Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (21 page)

Dreyfus nodded reluctantly.

“Okay,” he said. “Just be smart, okay? Be safe.”

It struck him that in a better world, those words would exist in another context, a context more suited to the life of a fourteen-year-old.

Edward left, and Dreyfus picked up the paper. The headline might as well have jumped out and slapped him in the face.

“Oh my God,” he muttered.

LOCAL BIOTECH FIRM CREATED SIMIAN FLU
Mayor’s Office Involved in Cover-Up
By David Flynn

The 133 retrovirus devastating the region and other cities around the world originated at Gen Sys, a biological engineering firm located in the Bay Area. An inside informant and company records indicate that the virus resulted from a serum intended as a cure for Alzheimer’s
disease. According to verified documents, it was designed to help the brain to repair itself. It was tested on primates, and seemed to increase the intelligence of the test subjects.

The virus was developed by William Rodman, a scientist once considered to be on the cutting edge of Alzheimer’s research. His procedures were called into question when a trial version appeared to cause a chimpanzee test subject to go berserk. More recently Rodman began testing an improved version, and then quit abruptly, lodging formal complaints that the testing was being moved ahead too quickly. Rodman could not be located for comment, but a source at Gen Sys has claimed that faulty trials led to the infection of humans.

Independent sources and records obtained by the San Francisco Sentinel reveal that Gen Sys and the mayor’s office colluded to keep the details of this research, and the events that followed, from the public. They have also tried to actively suppress information concerning the escaped apes that wreaked havoc in the city and on the Golden Gate Bridge before fleeing into the Golden Gate National Recreational Area.

Bank records indicate that Mayor House received as much as ten million dollars from Gen Sys and its parent company, Polytechnic Solutions. Police Chief Burston also was named in the documents, but neither he nor Mayor House could be reached for comment. A spokesman for the mayor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the claims are “outrageous and utterly without foundation,” but sources inside the administration corroborate the relationship between the mayor and the tech firm.

Official reports from City Hall, claiming that the violence on the bridge was exaggerated, have been called
into question. Sources indicate that the primates number in the hundreds, and exhibit unnatural intelligence and aggression. Currently they are reported to be roaming Muir Woods, and Anvil, a paramilitary contracting firm also owned by Polytechnic Solutions, has been hired to handle what has been dubbed “Monkeygate.” Trumann Phillips, the executive in charge of the Anvil presence, could not be reached for comment.

The current death toll attributed to the Simian Flu stands at more than 100,000 nationwide and that number is expected to grow exponentially. Medical facilities are overwhelmed with those who have been infected, as well as victims of escalating violence throughout the city.

“Well,” Dreyfus muttered. “There’s the other shoe.” He set his coffee down and headed for the office.

* * *

“You think being locked up might cost House the election?” Patel asked.

“There’s not going to be an election,” Dreyfus said. “No matter what happens to the goddamn mayor. And who do you imagine is going to lock him up?”

“Well, we’ll find out soon enough,” his aide replied. “They’ve announced a press conference, and if anything’s going to happen, most likely it will happen there.”

Sure enough, a short time later House appeared before the cameras. He still wasn’t wearing a surgical mask, but looked more bedraggled than ever.

I almost feel sorry for the sonofabitch
, Dreyfus thought.
Almost.

After some adjustments to balance the sound, the mayor began to speak.

“I’m here today to address the allegations directed at me
and my administration, and to state definitively that they are entirely false,” he said. “This city is deeply in crisis, and will probably remain so for the foreseeable future. For the moment, that is my one and only priority, and all of the resources of this office are focused on maintaining public safety as much as is possible.

“When the danger is over,” he continued, “I will happily submit to any sort of outside investigation the citizens may call for. In the meantime, I remain in charge. This city is under martial law, and I am its executive officer.

“Thank you. God bless you all, God bless the City of San Francisco, and God bless America.”

* * *

The first mob to storm City Hall formed less than an hour later.

The police and National Guard units repelled the first wave with tear gas and rubber bullets. The crowd backed up, but continued to grow. Police were called in from other parts of the city.

Dreyfus watched all of it unfold on the TV, and he came to a decision. He reached for his jacket.

“It would have been nice to have been mayor,” he said with a sigh.

When he arrived at City Hall, the mob looked as if it was on the verge of charging again. Despite the bullhorn he held, it took him several tries to get their attention, and for a moment he thought they were going to charge
him
. Then someone in front shouted his name, then someone else, and before he knew it, it became a steady beat.

“Dreyfus… Dreyfus… Dreyfus…”

He raised his hand, and they quieted a little.

“Look,” he began, through the bullhorn. “I understand that you’re angry. I am too. If what we’ve heard is true—and I think the evidence is compelling—then Gen Sys, Mayor House, and anyone else involved must and will be held accountable. But for the moment, this city is collapsing around our ears. Already basic services don’t exist for many citizens, and the predictions are that it’s only going to get worse.

“We can’t fall apart now,” he said. “We need leaders.”

“You mean House?” someone shouted. “Screw that. Screw him!”

That was followed by a messy wave of rage that took a few moments to calm.

“No,” Dreyfus said. “I do not mean Mayor House. We have law in the city. We have procedure. It’s clear that—guilty or innocent—Mayor House does not have a mandate to govern. Under normal conditions, he would be under indictment even as we speak. Instead he’s chosen to go the way of the tyrant, protecting himself with his office and the brave men and women who serve that office.

“He should and must step down. In the event a mayor cannot continue in office, he is replaced by the president of the Board of Supervisors—in this case, Daniel Ngyun, a good man, a capable man. That is what we should demand.” He paused a moment to let that sink in, then continued. “To the policemen out there, you all know me. I may not be your chief anymore, but you know what I stand for. The mayor is right about one thing—we are deeply in crisis, and we cannot spare a single life on either side of this line. Not when we know our real enemy.

“We should not be fighting each other. We should be fighting this disease, this Simian Flu. We should demand full disclosure,
now—
about how the virus was created and how it might be cured. In holding back this information from the CDC, Gen Sys, Mayor House, and everyone involved has critically delayed the search for a cure. Who knows what might have happened if, rather than trying to cover their collective asses, they had instantly divulged the blueprint for this virus? There might already be a vaccination.

“So I’m talking to the police now. Stop fighting this fight. Your mayor is now Daniel Ngyun. Place yourselves under his control. That’s the law. Everyone else, go home. Trashing City Hall isn’t going to help anything. Odds are Mayor House isn’t even in there.”

* * *

Three hours later Dreyfus got a Skype call from Daniel Ngyun. The picture was pixilated, but the sound was clear.

“Way to put me on the spot, chief,” he said.

“Oh, come on,” Dreyfus replied. “You said it yourself—if you thought you could beat me in the primary, you would have run. Now you get to skip that part. Anyway, it was the only thing to do. So what’s up? To what do I owe the honor of this call?”

“Well, we can’t even find Mayor House right now,” Ngyun said. “I’ve removed Burston and appointed Tremont as Chief—”

“Good choice,” Dreyfus said. “But I was kind of hoping to fill those shoes again.”

“Yes, I kind of figured that,” Ngyun admitted, nodding. “But no go.”

“Still, I need to do something, Daniel. Maybe you can find a place for me on your staff, or… something.”

“From what I can tell, you’re doing plenty,” he said. “Quelling two riots, all of those talk shows, precipitating a more-or-less peaceful transition of authority. You haven’t exactly been a couch potato. But I can’t make you chief again.”

“I understand,” Dreyfus said, his heart sinking.

“I don’t think you do,” Ngyun responded, and there was a strange sound to his voice.

“I’m appointing you mayor,” he added.

“You’re what?”

“I convened a full meeting of the board. They didn’t all show up, but I had a quorum. Congratulations.”

“This is completely out of the ordinary,” Dreyfus said. “Normally the president of the board—”

“The president of the board has the 113 virus,” Ngyun said. “That’s why I’m Skyping, instead of coming over
there in person. I don’t want to spread it around.”

That silenced Dreyfus for a moment.

“Oh, shit, Danny, I’m sorry,” he finally managed.

“I’m in the early stages,” he said. “But we all know how quick this goes. What could I do in a couple of days? I’d rather—well—prepare.”

“Maybe…”

Ngyun smiled faintly, and held up a hand.

“Yeah, I keep telling myself that, too. Maybe.” He shook his head. “Good luck, Dreyfus,” he said. “You’re the man this city needs right now. In all of this you’ve been the steadiest, most reasonable voice, and the people know it. They’ll follow you.” He sighed. “My wife and kids are still clean. I’m counting on you to bring them through the other end of this.”

“You have my word,” Dreyfus said, “I’ll do everything in my power. I swear it.”

“I know you will. Come down this afternoon for a quick swearing-in ceremony, and then get to work.” With a
bloop
, the screen went blank.

Dreyfus stared at it long after Ngyun’s image had faded. Then he poured himself a Scotch, trying to absorb what had just happened, feeling the weight start to press on his shoulders.

“By God,” he murmured to himself. “This is not how I wanted it to happen.” He raised the glass. “To you, Daniel. Godspeed.” He took a sip.

He’d wanted to be mayor. He’d wanted to be
elected
mayor. But right now, what he wanted didn’t matter. This was how things fell out. And he knew the first thing he was going to do.

He took out his phone and punched in a number.

“Tremont,” the voice on the other end announced.

“Hey Chief, I just heard,” Dreyfus said. “Congratulations.”

“Yeah,” Tremont said. “About that. I told them I thought you should—”

“Nonsense,” Dreyfus said. “You would have been my pick, too. If I’d had my say. Which in about an hour I will.”

“Sir?”

“The board is making me mayor,” he said.

There was silence on the other end of the line.

“That’s good news,” Tremont said.

“Look, I’m not sworn in yet, but I think there’s something we should get on top of, right now, before it gets away from us. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but this is important.”

“Whatever you say, Mr. Mayor.”

* * *

What’s bothering Caesar?
Maurice asked, looking out over their new home, however temporary it might be.

Too quiet
, he replied.

Too quiet
, Maurice echoed.

Caesar watched a juvenile chimp playing with a young orangutan.

They will come again
, he said.
But not the same way
.

I agree
, Maurice signed.

They have a tricky thinker with them
, Caesar said.
Learned our ways and used them against us. I think they were driving us to the helicopters, but helicopters went away.

Maybe humans fighting each other, too, like in store
, Maurice offered.
Maybe it’s the disease you heard them talking about. Things may be getting worse for them. Maybe they don’t care about us as much.

They weren’t together
, Ceasar replied.
Something about their plan changed. I feel it. But if they try again, they won’t try the same thing.
He looked at Maurice.
How would you catch apes?

Maurice shifted slightly on his branch.

Get rid of trees
, he said finally.

Caesar looked at the giants around him.

Humans come on ground
, Maurice explained.
Helicopters come from the sky. Apes can go over humans on the ground, stay below the tops of the trees where helicopters can see.

How could they get rid of the trees?
Caesar wondered.

Fire
, Maurice replied.

Caesar looked around again.

Burn this?
he said. He remembered his trips here with Will, and the other humans he had seen.
This place is important even to humans
.
They wouldn’t burn it
.

If Caesar says so
, Maurice replied.

How else?

Maurice held up his hands, making two half-circles with them. He brought them together to form a circle.

Come from every direction
, Caesar said.
Thought of that
.
But we could go up. Like you said.

They could think of that, too
, Maurice replied.

We’re waiting on them again
, Caesar said, his frustration mounting
. Waiting to respond to them.

Maybe they won’t do anything
, Maurice signed.

Caesar looked over at the orangutan, and realized that Maurice was saying something that wasn’t true, in order to be funny. What did Will call that?