Amoeba (The Experiments) (43 page)

--Not only will the challenges that nature’s fury has to offer be thrown at you, but other obstacles as well. Be prepared. Just as in any monsoon, tornado
, or hurricane, if there is calm, there is inevitably a storm brewing.--

Excerpts from ‘Surviving the Iso-Stasis’

By Jake and Cal Graison

“And fortunately for Lou . . .” Greg spoke before the table full of investors. “He escaped with only minor feet and ankle burns. He’ll be walking again in a few days. Now, if you’ll turn to page forty-nine.” Greg waited for the simultaneous sound of flipping pages. “As you can see, the mental phase is giving thriving results. The easing-in instead of the bam-bam-bam method used in previous experiments is proving beneficial. We have Larry, who hasn’t spoken to anyone since Jake not only beat him, but scared the hell out of him. Our panel of psychologists don’t . . .” Greg shook his head dramatically. “They don’t expect this quiet, frightened behavior to last. We’re keeping an eye out for Cal. We believe she will be his target.”

Aldo, whose fingers played with the edge of his booklet, looked up and grumbled.

“Judge King,” Greg continued. “We’ve increased the reality of the mental pressure, thus causing him to question his sanity every single time. We’re still keeping our fingers crossed that Rickie will tell him soon about the tragedy with his granddaughter, because we know that will push him. Paul . . .” Greg stopped to laugh. “Paul is now convinced that it is his calling to exorcize every demon on that island before they overcome them. We have not only great plans for Paul, but rather entertaining ones when he sees the proof of his failure in his calling.” Greg noticed Ivan raising his hand. “Yes, Ivan.”

“I have Paul. Why is he still walking freely if he tried to kill Lou
?”

“He didn’t try to kill Lou
,” Greg explained. “He merely tried to burn the demons from him. Jake and the others enjoyed the moment, and they saw no reason to harm him. Okay, next page.” Again, the flipping of pages put Greg in a pause mode. “With the mental phase in full swing and thriving, we will now move on to the element phase with only one failure in the mental endurance . . . .Lou.”

With a ‘Nah-uh-uh’ Aldo shook his head. “Cal, Jake
, and Billy. You failed there.”

Greg arrogantly flashed that closed mouth smile at Aldo. “My dear Mr. Connilucci
, we did not fail there. Quite the contrary. The fun with those three has just begun.” He smiled again. “Wait.”

Lying on her stomach on her bed, Cal stared at her left hand. It rested on top of the other, cupped some and just under her nose. She looked at the shiny new diamond band that now graced her ring finger. It fit perfectly with her engagement ring and wedding band, completing the expensive trio. But instead of smiling at the ring Jake had given her the day before on their anniversary, Cal wiped the tear drop that fell upon it.

“Cal-babe.” The door opened with Rickie’s call.

Cal rolled onto her back and sat up. “Did you do it?”

“Yes.” Rickie shut the door and walked in. “I got the Sarge occupied. Now what’s wrong?”

Slowly, Cal stood up from the bed and walked to him. “Oh, Rickie.” She dropped her head to him. “I think I’m in trouble.”

^^^^

Stan angrily slammed his clipboard on the counter, spinning to Rickie while holding back his lab coat. “I cannot believe you are putting me in this position.”

“Dude.” Rickie stepped to Stan, leaving Cal behind. “B
e a pal. Guy. Come on.” Rickie whispered. “It’s, like, my mom. . . .” Rickie looked back at Cal then to Stan. “Help.”

Aldo knew something was up when he was pulled from the meeting during the break and brought alone into Greg’s office. He sat there watching a calm Greg stand behind the desk. Dr. Jefferson was seated in the office as well.

“You needed to hear this first.” Greg spoke soft
ly then tossed a folder in front of Aldo. “Ovastim is the name the drug was given at first. It has no name since we have taken over it. It was given to us by a sexuality and fertility research clinic. We of course . . .” Greg held out his hands. “We made some adjustments.”

Aldo opened the folder. His dark eyes glanced up at Greg.

“But . . .” Greg held up his finger. “Any adjustments we made did not deter from the original intention of the drug. And you can see the original intentions.”

“Christ.” Aldo’s eyes partially closed.

“A problem most couples suffering from infertility have is that trying to conceive can become regimented, boring. It becomes such a task that the couples no longer follow the demanding procedures they should. Therefore, failure is almost always imminent. Ovastim was designed for couples in this predicament. Created to not only stimulate the ovum for egg production and release, it was designed to stimulate sexual hormones in the adrenal cortex as well. Hence, a more enjoyable, less tedious conception.”

“Son of a bitch.” Aldo looked up at Greg.

Greg smiled. “Or daughter.”

With Rickie’s compassionate hand lying on her back, Cal sat on the stool peering up at Stan.

Stan’s hip leaned against the counter, his finger tapped on a closed folder. “Off the Caldwell record
, we have the means to take care of this for you.”

Heavily, Cal’s shoulders slumped and she dropped her head, burying her face in her hands.

Cal wasn’t as nervous as she thought she would be. Perhaps the long walk back from the control center helped, going through in her mind all that she had to say to Jake in that walk home. There was an eeriness that Cal felt, a chill that seeped through her as she opened the door to her bungalow. And though she was indeed nervous, she knew what she had to do. No time for tears. No time for fear. She had to just do it.

Jake was putting away laundry when he looked up
at Cal who walked in. “Rickie finally bring you back, huh?”

Cal partially smiled. “Yep. Thanks for doing the laundry.”

“No problem.” He shut the drawer with his knee. “What’s wrong?”

“That obvious?”

“I know you.”

Cal chuckled. “That you do. Jake . . .” She stepped to him speaking softly. “We need . . . we need to talk
, hon.”

“Oh boy.” Jake stood straight. “What happened?”

“Can we sit, please?” Cal motioned to the bed.

“Oh boy.” Jake backed up and sat down. He let out a breath, a long one looking to Cal.

“You’re my very best friend. I love you. And I’m coming to you as my best friend and my husband.” Cal’s tense hand reached out to Jake’s, she ran it over his, up and down, then pulled it back. “Before I say anything, I want you to know I am sure.”

“What are you talking about
?”

“No questions if I’m sure. Because I am. O
kay?”

“O
kay.” Jake nodded. “What are you sure about?”

Cal hesitated, looking at him in the eyes and drawing within her the courage she needed. “I am sure that . . . . that I’m not done hurting you yet. Because I’m sure . . . I’m sure . . .” She closed her eyes. “Jake.” She breathed out his name. “Jake, I’m pregnant.”

Jake felt like he had been hit with a wall of bricks. Her words ricocheted through his ears to his heart then his gut. A sigh, small but pain-filled, came from him and Jake slowly stood up. “You’re pr . . . pr . . . Cal?”

“Yes.”

Jake swallowed. His breath shivered slowly as he walked to his dresser, back to Cal, hands gripping the edges . . . head down.

“Jake.”

“I didn’t . . .” His head swayed to her and he spoke softly. “I didn’t think you could hit me any harder.”

Cal’s eyes instinctively closed. “I’m sorry. I am very, very sorry. There’s nothing more I can say to you. I can’t even put into words what is going through my mind.” Cal looked at him, then ran her hand down his arm. “I’m just . . . sorry.” She turned and walked to the door.

“Cal.” Jake called out to her. “Where are you going?”

“Jake, I think right now, both of us have to let this sink in. We have to think. Right now I need to go off and be alone to do that.” Cal gave him a saddened look, opened the door
, and walked out.

Jake stood upright
, running his hand slowly across his face. He moved his eyes to the door, then he painfully closed them again.

^^^^

For as much as Jake stayed inside that bungalow, that was how much Cal wasn’t there. The entire day she failed to step a foot back inside. Jake respected what she wanted, time to think, because he, too, needed the same. He surprised himself by not having that overwhelming sensation to get drunk. In fact, Jake had one beer after evening had set in, one beer he nursed while waiting for Cal to return from her time with - as Jake learned through Lou - Rickie.

His hand could have been s
itting on a live wire for as much as that shock of hearing the door open went through him. Jake set down his beer bottle and stood up when Cal walked in. “Where have you been?”

“With Rickie.” Cal shut the door.

“I know that, but where?” Jake asked.

“For the last couple
of hours, peeing a lot.”

“What?” Jake twitched his head confused
ly.

“They have those packaged pregnancy tests at the control center. Rickie, Rickie didn’t trust the blood test they ran
, so we did about twelve pregnancy tests.” Cal walked further into the room. “And please don’t ask the results.”

“I won’t.” Jake moved back to the table. “Did you eat at all?”

“Yes.” Cal smiled a little at him. “Thanks for asking me.”

“Cal.” Jake grabbed for her hand. “I think you and I need to talk about this
, sweetie.”

“Jake . . . right now I have this huge headache and I’m so tired.” She slipped her hand from his. “We’ll talk tomorrow
, okay?”

“I’d rather not. I’d rather talk . . .”

“Jake.” Cal held up her hand. “Listen. I love you. I love you very much and you, Jake, take first priority in my life. I want to stay married.”

“Without a doubt
,” Jake told her.

“And I don’t want you to feel like you have to face my mistake every
day for the rest of your life.”

“I don’t want to feel that way either.”

“Good.” Cal quickly reached out and touched his hand. “Then we’ll finish this tomorrow.”

“Cal . . .”

Cal stepped to him, and silenced him with a quick kiss. “Goodnight.”

Jake’s head lowered. “Night
, Cal.” He watched through the tops of his eyes as Cal, almost emotionless, laid on top of the bed without getting undressed, on her side and semi-curled in a ball. Before Jake returned to sitting at the table, thinking and nursing his beer, he walked to Cal, kissed her and just so she knew, he told her he loved her.

It wasn’t the Beverly Wilshire, nor was it even the Holiday Inn for that matter. It was a wing of a building with dormitory-style quarters. A bed, dresser, night stand, desk and bathroom were all that were in those plain small rooms so similar to what the participants lived in during the experiments. Yet there they were, not only the workers of Caldwell, but eight of the richest men in the world . . . all living there.

For as arrogant and ‘know it all’
that Aldo believed Gregory Haynes to be, he had to give it to Haynes on the new move and better-than-ever open door policy. Aldo liked the prospect of having a place to sleep for a few hours while visiting. And, as an added bonus, he had a desk. Bringing a television, computer, and having cable run pretty much made that little room all that Aldo needed. Food, well, if he didn’t use the kitchen or commissary they had at the center, Aldo ordered out and had it delivered. He couldn’t recall in his experience as an investor Caldwell ever offering the investors to stay under the institute’s roof, giving them instant, easier access to watch their horses or players any time day or night. Nor could Aldo ever recall the investors getting to know each other like they were during this experiment, spending time together under one roof, showing concern for the others investment, sharing family stories and photographs. Unlike previous experiments, the investors were getting to know each other just as well as their counterpart investments were on that island.

Aldo didn’t feel much like talking on this night. Even though he knew some of the investors had a game going of property poker
, Aldo just wanted to get back to his computer and electronically converse with that woman in Oregon whom he told he was a maintenance man. But first he needed a cup of coffee. He could have made one, he had a pot in his room. But his legs needed stretching and he only wanted one cup, so the vending machine would suffice in it’ bad coffee glory. Even though Caldwell bragged it was state of the art Columbian blend, Aldo knew his coffee.

So with future thoughts racing through his mind,
and worries for Cal, Aldo headed to the vending room. The halls were quiet and his thoughts magnified. He could still see the words, typos and all, on his last email from the Oregon woman. Telling her he had a friend in trouble, a married friend, and the Oregon woman simply telling him that he has to help. And Aldo would. When Cal returned from the experiment, if Jake turned his back against her, Aldo would surely have to contemplate having Jake shot. Well, at least fantasize about it.

He could hear voices as he walked to the vending area
, which was open, especially since the vending area was located in the office section of the building. Aldo wouldn’t have paid much attention to the voices had he not heard the mention of Cal’s name. Then Aldo slowed down.

“We can clear out the last of the two rooms, connect them, make one large room
like we did with yours,” the unknown male voice said.

“I’ll put an order in for carpeting
,” Greg said. “Plan on painting as well, possibly some wall paper. Women like that sort of thing,. And we’ll have to order a special bed, something orthopedic for her back. Pregnancy is uncomfortable enough without having the ho-hum beds we have to sleep on.”

Aldo had to do it. He stepped right in. “Haynes.”

“Evening Aldo.” Greg smiled then returned to the maintenance man. “Thanks George, that will be all.”

“Haynes.” Aldo walked in as the maintenance man left. “Are you bringing Cal here?”

“We’re making preparations just in case.”

“You’re pulling my investment without my knowledge.”

“No.” Greg shook his head. “Mrs. Graison will still be in the game, but she’ll have to finish it out here, watching her husband finish it there. It is in our best interest to pull her should things get too rough for her to handle.”

“There was never any talk of pulling a pregnant woman from an experiment. And there is a woman that gets pregnant
in every single one.”

“True. But this is the first married couple. Jake surely would have his difficulties with his mind on Cal when she’s elsewhere, That is . . .” Greg gathered up papers. “If he still wants her. She is pregnant
with Billy’s child. I would think, Aldo, with Cal not only being your investment, but your friend as well, that you wouldn’t mind in the least her being pulled into a safer environment if need be in her delicate condition.”

Aldo had to snicker. “I highly doubt, pregnant or not,
that Cal will ever be delicate. And no, I wouldn’t mind, but she would. She won’t leave Jake.”

“She doesn’t have a choice. We can conduct a completely different mental endurance experiment right here under this roof with her.”

“Plus hit Jake hard.”

“Indeed
,” Greg commented. “But like I said, it remains to be seen. We have to see how rough it gets. I don’t want it too rough on her.”

“Oh
, like you care.” Aldo waved him off.

“I do. I hold compassion for the unborn. Perhaps that is why a pregnant woman was never pulled from the experiment before
, because no one held compassion for the unborn.”

Aldo sneered at him seeing through that phony,
seemingly caring demeanor. “She won’t go. She joined this experiment, she’ll finish it.”

“
It doesn’t matter. She’s with child. It’s our call.”

“It’s her baby.”

“It’s our pregnancy.” Greg opened his top desk drawer, pulled out a contract looking document, and tossed it across the desk to Aldo. “Or shall I add, toddler, too. Read the standard participant contract. Read what the Graisons signed. Second page, paragraph twenty-two ‘B’.”

Aldo lifted the contract, turning to the second page. “Christ, Haynes, they signed this because to them it wouldn’t happen in a million years.”

“But it did.” Greg took the contract back. “And according to the paragraph that reads,
In regards to the best interest of mother and child, Caldwell institute retains the right to closely monitor, test, and evaluate the pregnancy of any child conceived during the experiment . . . in any medically safe way Caldwell sees fit. And as well as having the right to be present at the birth, Caldwell also retains the right to monitor, test, and evaluate the child for up to two years post-experiment . . .
in any medically safe way Caldwell sees fit
.” Greg set down the contract. “According to that, Aldo, they don’t have a choice.”