‘Doctor Chase,’ Joan greeted him politely, ignoring his obvious annoyance.
He pointed his eyes aggressively at her face and spoke in a harsh whisper, ‘We were supposed to meet in private, Ambassador.’
Unlike a dog, his lips moved with the muscle control of a human mouth, but the exposed long sharp teeth were decidedly non-human. Swiftly, and unexpectedly, Mercy’s fear suddenly turned to an insatiable curiosity as she watched the creature talk. He refused to meet her examination face to face.
Joan responded calmly, ‘I’m sorry. But the Prime thought it better if Doctor Mercy get acquainted with your department as soon as possible.’ Her voice dropped to a whisper. ‘And we don’t want to draw any particular attention. Doctor Mercy is just a visiting scientist, like any other,’ said Joan, tilting her head and smiling stubbornly.
Mercy thought she heard a low growl come from the doctor before he relented to the Ambassador’s unflinching stare.
Turning to Mercy, he held out a human-shaped hand. ‘I’m sorry for my rudeness. Welcome Doctor Mercy; I’m Doctor Chase.’
Burnt amber fur rolled out of the sleeve of his uniform down the back of his hand. Black claws, clipped blunt and well cared for, grew in place of human fingernails. His palm: bare-skinned, dark, and padded; gripped her skinny pink fingers with gentle confidence.
There was a prolonged silence. Mercy knew it was too long. Don’t hesitate. You’re a guest—a diplomat. Pull yourself together. TALK, MERCY!
‘Thank you, Doctor Chase. It’s my pleasure. I’ve heard a lot about you,’ she stumbled over the blundering choice of words and quickly tried to recover. ‘Your work, that is.’
‘Thank you. Can I suggest we carry on in my office?’ Doctor Chase said, pointing to the doorway at the end of the room.
As the door closed to Doctor Chase’s office, he motioned to a small lounge area with two sofas facing each other. ‘Have a seat,’ he invited them.
Mercy sat while the Ambassador remained standing near the door. Chase shrugged his shoulders in a ‘suite yourself’ manner and grunted at Joan. He took a seat facing Mercy.
‘Doctor Perching. Sorry for the rather informal greeting. We were originally planned to meet you when you arrived, but I’m guessing my appearance might have been the reason for our delayed introduction.’ His voice caustic, his target Joan.
‘We are all here now. And I believe you will agree; there are more important matters that we should be discussing.’ Joan tried to calm his mood.
Mercy broke the tension as quickly as she could. ‘Doctor Chase, I’m grateful for the invitation. We were deeply concerned when we heard about the FossilFlu mutation. I have to confess; your Sanctuary’s technological achievements have somewhat humbled me since arriving. I can only hope you will find my research useful.’
Chase let out a brief relinquishing grunt. ‘I’m sure we both have a lot to learn from each other. Your briefing notes were impressive. Thank you for sending those in advance. While we’ve managed to engineer an entirely new species – well, several species – to combat FossilFlu extinction, we still hadn’t uncovered the source of immunity in mammals. And now…’ he trailed off in thought but quickly recovered, ‘…now we have an even bigger problem to solve.’ The simple statement sounded sincere and regretful. ‘I have set up your lab next to my office. Your PVA…’ he paused, waiting for Mercy to clarify.
‘Hope,’ she volunteered.
‘Hope will be given access to our research on the mutation.’
‘Excuse me, Doctor Chase, but may I also request access to your work regarding Chimeras?’
Chase pinched his brow tightly, a look that bordered on furiousness. Mercy quickly glanced to Joan, looking for validation, worried that the use of the word Chimera might have offended Chase.
‘It’s just that it would help me understand the new strain,’ she continued apologetically, ‘if I also understand the host environment that allowed it to mutate.’
Chase rolled his eyes over to Joan.
‘The Prime said all research,’ Joan volunteered.
Chase gave a defeated shake of his head and a grunt. ‘Of course,’ he continued in a tone that was almost a threat. ‘My only request is that you remember this is still my lab, and there are rules.’
Something snapped in Mercy. Dog or man, she wasn’t one to be told what to do in a lab. ‘Doctor Chase, I completely respect that this is your department, and of course, I will work within your protocols. However, I didn’t leave my home, fly halfway around the planet, and enter a possible contagious zone, to be your employee. I suggest we approach this opportunity as one to work together. You and I. Equals.’
Joan smiled. Mercy held his stare.
Chase sat back, releasing a sigh and a grunt of conciliation. ‘Of course. I didn’t mean to insinuate otherwise. Tomorrow we’ll start by meeting the team working on the mutation. I’m sure the Prime has shared that this information remains highly confidential. Only a select few of my best have clearance. Discussing research on the mutation outside of this group is forbidden.’
‘Yes, I understand. The Prime informed me of the political consequences at stake.’
Chase, unable to hide his emotions behind his overtly expressive eyebrows, became angry again but said nothing.
Joan interrupted, ‘Good. Glad we are all agreed on the next steps. I’ll show Doctor Mercy to her quarters now. You two will have more time to catch up tonight at the state dinner.’
As they left Chase’s office, slowly, very slowly, Mercy’s mind was starting to adjust, and the dog was becoming a man.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The door to the State Room slid open. All eyes were on Mercy as she entered. Her wardrobe had been provided: a floor-length white tunic with tails and trousers belted with an ebony-coloured sash. She was in a very grand room, bright and warm; for a golden sunset bled in through invisible walls. Mercy got the impression of floating over the city.
Six Senators, four in white tunics and two in all black, were sprinkled around the room. The dark clothed Senators, noticeably separated from the others, kept to themselves.
The Prime, having just cut off her conversation with Doctor Chase, smiled at Mercy and Ambassador Joan. Spreading her arms wide, she drew them to her side.
‘May I have everyone’s attention, please,’ she broadcast, waving her hands inward, a command for all to join her.
The Senators in white hurried around her expectantly. The Senators in black joined less enthusiastically.
Mercy’s attention was on one Senator in particular – a Chimera who bore the markings of a cat. Her large, round, emerald eyes and a flat upturned black nose, more button than snout, were framed in pink flesh. The feline-woman had long coarse whiskers that sprung up to her cheeks where a human would have a moustache. Her calico hairline formed a heart with a peak low on her forehead, curving back around her human-shaped ears and under her lower jowl.
How random, Mercy thought. Having had a few hours alone in her quarters to digest Chase’s appearance hadn’t helped reduce the surprise of seeing another C10 in the flesh. The hybrid features of the feline’s body, while recognisable and oddly natural, continued to strike Mercy as fictitious, like a storybook character.
The Prime continued her address: ‘Senators, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce Doctor Mercy.’ She turned to address Mercy directly: ‘Doctor, myself, and the Senators would like to welcome you to the Sanctuary of Americas.’
The Prime went down the line of Senators offering personal introductions. Mercy received smiles and nods from most. Except for the Senator from District one known as Arjun, who stood with arms crossed and a pinched pale face. His black tunic draped off his bony shoulders like a cloak on a hanger. His black beady eyes were in a constant state of suspicion, and his thin lips curled permanently downward. An ink-black braid hung low down his back. As th
e Prime called his name, he greeted Mercy with a half-nod. The Prime moved on quickly, dismissing his belligerence.
‘I’d like to thank everyone for joining me tonight,’ the Prime continued in a sombre tone. ‘We are here because we face a potential crisis worse than anything we’ve seen before. Even the slightest risk of another FossilFlu epidemic requires that we focus all our resources on developing a vaccine. And such is the urgency that we must consider unconventional steps and act decisively.’
The Senators listened in silence.
‘I know not everyone agreed with my decision to contact the Sanctuary of Europe. It is true, in the past, distrust clouded our relationship with our once sister city. But long before that, we worked together, successfully, to stop the spread of FossilFlu and save humanity. I believe we can find that trust and faith again. Together we will be stronger, wiser and better prepared.’
Nods of confirmation came from the four Senators in white.
The Prime went on: ‘Now, the Sanctuary of Europe could have refused or challenged our conditions. Instead, they openly accepted our invitation on all our terms and sent us their brightest scientific leader without question. If we don’t show the same trust by opening up our city and our science to Doctor Mercy, then what kind of a society are we?’
Senator Arjun squinted his eyes and frowned sourly, knowing he was the target of her comment.
‘I say our future,’ the Prime continued raising a hand to Mercy and Chase, ‘all our futures, human and Chimera alike, are safer today thanks to Doctor Mercy and Doctor Chase.’
Mercy nodded her agreement and thank you at once. Chase stood with arms tucked behind his back, eyes cast to the ground, and gave a nod of his head, humbly accepting her praise.
‘Now, please, let us dine and welcome Doctor Mercy after her long journey,’ concluded the Prime, waving everyone to the table.
Mercy sat between the Prime on her left and Doctor Chase on her right. The table was dressed as if for a celebration: white starch linens, gold cutlery and porcelain plates. Ten waiters appeared carrying glass bottles and having white linen napkin draped over their forearms. Synchronised, they filled the tall skinny flutes at the head of each plate. An effervescent gold liquid gurgled into the clear glasses, giving rise to an endless fountain of tiny bubbles coalescing into a foaming head.
As the waiters finished in perfect simultaneity, Chase plucked his drink from the table. Leaning towards Mercy, he said, ‘We don’t get this every day, Doctor Mercy.’
‘What is it?’ She asked, rather coyly.
Chase shot her a dumbfounded stare. ‘Champagne,’ he blurted out with some astonishment. ‘Made from California vines kept in the food archives during the days of rationing.’
‘Oh, yes, I’ve heard about California, the state that sank below the rising ocean. We have a children’s story that tells of the great city of San Francisco. Superior in technology and wealth to all others. Some even claim the city is still secretly thriving, under the ocean, safe from the sun.’
Chase burst out laughing, ‘What, like the mythical city of Atlantis?’
Mercy blushed, suddenly embarrassed. ‘I guess, yes, it’s just a children’s story after all.’
Chase erased his smile immediately, not wanting to embarrass her further. ‘I can assure you, nothing of the State of California exists anymore, above or below the ocean. Except for these vines. Enjoy it; this is one of the perks of a dinner with the Prime,’ he smiled, sending his glass into hers for a clinking cheer.
Mercy held the drink to her nose. It smelled nuttily sweet. She took a sip. Bubbles suddenly shot up the back of her throat, into her nose, as she coughed. The Senators looked at her quizzically and with humour. She felt compelled to explain.
‘I’m sorry; we don’t have champagne in our Sanctuary. Food production is limited to essentials only,’ she confessed.
Her candid disclosure granted the Senators the permission they sought to intrude further. Like vultures to a fresh carcass, they rushed at her with their questions about the Sanctuary of Europe, politely asked and Mercy always answered.
The population of the Sanctuary of Europe was just under twelve million.
Most of the citizens lived and worked below the Earth’s surface.
Water and food were heavily rationed but readily available.
Their supply of water came from desalinisation of the salt lakes and by recycling.
Food was grown in underground farms and biospheres on the Earth’s surface.
Their energy source was solar, but the desert dust caused significant problems.
Time passed and the questions slowed. Waiters continued to arrive with seasonal foods beautifully laid out to showcase the artistry of the chef. Painted streaks of beet-red and mint-green puree splashed across white china dishes, mounted with meticulously cut, cooked and positioned vegetables, grains and fruits. Each plate a new design, the next always superseding the previous in bold and delicate presentations.
Some of the foods Mercy recognised, but many she had only read about from before the Scorch. After the embarrassment of the champagne incident, she held back her insatiable curiosity. What were the names of the plants, where did they grow, and under what conditions? She would have asked.
Throughout the dinner, Senator Arjun remained suspiciously quiet, devoid of questions – fork and knife clipping his plate, listening while stuffing the night’s feast into his mouth.
As the waiters brought out the last meal, chocolate mousse and cherry crisp, when the conversations had slowed, Arjun took his long-awaited opportunity.
‘Doctor Perching,’ he called out, silencing the room by punctuating his use of her surname. ‘I believe we can respectfully call you by your full name in this private environment.’
Mercy, lightheaded from all the food and champagne, missed his critical intent and answered him innocently, ‘No, that’s fine. I’m happy to use Mercy while here.’
The irked Senator’s mouth tightened. He continued, ‘Very well, then, diplomacy it is. I’m curious – what do you think your people will make of our beloved Chimeras?’
Chase slammed his silverware on his plate, broadcasting his contempt. The feline-woman, whom Mercy had come to know as Senator Jasper, mirrored Chase’s shock. The emerald green of her eyes nearly swallowed by a rapidly expanded black pupil. Her upper lip curled and quivered, showing off her thin, razor-like teeth.
‘You don’t have to answer that, Doctor,’ the Prime quickly interrupted.
Senator Arjun persisted belligerently, angered by the Prime’s intervention. ‘Please, Prime, with all respect, I have sat here for several hours listening to idle chit-chat as if this were nothing more than a cultural exchange! Now I ask for just a few moments, and then I will dismiss myself.’
The Prime met his hardened stare with an eye that commanded he be careful, and then, with a graceful nod, gave her approval for him to continue.
‘Doctor Mercy, you should be aware that not everyone here agrees with the genetic mutations we call Chimeras.’
Chase let out a low growl.
‘They did not evolve over thousands of years, cultivated by nature to fit into the world around them,’ continued Arjun, unabashed. ‘We still have no idea how these new species will impact our world and ecosystems. And now, proving my point, breeding human with an animal was not the saviour we were promised. Instead, it has given us the deadliest virus known to humankind. We may have just killed every living animal on this planet. This is what we should be talking about tonight. The real cause of our crisis.’ He pointed his eyes daringly at Chase.
‘That’s enough, Senator!’ commanded the Prime. ‘Let me remind everyone at this table that our purpose together is shared. Our hope is shared. To find a cure, not just for humans, but for everyone.’
‘Hear! Hear!’ cheered the Senators in white.
S
lamming his fist on the table, Arjun stood and stormed out of the room, followed sheepishly by the other Senator in black. Chase, red-faced with rage, sounded off a low, threatening growl after him.
A profound silence sat in the room. No one spoke before the Prime.
‘Doctor Mercy, accept my apologies. Senator Arjun was out of line. He and Senator Agnis’ views are not representative of the vast majority of citizens of the Sanctuary. Regardless, this is not the place for him to make his case. The Chimeras are citizens of the Sanctuary like all others, and we don’t tolerate hate rhetoric.’ The Prime raised her glass, ‘Doctor Chase and Doctor Mercy, we are in your hands. Be swift.’
Everyone drank.
Ambassador Joan escorted Mercy back to her chambers.
‘What happened in there?’ Mercy’s question hesitant, not wanting to push Joan into an uncomfortable conversation.
Joan pondered a response. ‘Senator Arjun belongs to the Purist Party, as do most of his constituents in District One, which is primarily human.
‘They have fought the science of hybrids since the beginning, believing only in natural evolution. They argue that human intervention with nature created global warming and the virus. The new strain of FossilFlu has emboldened their cause. They hope not only to end the disease but hybrids as well.’
‘You mean end hybrid breeding, not the living Chimeras. Right?’
‘Let’s leave it there, shall we? I imagine you would like some time to recuperate before your meeting tomorrow morning,’ Joan smiled, arriving at Mercy’s apartment door. She said her goodbyes.
Back in her apartment, Mercy stood before the ceiling-to-floor glass wall facing the Belt.
‘Hope?’ Mercy called into the air.
‘Yes, Doctor?’
‘Are there windows in this apartment?’
‘Certainly, Doctor.’
To Mercy’s amazement, directly in front of her, the wall rippled liquid, and the transparent material slithered outward to form a long horizontal opening. Suddenly it was as though the air had come alive. A brisk, fresh evening wind blew at Mercy. She inhaled long and deep and stretched her hands over her head. What a strange and curious world the Sanctuary of Americas turned out to be, she thought.
Children of the Miracle Page 5
