Dearly, Beloved Part 4

"Oh yeah," Tom said, his peeved tone belying his words. "Just disappointed that alcohol doesn't work the way it's supposed to anymore, that's all."

"Your girlfriend's in surgery," I told him. "Sam's done with her voice."

Tom's bald eye ridges jumped in surprise, his lips splitting into a sharklike grin. Coalhouse chuckled. "Really? This I gotta see."

Something in his sentence set the other two off, because their expressions transformed from "there's no place like home" to "oh, h.e.l.l no" in the s.p.a.ce of two blinks. "You know, you only see with one of those lumps in your head," Tom said. "Maybe you should give the other to me for safekeeping." He extended a hand, frowning.

"That was not acceptable, what happened back at the docks," Bram said to Coalhouse.

"Can we talk about this later?" Coalhouse asked, glancing uneasily at me.

"No. We talk about it now." Bram pointed at his useless eye. "I don't care if you wear it when things are quiet, but you've got to take it out whenever there's the chance of action. You knew this back at base."

"But this isn't Z Beta. There are people on the streets, they'll see me ..."

"You're a zombie. If you're not missing body parts, you're doing it wrong!" Tom yelled. "You put us in danger today. And it's because you care what you look like?"

"Danger?" I asked, only to be ignored.

"Oh, and he didn't?" Coalhouse pointed angrily at Bram. "Like he didn't flip out?"

"What?"

My tone of voice was enough to arrest them, to stall their dispute. Still, they all had that funny, stiff "zombie pack" posture-like their bodies were ready to throw down if dominance needed to be physically established, even if their minds had yet to consciously go there. I'd seen it before.

Bram cleared his throat. "We'll get into it later. Go see Chas."

"Guess I'm not the only immature one, huh?" Coalhouse said, before stomping in the direction of the hall. Tom shook his head, then followed.

"Immature?" I asked once they were gone. "What's the matter?"

"Let's just say that I'm more pessimistic now than I was this morning." Bram reached for me again. "I'm glad you didn't come. I would have been worried sick."

I pushed his scarred hand away in annoyance. "Talk."

With a rumble, he said, "We had to take on some zombies, okay? Back up the army. Thankfully, it didn't turn into a bloodbath."

"Oh G.o.d." Cue me immediately feeling like a jerk. "I'm so sorry."

Bram shrugged, though I could tell he was still troubled. "Let's get everyone settled and then we'll talk. We're safe, that's what matters."

Respecting this, I gave up. Even though I still had questions, suddenly I wasn't half as worried as I had been. The Punks could take over the world with giant mechanical dinosaur clowns and I wouldn't bat an eyelash. No matter what might be happening, no matter how many fires might be burning, being with Bram always seemed to make things at least feel better.

He was okay. He was here. He was home.

Now I just needed my father.

"We can't do anything right now. I went over to the Erika and spoke to Salvez already."

"I swear, if I hear that phrase one more time ..." I kneeled on my chair. "Anyway, what did Salvez say?"

"Like Dr. Chase told us-the Laz has mutated."

"There's more to it than that."

"I wish I knew, Nora."

It was dinnertime, and Bram was trying to get some food in him-the usual. Tofu. Protein used to trick his body into thinking it was getting the flesh it wanted, mixed with a digestive enzyme since his stomach no longer worked. Between statements, I gave him five chews. Under the kitchen table dad's Doberman pinscher, Fido, begged.

"You didn't see Papa at all?"

"No. I asked for him, but got the runaround. Like usual. Every time I go over there lately, he's busy. I feel kind of shut out of the research side of things."

"Is it dangerous there? Should we be worried about him?"

"I told you about the living mob and the zombie attacks. We left once it got calmer and more army reserves arrived. See? I'm not holding anything back this time."

"I want to see him, Bram." I leaned my elbows on the table and fixed my gaze on one of the household signs Dr. Chase had used her talent with calligraphy to create: ZOMBIE-ONLY SILVERWARE GOES IN THE CANISTER . "I just want to know that he's safe."

Bram chewed five times. "Give him more time. The news just broke earlier today."

"I know. And I know that he has the world on his shoulders. That's why I've tried to be respectful. But Bram ... I can't do this anymore."

Looking into Bram's eyes, I could see that he understood. "I'm getting to that point myself. Somehow I've ended up a grunt on the ground again. Still fighting people. But I am not army anymore. Don't want to be. Problem is, now is not the time to pitch a fit about it. We've got to stick together. Do what needs to be done."

Putting my head in my hands, I tried to think. Bram patted my back, wiped his mouth and said, "Look, I did get some info." Lifting my head, I saw that he was cleaning off the fork and knife he'd used to eat with. "Here-I get to do the medical briefing this time."

"Go for it." It was better than nothing. I pillowed my cheek on my folded arms, turning my head to watch.

"So, you know the illness that makes zombies is fluid-borne, and caused by prions."

"Yes." I knew that prions were proteins, technically the same as other proteins already located in the human body-simply shaped differently, and thus diseased. They were wont to bend healthy proteins to look just like them, causing a deadly chain reaction that, in the case of the Lazarus, reanimated the dead.

Bram held up his knife and fork. "So imagine these are prions. They're made of the same stuff-both metal, in this case-but they're different shapes." He stuck the tip of the knife through two of the fork tines. "Let's say the knife is the 'bad' one. So the knife sticks to the fork, and reshapes it. The fork turns into the knife." He spirited the fork under the table, leaving the "new" knife. "And it goes on to stick itself into another fork and change it, etcetera, etcetera. Eventually the infected person hits the ground-and in the case of the Laz, sits up again."

"And we're all terribly grateful for that."

Bram chuckled, and brought the fork back out. "Now, proteins are made of amino acids. The way the antibodies created by your father's vaccine are supposed to work is ..." He used the fork to spear a leftover glob of tofu-just on two tines. "They stop up the gap by sticking to a specific amino acid chain. They plug up the hole." He mimed the tip of the knife trying to connect to the fork and encountering the blasted tofu. "The bad one can't bond with the good one, so infection can't take place."

"So what makes the new form able to bypa.s.s that?"

He slid the base of the knife between two other, unprotected tines. "The connection is made between a different set of unprotected amino acids."

"How?"

"Prions are capable of evolution, even though they have no DNA of their own. The question is, when did this mutation come about? Why haven't we seen it before? Is Patient One the only one with it, or is it present in other zombies? Did he get it from someone else?"

"Patient One?"

Bram lowered his educational cutlery. "That's what the researchers are calling the biter. They haven't managed to identify him yet, and word is he won't talk. Both infections trace back to him. The zombie who bit your dad all those years ago is the first zombie on record, and they call him Patient Zero. They never found the 'first ever' zombie, the one who made Patient Zero-he has to be dead by now."

"Have you seen him?"

"No." Bram frowned. "Salvez did say they've already put your samples under the microscope, though."

"And?"

"You're still immune."

"Goody. Let's hold a parade." I knew my nigh-miraculous immunity stemmed from my own stubborn genetic makeup, not antibodies. Still, I asked, "So what happens if there are other strains out there?"

Bram didn't respond immediately, studying his plate. "I don't know right now," he decided. "We have plenty of options, but none of them are good."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear. "What if we have t-"

"You stupid, rotting fool!"

Jerking my head up, I looked over at the kitchen door just in time to see Dr. Richard Elpinoy, my father's top geneticist, stalk past. A door slammed and my father hobbled up behind him, supporting himself with a mahogany cane. The dark-skinned, white-haired Dr. Elpinoy's trench coat gaped in front, the b.u.t.tons barely connecting over his stocky frame.

"Come back here!" my father bellowed. "Come back here and look me in the eye when you say that!"

"I've said enough!" Elpinoy turned and glared up at my father. "You've spent the entire day moping about, practically praying for death, as if you suddenly agree with Wolfe! That traitor! I'm half inclined to give you what you want!"

I'd never heard my father or Elpinoy speak like that. I was so shocked that I momentarily forgot to exclaim over the simple fact that Papa was home, or even leave my seat. Bram appeared absolutely dumbfounded.

"Are you threatening me, you pompous piece of-"

"Threatening you? Hardly! I'm telling you that your behavior's unacceptable! And I think you know it, too!" Elpinoy dared to put a finger in my father's face. "I've been with you since almost the beginning on this-you asked for me by name. We were colleagues at school. You trusted me once, and I've been telling you for years that the final cure to this whole h.e.l.lish mess lies in genetic engineering! In subst.i.tuting a new protein for the original Zr-068 protein, thus rendering the diseased prion impotent. You have one last chance to turn your research in the right direction!"

"And I told you," my father roared, swinging his cane at nothing in particular, "that solution would be too difficult and expensive-oh, not to mention stupid as h.e.l.l! What are you going to do, change the genetic makeup of everyone on earth because of one illness?"

"When that illness causes the dead to come back to life and hunger after the flesh of the living? Yes!"

"Vaccination is the easiest and most robust method of combating the Laz!"

"It took us years to come up with a vaccine! We do not have years to come up with another! And what happens if a new strain arises? And another, and another? What do we do then, Dearly? Tell me!"

I started to stand up, and Bram followed suit. "Why is d.i.c.k challenging him all of a sudden?"

Elpinoy heard Bram, and finally turned to look at us. "I'll tell you why!" He stormed into the kitchen and got right up in Bram's face, forcing him back. "That b.a.s.t.a.r.d is going to get us all killed, that's why!" Fido slipped from under the table, slicking his ears back and growling at Elpinoy. Bram caught him by the collar.

For the last few minutes I'd been numb. Now my entire body went hot. "Don't you dare call him that!"

"I'll call him whatever I like, missy!" Elpinoy rounded on me. "I'm leaving. I'm not about to march to that man's insane drumbeat anymore. Unless drastic measures are taken, the Laz is just going to keep mutating until it's turned the entire world into a graveyard. I'm not about to let that happen!" He turned to my father, who was entering after him. "I quit."

Bram's mouth dropped open. "Dr. Elpinoy, you can't do this!"

"Oh, I can. I quit. Do you hear me, you stubborn rotter? I quit!" With that, Elpinoy started to stomp away. "I'm clearing out my room! I'm leaving this accursed house!"

"Go!" my father thundered a few steps closer, almost getting my foot with his cane. "I never want to see your face around here again, you hear me?"

"Papa!" I reached out to capture the sleeve of his coat. "Calm down. Please, just calm down and talk to us?"

"Nora?" My zombified father looked down at me with his dark, milky eyes, his entire body going still.

"I've been trying to call you for days." I traded his sleeve for his wrist, and felt how tense he was. Consciously or not, he was prepared for the hunt, for the fight. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I could tell he was trying to disguise his anger, but he wasn't fully successful. "Go to your room, NoNo. I'll be there soon."

I shook my head. "Come with me. You need to rest."

My father tossed off my hand. "I'm fine. And you don't need to worry about me. You have Mr. Griswold to look after you." He looked at Bram and uttered a short, phlegmy laugh. "I won't be here forever, after all."

Bram let go of the dog and stepped forward. "Sir, she's right. You need-"

"I will tell you what I need if and when I need it!" Papa shouted. We were both taken aback, and said nothing in response. For a moment I saw despair wash over my father's aristocratic features, before they hardened once more. He marched out without another word.

Bram took my hand again. I didn't even feel it.

Bram didn't ask questions. He knew that I needed to get away. He went upstairs and got a gun for himself and a hat for me, and took me outside. He tucked me into Aunt Gene's carriage, and together we headed for the surface.

The drive was slow and quiet, apprehension thickening the air between us. I was still trying to decide if I couldn't believe what I'd just seen, or if I was only frightened by how easily I could believe it. Papa's anger reminded me of Samedi's fight with Wolfe. During that final encounter Samedi'd gone about his violent business so easily, so pa.s.sionately-his reanimated mind and body aligning, like a series of dark stars, to the task of beating and biting Wolfe. The idea that my father might be capable of the same thing made my skin crawl.

Compared to what I'd seen on the news the city had quieted down significantly, though parts of it still appeared on edge. Even through the closed windows I could hear sirens in the distance. Bram chose a route that took us off the main streets but kept us close to the EF, and we ended up driving through an upper-cla.s.s neighborhood-nothing like the dominions of the very rich in the countryside surrounding New London, but nice enough-where several houses stood with their front entrances thrown open to reveal lavishly-lit interiors, the fences surrounding them bedecked with flowers and strings of electric bulbs. Competing parties-maybe debuts. Well-heeled ladies and gentlemen walked past, laughing, seemingly ignorant of the current state of the world. The Season was on.

Seeing them actually gave me some hope, though it was impossible for me to enjoy the sensation. More smothering mourning crepe had been sold in the last few months than snowy debutante satin, and yet some people were still celebrating, carousing, living. The entire city should look like this.

After allowing me a few silent minutes to marvel, Bram started back, turning onto West Herbert Avenue. The lights were on in the police station there, and people were still tramping in and out-most of them clad in black. Everybody was in mourning for somebody. Shops were closing down for the day, peddlers packing up their street carts, and the few people abroad seemed to hurry from one pool of lamplight to the next, wary of the shadows. Living people either tried to stay close to the zombies accompanying them or attempted to avoid the zombies they pa.s.sed entirely.

I finally rubbed at my eyes, and Bram reached over and touched my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. I felt like I should cry, but I was too confused. "He's never spoken to me like that. I mean, I half think I deserve it for some of the things I've done, but still ..."

Bram pulled the carriage over to the side of the road and took my hand once more. I gave in and let myself tear up. He leaned over and kissed my clothed right shoulder, where he'd once bitten me, and my cheek.

Shutting my eyes, I tried to concentrate on the sensation of his touch. "He'll come home to scream at Elpinoy, but he won't answer my e-mails."

"He's scared," Bram said, his deep voice right in my ear. I could almost feel it in my bones, more nouris.h.i.+ng than my own blood. "Like you said, he has everything riding on him. But he loves you."

"I know. He's done this before-thrown himself into his work. After my mother died, he did the same thing. I know I have to think of it that way. It just hurts."

Bram looked down at my hand at the mention of my mom. "Yeah."

Releasing a shaky breath, I said, "I still keep wis.h.i.+ng things would just go smoothly. For everyone."

"Chances of that happening?"

"Slim to none." Doing my best to convert a hiccup into a sigh, I wondered how much I ought to rant-for I knew half the things I wanted to complain about were petty. I wasn't so consumed by my own drama that I couldn't see it. "He didn't even see me. He didn't want to deal with me. And he thinks he gets to tell me what to do? That he knows what's best for me?"