Invasive Procedures (44 page)

“Can’t you just do it now and get it over with?”

“There’s also the possibility that the EMP will stop your heart. So, no, the countervirus is our best option. The collar is a contingency plan.”

Hernandez held up a crude-looking collar with a small device attached to the back. She fastened it around Byron’s neck and flipped the switch. “Try not to generate too much static electricity or you might set it off inadvertently. And don’t plug anything into electrical sockets or get too close to power lines.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said a little uneasily.

“And don’t rub your hands together quickly or take clothes out of the dryer,” said Frank.

“I’m glad you find this amusing,” said Byron.

Frank helped him secure his helmet and got his air flowing. Then he hit his comlink. “You look a little too comfortable in that biosuit, Byron. Career change, perhaps?”

“And have people shoot at me every day? No thanks. I’ll take a boring desk job and die of natural causes.”

The driver called back from the front. “Approaching the airfield, sir.”

“We’re getting on an airplane?” asked Byron.

“No, we’re stopping people from getting on airplanes. Galen planned an exodus. He was making copies of himself to form what he called the Council of Prophets. Each of the five members of the Council was supposed to lead a group of Healers to a densely populated city; Paris, London, Tokyo, São Paulo, and Beijing were the first wave.”

“To do what?”

“Continue healings, spread the virus, generate recruits. Each group was to consist of ten Healers, so you can imagine how quickly the virus would spread.”

“That’s fifty Healers. Please tell me there aren’t that many where we’re going.”

“There will be at noon today, once the recruits arrive.”

“Recruits?”

“Galen wasn’t healing people out of the goodness of his heart, Byron. He was building an army. Every person healed in Southern California thought they were being given a free cure, but they weren’t. It came with a heavy price: enlistment.”

“He’s forcing all of his former patients to become Healers?”

“None of them know this, of course. They think they’re gathering for a routine medical checkup. When they hear they’ve been drafted, I daresay they’ll be surprised.”

They turned west onto a poorly paved road leading into an abandoned airfield. Most of the land had been stripped, including the runway; all that remained now was a hangar, a large airplane-assembly building, and a smattering of smaller, single-story structures in various stages of disrepair.

“This is the old Hughes Airport,” said Byron. “No one can get a plane out of here. They tore up the runway years ago.”

“Galen never planned on flying from here,” said Frank. “They’re flying out of LAX, a mile north of here. Hughes is a meeting place—not only because it’s inconspicuous and conveniently close to the airport, but also
because Galen needed a building large enough to hide two stolen city buses.”

Byron raised an eyebrow.

“Once all the recruits are gathered, they’ll be drugged, given boarding passes, loaded onto the buses, and taken to LAX—seen by all but noticed by no one, just folks taking the bus to the airport. Then they’ll board planes to any one of the five cities.”

“But why are Healers going through with this? There is no Council of Prophets. It failed.”

“Not completely. There’s currently one member.”

“You mean Dolores? You think she’s coming here?”

“If she’s Galen, she’ll play it as planned. She’ll be here.” He looked out the windshield and spoke to the driver. “Park behind that building there, and stay out of sight of the hangar.”

They parked and got out. Frank had them hide behind a few old storage crates while he looked at the hangar through binoculars. The white pickup was parked out front.

“Dolores is inside,” he said. “We can safely assume Carter and the others are as well. Now we wait for the recruits.”

“And you’re sure all of them are coming?” said Byron.

“We’re counting on it,” said Hernandez. “This may be our only chance to identify everyone Galen’s treated.”

“He left specific instructions that no one be left behind,” said Frank. “It’s why the patients were taken from the infirmary. Everybody goes. Trust me, they’ll be here.”

“So this is it?” said Byron. “Two little vans of BHA agents against the entire Healer army? No offense, but that’s a little David-and-Goliath, don’t you think?”

“We’re going into a hot zone,” said Hernandez. “A place loaded with virus. You can’t just send in the cavalry. We have to contain the place first.”

“You say that as if you were throwing a sheet over a table. These are Healers. I’ve seen what they can do to people. They don’t give up easily.”

“Not all of the Healers have been genetically altered,” said Frank. “Those who haven’t will be of little concern.”

“Yeah, and those who have will be a very big concern.”

“What’re you worried about?” said Hernandez. “We’ve got Frank.” She winked at Frank, and they both smiled. Byron failed to see the humor.

Frank lifted the binoculars and watched the road by which they had
entered. After a few minutes, a car pulled in. “I think our first recruit is arriving,” he said.

The sedan drove onto the airfield, approached the Healer hangar, and parked. A woman in conservative business attire got out. A side door to the hangar opened, and Stone ushered her in. Soon, another car came. Then another. And finally a congestion of cars entered the airfield and headed toward the hangar. Two Healers went outside to direct the traffic. Stone stayed at the hangar door, checking names off a list as they entered.

“Where’s this cavalry you mentioned?” said Byron. “When do you call for backup?”

“If we put in the call now,” said Frank, “this place will be flooded with sirens; Healers will know we’re on to them. Then we’ll have a hostage situation. For our plan to work, we wait.”

“I don’t suppose I should know what this plan is?”

“Don’t worry. Your job is to stay here out of sight. As soon as we get the countervirus, we’ll come back with it.” He turned to Hernandez. “Remember, Galen planned to store the samples of virus and his countervirus in two separate duffel bags. They also have the trunk of
my
countervirus. We don’t call until we’ve secured it all.”

She nodded.

“Shouldn’t we at least call the airlines?” said Byron. “Warn them ahead of time?”

“The FAA is alerted,” said Frank. “But hopefully they won’t have to become involved. The plan is to stop the Healers here. No one reaches the airport.”

Soon the traffic slowed, and finally the last car parked. Stone checked the name off the list and waved for the Healers who’d been directing traffic to come inside.

“That’s everyone,” said Frank, handing the binoculars to Hernandez. “Wish me luck.”

“Wait, you’re going by yourself?” said Byron. “That’s the plan?”

Frank answered with a wink, then got up and walked alone toward the hangar.

Lichen tried to hide his disappointment. Of all the vessels to become the prophet, Dolores was the one who made him feel the most uneasy, and not
because she was a woman, though that was a big part of it. It just didn’t feel right. Galen had always been a father figure, and now to have him suddenly be a mother figure who acted like a father figure felt more weird than Lichen cared to admit.

“You’re staring again, Lichen,” said Dolores. She was looking at one of the buses parked inside the hangar and had seen Lichen’s reflection on its surface as he stood behind her.

“Forgive me, sir. I am merely overcome with gratitude that you have returned.”

She laughed. “No, you’re not. You’re wondering why I’m a woman.”

Lichen said nothing.

She turned and faced him. “All is well, Lichen. Have faith. I can see now that this was the best course of action. I have no regrets. My eyes have been opened, in fact. Until now, I only understood half the members of our species. Now I get the whole picture. Women are fascinating.”

Carter approached. “They’re ready for you, sir.”

“Thank you, Carter.” She patted Lichen’s arm. “Faith, Lichen.”

Lichen didn’t shudder at the touch, but he wanted to. There was no doubt she was the prophet—he had checked the blood himself. The question was whether or not she
should
be the prophet.

He followed her to the open space where all the recruits were waiting. It was a big crowd, and all were accounted for, even those who had been inside the BHA infirmary. It hadn’t been an easy task extracting them, and Lichen felt a measure of pride in knowing he had done something right for a change. He spotted the little black girl toward the front and smiled at her. She saw him, but didn’t smile back.

As instructed, each of the recruits stood on one of the circles painted on the floor, which arranged them into rows. They were an army in formation, even if they didn’t know it yet.

“I am George Galen,” Dolores said loud enough for all to hear. “I know I may not look like a George, but we are not always what we seem, are we? Consider yourselves. Until recently, each of you seemed a lost cause. Your doctors had written you off; many of your families had given up hope. Friends all looked at you with pity. But to me you seemed different; to me you always seemed full of life. I looked at you and saw years yet to be lived, memories yet to be made. And so my associates and I have given you a second chance at life and put an end to the suffering which so
unfairly beset you.” She smiled. “It makes me happy to see you all so healthy now. Your bodies so strong and able to do so much. I want to wish each one of you well.” She went to the first person in line and kissed him on the forehead. Then she went to the next and kissed him, and so on down the line.

Lichen noticed how some of the people exchanged glances. This wasn’t what they had expected. But once she kissed them, their faces relaxed.

When Dolores finished giving a kiss to them all, she walked back to the front. “Now I ask something of
you
,” she said. “
The Book of Becoming
teaches us that when our lives have been lifted, it behooves us to lift others. You will continue this effort, multiply it, carry it forth, help those of our brothers and sisters who are without hope in the world. What I ask of you is a sacrifice, to leave your lives and move to a greater calling. Is there a one among you who objects?” No one made a sound. “Good. Now, hop on one foot.” Everyone did. Dolores giggled.

Lichen felt annoyed. To make light of their sacrifice seemed inappropriate. Was this Galen? Or the remnant of the women Dolores?

“Touch your nose,” she said. Everyone did. Some of them continued hopping on one foot as well.

“Okay, Simon says stop.” They stopped, and she laughed again.

There was a sound of commotion at the door, and Lichen looked to see a Healer roughly escorting Frank inside. Dolores stopped laughing. Everyone stared.

Frank snapped off his helmet. “Wonderful. We’re all here.”

Carter rushed over and grabbed him threateningly.

“Come now, Carter, is this the respect you give me now?”

“You deserve none,” said Carter.

“I am here for the Council. Am I not welcome?”

Carter released him. “Council?”

Frank pulled down his collar, exposing his neck. “Lichen, prove to this unbeliever that I am who I say I am.”

Lichen looked at Carter, hesitated, then came over with the box and placed it against Frank’s neck. He took a blood sample, and the box beeped. Everyone waited while Lichen looked at the reading. “It’s a match,” he said.

Carter took the box from him. “I don’t believe it.”

“Let me see that,” said Dolores.

Carter gave it to her. She looked at it, then lifted her eyes to Frank, studying him. “He’s tricking us somehow. That’s just like him.”

Frank smiled. “Are you saying that because, like Hal and Nick, you believe there can be only one prophet, or is this simply cautious skepticism?”

“It’s a trick,” said Dolores.

Frank sighed. “I’d rather not waste time squabbling. We have too much work to do. You want proof that I’m Galen? Fine, ask me anything. Ask me something only Galen would know.”

“What gift did you give me?” said Lichen, surprising everyone for speaking out of turn. He couldn’t help it. The prospect of a man, a sane man, being Galen was too exciting.

Frank made a face. “Lichen, even Frank knew that. Your gift is speed, among others. Maybe it would be more convincing if I told you which underpass I found you at three years ago, skinny, homeless, half starved, with only a ragged blanket to warm yourself.”

Lichen’s eyes widen. No one but Galen knew that.

“You want more proof?” said Frank. “Behind that building to the east are two vans of BHA agents watching this hangar.”

Several Healers became alarmed. Carter looked out the window.

“I’ve convinced them that I’m still Frank,” he went on. “When the chip switched on, Frank tried stopping it by ramming a needle into the back of my neck, but fortunately he hit it an instant too late. I had already become who I am.” He laughed to himself. “What’s funny is that the BHA believe that Frank was successful and that I’m still Frank with some of Galen’s memories. It was so easy to convince them. They simply took me at my word.”

Lichen was beaming.

“If that’s true,” said Carter, “then why did you bring them here? Why give away our location? Why threaten the dispersion?”

“Because it was the only way for
me
to get here. Had they known who I was, they would have stopped me. Plus, I had to get Byron here. He hasn’t transitioned yet. With Hal and Nick gone, we can’t risk losing another Council member. Three will have to suffice.”

“Byron is here?” said Carter.

“Am I talking to myself? Yes, Byron is among them. He thinks he’s along because the countervirus is close. Incidentally, we have it, don’t we?”

“Yes, sir,” Lichen said, pointing to the trunk. “The version Galen . . . I mean,
you
created. And the version Dr. Hartman created in that trunk over there.”

“Wonderful,” said Frank.

“Wait,” said Carter, still looking skeptical. “How do we know there aren’t a thousand federal agents out there, waiting for us to leave the hangar?”