Year One by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

have a cave.”
    He gave her a cackling chuckle. “Only another reason I’m your biggest fan. You can school me on superheroes. Favorite report you read this morning?”
    â€œThe one about the naked woman riding a unicorn in SoHo.”
    â€œMan, I’d love to see a naked woman, with or without unicorn. It’s been awhile.”
    â€œI’m not stripping down for you, Chuck. Not even for the buzz you’re going to give me.”
    â€œWe’re pals, Arlys. Pals don’t require naked.”
    â€œSo, what’s the buzz?”
    The grin faded away. “You caught today’s tally?”
    â€œYeah.” Both the Times and the Post ran a daily updated total of reported deaths. “We’ve topped a billion by five hundred million, three hundred twenty-two thousand, four hundred and sixteen.”
    â€œThat’s the official count for the media. The real count’s more than two.”
    Her heart jumped. “More than two billion? Where’d you get that number?”
    â€œI’ve gotta keep that under the vest. But it’s real, Arlys, and it’s going up a lot faster than the people in charge of this clusterfuck are saying.”
    â€œBut … Jesus God, Chuck, that’s nearly a third of the world population. A third of the world population wiped out in weeks?” Sick, she scribbled the number down. “And that doesn’t count the murders, the suicides, the people killed in crashes, fires, stampedes, the ones who’ve died of exposure.”
    â€œIt’s going to get worse, Arlys. In the saga of revolving POTUS? Carnegie’s out.”
    â€œDefine ‘out.’”
    â€œDead.” He rubbed his eyes, a pale and cagey blue in a lightly freckled face. “They swore in the new one about two this morning. Secretary of Agriculture—the ones ahead of her already hit by the Doom. Fucking farm lady is now running what’s left of the free world. If you report that, the jackboots are going to come kicking down your door.”
    â€œYeah. I’ll kill the comp like you told me if I decide to go on air with it. Agriculture.” She had to flip back through notes to the list she’d made. “She was eighth in line.”
    As she spoke Arlys crossed out those who came between, and saw she’d already crossed out several following.
    â€œIf she doesn’t make it, we’re down to the Secretary of Education, and after him, there’s nobody left.”
    â€œHoneypot, the government’s finished. Not just here, all over hell and back again. It’s a hell of a way to get rid of asshole dictators, but it’s a way. North Korea, Russia—”
    â€œWait. Kim Jong-un? He’s dead? When?”
    â€œTwo weeks ago. They’re claiming he’s alive, but that’s bogus. You can take it to the bank. If there’s still one open. But that’s not the biggest buzz. It mutated, Arlys. Carnegie—POTUS for a day? Well, three days. He had sores, sores broke out all over his body—and inside delicate orifices—before he showed the expected symptoms of the Doom. He was sealed tight, under watch twenty-four-seven, tested three times a day, and it still got him.”
    â€œIf it’s mutated…”
    â€œBack to the drawing board with two billion plus and counting. But here’s the big boom: They don’t know what the fuck it is. The bird flu line? It’s bullshit.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Arlys demanded. “They identified the strain. Patient Zero—”
    â€œIt’s bullshit, Arlys. The dead guy in Brooklyn, maybe. But theDoom ain’t no bird flu. Birds aren’t infected. They’ve been testing chickens and pheasants, and all kinds of our feathered friends, and nothing. And four-legged animals? They’re just fine and just dandy. It’s just humans. Just people.”
    Her throat wanted to close, but she forced out the