Omega Plague: Collapse Read Online Free Page A

Cristian’s face grew dark with
concern.
    “While he was driving around Paris in his Porsche, a bunch
of thieves busted his window and stole his girlfriend’s purse, right in front
of him. You know how sensitive he is. That’ll wreck his game for sure.”
    “Good thing he wasn’t in Naples,” said Cristian with a
smirk. “In Naples they’d steal the Porsche, but leave the purse.”

 
    Chapter 2
    October 2
    Bruno raised his right hand, steadying the earpiece and
pushing it deeper. The orange sun lingered over the ocean on the western
horizon. He was enjoying the still-warm air as it settled over the island.
Bruno was at the marina, watching the crowd queuing up for the hydrofoils and
ferries to Naples. He scanned the people in front of him, his face blank as he
spoke to his sister.
    “Did you see the video?” said Bruno, just loud enough for
Carla to hear.
    “Yeah, I saw it,” said Carla, her voice loud Bruno’s ear.
    “Is it fake? The sores on that guy looked pretty real.”
    “I’ve been talking about it with some doctors here,” said
Carla. “We think somebody’s just trying to get famous off this new Ebola
scare.”
    “Well, this virus—or whatever it is—has got someone in the
Interior Ministry scared. We’ve been placed on alert. And why hasn’t anyone
seen those doctors who were in Africa? Where are they?”
    Carla did not answer.
    “Are you still there?”
    “Yeah, sorry, just got an e-mail.” Carla paused again. “The
Minister of Health is convening a conference call with the presidents of all
hospitals nationwide in one hour.”
    “That doesn’t sound good,” said Bruno. “The news said there
are people in London, Paris, and Rome that are showing signs of sickness.”
    “Oh, the call’s probably just routine information sharing,
or something like that. For sure, this thing’s not Ebola. It’s probably just
some weird flu strain. And you know how people are; they hear something like
this, they get a runny nose, and think they’re going to die.” There was a pause
again. “Listen, Bruno, I’ve got to go. I won’t be able to meet you and Cristian
tonight. Tell Cristian I’ll try to see him tomorrow, okay? Bye.”
    Bruno started to talk, but realized he was talking to dead
air. Carla was already gone.
    For a few minutes, Bruno scanned the crowd. Then Cristian
returned from his patrol of the other side of the marina. Veri had sent the two
Carabinieri to the marina to back up the municipal police.
    “How goes it?”
    “People are on edge,” said Cristian. “Guess Veri was right
to be worried, but there aren’t any problems yet. You saw the video?”
    “Yeah, Carla thinks it’s fake,” said Bruno. “So do the other
docs at the hospital. But take a look around. Some people are already wearing
masks. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the people who had close
contact with those damn doctors are in quarantine.”
    Scores of people stretched along the piers and back into the
buildings along the water, more people than usual waiting for the ferries and
hydrofoils. They were jostling and talking more loudly than normal. Some
foreigners wore makeshift masks made of handkerchiefs and clutched at their
suitcases. The natives yammered away on their phones, whether unconcerned or in
disbelief about what might be happening, Bruno could not say.
    Two municipal police officers made their way towards Bruno
and Cristian. Their arrival at the marina meant they had come to relieve the
two Carabinieri. They conferred briefly. Bruno and Cristian let the new
arrivals know that people were on edge, then they departed for their station.
    At Cristian’s suggestion, they decided not to take the
funicular up the side of the slopes leading to the main square, choosing
instead to walk through the winding stairs and narrow streets between houses.
Though the daylight faded, they took their time.
    “How’s your family doing?” Bruno knew Cristian’s family
lived near Rome.
    “For now,