The Gemini Virus by Wil Mara Read Free Book Online Page A

it.
    “Thomas McKendrick,” Gillette said, retrieving the folder from the plastic rack outside the door. “Thirty-two years old. Landscaper, married, one son.”
    “Does the boy or his mother have it?”
    “Not as far as we can tell. We’re watching them, though.”
    “I’d like to go in and examine him.”
    “Sure.”
    “Cara, you should see this, too.”
    “Okay.”
    Gillette said, “Come and get prepped.”
    He took them into a narrow, brightly lit room with three large scrub sinks on either side. The widemouthed basins tilted downward, like ice machines in a hotel hallway. On the wall above each was a large mirror, and bottles of sterilizing cleanser stood on the shelves over the faucets.
    There was a tall cabinet at the far end of the room. Gillette opened it and took out two boxes. Each was uncolored cardboard with the words PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) KIT on the top. Underneath was, TO BE WORN PRIOR TO ENTERING NEGATIVE AIR SPACE .
    Beck and Porter opened the boxes and removed the contents, then discarded the masks and gloves the security guard had given them. Then, following a procedure they could’ve performed blindfolded, they methodically donned their costumes. The fluid-resistant gown came first, made of a tough polyethylene-coated polypropylene and colored a medium blue. They slipped their arms into the sleeves, then tied the dangling plastic strips behind each other’s backs. Next came the shoe covers, with rubber band inserts that grabbed the ankles. The N95 respirators looked like ordinary dust masks, and the narrow strip of aluminum that ran over the bridge of the nose had to be pinched and pressed to facilitate a custom fit. They tested this by placing both hands over the mask and exhaling to feel for air leaks. After that, they covered their hair with “shower cap” bonnets, and their faces with transparent shields fitted onto their heads with rubber straps. Finally, the gloves had to be stretched over the sleeves of the gown to protect the wrists. The entire process took about twenty minutes and was performed with excruciating delicacy; haste usually resulted in unseen rips. Then they went out with Gillette trailing behind.
    Beck had been satisfied with the isolation rooms at first glance. Each had two doors with a “neutral zone” in between. Recent studies of AIIRs—airborne infection isolations rooms—around the nation showed that single-door chambers often permitted escape of infected air. Particularly bad were those with doors that didn’t close automatically. Beck could see the hydraulic modules at the top and thought someone had done their homework. Also satisfactory was the solid ceiling, which did a much better job of maintaining negative air pressure than a false one. A digital monitor on the wall near the interior door read −3.1 Pa (Pascals), well above the recommended minimum of −2.5 Pa in comparison to the pressure of connected, “ordinary” areas.
    “How many air changes per hour, Ben?” His voice was slightly muted by the respirator.
    “Ten. This is one of the better hospitals in the state for infectious containment.”
    State regulation required that at least six complete air changes occurred in an isolation room per hour, twelve if the area was newly constructed. The infected air would go through a high-efficiency particulate filter before being blown outside. HEPA filters were able to remove at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles with a diameter of 0.3 micrometers. They were originally designed for the infamous Manhattan Project to prevent the spread of radioactive material. Now they had contemporary applications that ranged from domestic vacuum cleaners to nuclear plants.
    As Beck and Porter entered the neutral zone, they noticed the drop in air pressure—instead of pushing against them, it seemed to be pulling away. This sensation increased further when the first door hissed to a close and electronically unlocked the second. Infectious