"This kind of undeclared war could go on interminably, as the Cold War seemed to do back in the Fifties," I said gloomily.
"It probably could," Hallam agreed. "Our one hope is to effect a change in leaders, or at least in policy, in Russia. Maybe, just maybe, new leaders will arise who will work with the democracies for a world system of government."
"A faint hope," I said, "but I'll go to bed now before that cheerful thought yields to glum reality."
I checked Pat before I turned in. She was resting well and I thought she looked a little less feverish. Her head felt cooler and her pulse was about normal. Sadly, thinking of her loss and mine, I closed the door behind me.
Pat's recovery was rapid and uneventful. The following morning she got up and had coffee with us. In a couple of days she was getting around well although the Chief wisely insisted she rest for long periods and absolutely refused to let her work in the Lab. Part of her restless energy she expended on preparing tasty meals for us until we both began to grumble about our expanding waistlines. There was no sign that the new disease had ill effects other than what she had already suffered. Whether or not she was sterile was a question that would have to wait. I had no intention of putting it to the test for a good long time. To work for the cause of science was all very well but I could see no point in sacrificing my love to it.
The new virus was christened FS for female sterility and we re-named the old one MS for male sterility. The new one was easy to grow. It thrived on fertilized eggs, in ferrets, hamsters, mice and monkeys; in every animal we could find. With passage through numerous generations it became more virulent until, in its final form, it caused abortion in all pregnant animals. Invariably, after recovery of the animals, our pathologists were unable to find any developing eggs in their ovaries. Because of their short breeding cycle we worked mainly with hamsters, those fat little relatives of the guinea pig. Even the amazing fertility of the hamster was stopped by the FS virus.
"It looks as if we have the answer for the Russians," I said exultantly after we had tallied our results some weeks later.
"I'm not so sure, John, not so sure at all," Hallam said thoughtfully.
"Why is that, Sir?"