What’s important is that he’s once again on a campus in the middle of infected people and has to work his way out to safety. However, if this is larger than the immediate campus, then the idea of safety may not mean just getting clear of the local population. There may not be such a place at all. Although the immediate area around West Point is made up of tree-covered hills and lakes, it’s surrounded by populated cities on both sides.

First things first. Get to safety immediately, then work out the details later.

With a last look at the infected group, Brown turns, unbuttons his fatigue top, and removes a key attached to a leather thong around his neck. He unlocks a bottom drawer and removes a handgun, double-checking the mag and racking a round into the chamber. He withdraws two additional magazines and stuffs those in his pocket.

“Okay, first, there’s a good chance that the agent is airborne, so don’t take your masks off for anything. The act of eating has been suspended. If you happen to have the superpower of being able to survive without breathing, now would be the time to enact it. I’m not sure how effective these masks actually are, but we’re keeping them on, indefinitely if we have to. Second, we are going to secure this building. There are very few entrances so it should be easy enough to lock down. We’re lucky that the flu may have helped us in an off-handed manner. No one showed up to work, at least not here. I’ve been staring out of the window all morning and haven’t seen a soul arrive,” Brown briefs. “Then, we make sure we’re alone. The infected aren’t exactly ninjas, so we should be able to determine if we have company easily enough.”

“Why don’t we sneak through and get away from the academy? Like we did the last time,” Hayward queries. “Why do we need to stay in the library?”

“Well, if you remember correctly, we didn’t exactly sneak anywhere. When we did manage to get away, it was after a day and night spent in the bunker. The infected spread outward, and those that remained went into some kind of stupor. That’s what I’m thinking we should do here. Lock this place down tight and wait it out until the ones running amok either leave or go dormant,” Brown answers. “The bottom line is that we need to find a secure place to hold up, and this is what we have.”

“Okay, fair enough. But how are we going to seal the doors?” Clarke asks.

“With this,” Brown answers, pulling a hex-like tool out of the drawer.

“Of course you have keys. Or what amounts to them,” Hayward states. “What about a fallout shelter? There’s surely one here, and I’m quite sure you know where it is.”

“I’m not sure that your memory is functioning, son. We almost didn’t make it to the bunker the last time. Outside is not where we want to be right now, especially with some five thousand cadets and staff who might be infected. Last time, it was incremental and the wave spread quickly outward. If Clarke is correct, I’m not sure we are looking at the same scenario.