Salby (Book 2): Salby Evolution by Ian D. Moore Read Free Book Online

engineer, dedicated to what he does. Since the outbreak, the companies have locked down their safety precautions, tightened up procedures and appear to be taking effective measures. Brian is keen on the training and development of staff, to ensure that we never face anything like it again.”
    The mere mention of the outbreak brought a silence to the table, as each of them mentally recalled their own experiences of it.
    “What happened to that young corporal, what was her name, Simms?” Evie asked.
    “Aye, Simms. That’s the lass. Rumour has it she went on an intensive fast-track officer training course a couple months ago. Not heard anything on the grapevine yet to suggest otherwise. Top-up anyone?” Stewey asked as he offered the table wine around.
    “How’s Charles, honey? I hope he’s taking it easy now that he’s retired. Have you heard from him at all?” Nathan asked.
    Evie looked left and right before she spoke, to ensure that no one besides those at the table were in earshot.
    “He’s keeping his hand in. He may be retired, but he’s still in the loop. I think he’d be lost without at least something to do with potions. Spoke to him last week as it happened. He mentioned a report of a missing ship that has since been located off the coast of Murmansk. It left Hull just before the government lockdown was imposed. A spotter plane flew low over the vessel and the pilot reported seeing what looked like movement among bodies scattered on deck. This is classified information and it goes no further.”
    “Jesus! You don’t think it could be—” Alisa began.
    “Now, honey, let’s not jump to conclusions here,” Stewey cut in. He took her hand in his own to add a calming influence to his words. “We don’t know that for sure, based upon the words of a pilot. Besides, the antidote to the S.A.L.B.Y. strain is very effective, not to mention the outside lifespan of the organism itself. Look at Nathan here, strong as an ox. There’s no way it could have gotten onboard that boat. No way.” Stewey finished, confident in his own assessment.
    Evie looked troubled. Her internal alarm bells had begun to ring. She already knew more than had been discussed but chose not to share it at that time. They were on leave after all, not a time for business, and nothing was confirmed. She did her very best not to reveal her true feelings, instead raising her glass in the hope that it would offer up at least a convincing action to the contrary. Stewey topped her up, set the bottle on the table, and continued to pick at the array of food. Nathan looked directly at Evie, but this time, she wouldn’t meet his eyes.
    “Right, what say we have a stroll on the beachfront then, burn off some of these calories?” Alisa suggested. She’d sensed the tension hanging in the air.
    “Sounds like a good idea. Some sea and sand will do us all good, come on,” Nathan added.
    They could hear Stewey and Alisa as they talked in low tones some way behind them. Nathan knew something troubled Evie. He could tell by the sheer pressure of her fingers intertwined with his, as if she were holding on to him for dear life.
    “You wanna share?” he asked, genuinely concerned.
    “That boat, Nate. It’s possible that it left with infected aboard. The time frame is close, but there is room for it to be possible. The information that Charles gave me is strictly confidential, it could cause worldwide panic, not to mention a potential war. That ship is heading for Russia,” Evie warned.
    “So what’s the worst-case scenario?”
    “What? You mean besides another major outbreak in a country ten times the size of the UK? That’s pretty worst case. If that virus was to fall into the wrong hands, it could be utilised as a global weapon of destruction. They have labs there too, you know.”
    “But we don’t know for sure that it is carrying infected, do we?” Nathan pressed.
    “Well, no. Not for certain, but it’s only a matter of time one way or