The Judas Strain/Prologue

The Judas Strain Prologue

MIDNIGHT Island of Sumatra Southeast Asia

The screams stopped.

During the midst of a bonfire Marco Polo and his father. Pray for forgiveness. They had to set fire to twelve ships with people on board. All of them had be afflicted with disease, and those who had died from the disease.

The people who had survived on the 13th ship had to strip and examine each other for any signs. This included the Khan's daughter Kokejin, who had stood behind a sailcloth for modesty. She was betrothed to a Persian princess and it was the Polo's task to deliver to the Khan of Persia, grandson of the Kublai Khan's brother. That was a lifetime ago in four months.

Marco's father makes Marco swear to him to never speak of the horrors they had observed. He expressed regret to “trespassing”, along with his brother Niccolo.

Four months before, they had travelled through the waters and Marco had sought out a legend of a lost temple in the jungles.

They discuss plans for the trip afterwards. When they arrive, they will tell their friend, Teobaldo, now Pope Gregory X, of the power of the Mongols.

They discuss, and conclude things could have been better. The horrors had concluded. Marco ponders on his adventures and what to write. He concludes that he would write his memories down and publish them. His father had burned a map retrieved from the temple he visited, and told to not to write much. Marco holds a cross from Friar Agreer, a priest who had accompanied them. He had died at the cursed city to save theirs. As the embers burned, Marco whispered “What God will save us next time?”

MAY 22, 6:32 P.M. Indian Ocean 10º 44'07.87"S | 105º 11'56.52"E Gregg Tunis is enjoying his own time on his own boat. His wife Susan Tunis came up and smiled. The two biologists were interested in what recently happened. They were with Professor Applegate, who is with them about a study.

Ten days ago eighty dolphins, Tursiops aduncus, an Indian Ocean species, had beached themselves along the coast of Java. Her research study centered on the long-term effects of sonar interference on cetacean species, the source of many suicidal beachings in the past. She usually had a team of research assistants with her, a mix of postgrads and undergrads, but the trip up here had been for a vacation with her old mentor. It was pure happenstance that such a massive beaching occurred in the region—hence the protracted stay here. They were intrigued by the recently activity, such as random earthquakes and animal changes. They saw algae and bioluminenscent bacteria who contributed to lights. Scratching her arm, Susan sees and is fascinated by the curiosities of the bacteria. She sees that the bacteria glow in red, having been in her.

Chronology

 * Next: The Judas Strain/Chapter 1