The cure....

[TacAir]

Once again, pulled to protect my copyright.

[DTyra]

Interesting, I like it! There's always something appealing about the loner who misses out on the end of everything.

[TacAir]

Interesting, I like it! There's always something appealing about the loner who misses out on the end of everything.

It has been done before, many, many times before. That is the least of the story.

This has echos of "White Plague" by Frank Herbert and a bit of "28 Days Later" (Garland) - and springs from a real science story.
And, as they say, therein lies the tale.
As a short, mostly for fun - and to ask 'that' question...

[teachermom44]

I too like the confused loner who presses on to get answers.

[Laager]

Looking like the start of another great story!

[Manliest]

Could you post a link to the science story, or would that ruin the suspense.

[223shootersc]

good stuff, what happened a real question

[Nancy1340]

Hummmm? Interesting. Thanks

[bad_karma00]

I like it. Eerie feeling to it. can't imagine seeing all that and not knowing what was happening.

[MaconCJ7]

Very good start. I am curious why he didn't go back to his cache and grab his gun and other supplies now that he has a truck though. I'm looking forward to MOAR of this story

[Gwynmael]

I agree, this is good. I also would be interested, after the story is complete, in a link to the article that sparked this.

[deathstalkertwo]

Very good, please don't stop.

[TacAir]

That copyright thing again....



****************************************
This is not all that original, the 1951 novel "The Day of the Triffids" looks at something bioengineered used for good - that 'go bad'. Triffids itself a variation of the classic "Frankenstein" story, where man's creation turns on him. In this case technology.
I thought I would have a bit of fun with it.
*****************************************
The use of a virus based cancer cure is a real ting.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20 ... wa-110831/

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-te ... 1xdtf.html

There is good anecdotal evidence - this will work.

There is the case of the eight-year-old African boy diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma at a Ugandan health clinic. He was exposed to the measles virus and in the next few weeks his tumour regressed completely and he entered remission.

An incident documented by the British medical journal The Lancet in 1971 described the example of a Hungarian chicken farmer who was suffering advanced colorectal cancer. When an outbreak of the avian virus Newcastle disease hit the farm, the man became infected and went into remission.

European researchers have been at this for more than a decade. The Canadians are using a modified Smallpox virus, scary indeed. In Oz, they are looking at the common cold as a source virus.

It had occurred to me after reading a Scientific American article in 2010, that such a virus, badly prepared could mutate - and become a scourge.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... s-vaccines

Of note to me
"Patients undergoing this viral therapy typically experience mild flulike symptoms, owing to immune response to the virus, Kirn said, but the company has reported no other side effects. Most Americans older than 40 received vaccinia as children in smallpox vaccines, but the company found no evidence that having had this vaccination hindered the effectiveness of the new virus."
So - there could be survivors in a mutated virus release....

Thanks for reading.

[DTyra]

Excellent short Tac! And I especially appreciate your comments at the end to describe the basis for your story. Well done!

[Gwynmael]

Liked it, gave me the chills.
Thanks for the background science stuff - that stuff made the hair on the back of my neck stand up! Guess I need to read more or at least more widely. DH would strenously disagree.

[Manliest]

That was great, as always. You're one of the few writers here that makes it worth being subscribed to the fiction forum.

[Nancy1340]

Scary as hell.

Thanks for the story though.

[bad_karma00]

I'm gonna go with the 'scary as hell' crowd myself. Nicely done!

[TacAir]

Thank you all for the kind words. My original notes had three possible endings. In the end, I thought it more fun just to pose the question...What would you do?


"The Hot Zone" a fact based book - and a terrific read - scared even Steven King, a scary guy himself.

That some of these researchers are using modified Smallpox virus variants is scary. You have to wonder, what if there was a lab accident?

Finally - Typhoid Mary (Mary Mallon) was a real person. She was forced into isolation and died there years later.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoid_Mary

[223shootersc]

thanks for the explanation and the chapter

[MaconCJ7]

Horrible. I mean great, but it's horrible to not make this into a long story. I like how you meant the ending to be, but there is so much room for a full story here.

I can't argue with Matt telling the ranch off. I would have done the same. There's nothing to stop the ranch from shooting him once he gets them their fuel. So they can suck a fatty.

[TacAir]

***

[deathstalkertwo]

Really liked your story, and yes it is a little scary, since something like this could very well happen. I know it is a short story, but it sure leaves a lot of room to be continued.
Thanks for your time and effort put into this story.