Blood on the Water

by Mark Hildebrandt

  “Sounds good to me. I don’t need to sit in your office while you play bureaucrat.” She said, promptly turned and started down the hall in the direction of James room.

  There seemed to be a bounce in her step Marcus hadn’t seen for some time. He wondered where that came from. Oh well, he shrugged, turned the other way and walked off. Quintus greeted him at the doorway. “Good morning Dr. Vespus. Did you have a nice family visit with Dr. Vespus last night?”

  Marcus nodded as he walked past Quintus on the way to his desk, “Quintus, would you please get me some coffee? And do you know if they started with Dr. Woodman this morning?”

  “Yes sir. They collected blood for a complete chemical profile first thing. I believe they have also started the glucose tolerance test. When they are done with that, he will be sent to magnetic resonance and then the other electromagnetic radiation scanning laboratories. According to the schedule, he will be ready for you just after lunch.” When Marcus didn’t respond, but simply nodded understanding, Quintus added, “I’ll go get your coffee. What about the other Dr. Vespus? Should I get her a coffee as well?”

  “No, she went to visit Dr. Woodman.” Marcus tried to focus his mind on the physical for a moment, and as Quintus was leaving he called out, “Contact Dr. Vento, and make sure they collect fluids for a complete pathogen screen, both bacterial and viral.”

  “Absolutely.” Quintus could be heard saying on his way out of the office.

  Marcus spent the next hour completely lost in administrative tasks, hundreds of messages and research highlights needed to be read and replies sent. The two cups of strong coffee supplied by Quintus eased the burden of the tasks, and by eight he had gone through most of the stuff that needed immediate attention, and decided it was finally time to meet Cassandra’s Dr. Woodman.

  Inside the Senatorial suite Marcus found Cassandra and James sitting by the window talking and laughing. The two appeared very relaxed. For someone as frightened of hospitals as Cassandra claimed Dr. Woodman was, he looked to be in very good spirits. Marcus approached unnoticed and announced, “Good morning I’m Dr. Vespus.”

  James, obviously startled, jumped out of his chair and responded, “Oh good another Dr. Vespus.” And almost started to laugh but stopped himself. “I’m sorry it’s nice to meet you Dr. Vespus. I’m James Woodman. I believe I saw you at the Senate hearing yesterday. The holograph was so real I all most feel like we have met.”

  Marcus silently sized up the man Cassandra had snatched from a different dimension. He was tall and appeared to be well proportioned. He had a contagious smile and seemed quite affable. Marcus hoped Cassandra would be good to her word and keep him at arm’s length. His quick appraisal gave way to a smile. “I’m afraid that performance wasn’t a very pretty sight. I hope we didn’t get off on the wrong foot?”

  “Not at all,” James said with a chuckle. “I didn’t understand much of the proceeding. There is a lot I don’t know about this place, but it appeared to be something about a virus. For the most part it just looked like Senators doing what they do best, politic and demonstrate their importance by bullying someone. That part is not much different from my world.”

  Marcus smiled, “Perhaps we do have a few things in common. Has anyone explained why you are here, and what we will be doing today?”

  “No, not really. They basically just started coming in early this morning and taking blood samples. I guess that is another thing we have in common. Hospitals here and in my world can’t ever seem to get enough blood. I will admit though, it is not as painful here, that tube they use seems to get the blood without a needle. In my world, each time they want blood, you get stuck.”

  “A needle”, Marcus said with a pained look. “I guess Cassandra was right when she said your world was a bit more primitive than ours. We haven’t used needles to collect blood for centuries.

  “We only have one more sample to collect in about an hour, and we will be done with the blood work. You will then be sent to several different imaging labs for full body scans, and a complete cardio vascular work up. That should take you until about lunch. I’m sure you are hungry, since all you have had was the sugar water drink this morning. I will make arrangements for you and Dr. Vespus to be served lunch here in your room, and then I’ll check in on you after you’re done. Just a quick look and a few questions about your medical history.

  “The lab results should be back in a couple of days. If there is anything that seems out of place, we will have you back to recheck. After that it’s back to London and Dr. Vespus’ lab, and then back to your world. Do you have any questions?”

  James looked at Cassandra and then back to Marcus, “Why all the fancy testing? I told Cassandra, I don’t recall anything about people in my world dying from a virus infection when they reach middle age.”

  Perhaps it would have been better if Cassandra had not said anything about the virus to James, Marcus thought. At this point they would learn everything from the blood and tissue samples, and it just might be best if James forgot all about it. “Well you see Dr. Woodman,”

  “Please call me James.”

  “Very well, James. It may be in your world there is a natural immunity to the virus. Your people have it and are completely unaware. If that is the situation, we might be able to copy your antibodies for use in our world. But even so, you are from a different dimension, and we want to see if there are any physiological differences between us. It may seem like, how did you say it, ‘fancy testing,’ but mostly it is just routine.” Marcus put on his physician smile and continued. “Now, I have several research projects that need attention. I will see you after lunch at about two o’clock. Good day Dr. Woodman, Dr. Vespus.” And Marcus was gone.

  ◆◆◆

  Once Marcus reached the research section his pace slowed. He paused at every laboratory, stepped in and greeted the researchers. He wanted to ignore all of them and head directly to Dr. Singh’s lab, but he knew he needed to make an appearance. He found this kind of behavior encouraged the researchers to work harder. He had no idea why but didn’t question it.

  After forty-five minutes of doing his part, Marcus finally reached Singh’s laboratory. “Good morning Dr. Singh,” Marcus called as he entered the lab.

  “Good morning Dr. Vespus, and how are you this morning?”

  “I am well. Thank you. I seem to have survived yesterday’s inquisition, but enough of that. Why don’t you brighten my day and tell me you have made a significant breakthrough?”

  “Yes sir. I think we have some really good news.”

  Marcus studied Singh’s face, “Why do I feel you ended that sentence with a but?”

  “Sir. There is an issue we need to address, but first let me tell you about the good news. All our in vitro studies of the phage have been successful. We started with infected cadaver tissue. When the tissue was treated with our engineered phage all the viruses were destroyed. It is the most amazing thing. We monitored the progress using an electron macrograph. Just watch this series of images. It shows exactly what happens.”

  The image displayed on the screen looked to be liver tissue that was full of the virus. The virus is very easy to identify because of its very characteristic appearance. It looks like a small sphere surrounded by an amorphous gel, and that is exactly what it is, DNA encased in an icosahedral nucleocapsid which is encapsulated in an amorphous protein bubble.

  In the next image, what looked like long sticks with small bubbles on top, appeared uniformly throughout the picture. Two additional images showed the sticks penetrating the protein bubble on most, then all the virus particles, and some of the viruses had begun to burst. In the final image all the virus had burst.

  “Isn’t it spectacular” Dr. Singh said. “All of the virus burst. When the virus is attacked, it almost looks like a cell being lysed by osmotic pressure.”

  Marcus was beginning to share Dr. Singh’s euphoria, but was not ready to show it. “Dr. Singh, that is truly the most encouraging thing, I h
ave seen in the five years we have been studying this damn virus. What else do you have?”

  “Well sir. That was cadaver tissue. Now watch a similar graphic on living biopsy tissue. Marcus watched the micrographs and saw the same sequence of events. The tissue once filled with viruses was free of them after treatment with the phage.

  “This is excellent Dr. Singh. I feel more optimistic than ever. You and your team have done excellent work. Is there any chance the phage will attach normal human tissue?”

  “No sir. We have designed the phage for a two-pronged attack, one that will only work on the virus. First there is a molecular sequence on the stick portion of the phage that is attracted to the specific protein in the bubble. As soon as it penetrates, a peristaltic action occurs which pulls the phage to the surface of the nucleocapsid. And second, once at the surface, it attaches. The attachment is based on a specific spatial arrangement of three oxygen and two nitrogen atoms, which lie on the surface of the nucleocapsid. Once bound to the surface, the ball contracts injecting the continents. The ball cannot contract unless all five chemical sites are bound, and that particular spatial arrangement of oxygen and nitrogen only occurs on the virus.”

  “Excellent. Now what is the other issue you said we need to address?”

  “Dr. Vespus, we are almost ready to start human testing”

  “Yes Dr. Singh, and that is excellent.”

  “Sir, as you are aware by Imperial law, we can only test on patients where the condition is clearly documented to be in the fatal stages of the disease. We cannot test on a citizen, unless the procedure and test protocol has been approved by the Senate committee on Medical Ethics.”

  “Yes, we have been over that”

  “Well do you want me to begin the application process with the Senate?”

  “No! I do not want you to begin the application process.” Marcus realized he needed to think fast to refocus Singh. The Senate approval process would take months or years, months or years Marcus did not have, besides there was no way he wanted to let Kukulcan and the rest of that bunch haven any idea how much progress he had made. “Look Dr. Singh, I have already started work on Senate approval, all you need to do is keep me current on every aspect of the research. While I am doing that, I want you and your team to pull out all the stops, finalize your live tissue work, and get ready for patient testing. We have an ample supply of terminal patients in the hospital. I want you develop a technique fast.”

  “And just how fast sir?” Dr. Singh asked.

  “Just as if you planned to begin human testing before the end of the month.” That should do it, Marcus thought. Faced with a two-week deadline, Singh will barely have time to eat.

  The look of shock on Singh’s face was almost unnerving, “Dr. Vespus there…”

  “Dr. Singh, the only words, I want to hear from your mouth, are yes sir. Clear!”

  “Yes sir.”

  ◆◆◆

  Marcus Vespus walked into the Senatorial suite at exactly two o’clock. He found both James and Cassandra had finished lunch and were quietly talking in the chairs by the window. He could not remember Cassandra ever spending this much time with anyone, including him. She always tired of people and things easily. She needed massive amounts of intellectual stimulation, just like a dehydrated athlete needs an energy drink. Yet today, both times he had entered this suite, she had been so engrossed in conversation, so focused on the experiment she had not even noticed his arrival. Then it dawned on him, since the experiment was new and different, she could probably talk to him all day and not be bored.

  “Good afternoon Dr. Woodman, Cassandra.” Once again, his greeting seemed to have startled them. “I trust the morning’s activities were not too taxing, and I hope you finally got something to eat?

  James who was now standing and facing Marcus began to smile, “Oh not at all. The hospital stuff was not bad, and lunch was excellent. Clearly that is major divergence between our two universes, here the hospital food is actually good.” He paused, as if he expected someone to chuckle, shrugged and continued, “Well do I pass? Am I healthy? But more important can I leave?”

  “As I said this morning Dr. Woodman.”

  “Please it’s James.”

  “Okay James. As I said this morning, we will not have all the results compiled for a few days. What I want to do now is ask a few questions related to your medical history, and then we will be done until the results come back.”

  “Done like I can leave, and don’t have to spend another night here?”

  This time it was Marcus’s turn to smile, “That’s correct. I can make arrangements for a comfortable room at the hotel across the street. You can stay there for a couple of days until the test results have been analyzed, I hope that will be acceptable?

  “Marcus!” Cassandra sternly injected, “I thought we had been through all that this morning? I will take James and show him around Italy. You just let me know when you want him back.”

  “Cassandra, that’s all right.” James offered. “I’m sure you have things to do back in London. I’ll be fine here for a couple of days, that is, as long as I don’t need to stay in the hospital.”

  Marcus noticed Cassandra almost frowned as she turned and stared at James. “Does that mean you don’t want me to stay?”

  “I did not say that. Of course, I want you to stay. I guess I just assumed you might have other duties.”

  “My other duties in London are being managed by my team. I also have a duty to you. You are here because of me, and I plan to keep an eye on you.” She said while looking Marcus directly in the eye. “We can go up to Tuscany and stay at the family vineyard. A little summer sun amongst the vines and hills should be a nice diversion. Don’t you think?”

  “It would sure beat sitting in a hotel room in a strange city.”

  A small victory smile appeared at the corners of her mouth as she announced, “Then it is settled. Did you have something else Marcus?”

  Damn, she has almost acted like a mother hen, and there is no point arguing with her when she gets in that frame of mind. “Very well have it your way. Right now, though I would like to ask James some questions. He will be free to leave when I’m done. Cassandra these questions may be a bit personnel; perhaps you could give us a few minutes? Go upstairs and let Quintus know we will be discharging James this afternoon.”

  “All right I’ll let Quintus know. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She got up, smiled at James and left.

  Marcus watched James’ eyes follow Cassandra out of the room. James then turned to Marcus, “Well do you need me to take of my shirt, you know, strip to the waist?”

  “No. We will do the physical exam once the lab results are back. It gives me a better idea what to look for. I just want to ask about your medical history.

  “If you are ready, let’s begin.

  “Are you taking any medications?

  “No”

  “Do you have any allergies, particularly to drugs or foods?”

  “I don’t think so.

  “Good. Have you had any surgical procedures?”

  “I had an appendectomy when I was twelve and have managed to stay away from hospital until now.”

  “So that was the only time you have been admitted to a hospital?”

  “Yes, that is correct”

  “All right. Let me ask about some specific conditions. Do you have high blood pressure?

  “No”

  “Stroke?”

  “No”

  “Cancer?”

  “No”

  Marcus watched James very carefully while he answered the questions. It was absolutely amazing. This man had been plucked from the world he knew only two days ago, thrown into a completely different one, and yet he seemed to be able to accept the situation. Marcus wasn’t sure in a similar circumstance he could.

  There turned out to be several questions James was unable to answer, but after a brief explanation, it was obvious the condition in question had not
yet been identified in his world. Marcus marveled, he detected no deceit, and that was one of the things he felt was his forte, detecting liars and bullshit artists. Satisfied and at the end of the questionnaire Marcus said, “Well James, I think that does it for now. Once we get your test results back, we will do a physical examination and send you back to London. For now, you can go.”

  “Good, I’ll be happy to get out of here.” James started to get up but stopped then sank back into the chair, “You know it occurs to me, this was one extensive physical. I get the feeling you are looking for something, would you care to tell me what that is?”

  The question caught Marcus off guard. “I told you a virus and or antibodies. That’s it.”

  “Really. I may not be a physician, but it seems to me that you could have determined that by simply taking some blood or tissue samples. You have done a lot more than just look for a virus, Dr. Vespus.”

  He’s suspicious, Marcus thought, I will need to keep an eye on him, he has not let his fear of hospitals interfere with his reasoning, and he knows, he is being misled. “Look Dr. Woodman. All I can say is the Ministry has very strict government mandated procedures that need to be followed. We are simply filling out the forms required by law.”

  “Just following procedures. Just following orders, God where have I heard that before. All right, if that is your explanation. Can I go now? Are we done?”

  “Yes. We are done. But before you leave, I do have something to say. I hope you don’t mind, but I will speak frankly.”

  The change in tone seemed to have the desired effect on James as his expression became serious and his gaze became fixed on Marcus. “Go ahead Dr. Vespus. Speak frankly.”

  “Dr. Woodman. Cassandra is my sister, my baby sister. She is very special to me. I watched her grow up. You on the other hand will not be here long. You will soon be leaving. For now, you go with Cassandra, and enjoy the Tuscan countryside, but I warn you keep things professional. I hope I have made myself clear, because I don’t like to say things more than once.”