by R E Kearney
As two American mothers begin brawling, pulling each other’s hair and screaming obscenities, Shengwu’s face tightens into a scowl. “Just look at those two. Sometimes, I’m not certain I have any desire to save all of these…everyone of this…this so called…humanity, Robert. I can’t do it, anyway. I realize that. And I doubt that you and Zhou will succeed either. Right now, I’m only interested in preserving mankind’s best. We’re better without the rest.”
“What! Do you intend to allow these people to die?”
The scuffle between the two mothers is spreading. Kentuckians are clashing with Tennessee victims. Punching and yelling and creating a mêlée.
“Look at these people Robert! Can’t you see? I don’t have to do a thing. They’re unevolved. They refuse to change. They’re determined to destroy themselves. Why should I fight to stop them?”
“Because they don’t deserve to die, Shengwu.”
“And just why do they deserve to live? They’re the ones who brought Aethon to Puerto Rico. Sweet innocent Peter is dying because of them. They killed Peter, Robert! Why should I fight to save them?”
“Because some of them are innocent children too.”
“I’ll leave it to you Robert. You and Zhou and Rita. You can fight to save these…these undeserving, ungrateful…Sists…or whatever you call them. I have other more important battles to fight.” Shengwu pivots, retreating into her inner sanctuary.
PATH TO PONCE
Pursuing poison fruit, Robert, Rita, and Zhou depart San Juan at dawn for the La Parguera Nature Reserve on Puerto Rico’s southwest coast. Leaving San Juan is uneventful and unquestioned. Negocio’s security wave and wish them well. But, Robert notices when a glider approaches to enter San Juan’s city boundary that Negocio’s security is rigorous with its searching and questioning. Easy to leave. Tough to enter.
Riding with Rita as their guide soothes Robert, who is simultaneously jittery and sleepy. Through the night, nightmares starring the threatening Voleurs rattled his mind and stole his sleep. But now with Rita sitting beside him in the auto-auto glider, he is beginning to relax. She is there to protect him and, in his own way, he is guarding his guardian.
Now, his sleep shortage is demanding attention. His head is pulsing while his eyes ache to close. “I think I’ll nap for a while, if you two don’t mind,” Robert announces as he seeks a comfortable snoozing position in his auto-auto’s seat.
“Oh no!” Rita shakes his shoulder. “I want you to see my parents’ home town of Caguas. It’s a beautiful hilltop city just ahead on the edge of Puerto Rico’s Cordillera Central. We’ll be there soon.”
“What makes it so beautiful?” Robert mumbles from behind his closed eye lids.
“Oh, so many things, since it’s the Christmas season, Caguas Plaza is beautifully decorated. I always enjoyed wandering the plaza at this time of year. But, I especially adore the Monumento a la Herencia Taína. It’s a monument to Puerto Rico’s indigenous women and is a tribute to our Tainan heritage and, especially, to Cagüeña women. Seeing it makes me proud.” Rita clenches her right hand into a fist to display her power.
“Are they protected from Aethon in Caguas?” Zhou fearfully inquires, “Have they taken the necessary precautions?”
“Well, I’m not certain Zhou, but I would…I mean…I expect that they have.” Rita stutters nervously. “After all, President Negocio required everybody in Puerto Rico to be tested. So well…I think so.”
“But, you don’t know for certain, so we’re not stopping. We can’t take any chances or waste time.” Robert growls, “Too many people are depending on us finding something to stop this killer. We all need to focus on the reason we are here, not some statue.”
Embarrassed, Rita shrivels into her seat. Robert has never berated her before. Insulted and hurt, she shifts away from him and silently stares out the window as their auto-auto glides above passageway 52 south from San Juan and into Puerto Rico’s central mountains.
After several miles of sullen silence, they enter the Caguas region. Zhou attempts to cool the conflict. “I’m not certain that was necessary Robert. Negocio and his authorities appear to be gaining some control of the crisis. I must tell you that I’m amazed at how the Puerto Ricans have so quickly come together and worked together to try to subdue Aethon.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Robert grasps the hurt he caused in Rita’s face. Realizing that Zhou is correct and that he was overly harsh, Robert relents. “Ok Rita, perhaps we can visit some of your Caguas. Is the plaza far from passageway 52?”
“Oh no, it’s not far at all. Just take the exit to passageway 1. Goes straight into the city.” Rita excitedly inputs directions into their auto-auto’s navigation system.
“Beep! Beep! Beep!” Loudly sounds the auto-auto navigation system alarm. “Your request is prohibited. Entry into Caguas is restricted to residents only. Quarantine inspections and Green Aethon badges required. Recommend remaining within passageway 52 corridor.”
As they glide toward the entrance into Caguas, law enforcement drones begin clouding the sky. Their auto-auto slows. An identification drone positions itself directly in front of them and begins scanning.
“State your names, your destination and your reason for travel. Indique su nombre, su destino y su motivo de viaje.” The identification drone commands via their auto-auto’s navigation system.
“Our names are Rita Ayudante, Robert Goodfellow, and Zhou Caoyao,” Rita quickly responds. “We’re traveling to La Parguera Nature Reserve to conduct research.”
“You may continue. Remain within the passageway 52 Caguas corridor. No deviations or departures from passageway 52 are allowed. You are expected to arrive at the entrance to La Parguera Nature Reserve in one hour and forty minutes. Authorities are aware of your travel plans and scheduled arrival time. You may proceed.” The identification drone rises out of sight and the auto-auto glides forward.
Traffic in the Caguas corridor is congested with discouraged visitors who also have been refused entry. One confused family hovers in place, blocking passageway 52. Police drones dip and dive, broadcasting conflicting directions and adding to the muddle. Nobody is moving.
“Not exactly the friendly Puerto Rican reception that you were expecting, is it Rita?” Robert teases.
Disappointment shades Rita’s face and voice. “No. Not exactly. But, at least we know that Negocio has people in place who are doing their job to prevent Aethon from spreading. Now, why don’t you just be quiet and take your nap? Perhaps, you’ll wake up a little less crabby.”
“Best suggestion that you’ve made in days. I’ll not argue with you. I can use some minor mental maintenance.” Closing his eyes, Robert stretches out for a snooze.
His rest is brief. He is just drifting into a dream when Rita begins shaking his shoulder. He opens his eyes to find her pointing toward an air-cycle gliding beside them. The rider is staring into their auto-auto.
“There is another air-cycle behind us.” Zhou points backward and whispers, in case they are scanning them. “Should we hail them? They appeared in Santa Isabel and seem to be shadowing us. Do either of you know them?”
“Can’t identify them with their helmets covering their faces. But, they don’t resemble anybody that I know.” Rita whispers, “Friends of yours, Robert?”
“Ha! I doubt it. Since arriving here, I’ve been collecting far more enemies than friends. I only seem to be popular with those who wish to use me or abuse me.” Robert fakes a sad face. “I’m such a kind and lovable fellow too. Wouldn’t you agree Rita? Zhou?”
“Oh yeah, you’re definitely a corazon de melon (sweetie pie), Robert.” Rita smirks.
“What?” Zhou asks confused.
“I just called him a sweetheart. It’s a Puerto Rican joke. But, actually he’s a manganzon (man-child).” Rita snickers. “A man-child.”
Zhou titters. “How long have you two been together?”
“Together? Oh no, I
can barely stand being near him.” Rita playfully slaps Robert’s shoulder.
“True Zhou, she’s incredibly mean to me, and to think I rescued her from a life of languid leisure and ease.” Robert counters.
Zhou motions toward a second air-cycle now gliding on the opposite side of their auto-auto. “Did one of you request an escort? Are they just being friendly or are we in trouble?”
Robert slowly blinks his eye to begin recording the air-cyclists. “Enough chatter. I’m beginning to become concerned about our two unexpected fellow travelers. I don’t believe they are just innocent tourists. Did either of you tell anybody about our trip?”
After several moments of silence, an embarrassed Rita confesses. “Well, I did schedule us a guide. We’ll definitely need a guide to find a manchineel in the La Parguera Nature Reserve. It’s a big mangrove swamp.”
“Ok, I can accept that.” Robert agrees with a nod. “Can we trust your guide?”
“I certainly hope so. He’s my cousin, Guia de Pantano.”
“Ok Rita, anybody else?”
Rita drops her head, avoiding Robert’s stare. “Wel-l-l-l, yes. My friends in Ponce. But…”
“…how many people in Ponce?”
Still looking away, Rita mumbles, “Oh three or four…maybe six…no more than seven. Yeah, no more than seven.”
“And what about you?” Robert quizzes Zhou.
“Only Shengwu and my lab techs at the Instituto.”
“I see.” Robert sarcastically remarks. “Both of you should take a lesson from Confucius. Confucius said that silence is a true friend who never betrays. Thanks to you two, we’re definitely not on a secret mission anymore.”
“Why is our trip a secret mission, Robert?” Rita protests. “We’re looking for a medicine to save people’s lives, after all.”
Screeching proximity warning alarms shatter the air, squealing alerts. The air-cycles are squeezing them. Robert attempts to gain a closer look at the riders now hugging the sides of their auto-auto. He is unable to identify them, but they do not resemble the Voleurs. The person on his auto-auto’s side is thinner and taller than either of them. Could this rider be one of the men from the beach? He never saw either one of them clearly, so it is possible.
Robert’s staring attracts the rider’s attention who maneuvers the air-bike closer. The rider reaches toward the auto-auto. Robert hears a soft plop. The rider retracts his arm and slides a few feet away. For a moment, Robert fears the rider may have attached a small bomb. But, the rider never ventures far enough from their auto-auto to survive a bomb blast.
Without warning, the auto-auto’s doors and windows unlock and then lock. Their seats move forward and then back. Now, Robert realizes that their auto-auto’s controller-area-network is being hacked. Using their hack, the air cyclists can control everything from their auto-auto’s indicators to its electric motor and brakes. The riders are hijacking them. They are prisoners within their auto-auto.
Obviously, these two want something. Robert wonders what or who. Or perhaps they are just attempting to intimidate him. Are they giving him the message that they, whoever they are, can get to him whenever and wherever they want? But, then they may be attempting to frighten Rita instead of him.
Worried about the air-cyclists’ intentions, he decides it is time for Rita to learn of the threats against her, so she can protect herself. Leaning close to her ear, he uses the screaming alarms to cover his warning. “I have to tell you, Rita. Your life is in danger. That couple you poisoned at the coffee shop are after you. They want revenge.”
“And how do you know that?” Rita asks with a scowl of disbelief.
“They grabbed me yesterday. Hauled me out to the beach and threatened me…and you…mainly me, but also you and Shengwu, too.”
“Beach? Which beach?” Rita asks with a questioning look.
“Near Area de Descanso 1. Why?”
“Didn’t you hear? The police found a man and a woman on the beach near there late last night. Brutally beaten. Unconscious. I understand they’re in intensive care now.”
“Really?” Robert is surprised. “Well, I guess the Voleurs were telling me the truth after all. Lew warned me that a cabal he called big pharma paid some problem exterminators to come after you, me and Shengwu. I thought they were just attempting to frighten me by threatening you, so I’d cooperate. But, I guess that I was very wrong.”
Peeking past Robert at the closest air-cyclist still hugging their rear quarter of their auto-auto, Rita is puzzled. “Why? What do they want?”
“Drugs.”
“Drugs? I don’t have any drugs. I don’t deal drugs.” Rita is alarmed.
“Actually, her drugs. Anti-Aethon drugs.” Robert motions forward toward Zhou, who is ducking and attempting to shrink enough to hide in the middle of her seat. “If she ever discovers them.”
“Drugs that don’t exist?” Rita is dubious. “You’re telling me there are people sent here to kill me…us…for drugs that don’t even exist?”
“Yes Rita, the Voleurs warned me that they are here. And, I believe them. Especially, now that they’ve been found beaten on the beach. I believe there are organizations determined enough to do whatever they decide they must do to maintain control of the Aethon drugs.”
“But, Robert, that makes no sense. Don’t they understand that we’ll share any anti-Aethon medicine we create?”
Robert shakes his head. “That’s what worries them, Rita. It’s not about medicine. It’s about money. Money, they really don’t plan to share. But, they expect us to share whatever medicine we genome edit with them, then they can make the pharmaceuticals that makes them money. The last thing they want is for us to create a cheap medicine. If we develop an inexpensive anti-Aethon drug, we threaten their sales…threaten their revenue. Profit over people. It’s not…”
Abruptly, their auto-auto jerks to the right and increases speed, racing away from the passageway toward the roaring waters of Rio Descalabrado. Weaving and twisting, scraping trees and crushing bushes, their auto-auto smashes through the brush. They are prisoners trapped inside a hurtling coffin. Suddenly, at the river’s edge, their auto-auto whips left arcing away from the water and back into the trees. Wobbling and shaking, it battles its way back onto passageway 52 barely dodging two other auto-autos. Again the auto-auto lurches right, slamming Robert against the window. Zhou tightens her safety restraint and flattens herself against the seat. Pitching left, the auto-auto recovers its control. It is short-lived.
“What is happening?” Rita screams.
“The air-cyclists hacked our auto-auto controller. Steered us off the passageway and into those trees and almost into that river.” The auto-auto jolts right smashing Robert against Rita.
“Do something!” Digging her fingers into her seat, Zhou cries. “Robert! Make them stop!”
Bracing himself and tightening his own safety restraint, Robert thoughtfully analyzes their situation. “I believe the air-cyclist attached a GPS jammer to send interference signals to disrupt our sensors or transmit false sensor readings to our vehicle’s sensors so they can commandeer us.”
The auto-auto jumps forward and then heaves left hurling equipment against Rita and Robert. Sharply sliding right and steeply braking, the auto-auto regains its self-control slamming the equipment to the floor.
Bleeding from her smashed nose, Rita yelps. “Stop talking and do something!”
“I’m not talking. I’m analyzing.” Robert mutters as he searches through the equipment wreckage around his feet.
“You’re doing what?!” Rita angrily shouts, as the auto-auto veers left then swerves right then swings left then twists sharply right again, careening closer and closer to the edge of the passageway and nearer to flying into the Rio Descalabrado.
Grabbing Zhou’s specimen collection bag, Robert coolly explains. “I have to analyze what they are doing, so I understand what they are doing. Then I can try to stop what they are
doing. Understand?”
Veering left. Swerving right. With her head flopping left then right, Zhou moans. “I think I’m going to vomit.”
“This may help. Not certain. Just have to try it and see.” Robert mumbles as he energizes the collection bag’s satellite transmitter. “To stop them from sending us flying into the river, I must establish some form of human driver reengagement, but there aren’t any external controls. So, I will attempt to use this bag’s satellite signal to block their signal. If I’m correct, we may just be able to escape these two alive.”
Stretching forward, tilting side to side, battling for balance, Robert shoves the collection bag against the auto-auto’s control system case. Their violent zig zagging slackens. Gradually, they decelerate. Their auto-auto glides left, piloting itself away from the river and easing back into its proper position in the traffic flow.
Proudly brandishing the transmitting bag in his hands, Robert leans left toward Rita. The auto-auto smoothly slides left. Surprised, Robert returns to his original position and the auto-auto follows. Grinning, Robert rotates the bag right. The auto-auto travels to the right. Chuckling, he quickly moves the bag left then right. Following him, the auto-auto wobbles left and then right.
“Look! I’m steering!” Robert announces excitedly, as he again maneuvers the auto-auto a little to the left and then a little to the right employing the bag to guide. “I’m driving! I’m driving. I’ve never driven before. This is fun!”
“Well stop it!” Zhou demands struggling to straighten in her seat. “You’re a rotten driver and you’re making me dizzy.”
“Sorry, just having a little fun.” Robert centers the bag on his lap.
Realizing that they have lost control of the auto-auto, the air-cyclists surge forward and begin squeezing them again. Boom! The rider on Rita’s side, kicks the auto-auto. The screaming of the alert alarms intensifies. Bang! Again, the rider slams their boot against the side. Zhou and Rita cover their ears and duck forward, but they cannot escape the noise.