Flashes of Speculation

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  • Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Time: 11:20 pm Category: Stories Discussion: 3 Comments

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  • Deadly Secrets 1952 (A Max Frost Case) - Rod Drake »

The virus appeared first in the humid jungles of west Africa, but it spread rapidly. More virulent than the Black Death, and with more horrific effects than Ebola, it swept across the African continent into Asia and Europe. From there it was only a matter of time before it reached the far corners of the globe. In these days of commercial air travel, even the oceans are no barrier.

The Red Plague, they called it, for the scarlet spots that were the first sign of infection. Within hours the spots would spread to form livid blotches that swelled to grotesque proportions. The victims trembled and shook, gripped by muscular spasms that contorted their limbs and constricted their breathing. Within 24 hours they were dead.

The bodies were collected by the local coroners, but soon the morgues were full and plague pits, the like of which had not been seen since the Black Death ravaged Europe in the 14th century, were the hasty burial ground for hundreds of unnamed individuals.

Then the tide seemed to ebb, and we survivors breathed a sigh of relief. It was over, or so we thought. How wrong we were for the true horror had barely begun. As grave after grave disgorged its dead, we learned the meaning of the word ‘horror’.

Horror is seeing the dead shambling down the high street.

Horror is watching those ghouls tear into a screaming victim like a pack of slathering dogs.

Horror is running for your life, your breathing ragged and your heart pounding in your chest, knowing that they are gaining on you, knowing that they are getting closer and closer and closer…

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