gns.throwback-第13章

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on　of　Western　Europe　would　have　been　wiped　out。　It　was　he　who　had　alerted　them　to　the　danger；　recognised　what　was　in　the　atmosphere。
　　
　　Close…cropped　hair；　it　was　difficult　to　judge　what　colour　it　was；　an　inch　of　growth　would　have　been　necessary　to　be　sure。　Rimless　glasses　that　gave　the　impression　of　owlish　eyes　in　that　angular　face。　Always　the　white　smock；　you　didn't　even　know　what　he　wore　beneath　it　or　whether　he　wore　anything　at　all。　Characterless；　even　his　American　accent　was　lost　in　his　dull　monotone　voice。　The　perfect　scientist；　a　human　machine。
　　
　　He　sat　at　his　low　desk；　blinked　in　the　brightness　of　the　strip　lighting；　thumbed　through　sheafs　of　typewritten　paper　and　made　occasional　notes　in　his　sprawling　handwriting　on　a　jotter　pad。　The　glass　ashtray　by　his　elbow　was　piled　with　Camel　stubs；　the　fingers　of　his　right　hand　stained　brown；　the　one　indication　that　the　man　was　actually　human；　he　did　have　a　vice。
　　
　　The　Prime　Minister　took　a　deep　breath；　let　it　out　slowly。　Anxiety；　exasperation。　He　had　said　repeatedly　that　'we　must　remain　calm1　but　there　was　a　limit。　And　Reitze　went　beyond　that　limit。
　　
　　Caldecott　was　in　his　fourth　year　of　office。　Next　year　he　had　to　face　an　election；　he　had　considered　calling　one　earlier　before　inflation　and　unemployment　figures　began　soaring　again　but　now　all　that　was　forgotten。　There　might　well　never　be　another　government　or　even　a　next　year。　In　his　early　forties；　he　had　a　deceptive　boyish　appearance；　one　that　a　lot　of　people　had　underestimated；　including　the　Opposition。　Forceful；　disliked　in　many　quarters；　he　was　finding　it　difficult　to　curb　his　impatience　with　Reitze。　He　glanced　across　at　Rankine；　the　Defence　Minister；　read　exasperation　there；　too。　But　both　of　them　knew　the　Professor　well　enough　not　to　try　to　hassle　him。
　　
　　The　reports　are　still　ing　in。'　Reitze　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　shook　another　Camel　out　of　a　crumpled　pack；　flicked　his　lighter。　'We　are　now　beginning　to　form　an　overall　picture　of　what　has　happened　both　in　the　United　States　and　the　European　countries。'　Slow　expressionless　tones；　he　might　have　been　discussing　the　latest　trade　figures。　He　drew　on　his　cigarette；　scribbled　something　else　on　his　pad。　'The　timing　of　the　release　of　these　microorganisms　into　the　atmosphere　was　meticulously　synchronised　so　that　all　major　areas　of　population　in　America　were　struck　simultaneously　with　the　UK。　Of　course；　it　was　easier　to　conduct　an　intensive　attack　upon　Britain　than　a　vast　area　such　as　the　United　States。'
　　
　　'Which　means　that　we've　suffered　a　far　higher　casualty　rate；'　Caldecott　cut　in。
　　
　　'Proportionally。'　Reitze　did　not　alter　his　tone。　'But　it　will　be　weeks　before　any　true　figure　can　be　arrived　at。　munications　have　now　broken　down　in　most　areas。　Fortunately　we　still　have　a　direct　line　to　the　White　House；　but　they　can　only　supply　us　with　the　information　that　reaches　them。'
　　
　　'What　type　of　germ　is　it？'　Rankine　asked。　'What　are　the　long…term　effects　likely　to　be？'
　　
　　'At　the　moment　our　laboratory　is　working　the　clock　round　to　e　up　with　the　answer；'　Reitze　replied；　'We　know　that　the　micro…organisms　released　into　the　atmosphere　are　mutants；　possibly　the　results　of　years　of　research　and　experimentation。　They　affect　the　skin；　adulterate　the　pigmentation；　cause　it　to　bee　hard　and　coarse　and　promote　a　hair　growth　which　can　only　be　pared　with　
　　the　growth…rate　of　certain　subtropical　plants；　growing　as　much　as　an　inch　in　twenty…four　hours。　The　brain　is　also　attacked；　reducing　it　only　to　basic　thinking；　the　victim　relying　almost　solely　on　instinct；　much　the　same　as　an　animal；　perhaps　slightly　more　advanced；　the　equivalent　of　primitive　Man。'
　　
　　'In　effect；'　Caldecott's　voice　was　hushed；　a　frightened　whisper；　'the　majority　of　the'　population　of　the　western　world　have　bee　。　。　。　throwbacks'。
　　
　　'That's　it；　in　layman's　terms。'　The　Professor　crushed　the　remains　of　his　cigarette　in　the　ashtray。　'Man　has　been　reduced　to　a　primitive　being。　Of　course；　there　will　be　individual　reactions；　some　will　be　affected　worse　than　others　and　vice　versa。　Some　will　escape　for　a　variety　of　reasons。　Micro…organisms　do　not　have　the　resilience　of　radiation　in　the　atmosphere。　Filters　in　fall…out　shelters　will　be　more　effective　against　them　but　unfortunately　there　was　no　chance　to　issue　a　warning。　Germ　warfare　is　far　more　insidious　than　nuclear　warfare；　you　can't　hear　it；　smell　it　or　see　it；　and　before　you　know　it；　it's　got　you。'
　　
　　'Is　there　。。。　no　chance；　whatever；　for　the　victims？'　The　Prime　Minister　asked　the　question　which　none　of　his　ministers　had　dared　to　voice　so　far。　Perhaps　it　was　better　not　to　know；　just　to　hope。
　　
　　'I　can't　answer　that　at　this　moment　in　time；'　Reitze　answered；　and　for　once　those　eyes　behind　the　rimless　lenses　flickered　uncertainly；　perhaps　nervously。　'At　the　moment　my　team　of　scientists　is　trying　to　isolate　the　microorganisms。　There　may　be　several；　but　until　they　are　isolated　and　we　know　exactly　what　they　are；　we　don't　know　if　anything　can　be　done。　Certainly　the　atmosphere　is　now　clear。　We　do　not　know　whether　the　victims　will　die　in　a　short　period　or　whether　they　will　live　a　normal　life…span。'　'And　the　whole　world　suffers　because　of　Lebanon　and　Syria。'　Rankine　spoke　bitterly；　showed　his　personal　feelings　for　the　first　time。　'Damn　the　Russians；　they've　threatened　us　with　nuclear　war　for　three　decades　and　it　was　all　a　blind。　Missile　bases　and　counter　missile　bases；　protests　on　Greenham　mon　and　a　lot　of　other　places；　and　all　the　time　we　never　guessed　where　the　real　danger　lay。　Now　it's　too　late。　They　haven't　even　had　to　raze　the　western　world　to　the　ground！　They　can　just　walk　in　and　take　over　whenever　they　like　and　we　can't　do　a　damned　thing　to　stop　'em。'
　　
　　Thank　you；　Professor。'　The　Prime　Minister　rose　to　his　feet；　brushed　flecks　of　dust　from　his　suit。　He　still　had　to　maintain　the　image　he　had　created　as　the　best…dressed　man　in　Britain；　according　to　a　recent　media　poll。　He　had　the　job　of　inspiring　hope　and　confidence　however　he　felt　personally。　'We'll　let　you　get　on　with　your　work…If　there　are　any　significant　developments　please　notify　me　immediately。　In　the　meantime　we　have　an　urgent　cabinet　meeting　upstairs。'
　　
　　A　crisis　meeting。　Eight　government　ministers　all　looking　to　Caldecott　to　e　up　with　the　answer　because　that　was　what　he　had　been　elected　for。　Another　Churchill；　except　that　World　War　II　was　a　skirmish　pared　to　this。
　　
　　Large…scale　wall…maps　showed　every　town；　village　and　hamlet　in　Britain。　Red　drawing…pins　denoted　areas　which　were　known　to　have　suffered　heavy　casualties。　Blue　pins　showed　where　there　were　pockets　of　survivors　trying　to　maintain　law　and　order；　fighting　for　a　return　to　normality。　There　were　an　awful　lot　of　blank　spaces　awaiting　a　red　or　a　blue　pin。
　　
　　And　the　Russians　still　had　not　e。　They　weren't　in　any　hurry；　there　was　no　hurry。　Next　week；　next　month；　next　year；　it　would　all　be　the　same。
　　
　　'Let　us　take　the　major　cities　first。'　Caldecott　used　his　wooden　pointer；　was　reminded　of　those　far…off　days　when　he　had　lectured　at　Oxford；　golden　days　which　would　never　e　again。　You　were　lucky　if　you　were　left　to　indulge　in　nostalgia。　'London；　Glasgow；　Manchester；　Birmingham；　the　pattern　is　much　the　same。　Wild　mobs　are　on　the　rampage；　their　only　interest　being　food　and　；　。　。　rape！'　He　shuddered。　The　food　targets　seem　to　be　basically　butchers'　shops　and　abattoirs；　whole　carcasses　being　lorn　apart；　the　meat　devoured　raw。　Their　hunger　appeased；　the　men　turn　to　women；　any　women　with　whom　to　satisfy　a　carnal　desire。　The　remnants　of　our　law…keeping　forces　are　stretched　beyond　their　limits；　outnumbered　by　thousands　to　one。　Our　only　hope　is　to　withdraw　them　totally　to　a　place　of　safety　and　plan　a　definite　strategy。　We　cannot　win　back　the　cities　at　present　so　we　must　abandon　them。'
　　
　　Murmurs；　not　dissent；　but　horror。　Men　who　were　accustomed　to　facing　up　to　unpleasant　truths　found　themselves　backing　off。
　　
　　There　are　survivors。'　Caldecott's　voice　quavered　slightly。　〃Somehow　we　must　municate　with　them；　reorganise　them　if　our　country　is　not　to　be　annihilated　by　mob　rule；　the　law　of　primitive　Man；　for　our　enemy　is　our　own　kind；　our　own　people　robbed　of　their　minds；　reverted　to　their　ancestors　by　a　cruel　and　unscrupulous　foe。　Almost　every　means　of　munication　has　now　failed。'　Don't　ask　me　right　now　how　we　are　going　to　reorganise　because　I　don't　know。　It　might　be　an　impossibility。　'At　the　moment　we　are　waiting　upon　Professor　Reitze　and　his　team　of　scientists。　They　are　working　the　clock　round　to　find　a　way　to　bat　this　vile　and　despicable　means　of　war。'
　　
　　Silence。
　　
　　There　wasn't　anything　else　left　to　say；　nothing　to　argue　about；　a　government　that　was　suddenly　devoid　of　politics；　their　only　manifesto　one　of　survival。　They　could　only　wait。
　　
　　Reitze　checked　through　his　notes　again　after　the　PM　and　the　Defence　Minister　had　left。　A　hint　of　a　worried　frown；　his　forehead　creased　and　smoothing　out；　Reitze　being　his　old　emotionless　self　again。　It　wasn't　an　act；　this　was　how　he　was；　what　made　him　tick。　If　he　died　tomorrow　he　wouldn't　know　anything　about　it　so　what　was　the　use　of　worrying？　Slight　concern　that　perhaps　they　had　overlooked　something　somewhere；　something　just　too　obvious。　They　would　check　again。　And　again。　But　he　had　to　admit　that　it　was　a　hopeless　task；　not　conceding　defeat；　just　accepting　facts。　That　was　the　hardest　part　of　all；　admitting　that　you　were　beaten。
　　
　　He　lit　another　Camel；　pressed　the　buzzer　on　his　desk。　A　few　seconds　later　a　sliding　door　opened　and　another　white…coated　scientist　entered；　A　younger　man　than　Reitze；　tall　and　fair…haired；　eyes　red…rimmed　as　though　he　hadn't　slept　in　the　last　thirty…six　hours；　just　the　odd　catnap　on　the　couch　in　the　rest…room　adjoining　the　lab。
　　
　　'Brian；'　Reitze　looked　up；　almost　smiled　but　not　quite；　'we're　gonna　name　this　one　the　Evolution　Bug。　I　don't　reckon　we　can　e　up　with　anything　else　now。　We've　just　gotta　check　in　case　we　missed　something；　but　I　think　we've　gone　as　far　as　we　can　go　and　I'll　have　to　tell　them　that　soon。　The　ultimate　in　mutation。　If　we　had　lived　in　the　Stone　Age　that's　how　we　would　have　been；　immune　to　diseases　which　would　destroy　mankind　today　and　these　throwbacks　are　just　the　same。　Immune　to　anything　we　can　give　them　because　their　body　cells　will　resist　everything。　Evolution　is　the　only　answer；　civilisation　will　have　to　start　all　over　again！　In　a　million　years'　time　they'll　be　finding　skeletons　and　scratching　their　heads；　wondering　how　the　hell　civilisation　reached　its　peak　and　went　back　again。　I'm　wondering　whether　those　who　have　escaped　can　survive；　even　the　bastards　who　started　all　this。　We　will　be　the　ones　without　body　resistance；　diseases　developing　which　modern　medicine　has　never　e　across。'
　　
　　'I　see。'　Brian　Newman　nodded。　'As　a　matter　of　fact　that　occurred　to　me　but　I　kept　it　to　myself。'
　　
　　'We'll　have　to　do　just　that。　There's　no　point　in　panicking　everybody　and　if　we're　right　there's　not　a　goddamn　thing　you　or　I　or　anybody　else　can　do　about　it。　In　the　meantime　we　just　keep　on　working；　hoping。　And　if　you're　a　praying　man；　pray。'
　　
　　Reports　came　in　slowly　over　the　next　few　days。　The　Continent　had　suffered　badly；