Chapter 14 - the end

Paul walked into his office a broken man. When he had left the police station he had needed a cab and then he had discovered his tired were slashed. It had all been too much and it was worse that he had had to wait for a taxi to take him home as well. He had to order yet another to take him into work. The cab driver had wanted to talk about football and all Paul wanted was to tell him where he could shove it.

He sat at his desk and rifled through the piles of paper work all about him. Unread memos and letters had pilled up on his desk while he had been distracted by other things. He continued to search, he would have to become more organised, he thought. Finally, he found the report he was looking for - Ricky’s experiment.

He scanned through the report picking out key words… 95% uptake… rapid decline of antibodies… no trace of original virus infection… secondary virus spread reduced… possible side effects and wide spread cellular damage… 2% risk of cancer… no sign of secondary virus with twenty-four hours… permanent increase in cell activity… possible complications… further studies recommended to future researchers…

Paul put it all together in his head. The virus had destroyed not only the other virus but also the systems immune response and then had itself been destroyed by Ricky’s process. This left a danger of a mild and temporary Acquired Immunodeficiency, and left the victim vulnerable for a while. Also, the cell damage increased the risk of cancers, which might become an issue.

But the single great fact remained - they had found a cure for almost everything!

Something bothered him about the reference to future researchers. Was Ricky planning on quitting?

He picked up the phone and called John’s office.

Jackson lay on the inflatable sofa, it sagged a little and his legs hung over then end but he felt comfortable enough. All he had to do was watch Luke and dream up a way of seducing Angelina. Perfect, he thought.

“Your best approach would be to make this place homely,” said the voice in his head, “tidy and dust this place, remove the cobwebs as well.”

“Who are you?” asked Jackson.

The air was still and the only sound was the heavy snoring of Luke. Jackson looked about the place, he didn’t find the new voice spooky but it did annoy him that he did not recognise it.

John sat down next to Paul and sighed.

“They’ve slashed our budgets and commandeered most of out projects.” He said.

“What!?” Asked Paul outraged, “they can’t do that! We’re so close to finding a cure for AIDS, the common flu maybe even cancer and god knows what else.“

“They can,” said John, he shook his head a little and said: “We’ve lost this one, Paul.”

“No,” shouted Paul, “it’s not right.” He stood up and paced back and forth. He moved in such a frantic and disturbingly manic manor that John started to become quite concerned.

“Sit down,” said John, “there’s nothing you can do.” He gestured to the chair that Paul had occupied moments ago

“Our work…” moaned Paul.

“It’s all too late.” Said John, “come and sit down”.

Paul thumped the wall and yelled: “It’s not damn fair, they’re coming to take my cure that I worked so hard for.”

“Paul, for the love of god, calm down.” Said john.

“When do they arrive?” asked Paul.

“They don’t,” said John, “we have to send it to them. It seems that this is one of those reserved projects. It has been on the company books for years. They’ve sunk billions into it over the years.”

“So what,” said Paul, “it was our project; we still have Ricky’s modified vision right?”

“Yes, for all the good it will do us.” Said John.

“And Ricky can knock up enough of his drug cocktail to cure a full grown man right.”

“No, Paul, don’t you dare.”

“It’s the only way.” Said Paul.

“Sit down.” Said John standing up. “I can’t let you risk your life like this. It’s stupid and pointless. I’m your friend and I insist you calm down.”

“My life?” Screamed Paul, “my god-damn life is already over. It was over the day that bloody gold digger broke in her and smashed the place up.” Paul turned and opened the door.

John tried to stop him but Paul simply struck out and shouted: “I will not miss out now!”

John crumpled onto the desk under Paul’s fierce blow and then lay still. Blood tricked for the corner of his mouth and Paul wondered for a second if he might have killed his friend.

“Sorry, my friend but this is life and death.” Said Paul and ran from the office.

He found Ricky in the lab packing up equipment.

“Hello, boss,” said Ricky, “I didn’t expect you to come and say goodbye.”

“I didn’t know you were leaving us.” Said Paul.

“I’ve been asked to transfer to another department based near London.” Said Ricky, “I’ve got the rest of the month but there is nothing much here for me now.”

“Please stay a few more days,” said Paul, “I think I can make it worth your while.”

Angelina continued to sift through the paper work. At first it had been rather difficult to stay focused but now she found that she could focus for an hour at a time with out even fidgeting.

Jackson sat perfectly still he watched Luke. The room looked cleaner than it had done since they had arrived here. Luke seemed to be concussed. He did not know why the thought had not accoutred to him before but no it seemed obvious that the man had sustained head injuries.
Paul hurried down the steps at the entrance to the complex. The cab was weighting for him, and of all the bad luck, it was the same guy as earlier that morning. He felt for the bottle of medicine – it was safe in his top pocket.

“Afternoon, squire.” Said the cab driver.

“Afternoon,” said Paul. “Take us to some pub, any will do.”

“Sure thing boss.”

Paul felt a little woozy but other than that, he felt strong and well. Ricky had been quite explicit about taking the medicine every two hours until it was gone. He had made Paul’s day when he had told him dinking would probably increase the rate that the secondary virus was killed.

Paul intended to drink his way to health. It was to be a victory and a victory calibration in one and yet he had lost all appetite for drink. Maybe just a few pints, he thought.

John’s face hurt in several different places. He was furious with Paul and ready to kill Ricky for agreeing to help but he had to admit that there would be little to stop them making a break with the discoveries once tested successfully on Paul. They could not forbid the evidence to go home.

That evening the trio in the abandoned house dinned on a few bars of chocolate and a cup of vodka diluted with the last of the coke. Luke sat groggily on the edge of the bed and attempted to simply look sociable.

Angelina was a little worried about herself. She had gone all day without food and only now did she feel a little hungry. She also knew that she had brought way too little food and too many home comforts. She felt extremely angry at her own naivety and her growing sense of insight and concentration allowed her to plan carefully.

It was only a mile further to go to another town entirely to get food. There was a twenty-four hour garage in that direction and that would sell her everything they might need.

She thought again of her silly girly ideas about the house and the lack of food. She looked around the room. It did look good she had to admit. Jackson had tidied up and even done a little cleanings – the cobwebs and the dust were gone.

“I’m going to walk to the garage and get some supplies,” she announced, “any requests?”

“Fags.” Said Jackson.

“Coffee, please,” said Luke, “and something meaty if you can.”

“Sure,” said Angelina, “not a problem.”

Outside the house, Jacque passed by silent and unobserved. He had seen Anabellus’ bride and he knew there was no immediate danger. The scientific man was drinking again and the scientific man’s bosses had taken his samples away. Everything, he reasoned, would remain fine while he was gone.

“Angel,” said Jackson, “have you noticed anything odd?”

“Odd?” she asked.

“Yeah, you know, increased concentrational awareness, extra insight that sort of thing.”

“No,” she replied, “I can’t say that I have. We can chat about this when I get back if you like.”

“OK,” he said, “I’ll see you when you get back, babe.” A slight sweaty feeling pricked at Jackson’s neck. Now he had said it he felt foolish.

“See you later,” she said with out betraying the small skip of her heart. He had called her babe!

The night was clear and remarkably light. Everything smelled vibrant and the night seemed alive to Angelina as she walked the long journey to collect food for the house.

She reflected that she had never felt quite so alive.

Jackson was unsure but he was sure he had seen the tiniest of reaction in Angelina and he was sure it was a good thing. He had gotten it right.

Luke was asleep when he came back into the front room. Jackson went to the window and looked out at the hedge. I should light a fire, he thought, but I’ll just stand here a little longer and then it will be time.

“You’re a j-“

“Fuck off, dick breath” muttered Jackson and turned away from the window.

“You tot-“

“Lay down and die, turd for brains.” He told the memory.

For the first time since he could remember, he felt truly confident, he felt strong, and he felt – manly.