by R E Kearney
Robert shakes his head in disbelief. He had been wrong and Rita had been correct when she insisted that the US government is responsible for the appearance of Aethon in Puerto Rico. Ship loads of Aethon victims will quickly bury Negocio’s government by overwhelming his medical facilities and then spreading Aethon to more Puerto Ricans. Negocio can’t turn them away and he knows Shengwu can’t handle a flood of more Aethon victims. She is already struggling to cope with the number of Aethon cases storming into her facility now.
Lew awakes Robert from his thoughts. “So now you understand why you must provide us with your research findings. The only way you can save Puerto Rico is to enable us to start fighting Aethon at its origin, back in the states. We’re depending on you Robert. If you don’t help us, Aethon will burn like a raging wildfire across Puerto Rico and America’s countryside slaughtering hundreds or thousands of innocent people whose only crime is they’re poor and ignored. Like my family. For all of us, this situation is desperate. You have to admit that.”
Stroking his forehead, Robert considers his options. As hard as he tries, he still cannot eliminate his deep doubts about Lew and Lee. Their stories are just too wild. Exterminism? Genocide? They do not seem logical or reasonable. He continues to wonder how much of their expressed concern is actually about personal profit instead of people. And really, why would big pharma and the US government plot to kill him?
He challenges them. “Philosopher Benjamin Disraeli once said that desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius. But Disraeli wasn’t searching for something that is not even known to exist. Sorry, but despite all of your ominous warnings about thousands dying and people wishing to kill me, I’m not convinced. Besides, I think you are seeking information from the wrong person. Zhou is the genius not me. I’m just her field assistant. You should be talking to her or one of her technical aides at the Instituto.”
One hundred yards or so down the beach, two men step out of the trees. As soon as they spot Robert and the Voleurs, they turn away and huddle together. Lee leans forward squinting her eyes for a better look. Instinctively, she distrusts them. They walk and talk and dress in too-loud, touristy patterned clothes to be innocuous Puerto Ricans seeking fun on the beach.
Oblivious to the two men, Lew continues arguing to persuade Robert. “Zhou’s the scientist, true. But, you’re the communicator. You can tell us what we need to know without her or anybody else becoming aware that we’re corresponding. Confidentiality is a necessity, especially if she discovers something. If big pharma or the government discover that we’re working together, it will be bad for all of us.”
Lew lowers his voice to a hiss. “Rita and Zhou especially, because they don’t suspect. They’re the most vulnerable. They will kill. Believe me. They’ve killed before. Your death, Rita’s and Zhou’s deaths or a million deaths are unimportant to big pharma and the government. Only profit is important. So if you find a cure, especially an inexpensive cure never tell them. Never let them know. A cheap cure they do not control is a catastrophe for them. They will destroy you, Rita, Zhou and everybody who knows about the cure.”
As Lee is studying the two suspicious strangers, they launch two small drones. The drones rise quickly and circle the men. For a moment, they appear to be harmlessly flying new toys. But, Lee never relaxes. She senses that something is wrong.
Her eyes glued to the two men and their drones, Lee backs toward Robert. Standing next to him, she whispers her warning. “Get out of here Robert. Fast! Lew and I will stay behind to deal with these two. Now move!”
Not knowing why Lee says run, but taking full advantage of his opportunity to escape, Robert bolts for the trees with Lew shouting after him. “Don’t forget! Stay in contact. We’re depending on you. Zhou’s and Rita’s lives are...”
Thinking he hears a drone buzzing overhead, Robert dives onto the ground. Crouching behind some bushes, under the cover of the trees, he peeks back at the beach. As if fighting wasps, Lew and Lee are throwing sand and swatting at two drones zipping around, laser-stinging them.
For a moment, Robert smirks. Watching Lew and Lee jump, squirm and howl with each laser sting gives him a momentary feeling of satisfying retribution for Lew threatening him with an Nsep. But his period of vindication is short, ending when he hears the approaching men shouting threats at Lew and Lee. He quickly determines from their demands that these are not Negocio’s men coming to protect him. They are attacking the Voleurs because they want him. They are armed and dangerous. Up and out. He races to the safety of the auto-auto and Stamina Vitae.
NEGENTROPY
“Shengwu is missing!” A distraught Rita confronts Robert when he pushes into Stamina Vitae through a fear-filled, feverish, chaotic crowd. “She vanished after returning from visiting Margarete and Peter. I’m worried Robert. Very worried. She is so upset. I’m afraid she may do something crazy.”
Having just escaped some mysterious assailants and the Voleurs, Robert is more excited to find Rita safe, than he is concerned about Shengwu. Even distressed and flustered, she looks good to him. He envelops her in his long arms with a crushing hug. “Are you ok?”
“Of course I’m ok. Why shouldn’t I be?” Embarrassed, Rita pushes away from Robert. Stares, snickers and snide insults from the unruly multitude awaiting treatment aggravate her.
“Acho, deja el gufeo (Dude, stop goofing around)!” She snaps at him with a puzzled glare, as she shifts and rearranges her hazmat clothing.
Stung by Rita yelling at him, Robert drops his hands and retreats. He hesitates, unsure if he should tell her about the Voleurs and the threats against her being his reason for his joy at seeing her. No, not yet, he decides. Not with the room crammed with ailing people.
For the first time since arriving, Robert takes time to scrutinize the impatient, belligerent people jamming the room. Within seconds, he realizes that most are not Puerto Ricans. Like the hundreds camping and waiting in the courtyard, they are Americans. Fat, loud, obnoxious and demanding American Sists sniping and snarling at each other to be the next to receive Shengwu’s treatment.
Recognizing their nasal whining, Robert identifies them as the Aethon sufferers from Tennessee and Kentucky. Possibly they are the Sists that Lew and Lee warned him were coming. By force of their numbers, their aggressive manners and their heavy weight, they have squashed the few ailing Puerto Ricans into a small corner of the room. They are also bullying Rita, overwhelming her with their continuous complaints. Robert concludes he can only help her by reassuring her that Shengwu is sane and safe. He must find Shengwu.
“Uh…well…I’m sorry Rita. I misunderstood,” Robert sheepishly apologizes. “Now where did you last see Shengwu?”
“Well, I haven’t actually seen her. I mean. I did see her…via the security system. Not in person, mind you.” Rita offers a sanitary swab to a mother holding a squalling, vomiting child. “She came in through the parking garage entrance. Tears in her eyes. I could see her shaking and sobbing. Then she disappeared. Never saw her on this level and now I can’t locate her.”
“Ok, you continue to work with these people while I hunt for her.” With a press of his hand, Robert accesses the non-public area to conduct a quick search.
In Shengwu’s work room, Robert discovers no evidence of Shengwu having recently been there. However, he does notice that holographic Pion is present and working. He considers it odd to find her image active in the empty room. Normally, she only transmits when she is collaborating with Shengwu or him. But, Shengwu is not in this room.
Pion mumbles something, as if collaborating with someone he cannot see. Robert waits, but nobody appears, yet Pion continues conversing with an invisible cohort. After observing her intently working, Robert decides it is wise not to interrupt her and proceeds to the lower level laboratory.
Shengwu’s laboratory is silent except for the whisper of the positive air purifying machines’ breathing. Only her genome testing and editing equipment is active.
Surveying the lab, Robert notices that, for the first time he knows, Shengwu’s special- project genome equipment bay is operating, as well. When he first arrived, she told him this equipment was only for her special project. It was not working then, but now it is. Robert is suspicious. Only she can operate this equipment, so she must be near.
Standing next to her equipment, Robert calls for Shengwu. He silently listens for a response. Believing he hears two voices talking on the other side of the closed door behind her special equipment, he waits silently. When he thinks he hears the conversation stop, Robert shouts for Shengwu again.
A rattle and a bang, and the door swings open revealing Shengwu while simultaneously providing Robert a peek into the hidden room at her back. Inside, Robert spies an older Chinese man scampering out of sight. He only gains a glimpse of him before Shengwu yanks the door closed blocking his view.
“Yes Robert, how may I help you?” Shengwu asks as she locks the door with her right hand print. With her left hand, she swipes the remains of tears away from her red, swollen eyes.
Robert points toward the door. “Who was that man in that room?”
Startled by Robert’s question, Shengwu is silent for a moment before she attempts to divert his curiosity. “A man? There is nobody in there.”
“No. I’m certain that I saw an elderly Chinese man inside that room.”
Shengwu again denies Robert. “Oh, you may have seen the hologram de-energizing. That’s all. Just a hologram Robert.”
“But, I’m certain…”
Pushing past Robert, Shengwu hurriedly limps toward the elevator. “Well, you’re wrong. Now, come along. Rita requires our assistance.”
Ignoring her, Robert continues staring at the door, convinced that what he saw is a human, not a hologram. He does not accept her disavowals. She is acting peculiar and that makes him all the more curious about what Shengwu may be hiding inside that room. He is also intrigued by the unusual activity of her special-project genome editing equipment. But, as he leans forward attempting to gain a better view of her equipment’s operation, Shengwu summons him again.
“Come Robert! Rita needs us!”
As soon as Shengwu steps into her reception room and sees the quarreling, disorderly mass of sick and dying Aethon sufferers awaiting her - relying on her - her mask of rock-hard composure and self-control melts. She crumples into a chair outside the noisy, frantic crowd and drops her head into her hands. Robert is unsure if she is suffering exhaustion or defeat, or both. Studying her face and her shaking hands, Robert agrees with Rita’s earlier diagnosis that Shengwu is so deep in despair as to be suicidal.
Her eyes flooding her cheeks with tears, Shengwu lifts her head to peer at the boisterous Americans overflowing her office. “I cannot do it Robert. I cannot. I cannot save all of these people. I may not be able to save any of them. There’s too many of them. Too many. And more come every day. It’s a hopeless fight. I’m losing it. I’m really losing it.”
Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, Robert attempts to console her. “You can’t blame yourself. You and Pion are doing your best. You’re saving people. Some people. Peter and Margarete? What about them? They’re getting better, aren’t they?”
Shengwu trembles. Her shoulder shakes beneath Robert’s comforting hand. She chokes. “My little Peter is dying. I’m doing all I can do to keep him with us, but I don’t think I can save his body from Aethon…two types of Aethon. It’s too much…too much for a little boy.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought he was doing better.” Robert squeezes her shuddering shoulder. “How is Margarete?”
Sighing, Shengwu slowly shakes her head. “She is stable. My last analysis indicates that her edited genomes may be beginning to overcome her Aethon. I think she may recover, but it’s going to require time…lots of time. And worse, last night I lost two more of my first group of genome transplants. The others are still struggling.”
Robert searches the room for any of the religious protestors. “I was told by a health guard that you’re caring for some Aethon infected protestors, but I don’t see any of them.”
“Only one, a young boy named Obed, comes in here. He isn’t infected. He refuses genome preventative treatment, but he actually helps me some.” Shengwu points across the room toward a pale, willow of a fellow assisting an elderly man. “That’s him there.”
Shengwu is dispirited. “The others are at the hospital. But, I’m not optimistic that any of the other faith healers will recover. Even while I’m desperately trying to save them from dying, they’re praying for me to rot in hell. They almost seem to be willing their bodies to reject my edited genomes. I think they’d rather die than allow science to save them. Why are religious fanatics so self-destructive?”
“I don’t know, but why do you think your genome editing is failing the others?” Robert whispers, hoping none of the people waiting for treatment hear and panic.
Closing her eyes, Shengwu traces the bridge of her nose with her index finger. She is searching herself for an answer. “I’m not certain, but I fear that once Aethon establishes itself inside a person’s body that it begins to mutate into other forms. Survives through constant change. So, you chase it, but never capture it. You can’t trap it and kill it. Once in a person’s body, it seems we can’t kill Aethon or other diseases it may spawn. That’s why Aethon has to be stopped before it gets started.”
“Like you did with Rita and me?” Robert tugs at Shengwu’s tight anti-Aethon wrap. After mingling and mixing with the infected people surrounding him in the waiting room, he is thankful that he redressed before departing El Yunque.
“Yes, but more. You are only two people, and you’re only protected from Aethon.” Shengwu’s thoughts float away from her overflowing waiting room. “So what if we cannot find a way to stop Aethon? What next? What if I’m correct and Aethon is mutating. Every year millions of people become infected with some new bacteria or virus that are resistant to anything and everything we can throw at them. Viruses and bacteria are evolving, but mankind is not.”
A fever-faced, young boy vomits and collapses onto a woman sitting on the floor. She violently heaves the boy off her lap and onto the floor. His mother feebly tugs at the boy attempting to cradle him. She is too weak to comfort her dying son. She cannot love him one last time.
Waving her arm, Shengwu directs Robert’s attention to the people in her waiting room. “Just look at these people. Look at us. We’re a failing human species. Soon we will disappear like the Neanderthals and Denisovians. We’re losing the survival race, Robert. The human body must change as fast as the diseases attacking it, but we won’t naturally. So, our only chance for species survival is to create a type of invulnerability by genetically engineering human evolution. I’m exploring that process now. My father…”
“Father?” Robert interrupts.
Shengwu stops and quickly redirects her conversation. “So Robert, have you and Zhou discovered anything that can possibly help our bodies block Aethon? We need it immediately.”
“Uh well, not yet, but we’re continuing our quest.” Finally, his opportunity to secure Rita arrives. “Zhou and I are planning to search on the other side of the island tomorrow near La Parguera and we need Rita to guide us. I hope you can spare her.”
Robert is being honest with Shengwu about desiring Rita to guide them. He and Zhou will be searching a mangrove swamp area that neither of them know. They are already lost. But, he is not planning to tell her that he is also attempting to shield Rita from the Voleurs.
Shengwu scans the panicky, suffering throng. She recognizes that all of their frail hopes for life are hanging squarely on her and she is terrified. A small child screams when her mother tumbles backward against the wall. Rita rushes to the woman’s side and slowly lowers her to the floor. Knowing their chances are slipping away, Shengwu turns away to escape their demanding eyes. “Uh…well…I don’t…I mean…I’m a genome engineer. I work with robots. I
need her. I don’t know if I…”
Seeing the dread in Shengwu’s face, Robert endeavors to persuade her that it is best for her to release Rita to help him. “Now, I realize I’m asking you to do something that you’re not comfortable doing, but Shengwu, look at all of these infected people. Now, imagine two or three times this many people sick with Aethon crowding in here. I understand that it will happen, and soon, too. You’ve admitted that your genome editing method alone cannot save them. Zhou is possibly on the threshold of finding the type of drug we need, but she can’t do it with just my poor assistance. We need Rita with her knowledge of Puerto Rico.”
Shengwu watches Rita calm the fear filled girl who is tugging at her mother slumped on the floor. Obed kneels next to Rita dabbing the mother’s forehead with a damp, sterile towel. “Ok Robert, I will spare her for one day. Tomorrow. But, you must protect Rita. At all costs, you must protect her. With my Peter dying, she is much more important to the future, our future, than you know. Do you understand?”
“You’ve placed your trust in me and trust me Shengwu, I will safeguard Rita, and I won’t stop searching for something that will shield against the Aethon threat.” Robert declares attempting to reassure her. “Like Gary Hamel, I believe that a noble purpose inspires sacrifice, stimulates innovation and encourages perseverance. And if your dire warning is accurate, what is a more noble purpose than saving humanity?”