“Well, I guess we’ll be making our way via train in order to follow their path,” said Saint.
“I’ve arranged a private car for all of you, courtesy of our government.You will have private dining, sleeping, and bathing quarters without anyone bothering you.”
“Won’t that make it rather obvious?” asked Logan.
“On the contrary.We all know that your teams hate the obvious and hate any spotlights.People will think that you are famous actors or singers, not military men.Follow their trail and you’ll figure out where they are going to make their next kill.”
The men thanked General Yashim as he left them at the train station.The moment they boarded, the train began to move out.It had been waiting on their newest guests.
Everything was luxury.The bedding, kitchen area, baths, and even the windows had been blacked out to prevent onlookers.The general had thought of everything.
“We’re trying to get drone footage of where their train has stopped and if they got off or stayed on,” said Saint.“It’s difficult because the train did have multiple stops and is moving slowly.”
“Well, that’s a good thing for us,” said Fitch.“The general arranged for ours to only stop at major cities or if we request the stop.”
Logan had just set up the communications space when the cameras launched, showing the faces of AJ, Tanner, Hiro, Ham, and Cowboy.
“How is everyone?” asked Ham.
“We’re good,” nodded Logan.“On a private train headed east, all arranged by the general.”
“That’s good.The boys here have some news for you.”Ham nodded at AJ and he turned the camera to focus on him.
“When we heard the general talking about going back and looking at Fitzwilliam and Wadston’s history, we had a thought.What if they’re related?”
“And?” frowned seven men staring back.
“They’re more than a little related.Their parents were second cousins, which makes them cousins as well as brothers.”
“Holy shit,” muttered Logan.“Do they have abnormalities in their biology?”
“Some.Nothing too obvious.Wadston changed his name when he was in high school, already showing great promise in DNA research.He seemed drawn to figuring out things even back then.His thesis in college was about the complex mutations and advantages of inter-marriage for which he earned praise and criticism.
“His professors believed that his thoughts about the advantages, a purer race of people, shared positive traits, etcetera, were dangerous ideas and could promote more inter-family-marriage.
“Fitzwilliam suffers from ulcers, often bleeding ulcers, hearing loss directly related to his time in service, and uncontrolled shaking of his hands.He’s been taking medications for all of it, with very little success.It was Fitzwilliam that recommended Wadston as the civilian physician on many bases and ships.As we all know, there’s been a shortage of doctors and nurses in service and they’ve often taken on contractors to fill the gaps.Wadston was one of those.”
“But that doesn’t make sense,” said Sor.“If they are the product of intermarriage, they should be proponents, not opponents.”
“You would think,” said Ham, “except they had four siblings, all who died as a result of illnesses, diseases and physical deformities directly related to their parents marrying, or so we believed.Except after review of death certificates and autopsies, we believe they were murdered.Most likely by Isaac and Leo.”Logan stared at the others.
“Damn.We have to stop them.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
It seemed as though Pakistan knew they were coming.When a problem with the main engines on their train delayed them more than twelve hours, Isaac and Leo asked a local taxi driver if there were any small villages, within just a few hours of the train station that could use medical attention.
He bought it hook, line, and sinker.Taking them to the first one, which was just forty-five minutes away, they found what they were looking for.An entire village with poor water sources, abject poverty, and clear signs of families marrying within their own circle.
Isaac had been practicing his good, kind doctor routine for years.With just a smile and soft touch, patients seemed to instantly trust him.He gave them all a quick examination, noting strange growths, disfigurements, vitamin deficiencies, and skin conditions on nearly every person in the village.
He asked the driver to tell the villagers that with one simple shot, they would all be cured.He explained it all, using words that the driver would never understand.So impressed by the American’s intelligence, he convinced them that it would be for the best.
Within an hour, he’d injected them all, using five of his remaining vials.The next two stops would need to be given the oral dose.
When they arrived at the second location, there were mixed signs of the interfamily marriages.It appeared some had, and some had not.Either way, Isaac was determined to end the cycle for them all.
“Isaac, they’re not all guilty,” whispered Leo.
