Dead Life (Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

whoever started this virus is doing their best to spread it as fast as possible. Like the damn thing doesn't spread fast enough on it's own. We know the virus is spread through saliva or a blood exchange. The damn thing isn't air born, yet. But they think it's being transmitted another way. The contamination is jumping country to country without any obvious path of travel.”
                  “Couldn't people unaware of their condition be traveling by plane to other countries? Spreading the virus after getting to their destinations and the infection becomes full blown.”
                  “No, the virus takes over too fast. If you're bitten just one time the virus can take up to three hours to fully infect you. Multiple bites cause an accelerated reaction. If the victim dies during the attack, reanimation happens in less than a minute.”
                  “Excuse me sir. Did you say reanimation?”
                  “Yes Downs, I did.”
                  “That's not possible.”
                  “I didn't think so either. But it's true. I've seen it happen. The government over in India has set up a lab where they're experimenting with the virus. They're working with us to try and understand how the virus is transmitted and how long it takes the infection to take control over a host.”
                  “How are they doing that?”
                  “They have a caste system over in India.”
                  “I know that sir.”
                  “Good, then you'll understand. If you're from a lower caste your life means nothing. They're exposing these lower caste people to the virus and observing reaction times.”
                  “That's barbaric.”
                  “Yes it is. And our government is going right along with them. This world is going to change, practically over night. You need to realize that. If you don't get with the program you won't be surviving this thing.”
                  “I don't know about that sir. Sacrificing those people doesn't seem right. Human life has to count for something, or why bother.”
                  'We can stand here debating morals all you want. That's not going to keep you alive at the end of the day. You have to know your enemy. Otherwise, you'll never be able to stop him.”
                  “Speaking of that. How do you stop one?”
                  “Destroy the brain. I get the feeling we're being watched. Let's get back inside.”
                  Later that day General Simmons came to my desk. He informed me that Major Stevens was no longer with our project. I was in charge now. He was promoting me to captain and my men and I were going on twelve hour shifts. I had an hour to get home, pack my gear and get back to the base. We were being sequestered.
                  I hurried home, packed the sat phone in the bottom of a rucksack and filled the rest of it with some personal items. I tried to think of everything I might need for the next few days. But my main goal was to cover the sat phone. Even though I'd accumulated lots of possessions over the years, there wasn't that much I could bring along. I had two changes of clothes, some pictures, and my Army issue 9mm side arm. That was it. I doubted I would ever be returning to my house. I looked around and thought to myself, I live here alone. I was alone. This place wasn't my home. I hadn't had a home in a long time. This was where I slept a roof over my head, not a home. I took a final look around, pulled the door shut, and headed back to Headquarters.
                  My sector worked out of an office building about a mile from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. There were no residential quarters in our building so we were going to be billeted in a motel near our offices. Since I was now