Then he drove his own car back to the compound. When he got to the front gate, he saw that security was in disarray. There were soldiers and military vehicles coming and going, as well as ambulances and fire trucks.

The soldier at the gate couldn’t have been older than eighteen and Vasily showed him his credentials.

“There’s been an explosion at the institute, sir,” the soldier said. “We’ve been instructed not to let anyone pass.”

“I know there’s been an explosion,” Vasily said. “I’m here on the orders of Major General Yevchenko.”

“Yevchenko?” the soldier said.

“Go speak to your commanding officer,” Vasily said. “Tell him Yevchenko’s science liaison is here.”

The soldier went into the guard post and came back with the officer.

“I don’t have time for this,” Vasily said. “Yevchenko will have all our heads if I don’t report to him pronto.”

“Who are you?”

“Vasily Ustinov. Assistant to the director. I’m here to replace the science team that just got taken out.”

Vasily saw the uncertainty on the officer’s face before he said, “All right, let him pass.” Then to Vasily he said, “The Major General is at the institute now.”

As Vasily drove toward the institute, he saw that the fire had been put out and dozens of soldiers, firefighters and paramedics were gathered around the building.

The science team from Moscow was still there but there wasn’t much they could do now that the samples had been destroyed. Vasily shielded his face from anyone who might recognize him and parked right in front of the main entrance.

In situations like this, appearing to have authority was what counted.

“Hey,” he said as he stepped out of the car. “Where’s the Major General?”

The soldiers pointed to the building. “He’s still inside.”

“Watch my car,” he said to them as he went up the steps.

From the first floor lobby, he saw that the office was empty now. His colleagues, who’d been kept there with him since the beginning of the outbreak, were gone.

There were more soldiers by the elevators and Vasily said, “You men, where are the scientists who were here?”

The soldiers looked at each other.

“Who are you?” one of them said.

“I’m the Major General’s science liaison,” Vasily said. “Who are you?”

The soldier looked at his comrades. Vasily had his hand on the gun in his pocket and was ready to pull it out but the other soldier said, “The Major General had them taken to Novouralsk.”

Vasily was relieved. Taking them to Novouralsk wasn’t ideal, but it meant the government still had a use for them. They would be used in some new project. They wouldn’t have much of a say in the matter, but it was better than being locked up in a prison cell, or worse.