The First Bird: Episode 1 by Beck Greig

Author:Beck, Greig [Beck, Greig]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781743342206
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Published: 2013-05-31T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

CDC headquarters, Druid Hills, Atlanta

The CDC headquarters was an enormous modern building with an impressive double curved frontage on Houston Mill Road. But the impressive façade masked its true character, which was better identified from the rear. It was a disease-fighting factory, complete with industrial piping and high-intensity incinerator smoke stacks.

Doctor Francis “Hew” Hewson sat in a long white corridor, bored but still nervous as he waited to be called. He gazed at the rows of historical photographs on the walls – probably intended more as intimidation than decoration.

The CDC was created under President Roosevelt in 1942, during World War II, as the Office of National Defense and Malaria Control. Malaria had proved a major problem for the US troops fighting in jungles, and was hitching a ride back to the States when the wounded warriors returned home.

The office changed its name to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, in 1992. Its multi-billion dollar budget and expanded brief meant it had now become the nation’s watchdog for almost everything, from food poisoning and occupational health and safety to modern bioterrorism.

Hew stared hard at the double wooden doors, willing them to open. His foot tapped on the ground and he shifted in the hard seat. Just twelve hours ago he had forwarded his research and results, along with his concerns, to the office of the director. Within an hour he had received a short reply; a few sentences that boiled down to “get here now and explain yourself.”

He expected, or hoped, that headquarters was as alarmed as he was. Now it was his job to fill in the details, and perhaps be involved in spearheading some sort of national operation.

His foot tapped faster, from heel to toe now. He wished Carla were here; this was her domain. He leaned forward onto his knees and rubbed his face, thinking of his boss. She would march in, pin them with that gaze of hers, and then blow them out of the room with her forceful logic.

He sat back. Unfortunately she was down in the jungle, so it was up to him. He hated this part – the politicking, the negotiating and the selling. He guessed that dozens, maybe even hundreds, of scientists and doctors in the field had raised alerts, but probably few had requested what he had – national mobilization. Now it was up to him to justify his request. Dammit, he thought again. Carla should be doing this. She’d twist these guys around her little finger. If only I’d …

The thought froze in his brain as the doors opened soundlessly, and a smiling woman motioned with her finger and then breathed a few sentences he couldn’t quite hear. Why did she need to whisper? Was the Pope inside? Hew got to his feet and swallowed, making his prominent Adam’s apple bobble on his thin neck. The woman turned and disappeared inside, and he followed.

Several older men and women were standing around talking quietly, pouring coffee into good-quality bone china.

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