The Good Virus, a Christmas Tale

Bodie Tate did not hate people, nor did he despise society, civilization, or the world in general. He did, however, harbor a profound disappointment and annoyance brought on by those aforementioned entities.

He had a fairly good life, comfortable with a moderate amount of contentment. Like any human who has spent a good portion of their adulthood working and interacting with other humans, he was both pleasantly surprised and deeply wounded by his fellow earthlings.

He felt that mankind's morals didn't live up to its religious texts, its love didn't reach the zenith of chivalrous love embodied in the Arthurian texts, and its bravery rarely reached comic book levels. He often noted that movie characters were always far better than real people and most good acts were motivated by some form of guilt. Bodie knew he sounded bitter, but he wasn't, he simply recognized and accepted man's limitations and thought that he could live with that.

His final and utter disillusionment with humanity transpired with amazing rapidity. In the course of one week, he went from moderately content to utterly despondent and his feelings for mankind spiraled from tolerance to a profound wish for Armageddon.

This seismic shift was the result of a number of unfortunate events that transpired that week in Philadelphia and forever dispelled the notion of Karma from his philosophy. Bodie had never done anything remotely evil or even ill-tempered and could by no one's account deserve what happened.

His week started poorly. Bodie's fiancé left him for a drummer, his house was broken into and trashed, he was mugged by three sadistic barely post pubescent teens in front of the Philadelphia Cathedral Basilica with bystanders looking on, and a homeless man pissed on his leg. That wasn't the half of it. He was fired from his job as a pharmaceutical salesman for excessive honesty, his car was stolen, and his accountant informed him, quite apologetically, that he had stolen the majority of Bodie's savings and moved to Costa Rica. As an exclamation point to his apocalyptic week, his cat died.

After about a month in isolation basking in self-pity and trying to convince himself that mankind was basically good, he received the phone call that would profoundly change his life and offer an excuse to escape the increasingly depressing confines of the city.

Prior to his employment as a sales rep, Bodie had studied to become an epidemiologist, focused on the treatment and prevention of diseases. He was forced to withdraw from the university when his father died and he became the only means of support for his chronically ill mother. When she passed away, he was well entrenched in his job and talked himself out of returning to college to complete his degree.

During his time at the university, he worked as a trusted assistant to an eccentric yet brilliant professor of epidemiology named Doctor Johnathan Sutter. It was Doctor Sutter who called him and drew him out of his self-exile.

Sutter had left the university to pursue independent research at his laboratory in Lenfer, Louisiana. He begged Bodie to join him in his research, telling him he was on the verge of a major breakthrough and needed someone he could trust. With literally nothing left to lose, Bodie agreed.

Bodie arrived in Lenfer on a dull November afternoon. His first impression was not favorable. Backwater was too generous a term for this small dilapidated town. It consisted of one street, a quarter of a mile long, with shabby time-worn buildings in dire need of a hammer, nails, and some fresh paint, lining the avenue. There was a garage, a diner, a bar, a sheriff's office and not much else in the way of businesses. A few locals sat on their porches and eyed him suspiciously as he slowly drove down the street trying to locate Doctor Sutter's residence.

He stopped the car and rolled down his window to ask directions of a burly unkempt man walking toward the diner. The man grunted angrily and replied with a heavy Cajun drawl that was almost impossible for Bodie to understand. Rather than ask again and risk further upsetting the locals, he decided to pull up to the diner for a cup of coffee and clearer instruction.

The diner was actually quaint and pleasant, located in a refurbished boxcar that was added to the front of a brick structure where the kitchen was located. Bodie seated himself at the long counter and looked around. There were six other people eating lunch, two older couples in booths and two men at the counter. They all stared daggers at him.

"What can I get you, mon cheri?" The waitress asked pleasantly. She was in her forties, dressed in a plaid skirt and flat heels, a little weathered, but smiling brightly.

"Coffee and some directions would be great," he stared at her name tag, "Deidre."

She picked up the coffee pot and filled his cup.

"Where do you need to go?" She asked.

"102 Maison Rouge," Bodie looked around again and asked, "Folks here don't seem to like strangers much, do they?"

"We don't trust no one," She chuckled, "It a small town and outsiders are usually law trying to mind our business which ain't no concern of theirs. You a city boy?"

Bodie smiled, "Yeah. Philadelphia."

Deidre returned his smile, "The city of brotherly love, I always wanted to visit!"

"I would argue the brotherly love part, but it is a great city," he looked the waitress in the eye, "about that address?"

"This address is the last house on the street, next to the sheriff. You with that fancy doc that lives there?"

"Yes, I am."

"What's that man up to?" She asked.

"Honestly, I have no idea." Bodie smiled.

The waitress returned his smile. "Well, you let Deidre know when you find out."

Bodie finished his coffee and paid his tab leaving a tip three times the cost of his bill. He left the diner with the locals still glaring at him. Deidre waved. He made his way to the edge of town and pulled into the driveway of 102 Maison Rouge.

Bodie knocked on the door and it swung open almost immediately. A dignified older bearded man wearing wire-rim spectacles stood in the entrance. The man smiled broadly and shot out his hand.

"Mr. Tate, I'm so glad you decided to come. We're going to do great things together! Come in."

Bodie shook his hand and entered.

The interior of Sutter's house was unimpressive. It looked liked countless other homes that Bodie had seen, but the basement into which he was led was a different matter altogether.

The space was immaculate, with glistening white walls and three rows of steel tables covered in a wide array of scientific equipment. Refrigerators and storage cabinets lined the walls. The centerpiece of Doctor Sutter's home laboratory was a sterile enclosure set up to maintain a negative pressure to protect against environmental contamination.

"Wow, Doc, this is an impressive setup you have here. What exactly are you working on?" Bodie asked.

"Let's go upstairs and grab some sandwiches and I"ll tell you all about it," Sutter said cheerfully.

"Why not? I am pretty famished." Bodie replied as he followed the professor up the stairs.

Sutter served the sandwiches and began telling his tale as the two men chowed down.

"It was early last year, I was a consultant for a medical team dealing with an Ebola outbreak in central Nigeria. We pretty much had everything under control and I was about to head back when word reached me about a local outbreak of an unknown virus in a jungle community about fifty miles from where I was staying."

He took a bite from his sandwich and continued, "There was a problem however, it seems the disease was spreading within a militia linked to Boko Haram, the terrorist group associated with ISIL. They were killing locals indiscriminately and suddenly the killing stopped and the word of the disease got out. The local government was afraid the virus would spread to populated areas and negotiated a kind of truce to allow a medical team in to evaluate the situation. They wanted me to check it out."

Bodie's eyes widened, "You went to a terrorist stronghold to check out a virus? That's insane."

"Possibly, but I went none the less. The possibility of discovering a new virus was simply too tempting."

"So," Bodie asked, "was it a new strain of Ebola?"

Sutter smiled broadly, "It was so much more than simply a new strain of an old virus, Mr. Tate. It was a new entirely unknown unique virus with fascinating symptoms and consequences."

Bodie was fascinated, "Go on."

Sutter shifted in his seat and continued, "I entered the Boko Haram camp expecting the worst and terrified of my potential patients. I expected to be confronted by a murderous demon spawn. Imagine my surprise when I was greeted by warm smiles and hearty handshakes. Everyone appeared totally healthy, but everything was so...odd. Laughter, dancing, and not a gun in sight, not a harsh word to be heard."

"I don't understand," Bodie interrupted, "what's that got to do with the virus?"

"Don't you see, Mr. Tate," Sutter said excitedly, "that was the primary manifestation of the disease. It eliminates all aggressive impulses and stimulates endorphin manufacture. It also seems to stimulate group bonding. It is in effect a virus that inadvertently promotes good behavior. It's still a disease, of course. It doesn't make you a better person, just better behaved. It destroys certain aspects of free will and I'm not sure of long-term consequences."

"So what is it you want me to help with?" Bodie asked.

"I've secured a sample of the virus and brought it here for study. I'd like you to help me map and analyze it."

"That sounds great. Whatever happened to the Nigerian outbreak?" Bodie asked.

Sutter stood up and answered as he left the kitchen. "The government truce was all a sham. As soon as I left the camp, troops came in and killed every last member of the militia and burned the camp to ash. Outbreak contained."

Over the next few weeks, the men worked diligently analyzing the virus. Doctor Sutter developed a prophylactic vaccine that he insisted both men take because of their daily exposure to the disease. He even managed to develop a cure that specifically targeted the virus. They barely left the house, even having groceries delivered twice a week.

Bodie was getting antsy, suffering from a bit of cabin fever, and thought a break from routine would do him good. He decided to have lunch at the diner for a change of pace.

As he walked down the street toward the diner, he was approached by the sheriff who slapped him heartily on the back as a greeting. The sheriff then offered his help, carte blanche, in any way he might be needed. Bodie thanked him and continued to the diner.

He could see, as he drew closer, that the diner was full. He entered and was shocked when almost everyone in the restaurant turned and greeted him loudly. The room was filled with laughter as Bodie walked to the counter. There were no seats available, but before he could leave, the man in front of him stood and surrendered his seat. It was the gruff local with the heavy Cajun accent Bodie had encountered when he first arrived.

He sat and Deidre approached him and poured a cup of coffee, "Hello cheri, nice to see you again. Don't bother with the menu, I'll bring you our special Christmas Jambalaya, on the house. We were so rude when you came."

He looked around the diner. Someone had pumped some quarters into the jukebox and a lively zydeco tune bounced off the walls. People started dancing and singing in the narrow space.

It was all too clear that the virus had escaped its confines within the doctor's lab. Bodie should have felt mortified at the least, but instead, he found himself smiling and tapping his foot to the music. Somehow the world seemed suddenly brighter.

It occurred to Bodie that he himself might be infected. He thought angry thoughts as a test and found he was still quite capable of negative emotions. It appeared that the scene in the diner simply made him happy, something he had not been in a while.

Bodie returned to Sutter's house swiftly to let him know that it appeared the virus had escaped containment. The Doctor was visibly shaken. He suggested the possibility that the young man who delivered groceries was most probably patient zero. He also believed that the virus was airborne since it seemed unlikely the young man exchanged fluids with all the infected.

Sutter seemed to become more and more agitated with each passing moment. Bodie on the other hand, hardly seemed concerned at all, remembering the kindness the formerly hostile locals had shown him. He addressed the Doctor.

"I think you are overreacting, just go out and see for yourself."

Sutter addressed Bodie sternly, " I intend to. I am disappointed by your cavalier attitude. Remember, this is a very contagious disease we are talking about. A disease! Just because the symptoms don't include melting organs doesn't mean it isn't dangerous." He paused and motioned Bodie to sit, "Now wait here for me while I check out the damage we've done and how far the virus has spread." He left without another word. Bodie sat and thought about what he had seen.

There was something unusual in the way Bodie felt, something that didn't quite make sense. He felt far better than he should of. He knew instinctively that it wasn't the virus, rather it was the result of the virus. It was seeing all those people being friendly. It was suddenly losing the burden of paranoia. It was feeling safe. He liked it. He liked it a lot.

Doctor Sutter returned in an agitated huff. He paced the floor nervously. After a few minutes, he addressed Bodie.

"It's far worse than I feared. This virus is incredibly contagious, a single contact is enough to spread it. It's extremely fortunate we vaccinated ourselves. It's also fortunate this town is as isolated as it is, we can still stop this disease before it spreads. We have enough of my anti-viral to kill the virus in the locals. We'll spike the water supply, supplement that with an aerosol we can spray in their faces. The good thing about the disease is they won't fight us, they'll happily do whatever we ask."

Bodie didn't speak. He followed Sutter into the laboratory and began to help prepare the anti-viral. Sutter was leaning over one of the tables when he suddenly bolted upright and turned to see Bodie injecting him with a hypodermic. He became woozy and collapsed on the floor.

"Sorry Doc, you'll be fine in a few hours," Bodie said as he began to delete all the research on the computers and pour the prepared medicines down the drain.

He sat in the living room quietly, deciding what to do next. He focused on Sutter's words; They'll happily do whatever we ask. Resolute now, Bodie left the house, got in his car and drove to the diner.

He entered the still crowded restaurant and made his way to the counter. The music was still playing and the patrons were still dancing merrily. Bodie sat at the counter and motioned Deidre over. She approached, smiling.

"Nice to see you again so soon, mon cheri, what can I get you?"

"When you said you'd like to visit Philly, were you serious or just being polite?"

"I'm not that polite, sweetie," she chuckled, "I meant what I said."

"Well, in that case, I think you should take off with me right now and let me show you the city this weekend. I think this might be your destiny. My treat, no hanky-panky. I'll have you back by Monday. What do you say?" Bodie finished, watching the waitress carefully.

She broke out laughing, "Sounds like a wonderful idea. I could use the break," she turned and shouted to the kitchen, "Maurice! I'm taking off for a few days! Make sure to feed the cat and the parakeet!" Deidre shed her apron and hopped over the counter. She slapped Bodie on the back and guffawed.

"No hanky-panky, that's rich. You couldn't handle this, boy," she passed her hands over her body by way of explanation, then headed out the door, turning and calling out to Bodie, "Come on then, chop, chop."

On the road to the airport in New Orleans, Bodie carefully regarded the cheerful waitress carefully. If the virus was as contagious as Sutter believed, Deidre was the biological equivalent of a hundred hydrogen bombs. He became increasingly nervous but remained determined.

After Bodie purchased the tickets, they walked to the gate through the crowded airport. They boarded and were soon on their way, with a change of planes in the equally crowded Atlanta International Airport.

It was nighttime when they finally reached their destination. The Philadelphia terminal was already decked out in holiday decorations. Deidre was still the picture of vitality and cheer. Bodie, however, was exhausted. He had spent the flight worrying about what the unleashing of this modern Typhoid Mary would actually do.

As he exited the airport, deep in thought, the smile left his face, replaced by a panicked expression and furrowed brow.

What am I doing? What have I done? This is a disease!

Even as he was doubting himself in the cold winter air, his eyes were drawn to a lighted billboard standing high above the airport. He stopped and stared at it. Slowly, the smile returned to his face. It read:

The City of Brotherly Love

wishes you Happy Holidays,

Peace on Earth,

and Good Will to Men.

It would be a miraculous Christmas.

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