TABRIZ

The old woman named Golshan, spoke quickly and quietly to Paree. The woman had been extremely wary of Jamie, and she wouldn't speak in front of her, despite the fact that Jamie couldn't understand a word she was saying. After a few minutes, Paree thanked Golshan, and they left.

She thinks her husband is in the town of Marand.

How far is that?

About 25 kilometers northeast of here.

Jamie allowed her head to fall back for a moment; the mission just wasn't going her way. The only good news was that the desert in between the two cities, was exactly where she needed to be in 50 minutes. It was time to move quickly.

Paree, honey, thank you for all of your help, I couldn't have made it this far without you.

But we are not finished.

I can't let you go any further. Not only is it too dangerous, but I have to move fast now, and you won't be able to keep up with me.

The girl looked down, I want to help you.

You have, sweetheart. Jamie lifted the girl's chin, making eye contact, Paree, there is someone very close to me back in Washington who might die if I don't get to Dr. Gillespie's notes in time.

Your family?

He is as close to me as family, yes.

Will I ever see you again?

Jamie smiled, As smart as you are? I expect you to be running this country before too long, Paree.

Such things are not open to women here.

Jamie kissed the child's forehead, Good-bye Paree, and thank you for everything.

Good-bye, Jamie. I hope you can help your friend.

Me too.

Paree watched in amazement as Jamie ran, quickly picking up speed. Within a moment she had disappeared from view. But Paree knew that she would never be able to handle the men by herself. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her toward the stables at Golshan's house. She might not be able to keep up with Jamie, but a horse could....

***************

WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER
O.S.I. WING

Rudy finished hooking up the respirator to Oscar, and watched in silent sadness as the machine began to breath for the man who no longer could make his lungs do the work. Goldman stirred slightly, and Rudy brushed a hand over his brow.

Shhh......it's okay.

Out of the corner of his eye, Rudy saw a hand trying to move toward him. He pulled his own hand out of his pocket and gently grasped the larger one in his.

I'm here, pal.

The door opened and Callahan walked in with Russ in tow. Rudy looked at them grimly.

Russ finally asked the question, The envelope?

The one containing Oscar's letter to the Secretary had Gillespie's microbe all over the seal. He would have ingested it when he licked the envelope.

Callahan looked at them, That's great news, isn't it? I mean, can't you figure out what to do now?

It's not that simple, Peggy, Rudy sighed, I wish it were. The microbe on the seal is like nothing I've ever seen. When I compared it to the blood sample I took from Oscar, it was like night and day.

I don't understand, Rudy, Russ said, a germ's a germ.

Rudy shook his head, Not anymore Russ. Dr. Gillespie changed the parameters. This is a smart germ that once active in the bloodstream, mutates to attack each specific host, creating a completely new DNA marker.

You mean like a designer germ?

Yes Callahan, Rudy continued, I'm afraid that's exactly what I mean.

Russ looked at Wells, There must be something you can do.

Rudy nodded sadly, Yes, I can try and make him comfortable.

The meaning of it tore at their hearts: comfortable until he dies, nothing more.

Callahan looked away, fighting off tears. Russ took in a ragged breath of air.

Rudy looked at the younger man, Any news on Jamie?

Not yet. She's got another 43 minutes. Will Gillespie's notes make any difference?

Rudy shook his head, Not unless he calculated the exact antidote for Oscar's DNA and wrote it down. Without some kind of clue, it will take years for me to figure out the exact antidote.

How much time does he have, Rudy?

Wells' voice was grave, I hope he can hold out until Jamie gets here so she can at least say good-bye to him.

Russ looked down, It's such a waste.

Rudy gently stoked the top of Oscar's hand with his thumb, Yes it is.

*****************

MARAND

Fortunately the town of Marand is small, for after tearing through the streets as fast as her bionic limbs would move, Jamie found the truck parked outside a building. The men were going in and out, unloading the contents. She saw the lone white box, sitting on the edge of the truck, a man just about to pick it up.



Jamie launched herself toward him, knocking him down, the box falling between them. Two other men came out at the sound of the disturbance, guns at the ready. When they saw Jamie, they fired. She rolled behind a trash can, and peeked out from behind it. The white box was on its side, the papers threatening to fly out at any moment.

Then she heard it. She thought she had heard the sound before, but hadn't tuned in to listen to it. Horse's hooves beating the ground at a fast clip. Jamie looked up and saw a small figure in chador racing toward the men with the guns, she did not have to see the sparkling brown eyes underneath the hijab to know who it was.

Paree! No!!

Jamie sprang from behind the trash cans, throwing herself at the nearest armed man. Keeping her head low, Paree reached for a large piece of wood laying on top of a pile of lumber as she rode toward the other man with a gun. He fired and missed, but Paree was right on the mark. Aiming the wood like a medieval lance, she raced toward the man, hitting him in the chest as the horse flew past.

Jamie grabbed the gun from her assailant and crushed it in her right hand. Then she took the man by the shirt and threw him into the nearest wall, knocking him unconscious as his head connected with the brick.





Jamie grabbed the white box full of notes, handed it up to Paree, and then jumped on the back of the horse.

Go, go, go!

The girl kicked the horse hard and they raced toward the edge of town. Gillespie, Ahkmed and several of his men jumped into two cars, and peeled out in hot pursuit.

Paree yelled to be heard, Where should I go?

Jamie pointed toward the desert in the southwest.

You want to go back to Tabriz?

Nope....just somewhere in between.

Jamie glanced at her watch as they rode: seven minutes. They might not make it.

Can this thing go any faster?

I think he is running as quickly as he can....

Jamie looked behind them at the two cars racing through the sands. The gap was getting smaller. She listened for the sound of a helicopter, and momentarily, she heard a Bell 206 Jet Ranger. She pointed toward a sand dune and held on tightly to the girl in front of her and the white box beyond.

The men were catching up, Jamie knew they weren't going to make it.

She spoke into Paree's ear, A helicopter is about to land directly in front of us. As soon as it does, I want you to take the white box, and get in it.

What about you?

I'll be right behind you, don't worry.

Jamie jumped off the back of the speeding horse and began running toward the cars. The driver of the front car instinctively hit the brakes when he saw her, and the car hit a dune and flipped over, bursting into flames. One down. The second car was still speeding toward the girl on the horse.

In the distance, Jamie could see the Jet Ranger setting down. Paree wasn't going to make it; the second car was catching up to her. Jamie ran toward them and watched as the young girl stopped the horse, threw the box down and jumped after it. The car came to a halt about ten feet behind. Paree picked up the box and was running toward the helicopter. Ahkmed aimed his gun.

She was too far away to reach him in time and she knew it. Then she remembered her radio. Jamie pulled the device from her pocket, took aim and threw it with all her might toward the back of the man's head. As he pulled the trigger it hit him, causing his arm to shift, sending the bullet into one of his own men. He hit the sand face first. There was still one man left, and it was Dr. Gillespie.

He picked up the gun and ran toward Paree, who was just handing off the box to the pilot of the Jet Ranger. Jamie threw herself as far as she could, and caught his legs, tripping him. She motioned for the helicopter to ascend, and as soon as Paree was inside, the Jet Ranger started to lift off. The sound of two more cars rumbled in the sand around her.

It was now or never. She hit Gillespie as hard as she could, and ran toward the Jet Ranger. Using all of her might, Jamie flew upwards in the air toward the lower frame of the helicopter, and she was just able to grab a piece of the skid pipe. The bullets flying toward her from the ground terrified her, but she held on for dear life.

When they were a few miles away, Jamie crawled onto the skid pipe, and with the help of Paree, into the aircraft.

The pilot glanced at her, You Sommers?



I have the O.S.I. on the radio. They seem pretty anxious to talk to you.

He handed the mouthpiece to Jamie, who depressed the button, This is Jamie, go ahead.

She recognized Russ' voice immediately, Do you have the notes?



Hang on, I'm patching you through to Rudy.

Jamie waited for a moment, then she heard Rudy's voice through the static.

Jamie, are you all right?

I'm fine. Tell me about Oscar.

He's in critical condition. Gillespie laced an envelope with a biotoxic microbe, and Oscar ingested it when he licked the seal.

Why didn't you tell me?

I'm sorry, I honestly thought it was better not to. Listen, I want you to go through Gillespie's notes. If you see anything about an antidote, I want you to get me on the radio and read it to me. Understand?

I'll contact you as soon as I have something.



Understood. Jet Ranger out.

Jamie turned to Parsee, It's you and me kid. We've got to look through this box. Look for anything with the word antidote in it.

Paree nodded and pulled out a bunch of papers, handing some to Jamie, keeping some for herself.

Jamie touched her arm, I'm sorry we're taking you so far out of the way. I promise I'll get you a transport back to Tabriz as soon as we hit Diyarbakur.

The girl's face fell, Please Jamie, don't send me back to Tabriz. I have no future in Iran. Take me with you. I have no family here, and no way to further my studies. Please.

It means that much to you?

For the first time since she had met her, the girl removed her hijab, revealing a beautiful face beneath, Yes. I am ready for a new life. For a life not covered by cloth or lies.

Jamie knew there was going to be hell to pay, but she would never have succeeded if it hadn't been for Paree, All right then. It's all the way to Washington for you. She smiled, Now use that oversized brain of yours and help me find an antidote in here.

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