Chapter 9
As Marcus and Theodore had not continued to view the news program, they did not see the after effects. The city had been swamped by military personnel in a matter of a couple of hours, and towards the end of the program, about twenty minutes after the apparition at the company's office building, the reporters had transmitted the fact that the military had been notified and they were intending to quarantine the city, and affect a carefully controlled evacuation. The time it took for Marcus to return to civilized areas was near two and a half hours, which had given the military long enough to complete a visual cordon surrounding the city which consisted of a continuous ring of soldiers and vehicles, each positioned to be at the farthest extent of sight from their adjacent emplacements. The scene Marcus saw as he came out of the forest consisted of a previously quiet suburban road now full of people, small groups talking, other groups huddled around a phone or other device, passing information back and forth and gossiping about what had happened. Walking amidst the groups was an old lady, she went from one group to another, waving a bible in one hand and a rosary tightly wrapped around her fist. At her throat was a collection of Crosses and St. Christophers, and she wore a dress that looked like it might be her sunday best. As she approached Marcus, he spotted the other people glancing at her sidelong, as if they wished to not be seen by her, fearing she may turn her fanaticism towards them. She approached Marcus, and put her hands on his chest, imploring to him, "The end is coming! Confess your sins my boy, whilst you still can! The fallen one is coming!"
Marcus gently released himself from her grip, and the woman seemed to realise her words had fallen on deaf ears, and she took her warnings on to other members of the disjointed assemblage. Marcus stood aghast at the implications of what he saw, and he decided to take in some sights, as quickly as possible. He unlocked his bicycle from a nearby railing, and proceeded towards the company building that had been the site of the earlier ruckus. As he approached from a few streets away, he encountered a military cordon closing the street ahead. Rather than attempt to pass through, he aimed for the least busy soldier and approached him, asking for information.
"We can't say exactly what happened. We have as little information as you. The only thing i can tell you is that everything surrounding that building that was on the news report has been leveled. We have no personnel inside the area ourselves. The damage is so extensive the sewers underneath have collapsed. Our intel comes from a helicopter pass. We have no idea how it happened, or where the cause went. Your guess is as good as ours mate!"
Marcus was understandably unsatisfied with this explanation, so he went to his home, and collected his own collection of portable devices, a small but powerful tablet computer, a very large hard drive and a few other bits. In particular, he brought his portable battery, it could charge a tablet multiple times over before needing to be plugged into a wall socket. He took these back with him to Theodore's, and found Theodore had been surfing the internet in hopes of finding more information on what had happened. Marcus suggested that perhaps they ought to move back towards the road, as they were now unlikely to be considered much of a threat as the company had already pretty much villified themselves anyway. As soon as the panic died down, Marcus surmised, the police would close them down simply for the death of the cameraman. Their possession of the data had suddenly seemed to be of little importance, and Marcus was rather susceptible to the emotional need for more people in this scary situation, and wished to be near the groups on the street. He suggested to Theodore, "If we are going to search the internet for more information, it may be useful to be near the group of people gossiping about this very topic."
Theodore had needed little encouragement. He was a strange kind of social creature, often he would talk very little, and be content to be around people, other times he would talk a lot and be non-plussed at their presence or disappearance. This latter state often emerged when he had a 'job' on that was keeping his mind happily busy. In the current case, he was simply happy to see people however, he had been hiding in the forest over a month now with only a late night trip to overnight supermarkets for social interaction. He did not find much in the acquaintance of yawning clerks and drunken students who were the only other people he usually saw. As they neared the street, the gatherings were now more relaxed, people were talking and debating things rather than looking around scared. It seemed each group had its own phone on which they would occasionally watch something, huddled together. By this time the clock would have read around eight o'clock, and the chill of the evening was already starting to bite, so some of the more sensible local residents had brought out blankets for those that were cold, so that the congregation could continue. The general feeling was by now less panicked, but was certainly still tinted with fear. Theodore and Marcus took up a space on the curb nearest the path back to the clearing, and looked around at the people. There were perhaps five families, and another twelve or so individuals, in four groups. Some of the individuals occasionally went from one group to another. As they sat and watched, the failing light passed a monitored threshold, and the lamp lights began to pop alive, making the busy street look warmer, and feel a little less uncomfortable. As they sat, small patches of conversation floated over to them, and whilst Theodore began to search the internet for more video's and information, again using Marcus' phone, whilst Marcus allowed himself to drift amongst the conversations, the words drifting to his ears whilst his eyes lazily surveyed.
An older woman spoke to a younger woman, the latter holding a small baby sleeping wrapped in ample blankets, "I think its got to be a publicity stunt. They will have some new toy to hawk tomorrow, you mark my words!" The younger woman replied with, "Thats nonsense Ma, they destroyed a whole building. And damned if it didn't look like they killed a man. Somebody will be getting it in the neck for this." She chuckled at her understatement. Ma responded with, "You act like it was your boyfriend, to be nagged, ha! Always liked the big red tho didn't you?" Ma took her turn for a chuckle. The conversation turned into a good-hearted game of witty insults, which led to Marcus losing interest.
"We should leave the city. Whatever it is, it cant be good. The military has moved in, this has to be serious." Marcus looked to the voice, as it seemed to be a rather sensible one, and might yield them information. He saw a slim short man with messy hair wearing a smart pair of trousers, a little plain in grey, and a white shirt and black tie. He wore a pair of glasses that had been repaired in multiple places with sticky tape. Over his shoulders he wore a blanket loosely, and folded over one arm, Marcus saw a white coat, as might be owned by a doctor or a lab technician. This final detail caught firm hold of Marcus' attention, and he resolved to listen more.
"Yeah, you're right, but with the cordon, we can't do anything, even if we wanted to leave." This second voice was from another of similar build to the first. Where the first was clean, and wearing a shirt and tie, this latter was smudged with black dirt, and his clothes were simple t-shirt and jeans, both again dark with dirt. By contrast, his hair was immaculately controlled, a smooth line held back firmly by the mans personal choice of hair product. Marcus realised that the dirt was in fact probably motor oil, and he guessed the other was a mechanic of some kind.
"What do you think will happen? They were saying 'Controlled Evacuation' and 'Quarantine', surely those should be mutually exclusive?" The First again.
"I don't know. It seems they are expecting to find a certain person or something. They are seeming to intend to let us leave, so maybe we should try? We got Dad's old van, my bike, and we can go buy supplies. Man, I don't give a shit, that video gave me the willies and I aint afraid to say."
"I think we should wait. Until we see serious cause for alarm. We still don't know if it really happened. It coulda been a balloon and some c4 for gods sake." The first man again. The more this pair spoke, the more Marcus realised they were more than just of similar build, they were almost identical twins. The first Seemed the intellectual, and the second was the hands on type, and by consequence their attires were drastically different, but once you saw past this, they looked very similar.
"We can prepare tho?" Asked the second. He seemed happy to call on the problem solving skills of his companion.
"Of course, go on, you can stop sitting on your hands if you wish." The second almost ran off, clearly desperate to just be busy. As he was a few feet from entering the door to their nearby abode, there was the loud clunk that sometimes accompanies a large change in electric current, and every hardwired electronic light within sight went dark, plunging the road into an immediate twilight, the only spots of light coming from phones and other self powered portable items, some casting a light onto their owner's faces and making them appear like ghosts amongst the living.
The road was silent for almost a minute, as everyone held tight to their panic, and was lost for words. Then they all began to move, everyone almost immediately. One or two panicked completely, and ran at a mad dash, but most of the people were sensible, being able to keep controlled, altho the grim looks on many faces showed that it hadn't been easy. There were two fathers among them who were barking orders at their family, people were getting into cars, some entering houses. The second speaker was among those who ran to the houses, although it seemed his motivation was not so panicked. The poor old lady with the rosary and the bible was stood in the middle of the empty road, seemingly at the end of her wits. Tears began to stream down her silent face as she held the bible to her left temple and the rosary to her right.
Marcus turned back to the first speaker, and asked his name. The speaker responded with, "Im Dean. Why you asking?"
"I have a feeling you might be able to help us with something." He gestured towards Theodore, still working on the tablet. Theodore had hardly noticed the lights going out.
A look of fear crossed Dean's face, "Look man, i don't want any trouble," He began to rise, as if he intended to run inside at any moment.
"Look, Dean, I don't want any trouble either. Can we just talk a moment please? I spotted your lab coat, what is it you do Dean?"
"I'm a biology post graduate. I work in a lab genetically sequencing DNA from swabs sent in for forensic analysis."
"Then it seems, your expertise will be of use."
"How?"
"Did you see the news?"
"No, but Robert (Thats my brother.) He showed me a rerun online. It doesn't seem like it can be real, but how could they fake that?"
"You hear what the reporter said before all hell broke loose?"
"Yeah, something about an ex employee?" As Dean said this, Marcus pointed at Theodore, who was oblivious.
"That's him." Marcus said in flat truth.
"Seriously? The woman said he had all their research?" It was clear Marcus had attained the mans attention.
"Sort of, yeah."
"Hey man, I'm in just to get a read of that stuff," He stood as if he was ready to come immediately, and as he did, his brother came out the door.
"Hey Dean, Enough crap, I'm getting the van ready now." He spotted Marcus, "Who's that?"
"Good question," Dean smiled at Marcus.
"My name is Marcus, and that," Marcus pointed, "Is Theodore."
"Oh, ok." Robert went back into the house.
"You wanna join us? We are getting out of the city. Robert is not happy staying here. We have family in the midlands, so it may be a long drive but we have somewhere to go at least till things calm down. And, maybe i can have a look at that research." As he finished, Dean winked.
"Won't we have trouble fitting four in a van?" Marcus looked into the garden, all he could see of the vehicle was a sloping front that looked like a standard van, but the rest of the vehicle from the windscreen up was in dark shadow, the back end parked in the large garage adjoining the house.
"We call it a van, but its not a van. Here, I'll show you."
Dean walked over to the garage, and tried the light switch. When nothing happened, he chuckled at himself, and fumbled on a shelf just inside, and returned with a large torch. He turned it on and pointed it at the van, and in the bright illumination, it showed the van was actually a motorhome, nearly twenty five feet long and about eight foot tall.
Marcus grinned, "That'll do!"
"It used to be our dad's, but he died. Dad used to take us on the road a lot, so it's kinda like a second home. He was also very much into being prepared, i think that's why Robert is packing now," he smiled in reminiscence, "Robert is just like our dad you know."
"How long ago did he die?" Asked Marcus.
"Five years. But enough stories, we wont have anything to talk about on the drive!" It was clear Dean had ended the subject because he found it painful, so Marcus dropped it.
"Are you sure its ok to come?"
"You guys better. I love Robert, but if i gotta drive a hundred miles with him alone... I may end up going mad!" Dean laughed.
"Ok," Marcus smiled, "Ill go tell Teddy, and get our bits ready."
Theodore was a little unsure at first, but once he had met Dean and Robert, he relaxed, and he grinned at the Van as well. It took little more than an hour for Theodore and Marcus to collect the supplies from the clearing and return to the Van, by which time Robert had finished his loading, and Dean had installed himself in the driving seat.
They packed up their things into the internal storage compartments, and then Marcus and Theodore took a seat on a sofa inside whilst Robert joined dean up front. The big vehicle started with a loud shudder, and as Dean shifted into gear there was a crunching noise in the clutch which caused a giggle from Robert and Dean. Robert turned to their passengers and said, "Its alright boys, she always does that!" And with this, Dean pulled her slowly out of the garage and into the road, then started on their drive.
The first leg of their journey was simply an attempt to get out of the city.
Marcus gently released himself from her grip, and the woman seemed to realise her words had fallen on deaf ears, and she took her warnings on to other members of the disjointed assemblage. Marcus stood aghast at the implications of what he saw, and he decided to take in some sights, as quickly as possible. He unlocked his bicycle from a nearby railing, and proceeded towards the company building that had been the site of the earlier ruckus. As he approached from a few streets away, he encountered a military cordon closing the street ahead. Rather than attempt to pass through, he aimed for the least busy soldier and approached him, asking for information.
"We can't say exactly what happened. We have as little information as you. The only thing i can tell you is that everything surrounding that building that was on the news report has been leveled. We have no personnel inside the area ourselves. The damage is so extensive the sewers underneath have collapsed. Our intel comes from a helicopter pass. We have no idea how it happened, or where the cause went. Your guess is as good as ours mate!"
Marcus was understandably unsatisfied with this explanation, so he went to his home, and collected his own collection of portable devices, a small but powerful tablet computer, a very large hard drive and a few other bits. In particular, he brought his portable battery, it could charge a tablet multiple times over before needing to be plugged into a wall socket. He took these back with him to Theodore's, and found Theodore had been surfing the internet in hopes of finding more information on what had happened. Marcus suggested that perhaps they ought to move back towards the road, as they were now unlikely to be considered much of a threat as the company had already pretty much villified themselves anyway. As soon as the panic died down, Marcus surmised, the police would close them down simply for the death of the cameraman. Their possession of the data had suddenly seemed to be of little importance, and Marcus was rather susceptible to the emotional need for more people in this scary situation, and wished to be near the groups on the street. He suggested to Theodore, "If we are going to search the internet for more information, it may be useful to be near the group of people gossiping about this very topic."
Theodore had needed little encouragement. He was a strange kind of social creature, often he would talk very little, and be content to be around people, other times he would talk a lot and be non-plussed at their presence or disappearance. This latter state often emerged when he had a 'job' on that was keeping his mind happily busy. In the current case, he was simply happy to see people however, he had been hiding in the forest over a month now with only a late night trip to overnight supermarkets for social interaction. He did not find much in the acquaintance of yawning clerks and drunken students who were the only other people he usually saw. As they neared the street, the gatherings were now more relaxed, people were talking and debating things rather than looking around scared. It seemed each group had its own phone on which they would occasionally watch something, huddled together. By this time the clock would have read around eight o'clock, and the chill of the evening was already starting to bite, so some of the more sensible local residents had brought out blankets for those that were cold, so that the congregation could continue. The general feeling was by now less panicked, but was certainly still tinted with fear. Theodore and Marcus took up a space on the curb nearest the path back to the clearing, and looked around at the people. There were perhaps five families, and another twelve or so individuals, in four groups. Some of the individuals occasionally went from one group to another. As they sat and watched, the failing light passed a monitored threshold, and the lamp lights began to pop alive, making the busy street look warmer, and feel a little less uncomfortable. As they sat, small patches of conversation floated over to them, and whilst Theodore began to search the internet for more video's and information, again using Marcus' phone, whilst Marcus allowed himself to drift amongst the conversations, the words drifting to his ears whilst his eyes lazily surveyed.
An older woman spoke to a younger woman, the latter holding a small baby sleeping wrapped in ample blankets, "I think its got to be a publicity stunt. They will have some new toy to hawk tomorrow, you mark my words!" The younger woman replied with, "Thats nonsense Ma, they destroyed a whole building. And damned if it didn't look like they killed a man. Somebody will be getting it in the neck for this." She chuckled at her understatement. Ma responded with, "You act like it was your boyfriend, to be nagged, ha! Always liked the big red tho didn't you?" Ma took her turn for a chuckle. The conversation turned into a good-hearted game of witty insults, which led to Marcus losing interest.
"We should leave the city. Whatever it is, it cant be good. The military has moved in, this has to be serious." Marcus looked to the voice, as it seemed to be a rather sensible one, and might yield them information. He saw a slim short man with messy hair wearing a smart pair of trousers, a little plain in grey, and a white shirt and black tie. He wore a pair of glasses that had been repaired in multiple places with sticky tape. Over his shoulders he wore a blanket loosely, and folded over one arm, Marcus saw a white coat, as might be owned by a doctor or a lab technician. This final detail caught firm hold of Marcus' attention, and he resolved to listen more.
"Yeah, you're right, but with the cordon, we can't do anything, even if we wanted to leave." This second voice was from another of similar build to the first. Where the first was clean, and wearing a shirt and tie, this latter was smudged with black dirt, and his clothes were simple t-shirt and jeans, both again dark with dirt. By contrast, his hair was immaculately controlled, a smooth line held back firmly by the mans personal choice of hair product. Marcus realised that the dirt was in fact probably motor oil, and he guessed the other was a mechanic of some kind.
"What do you think will happen? They were saying 'Controlled Evacuation' and 'Quarantine', surely those should be mutually exclusive?" The First again.
"I don't know. It seems they are expecting to find a certain person or something. They are seeming to intend to let us leave, so maybe we should try? We got Dad's old van, my bike, and we can go buy supplies. Man, I don't give a shit, that video gave me the willies and I aint afraid to say."
"I think we should wait. Until we see serious cause for alarm. We still don't know if it really happened. It coulda been a balloon and some c4 for gods sake." The first man again. The more this pair spoke, the more Marcus realised they were more than just of similar build, they were almost identical twins. The first Seemed the intellectual, and the second was the hands on type, and by consequence their attires were drastically different, but once you saw past this, they looked very similar.
"We can prepare tho?" Asked the second. He seemed happy to call on the problem solving skills of his companion.
"Of course, go on, you can stop sitting on your hands if you wish." The second almost ran off, clearly desperate to just be busy. As he was a few feet from entering the door to their nearby abode, there was the loud clunk that sometimes accompanies a large change in electric current, and every hardwired electronic light within sight went dark, plunging the road into an immediate twilight, the only spots of light coming from phones and other self powered portable items, some casting a light onto their owner's faces and making them appear like ghosts amongst the living.
The road was silent for almost a minute, as everyone held tight to their panic, and was lost for words. Then they all began to move, everyone almost immediately. One or two panicked completely, and ran at a mad dash, but most of the people were sensible, being able to keep controlled, altho the grim looks on many faces showed that it hadn't been easy. There were two fathers among them who were barking orders at their family, people were getting into cars, some entering houses. The second speaker was among those who ran to the houses, although it seemed his motivation was not so panicked. The poor old lady with the rosary and the bible was stood in the middle of the empty road, seemingly at the end of her wits. Tears began to stream down her silent face as she held the bible to her left temple and the rosary to her right.
Marcus turned back to the first speaker, and asked his name. The speaker responded with, "Im Dean. Why you asking?"
"I have a feeling you might be able to help us with something." He gestured towards Theodore, still working on the tablet. Theodore had hardly noticed the lights going out.
A look of fear crossed Dean's face, "Look man, i don't want any trouble," He began to rise, as if he intended to run inside at any moment.
"Look, Dean, I don't want any trouble either. Can we just talk a moment please? I spotted your lab coat, what is it you do Dean?"
"I'm a biology post graduate. I work in a lab genetically sequencing DNA from swabs sent in for forensic analysis."
"Then it seems, your expertise will be of use."
"How?"
"Did you see the news?"
"No, but Robert (Thats my brother.) He showed me a rerun online. It doesn't seem like it can be real, but how could they fake that?"
"You hear what the reporter said before all hell broke loose?"
"Yeah, something about an ex employee?" As Dean said this, Marcus pointed at Theodore, who was oblivious.
"That's him." Marcus said in flat truth.
"Seriously? The woman said he had all their research?" It was clear Marcus had attained the mans attention.
"Sort of, yeah."
"Hey man, I'm in just to get a read of that stuff," He stood as if he was ready to come immediately, and as he did, his brother came out the door.
"Hey Dean, Enough crap, I'm getting the van ready now." He spotted Marcus, "Who's that?"
"Good question," Dean smiled at Marcus.
"My name is Marcus, and that," Marcus pointed, "Is Theodore."
"Oh, ok." Robert went back into the house.
"You wanna join us? We are getting out of the city. Robert is not happy staying here. We have family in the midlands, so it may be a long drive but we have somewhere to go at least till things calm down. And, maybe i can have a look at that research." As he finished, Dean winked.
"Won't we have trouble fitting four in a van?" Marcus looked into the garden, all he could see of the vehicle was a sloping front that looked like a standard van, but the rest of the vehicle from the windscreen up was in dark shadow, the back end parked in the large garage adjoining the house.
"We call it a van, but its not a van. Here, I'll show you."
Dean walked over to the garage, and tried the light switch. When nothing happened, he chuckled at himself, and fumbled on a shelf just inside, and returned with a large torch. He turned it on and pointed it at the van, and in the bright illumination, it showed the van was actually a motorhome, nearly twenty five feet long and about eight foot tall.
Marcus grinned, "That'll do!"
"It used to be our dad's, but he died. Dad used to take us on the road a lot, so it's kinda like a second home. He was also very much into being prepared, i think that's why Robert is packing now," he smiled in reminiscence, "Robert is just like our dad you know."
"How long ago did he die?" Asked Marcus.
"Five years. But enough stories, we wont have anything to talk about on the drive!" It was clear Dean had ended the subject because he found it painful, so Marcus dropped it.
"Are you sure its ok to come?"
"You guys better. I love Robert, but if i gotta drive a hundred miles with him alone... I may end up going mad!" Dean laughed.
"Ok," Marcus smiled, "Ill go tell Teddy, and get our bits ready."
Theodore was a little unsure at first, but once he had met Dean and Robert, he relaxed, and he grinned at the Van as well. It took little more than an hour for Theodore and Marcus to collect the supplies from the clearing and return to the Van, by which time Robert had finished his loading, and Dean had installed himself in the driving seat.
They packed up their things into the internal storage compartments, and then Marcus and Theodore took a seat on a sofa inside whilst Robert joined dean up front. The big vehicle started with a loud shudder, and as Dean shifted into gear there was a crunching noise in the clutch which caused a giggle from Robert and Dean. Robert turned to their passengers and said, "Its alright boys, she always does that!" And with this, Dean pulled her slowly out of the garage and into the road, then started on their drive.
The first leg of their journey was simply an attempt to get out of the city.