“Home. To Atlanta. He called someone—Elliott, I believe was his name. His colleague arranged transport. He departed several days ago, with the two children from the village. He was taking them to the CDC, in hopes they might find clues to a cure.”

Peyton’s mind raced. Millen taking the survivors to the CDC was a break.

To Hannah, Elim said, “Millen was quite worried about everyone he had traveled here with—but he was especially worried about you.”

Peyton felt Hannah squeeze her hand.

Elim gave Peyton some supplies for the trip: food, water, and—just in case, he said—medicine. Peyton had been coughing, and the physician had obviously realized she was infected with the Mandera virus. The antibiotics he provided would treat any secondary infections.

As Elim led her down the corridor, he said, “There’s something I’ve wanted to ask since you arrived.”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“The young American I cared for, Lucas Turner. Did he make it?”

Peyton shook her head. “No. I’m very sorry.”

“So am I. He was a fine young man. And brave.”

They were both silent for a moment.

“Well, thank you for everything,” Peyton said at last.

“Good luck to you, Dr. Shaw.”

“And to you.”

In the makeshift hospital room, Hannah dried the tears from her face and closed her eyes. She had never been so tired in all her life. She knew the fever was advancing, that the days ahead would determine whether she lived or died. She was ready. Because now she would face it with a very valuable thing, a thing she didn’t have the day before.

Hope.

In another patient room, Elim Kibet injected a vial of antibiotics into the IV.

“You’re wasting that on me,” the woman said.

Despite her deteriorating condition, her tone was firm, insistent. Elim had to agree with Dr. Shaw: Nia Okeke was a very convincing woman when she wanted to be.

“You know,” he said, “for your sake, it’s a good thing you are not the physician in charge here.”

The plane was similar to the Air Force transport Peyton had come to Kenya on, except a bit smaller. The crew cabin held six high-backed chairs and an open space where Peyton found Desmond stretched out on a sleeping bag. He wore only boxers and a T-shirt, which had sweat spots coming through.