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ESP
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since 2000-01-25
Posts 2556
Floating gently on a cloud....

0 posted 2004-02-19 10:44 PM


Chapter 2

The Jefferson Institute for medical research in Richmond  was a far less impressive building than its name suggested. Originally funded by the government, in its prime it had been famous for its ground-breaking cancer research. In recent years, funding had been withdrawn and with privatisation had come change. Slightly more dilapidated, slightly behind the forefront in its research, it was just another poor cousin in the trade.
Zoe sat at her desk reviewing the day’s courier when a knock interrupted her.
“Hey George, how can I help you?” she greeted the dapper young man who entered her office. He responded by walking quickly round her side of the desk and kissing her firmly on the lips.
“Oi…not now, not here, ok?!” she protested weakly.
“I’ve got the latest instructions from the top. They’ve finished another experiment, and you know what that means!”
“Already? They only just finished the last one!”
“Hey, here in Virginia, we call that progress”
She smiled absently, flicking through the memo.
“Oh I see this one is closely linked to the last, makes more sense now. Still, we need to let the police finish sniffing the last one before unveiling another. Besides, I’m a wife, remember? The more often I leave my bed at night, the more chance there is of Adam waking up and finding me missing and guess what? World war three!”
Zoe laughed at the thought of Adam waking up to an empty bed, then the weight of George’s gaze sobered her.
“This isn’t a joking matter, Zoe. You know I hate it when you act like this?”
“Like what? Don’t act the angel, it really doesn’t suit you. Hell, you’re as guilty as I am! Who’s fault is this anyway? Who had me coerced, nay, blackmailed into joining you sickos? Think about it George, if you hadn’t had eyes for me in the first place, I wouldn’t have made that joke.”
“Oh come on! Isn’t that going a bit too far? You were lonely, remember? Your doofus husband wasn’t giving you what you wanted, so you ran to me.”
“Whatever! You know what I mean. God, you can be sure I would have nothing to do with you had I known you were in to human guinea pigs! I’ll make any joke I want to, whenever I want to. Besides, I bet you found it funny, Mr I’m-too-good-to-be-true mad scientist.”
“I’m not a mad scientist.”
“What? Why you talking so quietly, this classified information too?”
“I said I’M NOT A MAD SCIENTIST!!!”
“Ok, ok, no need to shout. Calm down!”
“You calm down”
“Ok, whatever. About the next job, can we not wait a bit, maybe until another experiment is finished and do two in one? Or can you keep the guy drugged up until the last dead guy is at least cold??”
Adam made a concerted effort to ignore the distasteful jokes.
“I don’t know, Bill made it pretty clear he wants it done asap.”
“Bill can go to hell. By the way, that was pretty dumb calling me yesterday lunchtime. Are you trying to blow everything clean out the water? Cos if so you are doing a damned good job of it.”
“Yeah. Sorry about that. Was Adam cross?”
“I handled it. He thinks I have to work late tonight now though. You will keep me company for an hour or two after we quit for today?”
George massaged her neck and shoulders gently before answering.
“Can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”
Then, moving quickly to the chair opposite her desk, he sat down and picked up the memo that she had dropped minutes earlier.
“Bill really wants us to move quickly with this one. You know the deal. This stuff keeps the police out of our hair. It’s just for a little bit longer. Soon we will have the cure for cancer, it’s getting really close.”
Zoe tensed up at the return to business.
“Yes, ok, your dearest Bill wants everything yesterday. I know!! And don’t give me that crap about its just a bit longer, we all know that if you find the wretched cure, you will just move on to looking for a cure for something else! Let’s face it, George, you and I are gonna be eating human guinea pigs for a long time to come! And hey! While we are it, let’s face this: You enjoy it as much as I do!”
She leaned back in her chair, satisfaction permeating her entire demeanour.
“Zoe, are you insane? I mean, that is, yeah, ok, I enjoy it but only because I have to do it. I wouldn’t enjoy it if I had the choice. I hope you wouldn’t either.”
“…It tastes good though, don’t you think? And don’t deny it, you enjoyed the last one same as I did. Anyway, it’s no worse than all those people out there who stuff their faces with beef, chicken, pork…it’s all brutal, all disgusting. Why shouldn’t a few humans go through what we put so many animals through without batting an eyelid!”
“Uh Zoe…people don’t tend to eat the meat freshly killed and raw. But you are right, it does taste good. Look, I’ve got to get back to work now, but I’ll see you in lunch break, ok?”
Zoe gave George her most provocative smile and dismissed him, turning her attention back to the memo and the pile of courier that lay as yet untouched on her desk.

"Time has told me not to ask for more, one day our ocean will find its shore" ~Nick Drake

© Copyright 2004 ESP - All Rights Reserved
skyshine
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since 2002-02-07
Posts 3058
Beneath the northern stars
1 posted 2004-02-21 04:15 PM


You have a really interesting concept here. The one thing that I keep thinking is: What is Adam going to do when he discovers the truth about his wife? Keep up the good work.

~sky

Hold on, if you feel like letting go
Hold on, it gets better than you know....
~Good Charlotte

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