The Perfect Pathogen by Mark Atkisson, David Kay Page B

time for another announcement. That wasn’t her
call, but she was sure they would be interested to know what another country
had also figured out thus far.
    “Does your government think they know how this is
spread or where it is coming from?” asked Katie.
    “They don’t have a clue. I do think they are going
to recommend people wear surgical masks to prevent transmission through
respiration, but they have no idea if this will be effective. In our culture
that is something people will do anyway when there is any sort of community
risk. Other than that, they are at a loss on how to proceed until they can
isolate the cause. As you say in America, they have the very best and brightest
working on the problem,” Jimmy replied.
    “Well, please let me know if you have a
breakthrough and I will do the same for you,” said Katie.
    “We in Japan don’t want to create mass hysteria
either, but the government is talking about this more in the news than you are
here in the U.S. I think you will start to see our news reports spill over into
the U.S. from international sources. A lot of people are staying home,
particularly those that have elderly parents living with them, to try and
prevent the spread of the illness,” he replied. “You know what we say:  Poke a
bush and a snake comes out.”
    “I remember that quote Jimmy.  Let me see, let
sleeping dogs lie, right?”
    Jimmy smiled.
    “It has been great seeing you Jimmy.  Email me
when you get back to Tokyo with the latest news you have.”
    “I sure will,” said Jimmy. They embraced and Katie
walked over to see Beth before she left for the office.
    “Hi Beth,” said Katie with a sad face.
    “I already know,” said Beth. “I called Melody
shortly after you left and she filled me in. She said she had talked to Sarah,
so I was sure you already knew. It is so sad, but Melody seems to be handling
it well with all of the news of dying that is going around.”
    “I will have to call her later today. Was there
anything she asked for?”
    “Yes, she said to find a cure for this dreaded
disease so that others would not have to suffer through what she just did. I
told her we would do our best and that you were working on a part of it so it
was bound to get solved quickly,”  Beth said with a thumbs up sign.
    “Beth, you didn’t, but thanks for the confidence
builder and the pressure cooker too!  I’d better get back to the office and get
started on the model they have asked me to develop. I have some ideas that I
hope will bear fruit soon. I can’t thank you enough for taking the lead on the
conference. You have done a fantastic job!” exclaimed Katie.
    “You’re welcome,” Beth replied smiling. “I will
see you in the office tomorrow morning.”
    Katie turned and headed out of the building. The
task ahead seemed insurmountable to her, but she knew her limitations and she
would stay true to her mantra of working one day at a time. As she thought of
Herb, an old phrase he liked to use came to mind which seemed pertinent. “How
do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.”  The elephant was now clearly on
her plate.
    As she pulled out of the parking lot, Katie was
shocked back into reality by a car suddenly crossing her path. She promptly
slammed on the breaks, her heart in her throat. The last thing she needed right
now was an accident. “Get your mind back in gear, girl,” she admonished
herself. “This isn’t going to be any cake walk, and when you get to the office
there will be hundreds of emails, phone calls and everyone will be pulling at
you to come up with a solution. You are under the gun, so get it together.”  Katie
always found a moment of self-chastisement helped when she started to lose
focus on a project. She was now ready to face whatever may come.
    The traffic was particularly heavy this afternoon,
but twenty-five minutes later she arrived at her office.   She made a mental
note to see if something was going on that would cause more