Invasion (15 page)

“My pleasure,” Pitt said.

“Meanwhile,” Sheila said, “do you have any idea why there are so many people in the waiting room?”

“I think so,” Pitt said. “It’s probably because most of the people delayed coming in until after work. They’re all complaining of the flu. Checking through the records from yesterday and today, we’ve been seeing more and more people with the same symptoms. I think it’s something that you should look into.”

“But it’s flu season,” Sheila said. She was even more impressed. Pitt was actually thinking.

“It might be flu season, but this outbreak seems unique,” Pitt said. “I checked with the lab, and they have yet to have a positive test for influenza.”

“Sometimes they have to grow the influenza virus in tissue culture before they get a positive test. That can take a few days.”

“Yeah, I read that,” Pitt said. “But in this instance I think it’s strange because all these patients have had a lot of respiratory symptoms, so the virus should be there in a high titer. At least that’s what it said in the text I was reading.”

“I have to say I’m impressed with your initiative,” Sheila said.

“Well, the situation worries me,” Pitt said. “What if it is a new strain, maybe a new illness? My best friend got it a couple of days ago, and he was really sick, but only for a number of hours. That doesn’t sound like regular old flu to me. Besides, after he’d recovered he hasn’t been himself. I mean he’s been healthy, but he’s been acting strange.”

“How do you mean strange?” Sheila asked. She began to consider the possibility of viral encephalitis. It was a rare complication of influenza.

“Like a different person,” Pitt said. “Well, not totally different, just a little different. The same thing seems to have happened to the principal of the high school.”

“You mean like a slight personality change?” Sheila asked.

“Yeah, I suppose you could say that,” Pitt said. He was afraid to tell her about Beau’s apparent increase in strength and speed and the fact that Beau had occupied the room that had become distorted; Pitt was afraid he’d lose all credibility. He was nervous about talking to Dr. Miller as it was and wouldn’t have approached her on his own accord.

“And one other thing,” Pitt said, thinking that he’d come this far and might as well let it all out. “I checked the chart of the diabetic woman who died yesterday. She had had flu symptoms before she got her seizure.”

Sheila stared into Pitt’s dark eyes while she pondered what he’d said. Suddenly she looked up and called out to Dr. Draper, asking him if Louis Devereau had had flu symptoms before he had his seizure.

“Yes, he did,” Dr. Draper said. “Why do you ask?”

Sheila ignored Dr. Draper’s question. Instead she looked down at Pitt. “About how many patients have we seen with this flu and how many are waiting?”

“Fifty-three,” Pitt said. He held up a sheet of paper where he’d kept a tally.

“Jesus H. Christ,” Sheila said. For a moment she stared off down the hall with unseeing eyes and chewed the inside of her cheek while she considered the options. Looking back at Pitt she said: “Come with me and bring that sheet of paper!”

Pitt struggled to catch up with Sheila who was moving
as if on a power walk. “Where are we going?” Pitt asked as they entered the hospital proper.

“The president’s office,” Sheila said without elaboration.

Pitt squeezed onto the elevator with Dr. Miller. He tried to read her face but couldn’t. He didn’t have any idea why he was being taken to the administration. He worried it was for disciplinary purposes.

“I’d like to see Dr. Halprin immediately,” Sheila said to the head administrative secretary. Her name was Mrs. Kapland.

“Dr. Halprin is tied up at present,” Mrs. Kapland said with a friendly smile. “But I’ll let him know you are here. Meanwhile can I get you coffee or perhaps a soft drink?”

“Tell him it’s urgent,” Sheila said.

They were kept waiting for twenty minutes after which the secretary escorted them into the administrator’s office. Both Sheila and Pitt could tell that the man was not feeling well. He was pale and coughing almost continuously.

After Sheila and Pitt had taken chairs, Sheila concisely summarized what Pitt had told her and suggested that the hospital take appropriate action.

“Hold on,” Dr. Halprin said between coughs. “Fifty cases of flu during flu season is not a reason to scare the community. Hell, I got the bug myself, and it isn’t so bad, although if I had the choice, I suppose I’d be home in bed.”

“That’s fifty-plus cases at this hospital alone,” Sheila said.

“Yes, but we are the major hospital in the community,” Halprin said. “We see the most of everything.”

“I’ve had two deaths of previously well-controlled diabetics who’ve possibly died of this illness,” Sheila said.

“Influenza can do that,” Dr. Halprin commented. “Unfortunately we all know it can be a nasty illness for the aged and the infirm.”

“Mr. Henderson knows of two people who’ve had the illness and who have demonstrated personality changes as an aftermath. One of those people is his best friend.”

“Marked personality change?” Halprin asked.

“Not marked,” Pitt admitted. “But definite.”

“Give me an example,” Dr. Halprin asked while he blew his nose loudly.

Pitt related Beau’s sudden carefree attitude and the fact that he’d skipped a whole day of classes to go to museums and the zoo.

Dr. Halprin lowered his tissue and eyed Pitt. He had to smile. “Excuse me, but that hardly sounds earth-shaking.”

“You’d have to know Beau to realize how surprising it is,” Pitt said.

“Well, we’ve had some experience with this illness right here in this office,” Dr. Halprin said. “Not only do I have it today but both of my secretaries had it yesterday.” He bent over and pressed his intercom button. He asked both secretaries to come into his office.

Mrs. Kapland appeared immediately and was followed by a younger woman. Her name was Nancy Casado.

“Dr. Miller is concerned about this flu bug that’s going around,” Dr. Halprin said. “Perhaps you two could set her mind at ease.”

The two women looked at each other, unsure of who
should speak. As the more senior employee Mrs. Kapland started.

“It came on sudden, and I felt terrible,” she said. “But four or five hours later I was on the mend. Now I feel wonderful. Better than I have in months.”

“It was pretty much the same for me,” Nancy Casado said. “It started with a cough and sore throat. I’m sure I had a fever although I never took my temperature so I don’t know how high it went.”

“Do either of you think the other’s personality has changed since your recovery?” Dr. Halprin asked.

Both women giggled and covered their mouths with their hands. They looked at each other conspiratorially.

“What’s so funny?” Dr. Halprin asked.

“It’s just a private joke,” Mrs. Kapland said. “But to answer your question, neither of us feel our personalities have changed. Do you think so, Dr. Halprin?”

“Me?” Dr. Halprin questioned. “I don’t think I have time to notice such things, but no, I don’t think either one of you has changed.”

“Do you know others who have been ill?” Sheila asked the women.

“Many,” they said in unison.

“Have you noticed a change in anyone’s personality?” Sheila asked.

“Not me,” Mrs. Kapland said.

“Nor I,” Nancy Casado said.

Dr. Halprin spread his hands out, palm up. “I don’t think we have a problem here,” he said. “But thanks for coming over.” He smiled.

“Well, it’s your call,” Sheila said. She stood up.

Pitt did the same, and he nodded to the president and the secretaries. As his eyes met Nancy Casado’s, he noticed that she was looking at him in a curiously provocative way. Her lips were slightly parted and the tip of her tongue played within the shadows. As soon as she could see he was looking at her, she let her eyes roam up and down his body.

Pitt quickly turned and followed Dr. Miller out of the president’s office. He felt uncomfortable. All at once he had an appreciation of what Cassy had been trying to tell him that morning after their visit to the room Beau had occupied in the student overnight ward.

BALANCING HER BOOKS, PURSE, AND SOME TAKE-OUT
chinese food, Cassy managed to get her key in the door and the door open. Entering, she kicked the door closed.

“Beau, are you home yet?” she called as she unburdened herself on the small table next to the door.

A deep, threatening growl made the hairs on the back of Cassy’s neck stand straight up. The growl had been very close. In fact it sounded as if it had been right behind her. Slowly she raised her eyes to the decorative mirror above the entrance table. Just to the left of her image was the image of a huge light-brown bull mastiff with its enormous canines bared.

Ever so slowly so as not to upset the already perturbed animal, Cassy rotated to face it. Its eyes were like black marbles. It was a fearsome creature that stood taller than her waist.

Beau, munching an apple, appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Whoa, King! It’s okay. This is Cassy.”

The dog stopped growling and turned toward Beau and cocked his head to the side.

“It’s Cassy,” Beau repeated. “She lives here too.”

Beau pushed off the doorjamb, gave King a pat and told him “good boy” before giving Cassy a solid kiss on the lips. “Welcome, lover,” Beau said breezily. “We’ve been missing you. Where have you been?”

Beau moved over to the couch and draped himself over the arm.

Cassy hadn’t moved a muscle. Nor had the dog except for his brief look at Beau. He wasn’t growling any longer, but he’d continued to fix her with his baleful stare.

“What do you mean, where have I been?” Cassy asked. “You were supposed to pick me up. I waited for half an hour.”

“Oh yeah,” Beau said. “Sorry about that. I had an important meeting and there was no way to get in touch with you. You told me yourself you could get a ride easy enough.”

“Yes, when it’s planned,” Cassy said. “By the time I realized you weren’t coming, everyone I knew had left. I had to call a cab.”

“Jeez!” Beau said. “I’m sorry. Really I am. There’s just a lot going on all of a sudden. How about I take you out to dinner tonight to your favorite place, the Bistro?”

“We were just out last night,” Cassy said. “Don’t you have work to do? I brought home some Chinese food.”

“Well, whatever you want, sweetie,” Beau said. “I feel
badly about leaving you in the lurch this afternoon, so I’d like to make it up to you.”

“Just the fact that you’re willing to apologize goes a long way,” Cassy said. She then looked down at the immobile dog.

“What’s the story with this beast?” she asked. “Are you minding it for someone?”

“Nope,” Beau said. “He’s my dog. His name is King.”

“You’re joking,” Cassy said.

“Hardly,” Beau said. He hauled himself from the arm of the couch and stepped over to King. He scratched him roughly behind the ears. King responded with tail wagging and licking Beau’s hand with his enormous tongue. “I figured we could use the protection.”

“Protection from what?” Cassy asked. She was dumbstruck.

“Just in general,” Beau said vaguely. “A dog like this has olfactory and auditory senses far better than ours.”

“Don’t you think we should have discussed this decision?” Cassy asked. Her fear was turning to anger.

“We can discuss it now,” Beau said innocently.

“Good grief!” Cassy voiced angrily. She picked up the Chinese take-out and walked into the kitchen. She took the containers out of the bag and got plates from the cupboard, making sure the door banged against its hinges. From the drawer next to the dishwasher she got flatware and noisily set the table.

Beau appeared at the door. “There’s no need to get upset,” he said.

“Oh yeah?” Cassy questioned as tears unwillingly welled up. “That’s easy for you to say. I’m not the one
acting weird, like going out in the middle of the night and coming home with a dog the size of a buffalo.”

Beau stepped into the kitchen and tried to put his arms around Cassy. She pushed him away and ran into the bedroom. She was sobbing now.

Beau came in behind her and put his arms around her, and she didn’t resist. For a moment he didn’t say anything and let her cry. Finally he turned her around and looked into her eyes, and she into his.

“Okay,” he said. “I’m sorry about the dog too. I should have talked to you about the idea, but my mind has been so overwhelmed. I’ve got so many things going on right now. I’ve heard back from the Nite people. I’ll be going out there to meet them.”

“When did you hear from them?” Cassy asked, wiping her eyes. She knew how much Beau was counting on getting a job with Cipher Software. Maybe there was an explanation for his odd behavior.

“I heard from them today,” Beau said. “It’s all so promising.”

“When will you go?” Cassy said.

“Tomorrow,” Beau said.

“Tomorrow!” Cassy repeated. Things were happening too quickly. It was an emotional overload. “Weren’t you going to tell me?”

“Of course I was going to tell you,” Beau said.

“And you really want a dog?” Cassy asked. “What will you do with him when you go visit the Nite people?”

“I’ll take him,” Beau said without hesitation.

“You’ll take him on an interview trip?”

“Why not? He’s a wonderful animal.”

Cassy digested this surprising information. From her perspective it seemed inappropriate to say the least. Having a dog seemed incompatible with their lifestyle.

“Who’s going to walk him when you’re in class? And feed him. Having a dog is a lot of responsibility.”

“I know, I know,” Beau intoned, raising his hands as if to surrender. “I promise to take care of him. I’ll take him out, feed him, pick up after him, and punish him if he chews any of your shoes.”

Cassy smiled in spite of herself. Beau sounded like the cliché of the small boy pleading with his mother to get a dog while the mother knows full well who will end up assuming the burden of taking care of the pet.

“I got him from the pound,” Beau said. “I’m sure you’ll like him, but if you don’t, we’ll take him back. We’ll consider the whole thing an experiment. After a week we’ll decide.”