within a single year. Without a male population, the human race will cease to exist shortly after . . . even with the judicious use of sperm banks.”
The image zoomed in to a specific strand of code. It was labeled SCN5A. “This gene, SCN5A, is an encoder for human cardiac sodium channel on chromosome 3p21. You don’t need to understand that, you just need to know that this is your enemy. This is the cause of Brugada. But most of us aren’t born with this gene. This new strain of bird flu is delivering the gene to our DNA, then flipping the ‘on’ switch. We’re after the ‘off’ switch. If we can find the source of this new strain, perhaps in a female carrier, we might be able to understand it better, and in turn, learn how to shut it off. Even better would be discovering a male carrier living with the new strain, but not succumbing to it. Studying his immunity would provide the solution we’re after.
“But it won’t be easy to find. Brugada first emerged in the modern world in Asia. Joseph Brugada discovered the symptom in 1992, but it’s been around for a long time. In the Philippines it’s known as Bangungut, translated as “scream followed by sudden death during sleep.” The Japanese called it Pokkuri. In Thailand, Lai Tai. And in Vietnam, cái chê´t bâ´t thình lình. The Sudden Death. Its roots have been traced to the Annamite Mountain region where deaths from Brugada have been common enough that it is part of the local folklore.
“Vietnam is also one of the most active breeding grounds for avian influenza. It’s likely that a villager in the region carrying the SCN5A gene was infected by the virus, which picked up the gene as it mutated within the host’s body. When the infection was passed on, the gene went with it. Five years ago, a scientific expedition to the region described one village in particular that reported a far larger occurrence of Brugada in its history. This is where we’re going.”
Sara advanced to the next slide. A satellite image of a small village surrounded by vast jungle appeared on the screen. “This is Anh Dung. The village we think might be the birthplace of the Brugada syndrome and quite possibly the source of this new strain.”
Sara glanced at each of the stone-faced Chess Team. They were attentive, she’d give them that. She advanced to the next slide. A photo of Daniel Brentwood in his younger days, looking youthful, very nerdy, and full of mischief, filled the upper right portion of the screen. The rest was a world map.
“Daniel Brentwood was exposed to the new strain of bird flu, we believe, in Hong Kong. But, thank God, symptoms didn’t present until after he returned to the States. Had Brentwood been hacking away in the tight confines of a 747 cabin that pandemic I mentioned would already be under way. With a nasty habit of sneezing into his hands, Brentwood was the perfect way to spread the disease.”
Keasling cleared his throat. “Which is why we believe that the disease has been weaponized. It was no coincidence that a man publicly scheduled to meet the president was exposed at the perfect time to transmit the disease to the president, but not a plane full of people. The odds of this being random are slim. This took intelligent planning. Military planning.”
“You’re saying this was a hit on the president?” King asked.
Keasling nodded. “Most likely.”
Sara continued. “Everyone else infected so far is an unlikely target surrounding the president, or a part of Brentwood’s personal life. We believe everyone he came into contact with is now under quarantine.”
Sara’s last sentence was followed by an uncomfortable twitch of her cheek. She wasn’t positive and Queen noticed. “You believe?”
“It is possible someone was unaccounted for. A bank teller. The mailman. Girl Scouts delivering cookies. Only God knows for sure.”
“Assuming the worst,” King said, “how long do we have before Girl Scouts start dropping dead?”
“A week.”
“From now?”
“From two days ago. Which brings us to the scenario I would like you all to consider. This is not only what could have happened if Brentwood had been sneezing on that plane, but also what could be happening right now if someone was missed. Brentwood is the blue dot.” The world map came to life. The blue dot representing Brentwood bounced around Asia, producing flowering red dots as it went. Some moved to other countries where other red spots appeared, those