They had been out of Abuja for almost ten minutes before they saw the military convoy parked on both sides of the road with a thick mesh of barbwire blocking movement.
A tall well built soldier surged to the front waving them down slowly. Taiwo wound the window on his side down smiling at the soldier. The man didn’t smile back. Neither did the sad haunted look in his eyes escape Taiwo’s notice.
He bent to look into the car freezing when his eyes settled on Catherine’s wan face. She smiled obviously recognizing him.
“Corporal Olatunji.”
“Catherine Kachifo. How long has it been?”
“About twenty two hours give or take.”
He smiled for the first time and his face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I am so glad you’re unhurt.”
“You can’t be as happy as I am __”
His eyes drifted to Taiwo. “You must be the former DPO.”
“So it was you on the radio?”
He nodded slowly.
“How did you do it?”
He continued at Taiwo’s puzzled look.
“How did you get them out?”
“God! A stroke of luck __ I don’t know. You take your pick.”
“You my friend have just done the impossible.” He cried slapping Taiwo on the shoulder. His eyes grew grim as he said this.
“What’s the situation now?” Catherine asked getting out of the car.
“Bad __ we don’t know the extent of the damage because communication is basically zero.”
“What about the president? I was on the way to see him when the mayhem started.”
“We have no information on the president __ we’re hoping he is still alive.”
“Quell that hope__” Taiwo said cutting in. “He’s dead. I watched him fall from a helicopter. The same helicopter I was in.”
A sad terrified silence followed his words.
“What about the vice president?” it was one of the soldiers in the back seat asking this time.
“Like I said __ we have no word.”
A long silence followed.
“What do we do?”
“At this point we’re not sure. We received word another battalion of soldiers are headed this way. We want to gather as many battle ready units as we can and then hit upon a plan.”
“What about fine tuning the conversion process? You did say that was the reason you wanted Catherine saved didn’t you?”
“Yeah that was the plan __ but __” His words drifted off.
“I hate it when there is a but __” Taiwo growled stroking his chin.
“The problem is we have no where for the doctor to work. Not sure there is a lab capable of completing the process that isn’t overrun.”
“A mobile lab could do it __ if we could get one that is.”
Tunji’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have any idea how we could get one?”
“There is a man I can call __”
“Who is he?”
“Donald Othako. He works for the South African security service. If anyone could get one here am sure he could.”
“But how does he get it to our location?”
“That’s the tricky part. We might have to get to the airport.”
“And how in the world do we go about doing that? I am not sure you’ve noticed but Abuja has been overrun.”
“You can’t get your hands on a helicopter? Aren’t there still some available to the army?”
“I wouldn’t know. A lot of military helicopters have been downed. Curse our government for not giving us the funding we needed.”
“Aren’t you glad the extremist concerns came up? That’s why the army has even this much funding. Think of what the situation would have been if the government didn’t pour more money to combat Boko Haram.”
Olatunji sighed weakly.
“Even if there were any more helicopters who would fly them? The Evonso virus is airborne now. Only those with natural immunity are still __ normal.”
“How many do you think will be infected when all’s told?”
“I can’t say __ but based on what happened in Abuja, if it repeats itself that way in other places let’s say at least two thirds of the country will be before all is said and done.”
“Two thirds! Jesus Christ!”
“Don’t exclaim yet __ that’s just a conservative estimate. My guess is its going to be higher. Much HIGHER!”
They shivered at the grim tone in her voice.
“But say you get it right __ would it cure those turned by the airborne version of the virus?”
“I don’t know ___ it’s too early to say.”
“Let me get you a satellite phone. Maybe you can contact this Donald character.”
“What makes you think he would be keen on helping us?” Taiwo couldn’t resist asking.
“He has to. It’s the problem of the entire continent now. Before I left South Africa the Evonso virus spread was quite alarming. If there is a way to cure this thing am sure the South African authorities would be glad to hear it.”
A soldier hurried up interrupting their conversation. “Sir__” He said saluting Olatunji.
“Yes?”
“There is something I think you need to see.”
Frowning Tunji hurried after him. Catherine and Taiwo followed closely. They were led into the back of a large armoured truck. There was a TV in the back connected to a medium sized dish attached to the roof.
The picture was skewered and blurry but they could still make most things out. It was a CNN broadcast and the camera was showing the skyline of a city. There was a word written under the image. Taiwo moved closer to get a better look. It said Moscow.
There was a thick cloud of darkness in the city centre ravaging and destroying buildings, bringing them down in thick clouds of dust and plaster.
Something lit up the skies, a flash followed by a long trail of smoke which streaked towards the dark blob. It took a few seconds before it hit. There was a blinding flash followed by an almost one hundred foot high mushroom cloud and the screen went dark.
The dishevelled newscaster came on a few seconds later. “Those were live images from Moscow. The Russian government has just used the first nuclear weapon. We’re shocked by the audaciousness of the act, especially when you consider many of their citizens are still trapped there. But the world waits to see if this will be effective since other weapons have failed.”
The broadcast continued for a few minutes more and grew skewered before cutting off completely. A grim silence filled the truck. They exchanged long terrified glances.
“What do we do now?” Catherine asked. Her voice like her body was shaking violently. Taiwo glanced at her worriedly. She looked like she was going to have a seizure.
“You better get on the radio and call that Donald Othako character. Let’s see if he can get the lab down here as soon as possible. I’ll try and get in contact with other army officials. Who knows? A few helicopters might still be air worthy. We’ll need it to get to the Abuja airport. I don’t see how anyone will get there by road anymore.”
He mumbled a few unintelligible words and leaped out of the truck, quickly disappearing from view. Two soldiers followed him leaving Taiwo and Catherine alone.
She collapsed, leaning her back against the wall taking deep heaving breaths as she did so.
“Are you alright?” Taiwo cried hurrying to her side.
“I am fine __ it’s just a lot to take in.”
“The viral spread or the nuclear weapon?”
“Both I think __” she paused. “Do you think the world is ending?”
Taiwo swallowed locking gazes with her. He looked even more frightened than she did.
“I am afraid to say anything for fear it turns out to be true.”
“Please say something __ I need to hear it even if it’s terrible.”
He swallowed, shaking his head as if to say ‘your funeral’. “If I am
to comment on it ___ I’d say YES! I think our world is coming to an end.”
Catherine cried out in fear starting to shake in earnest. As much as she claimed to want to hear what he had to say she regretted and resented him for saying it.
The frightened silence that encapsulated them was complete and total.