Black Wind (Dirk Pitt 18)

"I'm sorry to hear that," Dirk said with genuine concern in his voice. "Irv's a tough old bird, I'm sure he'll sail through without a hitch. Have you any idea how on earth he contracted smallpox?"

"Well," Sarah replied, swallowing hard, "the incubation period is approximately fourteen days. That would mean he became infected about the time we were on Yunaska ... and aboard the Deep Endeavor!"

"He may have contracted it on our ship?" Dirk asked incredulously.

"I don't know. It was either on the ship or on the island, but it matters little now. The smallpox virus is remarkably contagious. We need to work fast to check everyone who was onboard the Deep Endeavor and isolate those infected. Time is critical."

"What about you and Sandy? You were working and living together with Irv. Are you all right?"

"As CDC employees, Sandy and I were both vaccinated two years ago after concerns were first raised about smallpox as a potential bioterrorist threat. Irv was on loan to us from the state of Alaska's Department of Epidemiology and had not yet received his vaccination."

"Can the crew of the Deep Endeavor still be vaccinated?"

"Unfortunately, it would do no good. The vaccine can be effective within a couple of days of exposure but becomes useless thereafter. It's a terrible disease, as once you've contracted it there is nothing that can be done to combat it until it has run its course."

"I'll contact Captain Burch and we'll check on all the crew members as soon as possible."

"I will be back from Spokane this evening. If you can assemble the crew, I can help the ship's doctor check each man for symptoms in the morning."

"Consider it done. Sarah, I could use another favor from you as well. Okay if I pick you up in the morning?"

"Sure, that would be fine. And, Dirk ... I pray that you are not infected."

"Don't you worry," he replied confidently. "There's way too much rum in my blood to keep any bugs alive."

Dirk immediately called Captain Burch, and, with Leo Del-| gado's help, quickly contacted each crew member who had sailed on the Deep Endeavor. To their relief, none of the men reported signs of illness, and all appeared at the NUMA field office the next morning

As promised, Dirk picked up Sarah at her apartment early in the: morning, electing to drive the big '58 Chrysler.

"My word, this is an enormous car," Sarah declared as she climbed into the finned behemoth.

"It's the original definition of heavy metal," Dirk grinned as he stoked the car out of the parking lot and drove toward the NUMA building.

Many of the Deep Endeavor's crew greeted Sarah warmly when she arrived before the assembled group, and she noted to herself how the entire crew behaved more like close family members than coworkers.

"It is great to see my NUMA friends again," she said, addressing the crew. "As you may know, my associate Irv Fowler, who was on the ship with us, has been diagnosed with smallpox. The smallpox virus is highly contagious and it is critical that those infected be quickly isolated. I will need to know if any of you have suffered from the following symptoms since Irv, Sandy, and I left the Deep Endeavor, fever, headache, backache, severe abdominal pain, malaise, delirium, or rashes on the face, arms, or legs."

One by one, she examined the apprehensive crew, taking temperatures and grilling each man or woman on signs of the deadly disease. Even Dirk and Captain Burch were subject to her checkup, after which Sarah gave a noticeable sigh of relief.

"Captain, just three of you

r crewmen are showing minor flu like signs of illness, which may or may not be preliminary symptoms of the virus. I request that these men remain isolated until we can complete their blood tests. Your remaining crew should avoid large public venues for at least a few more days. I would like to do a follow-up check at the end of the week, but it appears promising there has been nO outbreak among the ship's crew."

"That is good news," Burch replied with audible relief. "Seems odd to me that the virus did not spread easily through a confined ship."

"Patients are most infectious after the onset of rash, which typically occurs twelve to fourteen days after exposure. Irv was well off the boat and working in Anchorage when he reached that stage, so it's possible that the virus had not spread while we were aboard. Captain, I would ensure that his stateroom on the Deep Endeavor is thoroughly sanitized, along with all linen and dining ware aboard the ship, just to be safe."

"I'll see that it's taken care of right away."

"It would appear that the source of the smallpox outbreak was on Yunaska," Dirk speculated.

"I think so," Sarah replied. "It's a wonder that you and Jack were not exposed when you picked us up off the island."

"Our protective gear may have saved us."

"Thank God," she said gratefully.

"It would seem that our mysterious friends on the fishing boat may have been dabbling with something even nastier than cyanide. Which reminds me ... the favor I asked?"