Plum Island

CHAPTER 10

The semicircular lobby of the Plum Island research laboratory was two stories high with a mezzanine ru

On the left wall were the standard government chain-of-command photos-the president, the secretary of agriculture, and Dr. Karl Zollner; a rather short chain for a government agency, I thought, leading me to believe that Dr. Zollner was maybe a heartbeat or two away from the Oval Office.

Anyway, there was a reception counter, and we had to sign in and exchange our blue clip-on passes for white passes on a plastic chain that we hung around our necks. A good security procedure, I thought-the island was divided between this building and everything else. And within this building were the Zones. I should not underestimate Mr. Stevens.

An attractive young lady with a knee-length skirt had come down the staircase before I had a chance to check out her thighs, and she introduced herself as Do

Paul Stevens said to us, "I'll take this opportunity to check in with my office and see if there are any further developments." He added, "Do

"What if I have to go to the men's room?"

"You already did." He went up the stairs, stopping, I'm sure, at Dr. Zollner's to report on the five intruders.

I looked at Do

In any case, Do

Anyway, Do

She shook hands all around and gave Nash a special smile. Women are such bad judges of character.

Do

Her face tried to remain smiley, but I could see it was forced. She said to us, "I'm very… it's terrible what happened. I really liked the Gordons. Everyone liked them." She glanced around, like people do in police states, and said, "I'm not supposed to discuss or comment on any of that. But I thought I should say how I felt."

Beth glanced at me, and seeing, I think, a possible weak spot in the Plum Island armor, said to Do

I looked into Do

She said, "I'll show you around a bit. Follow me."

We did a little walk around the lobby, and Do

Do

Do

Max inquired, "Are there any other ways in or out of the biocontainment areas?"

Do

Mr. Foster inquired, "How are the products of dissection-wastes and all that-disposed of?"

"Through the incinerator or designated drains that lead to the water and waste decontamination plant," Do

Each of us was thinking our own thoughts about the Gordons, about smuggling stuff out of the labs.

Do

"Is the shower co-ed?" I inquired.

She laughed. "Of course not." She added, "I understand that you all have been cleared to go into Zones Two, Three, and Four if you want to."

Ted Nash smiled his stupid smile and asked, "Will you be accompanying us?"

She shook her head. "I don't get paid for that."

Neither did I at a dollar a week. I asked Do

She looked at me, sort of surprised. "Five? Why would you want to go there?"

"I don't know. Because it's there."

She shook her head. "There are only ten or so people who are authorized to go into Five. You have to put on this kind of space suit-"

"Were the Gordons authorized to go into Five?"

She nodded.

"What goes on in Zone Five?"

"You should ask Dr. Zollner that question." She glanced at her watch and said, "Follow me."

"Stay together," I added.

We walked up the staircase, me trailing behind because my bad leg was getting draggy and also because I wanted to check out Do

So, we began a tour of the two wings that flanked the two-story lobby. Everything was painted the same dove gray or dark gray, which I guess has replaced the pukey green of older federal buildings. On the walls of the corridors were photos of past lab directors, scientists, and researchers.

I noticed that almost all the doors in the long corridors were closed and they were all numbered, but none of them had the name of a person or function on them, except the lavatories. Good security, I thought, and again I was impressed with Paul Stevens' paranoid mind.

We entered the research library where a few egghead types were browsing through the stacks or reading at tables. Do

I couldn't imagine too many animal disease libraries in the universe, but I said to Do