and luxury should be the reward for those who worked for the common good.
    “She’s a teacher.”
    “That’s a very important job. So what about Mrs Wernström? Does she have a big cabin with enough space for you?”
    “She’s very rich, and she’s retired so she says she’s allowed to keep her cabin. Me and Andrea like playing with her, she tells good stories. I’m sure she would let me stay with her. Please?”
    “I tell you what, once we’ve had dinner we’ll go and see Mrs Wernström and see what she says, okay?”
    “Ooookaaaay,” Erica said, dragging her feet along the carpet.
    “Here we go, this is us in here.”
    “Good, I’m starving!”
    • • •
    “There is no doubt in my mind,” Lister said gravely, “this man has been decapitated. I am not an expert you understand, I deal with the living, not the dead, but the wound is very clean. This was not an accident.”
    Jake listened to the doctor. He was alone on the bridge, taking the late watch as they sailed onwards. He desperately wanted to get to bed and sleep, but he had another hour and a half of sitting there watching the semi-darkness outside before Dave was due to come and replace him. The phone call from Grau was a welcome distraction, even if the news was not pleasant.
    “Do you think he could have come from the raft we found? How long was he in the water?”
    “It is possible, Jake, it is possible. Given the level of decomposition, he cannot have been in there more than twelve hours. There was no blood found in the raft though, no?”
    “Nothing obvious, no. Maybe someone topped him and cleaned up afterwards?”
    “If that is the case, where did they go?”
    Jake had no answer.
    “What about the fish, Grau?”
    “The body looks to be in perfect health. Even so, we have to assume that the fish may have ingested blood, flesh, or both. It is unlikely that they pose any risk to human health, but I would really like to run some blood tests on our unknown victim first, to make sure he was not carrying anything nasty. I cannot clear the fish for consumption, not with a clear conscience, I’m sorry, Jake.”
    “How long to run the tests?”
    “Normally a few hours, but the machine is already processing the blood from a man taken ill today, a most unusual case, incidentally. I cannot test this man’s blood before tomorrow.”
    “I don’t suppose you’d be happy about putting the fish into the freezer while we wait?”
    “That would not be my recommendation, no. I have no doubt that the men worked hard to get the catch, but I think in this instance, the best course of action is to throw the fish overboard and start again tomorrow.”
    “You really think they’re not worth the risk?”
    “Do you want to eat fish that have been dining on a dead man?”
    “I see your point. I’ll talk to Stieg, tell him the bad news. What do we do with the body? Throw him back in?”
    “If it is alright with you, I would like to keep him in the morgue. We have space, and I would be interested to get a second opinion from Russell Vardy when the opportunity arises.”
    “Sure, fine. Oh and Grau, this goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway: this stays between us okay? The Swedes have been briefed; this is not broadcast news. No need to start a panic or any conspiracy theories.”
    “Understood, Jake. Goodnight then, and get some rest later, doctor’s orders.”
    “Goodnight, Grau.”
    • • •
    Kiera watched Erica polish off the last of the chocolate, a knot in her belly as another one of her favourite