“What sort of containment strategy do you have in mind?”

“We would need to kill all infected individuals,” she said without emotion, “and stop infecting new ones. Even then, to stretch my equine analogy, the horse may already be out of the barn.”

Bacon grimaced. “We are so close. The president and the secretary know what Janus can do to public confidence in our hospital system. They are close to caving in. We absolutely cannot stop now. Eighty?”

“I believe we need to take a more active role in developing an effective treatment for the germ. Seventy-one, who made the initial discovery that started AP-Janus, is working intensively at modifying the treatment protocol. And, of course, from the moment we first contacted them with our offer, the government has been working on a solution.”

“How close are they?”

“They have a microbiologist leading a secret task force,” Eighty said. “Our ability to intercept his communication with his team is frequently compromised by the NSA, but we have reason to believe progress is being made.”

“So then, we put this scientist to work for us,” Bacon said. “We must possess both the cause and the cure or all is lost. Can we get to him?”

“Thanks to Nine’s foresight, we have had a contingency plan for this very scenario in place from the moment we activated AP-Janus. Forty-five is our inside man. He should be able to obtain the asset.”

At last, Bacon had a reason to smile.

He took a more relaxed sip of his Scotch, and said, “Then you will proceed.”

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

As for man, the biological laws make no exception for intelligence or wealth. The laws of God only demand that we do what we can in what time we have, to make the world a place where laziness and sloth are never rewarded.

—LANCASTER R. HILL, Climbing the Mountain, SAWYER RIVER BOOKS, 1938, P.111

Lou had fallen twice while traversing the rain-slicked rocks and roots. Lou and Cap finished at a slower pace, turning some heads as they dragged across the rustic lobby of the lodge, muddied and scraped.

“I think we’ll bag our run today,” someone called after them. “Too much of a contact sport.”

Still shaken from his falls, Lou headed for the shower while Cap checked the highway map for the best route to his aunt’s house in Buford. Twenty minutes later, Lou emerged from a cloud of steam, ready to take on the forest again.

“Looks like I might be back after dinner, so you’ll have to eat without me,” Cap said.

“Not a problem. I should probably do some schmoozing for Filstrup anyway.”

“How do you think the election is going to go?”

“Honestly?… The speech lacks passion,” Lou said. “Abraham Lincoln could give it and it would still fall flat.”

“Ouch.”