He smiled at the group, but it was a weak smile, because he knew the disconcerting end that was going to follow this pleasant seeming start. “OK, so, on the upside, I can tell you that based on the models I have put together, the antigen is spreading with surprising efficiency. In Western Europe, for example, I predict we are only a few weeks away from an effective 100% immunization. The same is true in North America, Japan and most of urbanized Indochina. I also register strong progress in Southern and Eastern Africa, South America and Australasia.”

The group nodded, but Ayala was not encouraged by Neal’s comments. He paused, done with the good news, and she spoke almost immediately, “And what of Northern Africa, the Middle East, the Urals, the Tibetan plateau?” He looked at her and she read his reply from his eyes.

She saw that things were not going as planned in all areas, as she had feared. Her shoulders sank and she spoke quietly, with an almost defeated tone, “But I spent weeks trekking through those godforsaken places. A Jew. And a female one at that.” She shivered slightly at the memory. It had been an unpleasant and dangerous time, even for someone with her background and abilities.

Gathering herself, she looked back up at Neal and said, “Tell us, Neal. What are we facing?” She was desolate. She had risked her life, and done so willingly, but to find out it had been for nothing was … demoralizing.

“Listen,” Neal spoke in placating tones, “it is not that bad, for the most part. In Northern and Western Africa the spread is strong in urban areas, but in Sahara and the central plains it has been slow, most likely because of the limited travel and communication in those regions. It is worst in the sparsely populated regions of the Middle East, as it seems to be more pronounced there, despite the much larger populations involved. I think that the same causes are true there as in Northern Africa but I suspect they are being compounded by the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kashmir. I suspect that the limits these are placing on the natural movements of the local peoples are further limiting our antigen’s spread.”

“How much longer do we need?” said Ayala, “How much longer till we have some effective level of coverage?”

Neal shrugged, “It’s difficult to say accurately, but I fear that in Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, the spread is disturbingly slow. It will take several months, maybe more, before the majority of people in that region are reached by the antigen.”

He met Ayala’s gaze frankly, not sugarcoating his news, but she knew that it was not just a matter of patience.

“So we can just wait?” said Jack, shrugging, but Neal shook his head slowly and Ayala lowered hers, disappointment mixing with frustration.