The Rainbow Conspiracy
Page 15
One chap said he felt like going out and getting totally shit-faced. Another agreed to join him, admitting that the only way he could face the loneliness he felt was to go and get drunk. Then, as they were leaving, a tall man barred their way and severely reprimanded them for being so irresponsible. He told them that by getting tanked, they wouldn’t be in total control, and he warned them that they might pick someone up for sex, someone they’d never met before, and that would lead them to regret the potentially dangerous outcome of their actions.
‘Listen you two,’ said an African-American, ‘after what we’ve heard tonight, we can’t move backwards.’
‘He’s right,’ agreed the tall man. ‘We’re back to square one if we get drunk and go round screwing the nearest dude that comes along.’
‘Brother, I don’t wanna give up sex, but my life is more important to me. Call me selfish, if you like, but I dunno…’
‘I’m with you a hundred per cent.’
And so the chat went on, until all the stragglers got back to a much more positive frame of mind, drawing strength from each other, and becoming resolute in their determination to face up to the future with optimism and hope. Finally the room cleared, and although Clive felt he had watched the meeting from the sidelines, he had also been inspired by the talk-in and couldn’t wait to tell Allen about the positive turnaround he had witnessed amongst those men who had stayed behind, and how much he personally had learnt about AIDS that night.
However, there still remained some puzzling issues. They weren’t so much of a scientific nature, since Clive accepted that much research still had to be done and Allen had been very clear about listing the details of the medical condition as it was currently understood. However, he was still baffled by why there were almost double the number of cases of AIDS in America amongst gay males than had been reported throughout the rest of the world. And although Steve Leggard had also mentioned cases in Africa as well as Europe, Allen had not explained the cause of such a startling discrepancy between the significantly larger number of patients in the United States and those found elsewhere. Were American gay men really more promiscuous than other gays around the world or, in fact, was it the case that their promiscuity had been targeted by something much more sinister?
Clive also began to analyse Allen’s approach to the evening, which although unquestionably impressive, was, to his way of thinking, a little too over-rehearsed. Allen’s furrowed brow and immense concentration made Clive wonder whether Dr Levitt had used self-hypnosis to get him through his talk, and that made him remember that he had slipped something into that cup of coffee he’d had earlier that evening. Amphetamine was known to energise performance and he may very well have taken some.
In addition to this, Clive believed that there was something more than professional about his delivery, suggesting that it might have been manufactured and rehearsed by outsiders, and there was also that cheesy grin. Clive started to think about the research that he knew was being carried out at the Pavlov Institute in Moscow, where they had developed a technique that could penetrate the subconscious mind. He had read that in Russia, it had been discovered that a person, when programmed for three days, could be made to memorise imaginary action. Then there was also something else that struck him: Dr Levitt’s strange twitch of the mouth.
Clive was reminded that wonderful cult film by John Frankenheimer, The Manchurian Candidate, based on the book by Richard Condon, and it slowly dawned on him that Allen’s presentation that night reminded him of Lawrence Harvey’s immaculate performance as Raymond Shaw. Harvey played an American soldier who had been hypnotically brainwashed by the North Koreans in order to assist them in the assassination of a presidential nominee. He also remembered that, in that famous film, no candidate could be hypnotised to act against their own moral character.
So, finally, he asked himself: Is that what was happening here in Columbus, Ohio?
Could it be that Dr Levitt was a modern-day Manchurian Candidate? And had he been recruited to come to Columbus to bump Dennis off? Was it possible that not only had Allen been willingly brainwashed, he had been positively dry-cleaned? Clive remembered that in the film, those who had voluntarily enlisted as Candidates could be programmed to do almost anything. If Allen was an undercover agent with such a specific agenda, Clive thought that he must surely harbour a very deep grudge against homosexuals and that only such a degree of hatred could have led him to become voluntarily caught up in such a dangerous mission, which had caused so such suffering.
He also felt it couldn’t be Allen’s religious convictions alone that might have made him behave in such a destructive manner, and then he remembered what Dr Levitt had said about his upbringing, which caused him to wonder whether Allen might have been sexually abused as a child by his stepfather.
On the other hand, Clive also had to admit that Allen’s well-briefed talk had been extremely helpful and even included information about a new and mutating virus, as yet unidentified, which Allen suggested might indeed be responsible for the outbreak. Could that be what was being manufactured, and was it so absurd to think that some scientists down near Tucson, Arizona, had cloned the swine virus and invented a new one? Clive was getting quite carried away with all these musings, when Allen poked his head round the door and jokingly called out: ‘Next’!
‘Left alone in here, I did feel for a moment as though I was in a doctor’s waiting-room,’ laughed Clive, in an attempt to clear his head of his musings.
‘Michael’s just left a message on my answering service in my office across the street to say he’s running a little late and will meet us at the restaurant in about fifteen. I hope you like French food?’
‘Yes, of course I do, and I do hope he’s all right.’
‘He sounded fine to me, said something about needing to take a shower after rummaging around in the attic. You know Clive, you must try not to smother him too much. He’s got to learn to stand on his own two feet now and live without Dennis, as we all do.’
That touched a raw nerve: ‘Yes, of course, Allen, you’re absolutely right. I do sometimes get very protective and overreact. But now I’m not reacting nearly enough.’ Then, setting aside all thoughts about The Manchurian Candidate, Clive’s own thespian skills took over: ‘Forgive me, but I must be losing my manners. Your talk-in was superb. You made us all feel terrifically positive, which, considering the enormity of the problem we all face, was most impressive. You explained so much and so very clearly, and at the same time gave us all such tremendous hope.’
‘Thank you, and it’s very kind of you to say so. You know, I’m so close to it all, I find it difficult to be objective.’
‘Well, judging from the discussion in the room after you had left, I would say it was a very successful evening.’
‘I’m so glad to know that. I must admit, I have been encouraged by some of the feedback we’ve received so far.’
‘Honestly, Allen, there was a good deal of positive talk going on amongst those guys after you left, and a jolly good atmosphere.’
‘That’s very good to hear. Now I think we should get to that restaurant, don’t you? I can’t dine on compliments alone … I’m starving.’
Then, just as they were leaving, Allen said: ‘By the way, if you want to have a screening and blood test while you’re here in Columbus, I can arrange it. I’m on duty all next week and I call the shots.’
‘That’s most kind of you, Allen. Maybe a screening but – call me a sissy – perhaps not the shots. I can’t stand needles.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LE GAI PARIS SATURDAY
As they drove away from the Men’s Center, Allen pointed out where his clinic was located so that Clive would know where to go for his check-up the following week. He said that he was glad that Clive had been able to attend the talk-in, and delighted that the meeting had helped explain away some of his queries. Clive responded in an equally positive vein, although he also admitted that there were still a few points
he’d like to have clarified – that was, if Allen wasn’t too exhausted.
‘After all, I know it’s after hours, and I’m sure you’ve had enough questioning for one evening; however, there’s just—’
‘Look, Clive, you don’t know me very well yet, but I have to tell you I love the work I do. So if you have anything you need to ask, please don’t hesitate. Go straight ahead – that’s what I’m here for.’
Clive thanked Dr Levitt for being so understanding, and said that although he now acknowledged that AIDS was part of a world epidemic, with outbreaks in Africa, Haiti and Europe, he still remained puzzled by why the USA had now become its epicentre. More importantly, what disturbed him even more was the fact that it had hit the male gay community in the United States with such a terrible vengeance and that he was saddened to have lost so many of his friends.
Allen responded by confirming that it was indeed part of a worldwide epidemic and added that current research indicated that the spread of a viral infection often produces a number of epicentres. He quoted the outbreak of influenza in Europe back in 1918 as an example of what he was describing.
Clive said he wondered whether the current outbreak of AIDS only became known abroad after it had first developed in America. Allen replied that, on the contrary, many of his colleagues were sure that it had been going on for some time in Africa, particularly in the Congo. It had now been established that AIDS had existed in Africa for years, and amongst a largely heterosexual population, but he added that it had been more or less undiagnosed at the time. On the other hand, he agreed with Clive that it was also probable that the severe outbreak in the USA drew the rest of the world’s attention to it. Allen thought that the States was leading the field in scientific research and had therefore been able to alert other countries around the world about the spread of AIDS. However, although a certain amount of progress had been made, what still concerned him as a doctor was the need to find out more about the root cause behind the disease.
‘But do you think that like Africa, the same could be said about Haiti?’ asked Clive. ‘That it was indigenous to that island? And that, as has been rumoured, it was passed on by the poor local boys who had sex with those affluent gay New Yorkers who came in their droves to the island in search of their services?’
Allen replied, ‘I’m a medical man and my background is in science. I’m not the least bit interested in rumour.’
‘No, of course you’re not. But please forgive me, I’m just trying to understand why there is such a huge discrepancy between the number of cases reported here, and the lower number of casualties throughout the rest of the world.’
‘I’m sorry, but I really can’t give you an answer, nor, as far as I know, can any of my colleagues. What we do know for certain is that it is sexually spread, and we gay men in the States are known for our promiscuity. It may be that when we discover what causes the breakdown in the immune system, we’ll find out why it took on with such a strong hold over here amongst us gays.’
Despite Allen’s response, Clive was becoming more persistent: ‘But you do surely admit that it is curious. Isn’t it odd that it has developed at such an alarming rate over here and that it has had such a particularly devastating effect on gay men?’
‘Sure, it’s odd. And very alarming. A disease doesn’t usually strike at such an easily identifiable group of people. It’s one of the reasons why it has been of such considerable epidemiological interest to those of us in the medical profession. It’s very rare that we get the opportunity to study the emergence of a newly discovered disease at such close hand, then chart its development with considerable accuracy, and over a relatively short passage of time.’
‘Of course I can see why the medical profession is so interested in the spread of this damn thing, but I believe that there may be other interested parties involved.’
‘Really! And who are you getting at?’
Clive’s next question didn’t appear to trouble Allen in the least. ‘How well did you know Dennis Montrose?’
Dr Levitt smiled back at the Englishman. ‘I treated Dennis when I first arrived in Columbus, and he and Michael used to come to the STD clinic for regular check-ups. Eventually I got to know them real well, especially during the last six months of Dennis’ life, when he became extremely ill.’
‘How much did he tell you about himself?’
‘Really quite a bit. We used to have long visits together, specially after he was admitted into hospital.’
‘And was he completely frank with you?’
‘Why don’t you stop being so English and diplomatic? Come on, stop beating about the bush – come straight out with it. Shoot!’
‘Well, we all knew Dennis was on the game and led a busy sex life, but did he ever mention to you what a close friend of his had discovered while on an official governmental visit near Tucson, Arizona?’
‘Now I can see what you’re driving at. What Dennis used to call his “wipe-out theory”. Is that what you mean?’
It was now clear that Allen knew all about Dennis’s conspiracy theory but sounded rather sceptical about it. However, having brought the subject this far, Clive was unable to stop himself from further questioning, especially if his suspicions about Allen’s possible involvement in Dennis’s demise were to be confirmed. Then he rather lost his cool by bluntly pointing out that he felt that Dr Levitt didn’t believe a word of what Dennis had discovered.
‘Look Clive, I’ll say to you what I said to Dennis when he was alive. At times like these, it’s very easy to get all paranoid and think that the entire world is out to get us. Of course, we have become the focus of a great deal of attention, but we have to keep our cool right now. We’ll just blow it if we start spreading all these far-fetched rumours.’
Clive just persisted. ‘So you don’t believe any of it is true? And yet, you have to admit that so many of the things that Dennis predicted have come to pass.’
‘Like what, for example?’
‘Oh dear, I had prepared a list of things I wanted to discuss with you, and now they’ve all completely gone out of my head.’
Then, with that alarming grin of his, Allen turned to Clive: ‘Look, I want to help, honestly I do. Let’s try and remember together, shall we?’
‘OK. Sorry if I was getting emotional. I just hate the idea that this gay plague has killed one of my dearest friends.’
‘As do I. I’m a doctor, for fuck’s sake!’
Now, for the first time that evening, Allen was beginning to lose his cool as well, which made Clive adopt a much more level-headed way of arguing. He rationally pointed out that some gays had lost their jobs because it was believed that the disease was contagious and that as carriers, they could infect other work colleagues. Of course now, after Allen’s talk, he was aware that, medically speaking, it was impossible to pass on the disease socially, but he stressed that he realised how very ignorant the general public was. Allen agreed with Clive absolutely, and thought that any sort of discrimination was totally unjust, which led Clive to tell him about what had happened to Michael while he was having his check-up at the hospital the previous day.
‘One of the technicians had waited for the doctor to be out of the room and then announced that gay men were the slime of the earth and needed to be put down for spreading AIDS.’
‘Clive, I fully agree that there does appear to be a growing campaign against us. I hear similar things all the time and I also know that recently in Washington DC, there was a terrible gaffe that also caused a bit of a scandal.’
Clive immediately thought he was going to get the germicide theory corroborated. Instead, Allen told him that a federal government agency had inadvertently released a pile of confidential information, the result of which was that certain men in the public eye had been openly named as practising homosexuals. Once they were on an official state register like that, it produced a devastating effect on their careers, especially in the states where homosexuality was still illegal.
‘Well you’re lucky there. It’s true, we do have right-wing activists who campaign against us and I have to admit that this AIDS scare has added impetus to their cause. I suppose that’s to be expected.’
‘And is it to be expected that we should be treated like scapegoats, with landlords evicting their gay tenants because they’re so afraid of catching what they refer to as “the gay plague”?’ asked Clive.
‘It’s sheer ignorance, ‘said Allen.
‘And is it sheer ignorance that caused a residents’ association in Tulsa, Texas to have the local swimming pool drained out and disinfected, because they claimed that some gays had used the pool and other bathers could become contaminated?’
‘It’s appalling, I know. I’m ashamed of my ignorant fellow countrymen, and their total unawareness of the facts. Having said that, you do know how fanatical Americans are about cleanliness?’
‘I certainly do,’ Clive responded, ‘and what’s more, I’m beginning to learn how fanatical some Texans are about gays. You’re surely not going to tell me that the Alert Citizens of Texas Brigade in Dallas were merely acting out of ignorance when they recently demanded that their state legislature restore the Sodomy Law, which had been declared unconstitutional by a federal court years ago?’
‘Clive, I’m not saying that there aren’t bigots here in the United States. We all know that. But that’s no reason to believe in Dennis’s theory: that there was a calculated plan to eliminate the entire gay male population of America and possibly Europe also.’