Red by Ted Dekker Read Free Book Online Page B

loud!”
    â€œNo, in the Dark Ages the human race didn’t have the technology to create anything this nasty.”
    â€œI can’t believe you didn’t see this coming.”
    It was as close to an accusation as one could make, and it silenced the room.
    â€œAnyone who understands the true potential of superbugs could have seen something like this coming,” Jacques de Raison said. “The balance of nature is a delicate matter. There is no way to predict mutations of this kind. Please explain that to your president.”
    They looked at each other as if at any moment one of them would surely say something that would set this terrible mistake straight.
    April fools!
    But it wasn’t April and no one was fooling.
    They rallied around Sumner’s repeated announcement that the virus had only been verified in Bangkok. No one else knew quite what to look for, although the CDC was working feverishly to get the right information into the right hands.
    â€œDon’t we have a plane to catch?” Thomas finally asked.
    They looked at him as if his statement should require some examination. Everything Thomas Hunter said was now worthy of examination.
    â€œThe car will take us in thirty minutes,” Gains’s assistant offered.
    â€œGood. I’m not sure we’re doing any good here.”
    Silence.
    â€œHow so?” someone finally asked.
    â€œFor starters, I’ve already told you all of this. And all the talk in the world won’t change the fact that we’re facing an airborne virus that will infect the world’s entire population within two weeks. There’s only one way to deal with the virus, and that is to find an antivirus. For that I believe we’ll need Monique de Raison. The fate of the world rests on finding her.”
    He pushed back his chair and stood.
    â€œBut we can’t speak of finding Monique de Raison here, because in doing so we’ll probably tip our hand to Svensson. I believe he has someone on the inside.”
    Gains cleared his throat. “You’re suggesting there’s a mole? Here?”
    â€œHow else did Carlos know exactly where to find me? How else did he gain access to my suite through the adjoining room? How else did he know I was sleeping when he entered?”
    â€œI have to agree,” Phil Grant said. Thomas wondered if the man’s trust of his colleagues had kept his own suspicions at bay until now. “There are other ways he could have gained access, but Thomas makes a good point.”
    â€œThen I must say that the French government would like custody of Thomas Hunter,” Louis Dutêtre said.
    All eyes turned to the French intelligence officer.
    â€œParis has come under attack. Mr. Hunter knew of that attack before it occurred. This places him under suspicion.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous,” Gains said. “They tried to kill him this morning.”
    â€œWho did? Who saw this mysterious intruder? As far as we know, Thomas is the mole. Isn’t that a possibility? My country insists on the opportunity to interrogate—”
    â€œEnough!” Gains stood. “This meeting is adjourned. Mr. Dutêtre, you may inform your people that Thomas Hunter is in the protective custody of the United States of America. If your president has a problem with that, please advise him to call the White House. Let’s go.”
    â€œI object!” Dutêtre jumped to his feet. “We are all affected; we should all participate.”
    â€œThen find Svensson,” Gains said.
    â€œFor all you know, this man is Svensson!”
    Now there was an interesting idea.
    Gains walked from the room without a backward glance. Thomas followed.

    THE SMALL jet winged westward over Thailand, bound for Washington, D.C., six hours after the first fax to the White House informed the world that everything had just changed for Homo sapiens. The CDC had now verified the virus in two new cities: