IX. The Laws of Man

Kacinski lead Hathorne through the police department building.

"It's Mike O'Malley. Came into the station earlier tonight, had that black shit--er, stuff all over him. Was biting and scratching like a madman. Sergeant Macaby and I threw him into one of the cells until we could get a doctor in here. About an hour ago, Macaby and a few of the others he attacked passed out. I've got 'em laying out in the break room right now."

"How long has it been? This is very important, Officer."

"Let's see." Kacinski glanced at his watch. "About four hours I'd say."

"Damnation." muttered Hathorne. "If you can seal your break room from the outside, do it, and right away. How many officers do you have left, not counting the ones in the break room?"

"Well, there's me, Chief Ballard, and Randall Hicks. Then there's Howie Jordan and Rob Cohen, but they're not on duty 'til nine. But why do you want to seal up the break room?"

Hathorne stopped. "Do you believe in God, officer?"

"Well, sure. I've been going to church since I was a boy--"

"Good. I want to be completely clear. The substance on Officer O'Malley and the ones I just struck down outside is toxic to the human body. It doesn't matter how it gets in--eaten, drank, or put directly into the bloodstream. It kills within hours, converting the body into a factory for more of the disgusting stuff. When this happens, the body is invaded by agents of the devil. I've been chasing the source of this affliction--the Associated Press has taken to calling it the Traveling Plague, rather accurately--across most of the country, and it's left these creatures behind it at every step, slowing me down just long enough to escape each time. It looks as though this time it's gotten enough of a lead on me to start creating these thralls in numbers. The men in your break room and the one in your cell are dead, enslaved by this plague. We can still save their souls, but their lives are over. We need to contain this threat and eliminate any of the creatures that have been loosed on the countryside so far. This is nothing less than an emergency."

Kacinski looked incredulous. "Preacher, that can't--"

"It is true. You'll see proof of it in time, but we don't time to banish your disbelief now. Take me to the break room and I'll see if I can stop them before they're turned."

Kacinski started up again.

"Officer," said Hathorne. "the important things to remember is that the infernal components of the plague can only function in beings that possess a soul to exploit--that is, only men and women. They are demonic in nature and thus fear prayer; anything that is a demonstration of faith--prayer, hymns, even repeating a statement of faith, will slow them. The words you use are less important than the faith behind them. Crosses and holy water are anathema to them; either can be used to render a single one of their number a simple corpse. If you don't have access to either, destroy their eyes. The demonic agents rest there, and destroying the eyes will leave the subject free to die. Their demonic patron is supporting them directly, so trying to use prayer against more than one at a time isn't likely to work."

Kacinski nodded. "This is a bit much, Reverend."

"Unfortunately. Is this the place?"

"Dammit, yes." said Kacinski.

The break room door stood before the two men, ripped from its hinges.

"Let's get moving." said Hathorne. "We have to catch them before this plague spreads."