A Crying Shame (114 page)

May I speak?” Karl said.

Mike looked at him, sighed, then nodded his head.

Dr. Lewis is disturbed about something he found while examining the brain of that first Link you killed, Jon.”

Sheriff Saucier spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.
Wonderful,” he said sarcastically.
Now what?”

Walter thinks he has found a virus that is quite similar to
Formido inexoribilis
. . . .”

Formi—what the hell did you say?” Mike blurted.

Rabies,” Karl replied wearily.

Well, that's just dandy!” Mike said.
What the hell else is going to happen around here?”

Wait a minute, Mike.” Jon silenced him.
Karl, you said ‘quite similar.' Is that to the good or the bad?”

Well...” The German was thoughtful.
I would think—I cannot be certain of this, of course—I would say the bite is not . . . would not produce the same lasting effects as
Formi
—” He looked at Mike.
Rabies. I do not believe it is fatal.” He shook his head.
Oh, Jon, you are asking me questions I cannot satisfactorily answer. We need time for tests, to study. We need a few Links alive.”