Read Online The Plague Years (Book 1): Hell is Empty and All the Devils Are Here by Mark Rounds - Free Book Online
Authors: Mark Rounds
Tags: Zombie Apocalypse
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stone for something other than a rock garden. The finished product had turned out well, looking for all the world like a wood fired Italian pizza oven. It made a decent pizza and, like now, was great for ribs and corn on the cob.
Chad had to work most of the day, not getting home until after 2:00 pm so this
Dinner was mainly Mary’s doing. Not that he complained. When your wife is a catering manager, the food at home tended to be pretty darned good. Chad had spent the day refining his spread estimates and incorporating new data which was now, thankfully, was coming real time. Then there had been a press conference. Chad tended to dodge those things but his boss had insisted because he was the only one who could really explain the models he had worked up.
Most of what he had to say was explaining flow and growth rates which he assumed were for background. The real bombshell occurred when the real infection rates were mentioned by Dr. Riley. General Buckley’s back channel call to his former Academy classmate and current Army Chief of Staff had gotten results. Classifications were adjusted and the decision for a limited release of information had been made late Saturday. This morning, there were several Department of Health officials that had to be briefed and then there was the press.
It was all soft pedaled of course, and the officials said that they were monitoring the situation. The good news was that they had also requested people limit travel, begin basic infection control issues like hand washing, avoiding physical contact with strangers, and using condoms, all these would have an effect. It was not enforced legally but Chad’s group was assured that there would be a special meeting with the Surgeon General and key members of Congress on Monday to start drafting appropriately worded legislation to enforce these rules. Other things were in the works and it had all swirled above Chad’s head. It was out of the bag and that is what mattered.
Dave came across his yard and over to the barbecue. He was carrying a bowl of homemade potato salad which was his contribution to the dinner.
“There’s cold beer in the cooler Dave,” said Chad as he put the rack of marinated pork ribs on the grill. “Help yourself.”
Dave put the bowl down on the picnic table and snagged a beer from the cooler. “You are a mind reader,” he said as he opened his own beer.
“I saw you on TV,” said Dave.
“I know, I thought I was briefing background but they used the footage. Mary was upset. She has always said I should dress better at work, but then, how was I to know they were going to film it? Then the whole thing went viral on You Tube.”
“I gotta admit, the Grateful Dead T-shirt and jeans did make quite a fashion statement,” said Dave with a smile. When he taught, Dave was ‘encouraged’ to wear a tie and slacks. Chad had often gloated over the fact that he could wear most anything to work as long as it was clean.
“It still sounded worse than what we had talked about,” continued Dave.
“Well, I didn’t know everything I know now about the cases around the west. The east coast data is only a few days old too.”
“That guy Dr. Grieb seemed to know his stuff,” said Dave. “Is all that infection control stuff and seven signs of infection readily available?”
“It’s a handout we gave to the media folks,” said Chad. “I think it’s posted on our web site now and various Public Health sites. I also forwarded to my friend, Colonel Antonopoulos. It is apparently the basis for their new protocols.”
“I think we better sit down and do a little planning” said Dave.
“That’s why we are having the barbecue.”
“Great, I do my best work after two beers when I can use greasy fingers to draw diagrams on Mary’s white table cloth.”
“Yeah, do that and Mary will skin us both for that.”
“Skin you both for what?” asked Mary with Heather and her three kids in tow.
“Nothing Mary, I am
Chad had to work most of the day, not getting home until after 2:00 pm so this
Dinner was mainly Mary’s doing. Not that he complained. When your wife is a catering manager, the food at home tended to be pretty darned good. Chad had spent the day refining his spread estimates and incorporating new data which was now, thankfully, was coming real time. Then there had been a press conference. Chad tended to dodge those things but his boss had insisted because he was the only one who could really explain the models he had worked up.
Most of what he had to say was explaining flow and growth rates which he assumed were for background. The real bombshell occurred when the real infection rates were mentioned by Dr. Riley. General Buckley’s back channel call to his former Academy classmate and current Army Chief of Staff had gotten results. Classifications were adjusted and the decision for a limited release of information had been made late Saturday. This morning, there were several Department of Health officials that had to be briefed and then there was the press.
It was all soft pedaled of course, and the officials said that they were monitoring the situation. The good news was that they had also requested people limit travel, begin basic infection control issues like hand washing, avoiding physical contact with strangers, and using condoms, all these would have an effect. It was not enforced legally but Chad’s group was assured that there would be a special meeting with the Surgeon General and key members of Congress on Monday to start drafting appropriately worded legislation to enforce these rules. Other things were in the works and it had all swirled above Chad’s head. It was out of the bag and that is what mattered.
Dave came across his yard and over to the barbecue. He was carrying a bowl of homemade potato salad which was his contribution to the dinner.
“There’s cold beer in the cooler Dave,” said Chad as he put the rack of marinated pork ribs on the grill. “Help yourself.”
Dave put the bowl down on the picnic table and snagged a beer from the cooler. “You are a mind reader,” he said as he opened his own beer.
“I saw you on TV,” said Dave.
“I know, I thought I was briefing background but they used the footage. Mary was upset. She has always said I should dress better at work, but then, how was I to know they were going to film it? Then the whole thing went viral on You Tube.”
“I gotta admit, the Grateful Dead T-shirt and jeans did make quite a fashion statement,” said Dave with a smile. When he taught, Dave was ‘encouraged’ to wear a tie and slacks. Chad had often gloated over the fact that he could wear most anything to work as long as it was clean.
“It still sounded worse than what we had talked about,” continued Dave.
“Well, I didn’t know everything I know now about the cases around the west. The east coast data is only a few days old too.”
“That guy Dr. Grieb seemed to know his stuff,” said Dave. “Is all that infection control stuff and seven signs of infection readily available?”
“It’s a handout we gave to the media folks,” said Chad. “I think it’s posted on our web site now and various Public Health sites. I also forwarded to my friend, Colonel Antonopoulos. It is apparently the basis for their new protocols.”
“I think we better sit down and do a little planning” said Dave.
“That’s why we are having the barbecue.”
“Great, I do my best work after two beers when I can use greasy fingers to draw diagrams on Mary’s white table cloth.”
“Yeah, do that and Mary will skin us both for that.”
“Skin you both for what?” asked Mary with Heather and her three kids in tow.
“Nothing Mary, I am
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