The Zombie Virus (Book 1) by Paul Hetzer Page A

carried through the cell’s plasma membrane by a process called
endocytosis. This is basically a method in which cells absorb large
molecules by engulfing them in a membrane capsule and releasing
them into their interior.
    Replication for viruses occur in the
cytoplasm of host cells which then act as a virus “factory”
transcribing the viruses’ RNA and building new viral packages. Then
at a certain critical population they lyse the cell and spread the
infection.
    The afternoon of the fourth day the power
flickered briefly in the lab and I heard the deep rumble from
somewhere overhead as the Facility’s emergency generators kicked
on. This got the Sung Loony moving again, constantly pacing back
and forth in his soiled boxers like a caged beast.
    Thirst and hunger had to be gnawing at their
bellies. The Hanson Loony was in terrible shape, her arm had gone
gangrenous from the lost blood flow and she could barely lift her
head. The third Loony still struggled occasionally, but seemed
resigned to its captivity.
    The two bodies were showing signs of
decomposition. The odor in the lab had to be overpowering with the
smell of shit, piss, blood, rotting flesh and the sickly sweet
smell from the infected filling the air. I wondered if the room’s
filtration system was keeping up with each added odiferous
flavor.
    Given several uninterrupted weeks, I was sure
I could develop specific antibodies for this virus from the test
animals and prevent systemic expression in its hosts. I was also
close to developing a method for the rapid diagnosis of the zombie
virus in rats prior to the onset of the prodromal phase. It would
be good to check people who were carriers and not symptomatic, or
those bitten who were asymptomatic.
    When I reached a stopping point with some of
the infected cells I was culturing I took a break and left the lab
complex for my office so that I could call my wife. This was the
day I promised her that I would finish up here at the lab and make
my way home. I didn’t feel like I was at a point where I could just
stop my work. I was so close on several fronts. Whether I kept my
word and left or stayed and continued working on this disease
hinged on what was going on at the home front, and whether Holly
would understand the need to stay another day or two.
    I picked up my phone to dial my home number.
There was no connection, the external line was dead. I would have
to try cell phone to cell and for that I had to go topside. It
would be the first time since this began. My watch told me it was
closing in on 1730 hours, still plenty of daylight left.
    I picked up the phone again, pressed the
button for the direct line to the security kiosk far overhead and
heard the line connect. At least the internal lines were still
working. I gave the connection about thirty seconds waiting for
someone to pick up, no one did. I tried a few more of the ground
floor offices with no luck. The Facility seemed deserted.
    I got up and headed for the elevators. I had
nothing to use for a weapon except a handheld fire extinguisher
that I planned on grabbing from outside the elevator on Level 1.
Located at the security kiosk was an array of monitors that were
connected to external cameras with which I could at least gain an
idea of what I would be up against outside.
    I briefly thought about wearing the spacesuit
to the surface in case there were any Loonies up there, such as the
guard who was on duty when I came in. After four days I expected he
would be long gone. Mobility was quite restricted with the suit on.
If I had to make a quick escape, I felt I would be safer in my
street clothes than the bulky suit. I also knew it would feel good
to be out of the spacesuit for an extended period. It had begun to
feel like my own personal prison from which I would never
escape.
    The elevators were still operating and I took
one up to the ground floor. It dumped me out down the hall and out
of sight of the security kiosk. After grabbing the