2036 The Proof: A Thrilling Science Fiction Novel

by Speiser, Zvi

  The lectures were interesting, but she had a hard time concentrating, particularly on the most technical aspects, to which the majority of the time was dedicated. The audience was fluent in the most minute details, and nearly every mathematical derivation presented was subject to lively reactions.

  Dinner, during which the professor insisted she call him Benny, was both productive and relaxed. Although he would be defending one of his articles the next day, he seemed entirely at ease. If Lia were in his shoes, she would have been feeling the pressure, and wouldn’t have wasted time having dinner with strangers.

  She recognized many of the restaurant’s patrons as the conference’s attendees and lecturers. Everyone was talking enthusiastically about the startling discoveries that the STA’s accurate observations were expected to yield, as well as looking for a way to influence the observations and, of course, be the first to receive the results. Ideally, they wanted to receive them long before everyone else in order to have time to interpret them and write the expected groundbreaking papers.

  Three hot topics attracted the attention of the conference attendees, monopolizing most of the discussions. The first was the increasing accuracy of measuring distances to Ia supernovas, and therefore, distances to the galaxies in which they were discovered.

  The second was the extent to which the extraordinary resolution, the mechanisms preventing glare from the nearby suns and the stability of the measurement would allow unmediated observation of distant planets.

  And the third was speculating about the limitations of the distance at which it would be possible to discover fluctuations in star locations, caused by planets orbiting around them in a plane perpendicular to the line of observation from Earth, which had prevented their discovery up until now.

  The prediction was that this would enable the discovery of a particularly large number of near and distant planets that had been impossible to discover using transit photometry, which enabled discovery of less than 10 percent of possible planets. The Doppler method also did not facilitate discovery of more than 50 percent of the planets it could potentially locate, especially since its forte was discovering large, heavy planets.

  All this had, of course, been made possible thanks to the STA, which the speakers praised wholeheartedly. All of them expected the STA to facilitate the breakthrough that the astronomers so avidly anticipated. The speakers compared these expected discoveries and breakthroughs to those made during the initial years of the Hubble telescope.

  Benny asked to measure four binary systems, each of which contained a white dwarf absorbing gas from a nearby red giant whose mass should be approaching the Chandrasekhar limit. He suspected these dwarfs possessed irregular characteristics, and Lia could provide him with an immediate window of observation. He also requested to repeat Lia’s observations on the same occasion.

  Benny transferred the data for the stars to Lia’s assistant, from which they were immediately conveyed to the Observation Department. She had already observed two of these stars without noticing any irregular characteristics, but was not familiar with the other two.

  I wonder what we’ll find out, she thought. Apparently, she would not be sleeping well tonight, either.

  Chapter 22

  The Guardians Under Pressure

  Chicago, Tuesday, July 22, 2036

  The atmosphere in the room was somewhat tense. Aaron opened the meeting, while Takumi and Chinatsu sat stiffly in their seats, their expressions frozen.

  “Although we’ve declared a Level 2, the situation in the field forced me to implement a higher level. Still not Level 1, but definitely higher than 2.” Aaron briefly described the need for physical intervention, though it still wasn’t extreme to the point of necessitating murder or causing key people to disappear.

  “I’m seeing irregular activity in Dr. Lester’s lab. Unfortunately, I can’t hear what’s being said, probably due to some technical glitch in the camera I hastily installed. One of his PhD students has discovered something that’s very upsetting to her. I don’t know what she’s discovered, but we have to act on the assumption that the worst has happened. I’m assuming she’s discovered the geometrical structures, realized how unusual they are, and panicked. It’s safe to assume she’s shown them to Dr. Lester. Erie has set up a meeting between Dr. Lester and Professor Goldon, who was supposed to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

  “Now for the latest updates. Dr. Gerald Apexton was on his way to report his latest findings at the weekly NASA meeting. To my knowledge, those findings include his discovery of the true role of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. STA observations are providing scientists with plenty of information, which will lead to extraordinary insights about the space around us.

  “Dr. Ethan Almog has already seen the summary of STA observations citing the presence of two solar systems with planets orbiting within the Goldilocks Zone, meaning they support life, within a radius of hundreds of light-years from Earth. Dr. Apexton’s unequivocal observational proof has an earth-shattering potential beyond our containment abilities. I had to stage a car accident that resulted in Dr. Apexton’s hospitalization, unconscious and suffering from a head injury. I also visited him in the hospital, masquerading as a doctor. Based on his physical condition, I don’t think he’ll be continuing his research in the years to come.

  “It turns out that Dr. Melissa Colette, whom I occasionally use as a consultant in the field of genetic research, has recently met with Will Thorne, one of the more talented investigative reporters at the Chicago Chronicle. I ‘helped’ Will take a fall, resulting in his being hit by a vehicle and then rushed to the hospital.

  “This recent spate of revelations might not be surprising, but is certainly very troubling. Observations from the new telescopes might reveal many more disturbing aspects. I still don’t feel comfortable asking that we declare a Level 1, but it’s a good idea to prepare for this unprecedented occurrence.”

  As usual, after Aaron had finished speaking, all three sat quietly for several minutes until Chinatsu summed up the meeting by saying, “The situation is deteriorating. Current technology is enabling discoveries that weren’t possible until a short time ago. I’m not sure we can continue handling the troubling news that still awaits us. I propose that Takumi consult with the Leading Gentleman.”

  Both turned to Takumi, who remained in his seat, his expression unreadable. Not even a mosquito’s buzz disturbed the silence that took over the room as they all contemplated the latest statements.

  After an interval that seemed longer than usual to Aaron, Takumi straightened in his chair, declaring, “I’ll talk to the Leading Gentleman. I’ll report back soon.”

  After getting up, he turned around and exited the apartment immediately. The two men left behind maintained their silence until Chinatsu, too, rose from his seat and left.

  Things are falling apart quickly, Takumi thought as he walked to the train station. He did not consider, even for a moment, calling the Leading Gentleman. The Gentleman would confirm any decision he made, as always. His status in the organization had long become so well established that he no longer needed authorization from any senior element.

  After all, during the course of the last year, he had frequently heard whispers that he was the one designated to replace the Leading Gentleman once he retired. Although he had talked to him occasionally, both one-on-one and in conference calls, Takumi had never actually met him. They avoided video feed during the conference calls as well, mostly in order to maintain confidentiality, or at least that’s what he was told.

  I wonder who the Leading Gentleman is, he found himself thinking. He wasn’t Japanese, of that he was certain. His accent was clear and well-enunciated, as was often the case with someone who had acquired the complex language at an advanced age. He could not guess the Leading Gentleman’s national origin from his accent.

  Chapter 23

  Jack<
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  Chicago, Tuesday, July 22, 2036

  Rick was rushing determinedly to Will’s room, but was stopped by a sturdy nurse from her post at the nurse station.

  “We don’t allow visitors to enter the ward freely. Where do you think you’re going?” she asked, stationing herself in front of him and effectively arresting his progress. The police badge he flashed at her softened her only slightly; however, she continued to block his path, her gaze impenetrable.

  “Will and I are old friends. I was with him at a restaurant just a few hours ago. The accident happened after I left. I’m very concerned. I promise not to disturb him,” Rick begged.

  “Friends are allowed to go in. I thought you might be here on police business. I wouldn’t let the cops go in and harass him. Anyway, I’ll come with you so you’re not tempted to bug him with police matters. Your friend is lucky to be alive. He sustained a serious head injury, but apparently, he’s got an extra-strong skull. The doctors managed to quickly drain the internal hemorrhage that resulted in pressure on his brain, as well as repair the damaged artery. Now we just have to give him time to recuperate. He might recover completely, although certain aspects of his memory might be affected.”

  At a waiting nook in the corridor, Rick spotted one of the new officers, whose name he couldn’t recall. He was wearing a blue hospital gown and reading a newspaper. The officer slanted a brief glance at Rick, but his expression didn’t change in the slightest, although he had definitely recognized him. Rick was pleased. They were indeed keeping a low profile, and not raising any unnecessary questions.

  Despite the dimness of the room, Rick noticed bandages on Will’s right hand, chest, and head. Thankfully, all the bandages were smaller than he’d expected. Will looked more like someone who had slipped on the street and sustained some light contusions than a man who had just been in a serious traffic accident.

  The nurse, who noticed his startled look, responded by saying, “There’s no need for the clunky bandages we used in the past. Modern dressing protects the site of the injury from infection, while simultaneously supplying nutrients to accelerate tissue regeneration and healing. Other than the major head injury, the damage to other parts of his body is relatively superficial. Draining the blood from the brain and repairing the artery were also done through two minute openings. In the past, doctors had to remove a section of the skull to enable the kind of treatment that took place here.”

  The nurse allowed Rick to approach the head of Will’s bed and take a closer look at him. Will, still under sedation, did not stir or react in any way.

  “He was unconscious when he got here. The holes in his scalp were drilled using only local anesthesia. Immediately after the internal pressure was reduced by draining the blood, he woke up, and stayed awake until the conclusion of the surgery. Later, he was sedated in order to expedite the healing process. All in all, his condition is stable and quite good.”

  Surveying the various monitors in the room, Rick noted that the screens of the pulse and breathing monitors depicted both measures as stable. Other instruments tracked medical functions that were unfamiliar to him, but the display was monotonous and steady on all of them.

  He drew away from the bed, whispering to the nurse, “How long will he be sedated?”

  “I don’t know. In any case, even when he’s awake, I’m not sure the doctors will allow him to be interrogated, if that’s what you mean.”

  It was now late in the afternoon. On his way out of the ward, he heard the sound signaling an incoming message. He paused briefly, debating whether to drive home or wait for Melissa at the hospital. His deliberation was cut short when Melissa appeared in front of him. He gave her a succinct update regarding Will’s condition.

  “Thanks. I’d like to see him,” she said.

  “You’ll have to go through the nurses. I’ll wait for you in the open area in front of the ward,” he said.

  The message awaiting him contained a transcript of the interrogation of the driver who had hit Will. He had been very frightened, and did whatever he could to cooperate with the officers questioning him. He claimed his slow driving had saved the victim from being injured more severely. The victim seemed to have tripped or been pushed into the road from a couple of feet away. At the time of impact, the driver had been pressing the brake as hard as he could. He said he had seen a dark-skinned man wearing a light suit in the place where the victim had been standing previously.

  Melissa returned several minutes later. Apparently, seeing Will, as well as his condition, made it hard for her to stay any longer in his room, or perhaps the ward nurse had made her leave. The grim look in her eyes reflected her turbulent emotional state.

  She dropped into the seat next to Rick on the couch, buried her face in her hands, and began to weep quietly. Rick grasped her shoulder and hugged her to him. She succumbed to his touch, leaning into him as her tears gradually subsided. After a while, she stopped crying, freed herself from his grasp, wiped her face with the tissue he handed her, then turned to him.

  “He looked so fragile,” she said, her voice breaking. “As you know, we were a couple for almost two years. He’s a charming person who’s true to his values. What exactly happened out there? What are the doctors saying? What are his chances of recovery? What precisely are his injuries, and how serious are they?”

  “Will’s a strong guy with an especially thick skull. Luckily for him, he arrived at the hospital quickly. The doctors drained a hemorrhage in his brain and repaired a damaged artery. He’s under sedation now to expedite his recuperation. The nurse in the ward said he’s got a good chance of making a full recovery. His other bodily injuries are superficial, and shouldn’t worry you.”

  He briefly debated whether to tell her that Will had been following her as she left the restaurant, before deciding to go for it. He would tell her everything while closely examining her reaction. He trusted his ability to read people.

  “Will called me when he left the restaurant. He followed you after you left.”

  “Why?” she asked. “What made him follow me? He knew I’m always okay, and that I know how to take care of myself.”

  “He noticed your frightened look when you saw the dark-skinned man wearing a light suit who was standing near the door of the restaurant, and decided that someone was threatening you. He also got the impression that the unmarked envelope you received while the two of you were sitting there upset you, and that’s why he decided to follow you. We tracked the two attempts you made to call him, and also picked up the ripped envelope and its contents, which you threw away.”

  “Wait a second, are you having me followed? And how did you know about the story with the envelope, and why did you collect it after I tore it up?” Apparently, Melissa had completely gotten over her bout of weeping and sentimentality, and had resumed functioning at full capacity.

  “Will was worried. He let us know, and we acted immediately. And why did you call him just a few minutes after you parted at the restaurant?” he asked.

  “Will’s instincts were right,” she replied. “I did feel threatened, and if you’ve seen the contents of the envelope, you can surely understand that I was worried about him. I tried to warn him to be very careful.”

  “We’ve questioned the driver of the truck that hit him. He said Will was pushed into his path by a dark-skinned man wearing a suit. Could this be the man who frightened you and caused Will to follow you?” Rick stopped there, deciding to confine himself to a general question in order to encourage her to say more. Under the current circumstances, she was being less guarded than usual. He was likely to learn a lot the more he maintained his silence and allowed her to speak freely.

  She watched him quietly. Rick’s gaze was understanding and sympathetic, but he did not say a word.

  She’ll talk, he thought. You bet she will. She’ll reveal everything. She knew plenty of details that she had intenti
onally refrained from revealing to him, and perhaps hadn’t told anyone. All he had to do was keep quiet. Don’t break down, keep your mouth shut. She’ll talk.

  Indeed, eventually she breathed deeply, and then let out a sigh.

  “The dark-skinned man in the suit introduced himself to me as Jack, though I don’t believe that’s his real name. He told me he was a member of a very ancient religious sect that was deeply concerned about the fate of humanity, especially in light of increasing intervention by scientists in genetic altering of plants and animals. They’re highly wary of the accelerated trend of developing genetically based drugs, which they believe may very quickly lead to intentionally genetically altering human DNA, and from there to other unpredictable consequences. They have been continuously tracking genetic research in the leading labs in the world since intensive genetic studies first began. The organization has considerable resources, which it uses to try and limit the creation of mutations by manipulating public opinion against using genetically engineered food products, or by tempting the leading scientists to switch to other fields.

  “Jack didn’t bother telling me which god they believe in, but did tell me that it was a religious organization that believes all living beings were created by a higher power, and therefore mere mortals are forbidden from altering them.”

  Rick debated whether to use the brief pause in her speech to ask her about the nature of her relationship with Jack, but didn’t want to interrupt her train of thought and decided to maintain his silence, which, as always, paid off when Melissa resumed speaking.

  “Jack approached me as an expert on genetic engineering and asked for my help in tracking and monitoring current projects in university labs. He asked me to focus primarily on any studies related to the human genome. Occasionally, he also passed on information about studies that couldn’t be found online and required confidential sources of information. My role was to assess the goals of the study, the means the researchers used to analyze and understand the genome, and—in cases of an attempt to alter the genome—to describe the techniques the scientists were using in these attempts.