rain seemed to be getting heavier again. About thirty seconds elapsed and then an ambulance loomed out of the mist. It was not going particularly fast, but its flashing light was on. Fifty metres behind it came a grey bus, presumably the one he had seen earlier. And after that came another ambulance.
It looked as though the bus was crammed with people. The convoy was heading north, towards the city.
He turned the binoculars rapidly to the windows in the apartment block next door, where he had seen the two faces a short while before. Detected a slight movement in a curtain, as if someone had pulled it a few centimetres to one side to view the road.
He went back to his bedside table, read the four notes that had come through the door and arranged them in chronological order.
The first read:
A serious epidemic has broken out in the city. All gatherings are therefore banned. Meetings of more than three people are not permitted. All citizens except those who work in the state administration are to remain in their homes. Schools and all private workplaces with more than three employees will close immediately. Make sure you have supplies of food. There is no need to panic. Medical assistance has been summoned and is on its way. Observe the highest standards of hygiene. Communications, radio, TV and telephone will not function fully. Avoid jamming the phone lines with unnecessary calls. The first symptoms of the epidemic are as follows: tiredness, dizziness, a severe headache, reddish flickering before the eyes. If you believe you or any member of your family to be infected, go immediately to the nearest help station. The nearest help station will be at the district school in the area where you live. It is strictly forbidden to leave the city. PLEASE NOTE! Panic will only help to spread the infection!
The announcement was dated the fifteenth of November and signed by the Minister for Public Health.
The next announcement was from the same authority and had been sent a week later, on the twenty-first of November. It read:
The current epidemic has been contained, but the situation remains grave. Continue to follow earlier instructions.Further announcements will be made via loudspeaker vans. Electricity and water supplies can only be maintained on a limited basis. Fill bathtubs and other containers with drinking water. Save electric power. Healthy individuals licensed to give blood are urged to go to their local help station or the main hospital, Section C. PLEASE NOTE! Avoid any form of panic!
The other two communications differed in significant ways from the Public Health Ministry’s exhortations. The paper was of a different kind and size. They were not printed but had been run off on a duplicating machine. Their tone was also different. Neither was dated, but by cross-referring to the entries in the patrol car logbook Jensen thought he could establish that the first had been sent on the previous Wednesday, i.e. the twenty-seventh of November. The text was brief and blunt:
State of emergency in force from midnight tonight. Total curfew to be imposed with the exception of two groups: the sick and blood donors. The sick are to go to their district help station or directly to the Central Detoxification Unit, km marker 6 on motorway 2. Blood donors are to attend the district help station or go to the main hospital. For further details apply to the block security official
.
The announcement was clearly local. It was signed by someone who contented himself with just a title: Head District Consultant.
Jensen heard vehicle engines, went to the window and snatched up the binoculars. Three military trucks were moving north on the motorway. They appeared to be heavily laden. The backs were covered in tarpaulin.
He looked at the clock. One minute to eight. Went back to read the other duplicated announcement.
Epidemic now under control. State of emergency still in force. From today, total, round-the-clock curfew to be observed. This
It looked as though the bus was crammed with people. The convoy was heading north, towards the city.
He turned the binoculars rapidly to the windows in the apartment block next door, where he had seen the two faces a short while before. Detected a slight movement in a curtain, as if someone had pulled it a few centimetres to one side to view the road.
He went back to his bedside table, read the four notes that had come through the door and arranged them in chronological order.
The first read:
A serious epidemic has broken out in the city. All gatherings are therefore banned. Meetings of more than three people are not permitted. All citizens except those who work in the state administration are to remain in their homes. Schools and all private workplaces with more than three employees will close immediately. Make sure you have supplies of food. There is no need to panic. Medical assistance has been summoned and is on its way. Observe the highest standards of hygiene. Communications, radio, TV and telephone will not function fully. Avoid jamming the phone lines with unnecessary calls. The first symptoms of the epidemic are as follows: tiredness, dizziness, a severe headache, reddish flickering before the eyes. If you believe you or any member of your family to be infected, go immediately to the nearest help station. The nearest help station will be at the district school in the area where you live. It is strictly forbidden to leave the city. PLEASE NOTE! Panic will only help to spread the infection!
The announcement was dated the fifteenth of November and signed by the Minister for Public Health.
The next announcement was from the same authority and had been sent a week later, on the twenty-first of November. It read:
The current epidemic has been contained, but the situation remains grave. Continue to follow earlier instructions.Further announcements will be made via loudspeaker vans. Electricity and water supplies can only be maintained on a limited basis. Fill bathtubs and other containers with drinking water. Save electric power. Healthy individuals licensed to give blood are urged to go to their local help station or the main hospital, Section C. PLEASE NOTE! Avoid any form of panic!
The other two communications differed in significant ways from the Public Health Ministry’s exhortations. The paper was of a different kind and size. They were not printed but had been run off on a duplicating machine. Their tone was also different. Neither was dated, but by cross-referring to the entries in the patrol car logbook Jensen thought he could establish that the first had been sent on the previous Wednesday, i.e. the twenty-seventh of November. The text was brief and blunt:
State of emergency in force from midnight tonight. Total curfew to be imposed with the exception of two groups: the sick and blood donors. The sick are to go to their district help station or directly to the Central Detoxification Unit, km marker 6 on motorway 2. Blood donors are to attend the district help station or go to the main hospital. For further details apply to the block security official
.
The announcement was clearly local. It was signed by someone who contented himself with just a title: Head District Consultant.
Jensen heard vehicle engines, went to the window and snatched up the binoculars. Three military trucks were moving north on the motorway. They appeared to be heavily laden. The backs were covered in tarpaulin.
He looked at the clock. One minute to eight. Went back to read the other duplicated announcement.
Epidemic now under control. State of emergency still in force. From today, total, round-the-clock curfew to be observed. This
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