As the group walked they couldn’t help notice that the whole area was deserted. They saw no one, not even any dogs.

“This is kinda weird,” Warren said. “Like we’re all alone.”

Just as the group had been advised, they found a red tent in the middle of a completely deserted avenue.

“Where did everybody go so fast?” Warren questioned.

“I don’t think they had any trouble getting people to leave,” Jack said. “People are terrified of contagion. I shudder to think of the panic in lower Manhattan right now.”

“It reminds me of an old science fiction movie,” Flash said. “I think it was called The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

The group was greeted by a small team of people in lower-level biocontainment dress than those in Yuri’s house. The person in charge was a woman who introduced herself as Carolyn Jacobs. She had the group strip and stand under makeshift showers of weak bleach solution where they were forced to scrub themselves. Then, after dressing in government-issue coveralls, they were immunized against anthrax and started on a course of ciprofloxacin.

“Man, I never expected all this,” Warren complained.

“You should feel thankful for the vaccine,” Jack said. “They don’t have a lot of it, and I’m sure they are going to run out in Manhattan. There’s no way there’s enough for everyone.”

The flap covering the entrance to the decon tent was suddenly pulled aside. In walked a lean, clean-cut, martial-appearing African-American man in his thirties. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit with the acronym CIRG on his left upper arm. Sewn above a zippered breast pocket was a name tag: Agent Marcus Williams.

“I’m looking for Dr. Stapleton and Dr. Montgomery,” he said crisply.

Jack raised his hand. “I’m Stapleton.”

“I’m Dr. Montgomery,” Laurie said.

“Excellent,” Marcus said. “Would you come with me?”

Jack and Laurie immediately got to their feet.

“What about us?” Warren questioned.

Jack looked at Marcus and raised his eyebrows.

“Your name, sir?” Marcus asked Warren.

“Warren Wilson, and this is Frank Thomas.” Warren pointed at Flash. Flash raised his hand.

“Sorry, I have no orders for you people,” Marcus said. “I would assume you should remain here.”

“Damn,” Warren said. “Doc, make sure they don’t forget us.”

“Don’t worry,” Jack said.

Jack and Laurie emerged back out in the daylight. They had to hustle to catch up with Marcus, who’d strode off toward the waterfront.

“Where are we going?” Jack asked.

“I’m to escort you back to the temporary command center,” Marcus said.

“Where is that?” Jack asked.

“Lower Manhattan,” Marcus said. “In a trailer in front of City Hall.”

“Can we slow down a little?” Laurie questioned. She was having to run every couple of steps.

“I was to get you back there ASAP,” Marcus said.

“What’s happening in the city?” Jack asked.