The background buzz of conversation grew louder. Most recognized Dr. Springer. Everyone in the lab was well aware that they worked with highly virulent and contagious microorganisms. Was it possible there’d been some contamination of the lab? Where were Dr. Rothman and Dr. Yamamoto? Springer’s appearance only heightened the tension. The man by the door was on a cell, apparently quarterbacking whatever was happening. “We’re on our way, ETA five minutes,” he was heard to bark into his phone.

Quickly tying his mask in place, Springer pulled the biosafety unit door fully open. As if on cue, the gurneys reappeared, the one in front carrying Dr. Rothman, Dr. Yamamoto in the rear. Both men had IVs and were wearing oxygen masks. Rothman passed right in front of Pia, who pushed forward to take a look. She could see he was deathly pale and shivering violently. His eyes were fixed straight ahead, staring at the ceiling. He looked like death.

As fast as they had come, the cavalcade of medics was gone. Only Dr. Springer and Winston remained. Springer addressed the shell-shocked staff, a few of whom were clutching each other for comfort, others holding their hands over their mouths in disbelief at what they had just witnessed.

“As you can see, Doctors Rothman and Yamamoto have been taken ill. At first guess, we have to consider it to be severe typhoid fever. Both men are presenting the classic symptoms—fever, sudden prostration, abdominal distress, delirium, right lower quadrant borborygmi.” Springer counted off the symptoms on the fingers of his left hand as if he were on formal grand rounds. Once a professor always a professor, thought Pia. “Obviously, they were working in the biosafety unit. But can anyone tell me what they were working on exactly?”

Lab technician Panjit Singh stepped forward. “They were working on salmonella strains grown in the space station lab. I know that for a fact because I set everything up for them this morning. They’ve been working on it for weeks.”

“Okay, thanks, that’s very useful. Do you know if there are any antibiotic-sensitivity studies available for these special strains?”

“Yes, lots of them. I can get them for you.”