Orpheus Born Read Online Free Page B

I opened the door a gain.
    I really had nothing to say at the moment, and I went up the stairs. Didn't even check to see if there were zombies above me.
    I try to avoid thinking about this, because it reminds me how much I hate myself.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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    We'd guessed right. The upper floors were not only clean, but going about business as usual, so to speak. The doctor who let us in gave us the dime tour. It was actually really impressive. The doc explained that, even when the island lost power, which was an inevitability, the hospital was entirely self-sufficient via wind, solar, and geothermal. My group hadn't been on the run for more than a few hours, and we'd already seen how fast society can degrade. Once the power goes out, it's a whole new ballgame. So we had one giant checkmark in our favor.
    I remember reading about how big a deal it was that the hospital won the bid for the new biotech research center. I still had no idea exactly what they did there, and I hadn't been in the hospital since I sprained my ankle about three years ago.
    There were a few handfuls of hospital employees. I really couldn't tell the difference between the researchers and the medical staff. What I knew for sure was that I didn't see any other outside survivors. The six of us were it. As far as I knew, we were all that was left of the island population.
    The doctor showed us to some unused rooms. We had beds, bathrooms, and security.
    It was a start. But only a start.
    After we got settled in, the doc took us to meet the head of the hospital and overall dick Martin Trager.
    I put out my hand and he gave it one of those megafirm macho handshake squeezes designed to assert some power.
    At least, I think he tried to. I couldn't really tell.
    Remember how I feel about first impressions. And I'm never wrong.
    Still, I had to make nice, at least for a little while. I figured we could help each other.
    He may have had the same thoughts, because he asked me to stay behind and chat one-on-one. Anders was reluctant to leave. “Need help finding the door?” I asked.
    He glared at me, then left without saying a word.
    I sat in the chair at the front of his desk and had time to think, Man, his office is nice, while he adjusted his tie.
    "So, Mr. Holt ... what do you prefer to be called?"
    "Holt's fine."
    "Martin."
    "Okay, Martin, any news from the mainland?"
    "We've lost contact with everything. Phones, internet, TV, radio are all out. Worst-case scenario is that we're looking at the most coordinated and large-scale terrorist attack in history."
    "Goddamn."
    "You strike me as the no-bullshit type, Holt. I'll cut right to the chase. Our home, however you want to classify it, is dying. We have to stop it." I'll give credit where credit is due here; I believe he was sincere when he said that, but he got right back into power-broker mode. "We're sitting in the best biotech lab on the East Coast. If anyplace can stop this ... whatever it is ... this is it."
    "I don't know how close you've been to it, but I don't see any stopping it."
    "Well, you're not me."
    That got my attention. "Really. Meaning?"
    "Meaning that I'm a visionary. A strategist. A general. I see the big picture. You? I can tell you're a soldier. A field leader. You get the things done that people like me need done."
    No one would ever accuse Martin Trager of lacking confidence. I stifled a chuckle and let him continue.
    "I have resources and a plan. I need men to use the resources and execute that plan. And then you show up. I feel like I hit the jackpot."
    "Why me?"
    He let his business speak drop for a minute. "Come on, Holt. Seriously? Let's talk about you for a second. Here's what I already know about you. You confirm or deny. Ex-military. Saw combat. Honorably discharged."
    Two of those three were easy, and the combat part was an educated guess.
    "Hell of a leader, too, seeing as a twenty-year veteran of the LWPD and one of my own fucking paid security