Jakarta Pandemic, The by Steven Konkoly Read Free Book Online Page A

the bottom of our screen, and we will be broadcasting any new ISPAC website updates as they are posted. Stay with us, we’ll be back in a moment.”
     
    Alex stared at the screen for a few more seconds and then returned to his closet to change into jeans and a gray long-sleeve fleece pullover. He headed back toward the stairs and stared down the hall at his office door.
    I need to get the kids down to dinner, or I’ll have more to worry about than viruses. I need to check one more thing first.
    He entered the office and typed “Hong Kong International Airport” into Google. The search engine’s first link was the airport’s official website. He scanned the page and clicked on “flight information,” then “departures.” The screen filled with the day’s scheduled departing flights.
    Jesus. If this virus is deadlier than the avian flu, we’re in trouble.
    By noon on any given day, over a hundred flights departed HKIA for every major city in world, and by midnight that same day, flights originating from HKIA landed in major hubs on every continent. From there, these passengers embarked on journeys to every conceivable corner of the planet. Within sixteen to eighteen hours of leaving Hong Kong, an infected passenger could be sharing a pint of Guinness with friends in a Dublin Pub, sipping tea with family in the suburbs of Damascus, or meeting a friend for Italian food in Boston’s North End.
    And this thing has been brewing in China for more than three days. This thing is everywhere.
    He minimized the web browser and got up to call the kids to dinner.
     
    **
     
    The Fletchers ate dinner sitting at a large rectangular pine table located between the kitchen and family room. The eating area was separated from the family room by two half walls, with a wide opening centered between them, anchored by sculpted wood columns extending from the top of the half walls to the ceiling. Alex served butternut squash soup to everyone, and Kate started the evening interrogation.
    “So, anything huge going on in class for anyone? Emily?” Kate said.
    Emily replied, “Not much, we’re still learning some Spanish. I have homework again.”
    “Yeah, you’re going to have a lot more than the one spelling test you had last year. Try homework like every night, and more tests. I have like two hours a night now,” Ryan complained.
    “Well, I think we’re going to have about the same as you. I heard from Lauren that her friend in Mr. Leahy’s class already has over an hour of work to do every night,” Emily said.
    “I doubt it. I never had that much work in third grade. Third grade is like kindergarten compared to middle school.”
    “Okay, crazies, Ryan wins the award for most oppressed by homework. Anything other than that going on this week?” Alex said.
    Both children shook their heads slowly.
    “Really, there’s not much,” Ryan said.
    “Of course not,” Alex said.
    “I think I might join cross-country like Ryan. Lauren is running in it,” Emily informed them.
    “You already have soccer practice three times a week,” Kate reminded her.
    Kate looked at Ryan and asked, “Don’t they run their meets on Thursday?”
    “Yeah, but the meets are optional, and they’re done by four thirty. They only run like a mile or maybe less. She could probably do it.”
    Emily’s face brightened.
    “If she wasn’t so slow,” Ryan added, emitting a terribly annoying laugh, and Emily reached over the table to hit him.
    Kate grabbed her arm, and pointed her finger at Ryan. “That’s enough! Both of you. No hitting, and you, cut it out.”
    Alex shook his head, half smiling, and then turned to Ryan. “Really, quit agitating your sister. It’s starting to become a very annoying habit.” He turned back to Emily. “Anyway, sweetie, I don’t think you should double up on practices in the same day. Soccer comes first, and you make as many running practices as you can. Sound good?”
    He turned his head back to Ryan and raised