Millen smiled. “Yes. She’s very thorough.” He grew quiet. “They shot her when they invaded the camp. She was one of the ones who was abducted. I don’t know if she’s alive or dead.”

Elim spoke slowly. “I’ve recently learned the value of something I’ve never had much use for: faith. Last night, I thought I would never leave this room. Have faith and patience, Dr. Thomas. Time works miracles. We must have the courage to wait for them.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, sweat dripping from Millen’s brow, soaking his face, the taste of salt touching his lips.

When Elim had caught his breath, he asked, “If your team is gone, who is searching the town?”

“Survivors. From a village nearby.”

Elim looked surprised. “They were given ZMapp?”

“No. They survived the virus.”

“That’s good.”

“I’m taking them back to Atlanta. Hopefully we can study the antibodies for clues about how to treat the infection.”

“Have you told them?”

“I have. They know what they’re signing up for. They’ve agreed.”

“Good. It’s a good plan.”

“When will you be ready to move again?” Millen asked.

Elim peered out the window at the sun. “If you must, come again at sunset. It will be cooler.”

Halima and the other two survivors returned pushing a cart filled to the brim with produce and packaged food. They joined Millen in the main tent and sat around the long table, sharing in a bizarre feast of junk food, MREs, fresh produce, and soft drinks.

When the sun began to set over the rocky hills in the distance, Millen again donned the suit. He was about to coat it with chlorine when Elim emerged from the hospital, pushing the cart full of supplies that had stood in his room.

In seconds, Millen and the survivors were at his side.

“I didn’t want to spend another night in there,” Elim said, panting.

“I don’t blame you,” Millen said.

He introduced the Kenyan physician to the villagers, and the five of them made their way to the tent complex, which they set about transforming into a makeshift rehabilitation facility for Elim.

Chapter 51

Chapter 51

In Atlanta, the day had gone mostly as Elliott had expected. The stock market crash had rattled everyone. It was a cloud that hung over the euphoria of Black Friday.

The most difficult part of his plan had been convincing the other five families to pool their money with his for the purchases, which together added up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. They had begun by renting two twenty-six-foot U-Haul trucks. They drove them to Costco and filled them with survival necessities. It was mostly food; Elliott planned to be near a freshwater source if worst came to worst.