From the Earth: A Future Chronology Anthology

by D. W. Patterson

  “Mr. and Mrs. Jackson,” he began. “I'm so sorry. You're son died just a few minutes ago.”

  Miri fainted.

  2

  As a young engineering student Jack had been part of a research group that was developing an integrated circuit with the goal of running complex neural networks on a mobile platform. The platform would host a software-based Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), commonly called an Annie.

  Jack's specialty on the team was packing the necessary functions into a three-dimensional substrate while maintaining performance requirements. He developed what he called the Matryoshka (Russian nesting dolls) approach to help meet the requirements. Jack became famous on the team for writing the software that met packing and performance compliance.

  Jack was still an undergraduate working with the Annie group when his son died. His wife succumbed a short time later. Jack thought Miri had lost her will to live after their son died. Both Miri and Jack Jr. had been early victims in a global flu epidemic that took the lives of millions. Jack vowed to not let it happen again.

  He immediately changed majors to pursue biological research in infectious diseases. His single minded focus enabled him to pack seven years into five, and he soon found himself the youngest researcher at a very prestigious university. He would find a cure for those like his son and wife who caught the virus early before the need for a vaccine was even apparent. Jack loved his research but even so, it was becoming a strain because of the pressure for results coming from his adviser.

  It was late at night and Jack was working alone in the lab as usual. He was working at the synthetic biology station. Jack had chosen to use synthetic biology because of the engineering approach it applied to biological systems. Synthetic biology held the promise of fast and easy design of biological systems instead of the usual trial and error method most biologists were familiar with. Well defined biological building blocks were used to assemble biological systems much as one could use electronic components to design a useful electronic circuit.

  Jack was using synthetic biology to develop a synthetic gene circuit that could function outside a cell and could quickly identify viral agents. It would be embedded in paper for testing. He hoped by creating this paper-based detector it would serve as a proof of concept for his approach.

  Suddenly, as he bent over the station he felt a fiery, hot flash of pain in his skull, like an explosion. The pain increased and lasted more than a minute before it subsided. By that time Jack found himself sitting on the floor.

  When he recovered enough to stand he secured his experiment and closed up the lab. As he walked to the curb he took his Annie out of his pocket and unfolded it.

  “Yes Jack,” said the Annie. Jack explained his symptoms and asked his Annie what might have happened to him. The Annie took his vitals from his wrist band and ran its medical expert. It called for a Ark-car to take him to the hospital.

  The self-navigating car arrived and as it drove him to the hospital he listened to his Annie conjecture about his health. At the hospital he ended up being admitted for observation.

  ________

  The next morning a doctor came into Jack's hospital room. “Mr. Jackson?” asked the doctor.

  “Yes,” said Jack.

  “I have to tell you Mr. Jackson that was a reckless thing to do, driving by yourself to the hospital instead of calling for an ambulance. What if you had another attack with no medical personnel around?”

  “Well sir, I guess I wasn't exactly thinking straight after such an episode, have you ever had such an attack?” asked Jack.

  “I have not,” said the doctor, softening somewhat. “I guess I would be a bit confused myself under similar circumstances. By the way, I'm Doctor Greyson, I'll be your attending physician.”

  “So what do you think happened to me?” asked Jack. “I feel fine now.”

  “I believe you had a transient ischemic attack,” said Dr. Greyson. “Sometimes called TIA or a mini-stroke.”

  “My Annie suggested that was a possibility but I thought that a stroke was something that usually happened to older people?” Jack asked.

  “That is generally the case,” said Dr. Greyson. “But it can also happen to anybody at any time in their life. It could be caused by an inherited risk, it could be lifestyle choices, or it could be an imbalance of an amino acid, specifically homocysteine levels in your blood; or it could be all of the above. That is what we are going to find out. I've ordered the necessary tests and questionnaires for you to fill out.”

  Dr. Greyson turned to leave but looked back to say, “Please be honest when filling out the forms, the diagnosis depends on it.”

  ________

  Jack had answered the questionnaires as accurately as he could through the data diagnostics Annie. The results would be run through another ANI program and combined with his medical history to make a preliminary diagnosis for the doctor. Jack had also had a MRI and complete blood workup. And now he was told that another test had been ordered and an intelligent gurney would be here any moment to take him to the exam room. The I-gurney finally showed up an hour later. He queried the robot about what test was scheduled next.

  “Don't you know?” asked the I-gurney.

  “No,” said Jack. “No one has told me anything except that I had another test scheduled.”

  “Oh dear, I thought you knew. You are scheduled for an angiogram of the carotid artery in your neck. Let me see here,” said the I-gurney accessing the hospital's database. “Mr. Jackson it says here that your carotid could have caused your attack. Therefore the test. This may take some time, you should try to visit the restroom now.”

  Three hours later Jack was back in his room and starving. It was late in the day and because of the tests he hadn't been allowed to eat any breakfast. He begged the floor nurse to bring him some food. The nurse agreed. The robotic food butler showed up with a small bowl of apple sauce and a slice of bread. Jack was just about to beg the food butler for more when Doctor Greyson came in.

  “Well Mr. Jackson, I've reviewed the tests and questionnaires and data history from your wrist band and I believe you did have a transient ischemic attack as I said this morning. The levels of homocysteine in your blood are high. You also have other lifestyle risks that we need to address.”

  “What do you mean, lifestyle risks?” asked Jack.

  “You seem to have an all work and no play profession Mr. Jackson. It's widely believed that contributing factors to TIA are a sedimentary lifestyle and high stress. All work and no play, you know. Also I suspect your diet is not as varied as it should be in fruits and vegetables. Would I be correct in that assumption?”

  “I guess so,” said Jack. “It's true that I have put my work above everything else in my life for the last five years. But I have my reasons.”

  “I'm sure you do Mr. Jackson but this attack should be taken as a warning. You are at high risk for a stroke in the next six months; a stroke that would probably end whatever you are trying to accomplish at work. So we need to start now to reduce that risk.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Jack.

  “We will use gene therapy to repair any cell damage you may have suffered but I would still suggest that you plan a sabbatical from your work to reduce your stress level.”

  Jack was quiet. Finally he said, “That's quite a choice you are offering me doctor. My work means everything to me. But as you say I won't finish it if I have a stroke.”

  Jack sighed, “I'll need some time to think. Would a month be a good rest interval?”

  “I would suggest six months Mr. Jackson. At the end of that time if you've followed all my recommendations and the homocysteine level is in an acceptable range, then a reasonable work schedule could be resumed. A balanced work life would be possible.”

  “I see,” said Jack. “Thank you doctor.”

  “Okay Mr. Jackson, I'm going to recommend your release. I have ordered some prescriptions for you, the nurse will explain your treatment regimen.
You should be ready to go home in about an hour.”

  After the doctor closed the door Jack sighed and thought: Oh Miri, what now?

  3

  Eleven hours on an airplane was more than enough but Wesley Williams still had nearly three hours before he landed at Addis Ababa International in Ethiopia. He had tried to sleep but he could only achieve an hour or two at a time. In between his naps he studied the case book prepared for him.

  Wesley was a researcher at the National Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. He had been sent to Juba, South Sudan at the request of a doctor with the Doctors International Outreach (DIO) organization to investigate what seemed to be a new viral outbreak.

  Wesley hadn't any idea where the state of South Sudan was until he was well on his way to Africa. The layover in Addis Ababa would allow Wesley to do some advanced scouting. But for now he went back to sleep.

  Wesley awoke as the plane touched down. He was soon in the main concourse of Addis Ababa International. Except for the occasional sign a traveler might never know where he was in the world. The airport was as modern as any Wesley had ever seen. He queried his Annie as to the location of his hotel in Juba, where the Ministry of Health was located and where the DIO clinic was located. The clinic was his main objective while staying in the capital city. The Annie was slow to respond. Obviously the cloud connection was limited. By the time it was finishing with his request Wesley was dozing off again.

  He awoke in time to hear the call for his flight. The plane was an older prop model and he had to walk across the tarmac and climb the boarding steps. By the time the plane was in the air he had dozed off again to the sound of the propeller engines.

  The bumpy landing which woke him was an immediate indication that things would be different in Juba. Departing the plane Wesley noticed that he was surrounded by United Nations, World Food Program, and Russian cargo jets parked in a close jumble because of the limited size of the apron. It was obvious that foreign aid and foreign influence was still important to South Sudan even after years of independence.

  If Wesley thought the parking apron small the room he found himself in for Visa check, baggage collection, customs and passport control was about the size of a large living room in the United States. It was crowded, hot and chaotic. Somewhere to the side he saw his name on a sign. He motioned to the young man to meet him in the middle of the crush of people.

  The young man had been sent by DIO and was to take Wesley to his motel but first they had to get him through customs. He led Wesley to the Visa counter window though there didn't seem to be a queue. Passport, entry permit and a crisp American hundred dollar note and they were off to retrieve the luggage. After some shoving, loud arguing in English, Dinka and Nuer with a smattering of Arabic pidgin, the luggage was retrieved.

  Wesley by now was impressed with the young man's skills and followed him to the customs area. There both bags were opened, actually spilled onto a table, searched and then chalked, apparently meeting with the custom officer's approval, Wesley was allowed to repack his bags.

  Now it was a fight to get to the immigration official who checked Wesley's passport and the chalked luggage again before allowing him to move into the arrivals area. Once Wesley found his baggage tag from Addis Ababa he was allowed to leave the one room terminal.

  Outside the terminal the young man found his motorbike where he had left it chained. He looked relieved to find the bike in order. As they had a moment the young man introduced himself.

  "I am Kamal Cham Dr. Williams, I will be your guide during your stay here in Juba," he said in almost perfect English.

  "I am very glad to meet you Kamal," said Wesley. "I really am impressed with your expertise in guiding me through that ordeal."

  "I have done it many times," said Kamal.

  "I have to ask though," said Wesley. "To whom do I owe the hundred dollars?"

  "Do not worry Dr. Williams," said Kamal. "It is the cost of doing business here. Dr. Petiot will charge it against expenses. Shall we go now?"

  "Yes," said Wesley.

  They put Wesley's bags in the small cart attached to the back of the motorbike. Wesley climbed on to the rear of the extra long seat. The seat was long enough for several people as Wesley confirmed by noticing other boda-bodas with three to four people climbing onto them. The ride to the Panorama Hotel was just over a mile distant.

  Kamal left Wesley at the front desk after making arrangements to pick him up early in the morning for the trip to the Ministry of Health where Wesley would present himself as a courtesy to the authorities. Wesley had a quick bite to eat in the hotel's restaurant and retired to his room, which unlike the ordeal of the flight and Juba airport wasn't that bad.

  Wesley took out his Annie and unfolded it. He asked for the weather for tomorrow in Juba. The Annie cautioned that connections to the cloud were very tenuous, it might take a while for it to fulfill his request. Wesley told his Annie that it could go offline and he would check in the morning for the answer. He quickly washed and went to bed.

  ________

  The following morning after leaving the Ministry of Health Kamal and Wesley were on their way to the DIO clinic. So far Juba, except for it's awful connection to the cloud, had not been too far out of the ordinary for Wesley. The streets were paved, trees though not plentiful lined some blocks, but this was about to change.

  Kamal turned onto a side street west of the Ministry and headed south. The character of the buildings began to change. They looked older and worse kept than what Wesley had previously seen. Then as Kamal turned west again the pavement ended and the street became dusty red dirt. The bike kicked at the ruts and Wesley held on to the seat. They finally arrived at the clinic which was not much different than the surrounding buildings except for the sign and the fresh coat of white wash which was quickly becoming red tinged from the ground up.

  Dr. Petiot, a small man in a white smock, came out to greet them.

  "Welcome Dr. Williams," he said with a slight French accent. "And thank you Kamal for bringing our guest safely. How are you Dr. Williams? Is there anything I can get for you, such as food?"

  "No thank you Dr. Petiot," said Wesley. "And please call me Wesley."

  "And you shall call me Jacques," said Dr. Petiot.

  "Very good," said Wesley. "As you know I have only a day to investigate your request and obtain any samples I might need. Are we prepared to tour the facilities?"

  "Of course," said Jacques. "Follow me please."

  The clinic was well maintained and seemed to be properly supplied, though it would have been considered primitive in Europe or the States. Dr. Petiot took Wesley immediately to the corridor that housed the suspect patients.

  "At this time we have about a dozen patients with the same symptoms," said Dr. Petiot. "As I stated in my request to the CDC the symptoms start with headache and burning eyes. This gives way to fever and disturbed sleep. In the worse cases they begin to drift in and out of consciousness, complaining of muscle aches and their head throbbing. If we are unable to stop the disease's progression their face will start to change color to a darkish purple-brown. Soon they begin coughing up blood and eventually gasp for air as they drown, their lungs overwhelmed with bloody fluid. We have lost eleven out of the twenty-six patients we've treated."

  "Certainly sounds like a virus," said Wesley. "In the terminal cases how long does it take to run its course?"

  "Anywhere from twenty-four to thirty-six hours," said Dr. Petiot.

  "Really," exclaimed Wesley. "That fast?"

  "Yes," said Dr. Petiot. "And it is usually the young healthy patients that go quickly. That should sound familar."

  "Yes it does," said Wesley. "Just like the last viral outbreak a few years ago. Except the time from contracting the illness to death has been compressed."

  "Yes," said Dr. Petiot. "And this viral outbreak doesn't seem as contagious, thank goodness."

  Wesley spent
the rest of the day visiting with patients and the other doctors and nurses at the clinic. He used his Annie and sensor attachments to make a preliminary investigation of blood, tissue and fluids from the infected patients. The difficulty getting a good cloud connection prevented the Annie from making a quick diagnosis but a virus was definitely the main suspect. The clinic's technicians, under Wesley's supervision, prepared further samples for him to take back to the CDC for exhaustive testing.

  4

  The day after Jack was released from the hospital he called his thesis adviser to arrange a few days off, and to schedule a meeting with him for the following week to further discuss his situation. He hadn't been off the call for long when his Annie alerted him to an incoming call from Phylicia Hastings. Phylicia was a fellow grad student in his lab.