Pawns Dreaming of Roses
“There were plagues of measles, and smallpox, THE plague, of course –”
“Of course.”
“Syphilis, cholera, and the flu.”
Alex stared at Raphael, her hunger forgotten. The flu. She didn’t want to hear any more.
“The Spanish Flu of 1918 was one of the most lethal epidemics recorded. Over 25 million killed in a year and a half.”
“Hmm.” She began walking again, but kept her head down, staring at the sidewalk blocks as they passed under feet. She wished he’d stop talking. But he wouldn’t.
“It traveled with the military. Did more damage than the war, if you can believe it. Want to know why it was called the Spanish Flu?” he asked.
She remained silent.
“Because Spanish newspapers were the first to report that there was, indeed, a serious epidemic happening.” He stopped speaking, but Alex remained mute. “Don’t you find that interesting?” he asked.
“I suppose.” She wracked her brain for a diversion. She did not want to hear one more word about the flu. “I just don’t see how this kind of information will be helpful for me.”
“What are you? Daft?” Raphael came to an outraged standstill and she breathed a quick sigh of relief. “This is what Pestilence does. Can’t you see that?”
“I understand, but I don’t see how this will help,” she replied. “I thought we’d be doing more of a – I don’t know – a battle type scenario. His fighters on one side, mine on the other – you know, something like that.”
“Do you see any other people working out with you? Learning the ways of the Horseman? Being taught by Raphael the Messenger? Do you?”
“No.”
“That’s because there isn’t anybody else! You don’t get an army or soldiers. You don’t get guns. It’s just you and him. Eye to eye.”
“And I’m supposed to stop him.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Any way you can,” he said. “You’ve been reading Revelations, haven’t you?”
“Yes, but –”
“It’s all in there. Those with the faith will win. You did see that, didn’t you?”
“Not really.” She looked down at her hands, feeling she had somehow let him down.
“Trust me and have faith,” Raphael said. “You will have all the weapons you need.”
“And if I lose?”
“My guess — a drug-resistant form of the Black Plague.”
“The Black Plague?” she whispered.
“Yes. That could eradicate a quarter of the human population, easily. And you know what happens after that?”
“What?”
“Famine, War, and Death. The rest of the Horsemen would ride, after a disease like that. Frightening prospect, isn’t it?” He pointed across the street, and she saw they had arrived at her apartment building. “You ready for lunch?”
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