Deadly Strain (Biological Response Team) Read Online Free

pilot and they lifted off.
    The helicopter shook like an alcoholic drying out for the first time. The vibration always did something funky to her stomach. There wasn’t anything she could do until they landed except hang on to the bottom of the jump seat and talk her guts into some kind of truce.
    Sharp nudged her arm a few times and she glanced at him. He gave her the universal thumbs-up and down hand waggle to ask how she was feeling.
    She would have liked to flip him a bird, but she’d have to let go of the seat, so she stuck her tongue out at him.
    He shook his head at her, but left her alone to suffer in relative silence. Or as silent as it got on a giant, vibrating, flying washing machine. The landscape outside the helicopter flashed by in muted browns, beiges and creams. A rolling, rocky, ravenous country that had devoured invaders for centuries.
    An entire village this time.
    How many more would die?
    She didn’t bother trying to count the minutes; it wouldn’t do her any good, and it might even make her feel worse, so she let herself fall into an uncomfortable doze. It was a trick she’d learned to do during residency when she often had to work thirty-six-hour shifts. It didn’t matter where she rested her head: a desk, a gurney, even sitting up with her head jammed in a corner. She could sleep anywhere, for about twenty minutes.
    The next thing she knew, Sharp was shaking her arm.
    Grace opened her eyes and looked around. They were descending into a dry valley, mountains all around.
    As the helicopter landed she could see low buildings—some wood, some stone—and a few soldiers waiting for them.
    They weren’t wearing full bio-suits, just full-faced breathing masks.
    The team disembarked, Grace in the middle of the pack, the safest spot.
    The helicopter took off as soon as the last man was away.
    As soon as it was far enough away for them to talk with the first soldiers on scene, she said, “I’m Dr. Samuels, the on-site bug expert, and this is my team.” She gestured at Sharp and the men ranged on either side. “We received a very short summary of what happened.” If you could call Colonel Marshall’s angry two-line description any kind of explanation. “Can you run us through it again?”
    “Ma’am,” one of the soldiers said with a salute. Must be the patrol’s leader. The mask partially obscured his face and muffled his voice. “We arrived at zero-four-thirty. It was still dark, so we weren’t concerned when we didn’t see anyone at first.”
    “At first?” Her breathing ground to a halt. “When did you realize there was a problem?”
    “About fifteen minutes after we arrived.”
    Fifteen minutes was a long time to be in the same environment as a lethal agent without any protection. Marshall had made it sound like they’d gotten their breathing gear on right away.
    “We secured the perimeter and all was quiet, so we went to the home of one of the villagers who’s a friend. He’s given us good intel, food and water in the past. He was dead, along with his brother, sister-in-law and their kids.” The soldier stopped to clear his throat.
    It must have been bad.
    It was probably going to get worse.
    “I’m going to tell you an old doctor’s trick,” she said to him. “When you look at the dead, remember these aren’t people anymore. What made them human is gone now. We have a duty to figure out what happened here so no one else dies. Focus on that.” She paused, then added, “Mourn for them later, as you should.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He nodded and continued in a more professional tone, “We got out of there as soon as we saw what had happened. We checked the next home and realized they were dead too. We put on our masks and called for help.”
    “Where did you put your masks on? Here or farther away?” she asked.
    “Over there, ma’am.” He pointed at a spot about fifty yards east of their position near the village well.
    Not far enough.
    “I’d like you and your men