The Leaves in Winter (51 page)

“Huh!” Janis pushed away from the wall and paced. “Mass took care of that. Now we don’t know what to do.”

“There’s nothing else
to do
. We have to push on. If we discover something, even if we don’t get to deploy it in time, at least we’ll be able to give the survivors something to go on.”

Janis lingered on the thought, unable to agree. “But what if we spend the little time we have left trying to find a fix and we don’t succeed? That’s highly likely given the time we have. In that case we leave the survivors nothing.”

“Yeah…” Faye shrugged. “But what else can we do?”

Janis picked up a mug of tea, sat down, and thought. Sipping at the edge of the mug, she let her eyes roam the room as her mind explored the possibilities.

“What are we saying?” she started. “Given enough time, we believe we’d find an answer. That’s what you said; we didn’t miss it, we just haven’t found it yet.”

“That’s right. I believe that wholeheartedly. If we didn’t think it was a solvable problem, we couldn’t go at it like we do.”

Janis stood and paced with the mug in her hand. “Then time is the key.”

“It has to be,” agreed Faye. “If Colin had said we had 24 or 36 months, something, anything more would make finding a fix much more certain.”

Janis turned, the light of an idea on her face.

“So why don’t we give the survivors more time?”

The idea hung between them crystalline and expanding as Faye took it in.

Janis hurried to add, “Let’s give the survivors
GenLET
.”

“
GenLET
…?” gasped Faye. She sat down and followed Janis’ movements.

“If there’s only one generation left, then they’ll need as much time as possible.”

Faye thought it through. “…but, life extension for everyone?”

“Why not? What other way can survivors have the time and continuity of experience to find an answer? They’d have 200 to 300 years instead of 70 or 80.”

“You’re talking about changing the entire species…”

“Only for a generation,” countered Janis. “The trait wouldn’t be inheritable.”

“I don’t know…how would that work?”

“Colin said the greatest risk is in believing an answer is going to be conventional. Let’s take him at his word.”

“I know, but even if we decided to do it, wouldn’t time still be a problem?”

Janis waved it off. “It’s a whole different issue. There’s nothing to find or create.
GenLET
already exists. It simply needs to be packaged and deployed.”

“But we don’t have it.”

“The Project does. They can get it for us.”

“And what do we do with it? How do you make sure the survivors get the treatment before the population collapses?”

Janis halted her pacing then raced through the possibilities for an answer.

“Why not do it the same way they planned on releasing the sterility fix?”

“A virus in the wild, released secretly? In the conference room, you called that
the riskiest way
.”

“It is, but they’ll do it anyway. Why not use it for something like this?”

“I didn’t think
GenLET
could be administered so easily.”

“Yes and no. Riya Basu got a Nobel Prize for
GenLET
. In her acceptance speech she mentioned me. She said when the full story was told, I’d be standing where she was. She knew my contribution on delivery modalities. NovoSenectus was keeping that development secret.”

“So what’s possible with it?” asked Faye.

“It all depends on which generation of
GenLET
you’re talking about – 1GenGEN or 2GenGEN. 1GenGEN requires a treatment schedule over several visits. They’re long and arduous. The breakthrough I worked on was 2GenGEN –
GenLET
administered in a single dose.”

“Is that complete?”

“All the pieces are. I just never got a chance to synthesize them. I was about to do that when all of this started.”

“I don’t know…” wavered Faye. “You’re going to a whole different place. Talk about making global changes! That would be huge.”

Janis was adamant. “But it’s going to take something huge. We’re out of time. After the collapse, the world won’t be able to rely on one project, one group, one government to be stable enough to do what’s necessary. All survivors will need a chance to do what’s necessary. Somebody among them will have to step up and carry this forward. There’s no way of telling who’s going to survive…”

Faye continued the thought. “…but whoever does will need as much time as possible before the last generation dies out.”

Janis drew nearer. “What’s Colin’s attitude? He says we have to accept the facts. All right, we’re out of time, the population’s collapsing, and child survivors are going to be sterile. It’s no time for Plan B. Let’s go to Plan A-Plus. Let’s at least give the survivors time; that has to give them more of a chance.”

“Yeah, it would…but…”

“But what? There’s no coming back from extinction. Colin said survivors are going to be too busy adjusting to fundamental change after the collapse. It’s going to be a new world. This will give them plenty of time beyond that critical adjustment period, time to regroup and do the work that’s needed.”

Faye wasn’t convinced. “I’m not sure. It’s too bad we can’t just give ourselves
GenLET
? Then we’d have all the time we need to work on sterility.”

“We could but there’s no guarantee we’re going to survive the plague. Even if we beat the odds and live, we might not be able to work. You heard what Colin said – supplies, utilities, infrastructure, they all rely on people. With six billion gone, running a lab might be impossible for a while. But how long is
a while
? A lifetime? Humanity only has one of those left. Why not make it as long as possible?”

“I see your point,” relented Faye.

“So what do you think? You want to ask Colin to get us
GenLET
?”

Faye hesitated before committing. “I guess I can do that.”

“Great. While you’re at it, maybe he can get his Project friends to snag some of my work files from NovoSenectus. It would help if I didn’t have to work completely from memory.”

“Sure thing,” agreed Faye.

Janis paused to dwell on a thought before pulling up a chair and sitting close. “There’s one other thing we need to talk about.”

Faye saw the concern on Janis’ face. “What is it?”

Janis held a comforting hand over Faye’s stomach. “…it’s about bed rest for the baby.”

Faye drew tense. “What about that?”

Janis’ other hand took hold of Faye’s hand. “Last week, in the apartment…I overheard your conversation with the doctor.”

Faye shuddered. “I thought you were in the other room…”

“Why haven’t you been staying in bed?”

Faye was on edge. “There’s been so much going on…”

“So?”

“There’s work to do.”

“Never mind that.” Janis squeezed Faye’s hand. “What about what the doctor said?”

“I’ll be all right…”

Janis toughened. “And what about the baby?”

Faye lowered her gaze. “The baby will be all right too. I’m taking it easy where I can.”

“That’s not good enough and you know it. You’ve worked the same as always, right alongside me ever since that call. You can’t keep doing that.”

“I’ll manage…it’ll work out.”

“No it won’t! You have to do what the doctor said.”

“But the baby will be sterile, just like millions of others. I don’t want to stop work on finding the fix. It’s not just me but everything that’s at stake, don’t you understand?”

“I understand you have to do what’s right for you. You know what you want.”

“I want both!” wept Faye.

“So let’s find a way to have both.”

“Why did this have to happen now? I don’t want to be selfish…”

“Selfish? Who said anything like that?”

Faye held silent.

For Janis, the implication was clear. “Does Colin know about this? Did he say anything?”

Faye avoided a direct answer. “It’s an impossible choice; keep the baby or keep working on something that means so much.”

“Maybe you could do some remote work by computer; we’ll get a laptop you can use sitting up in bed. There’s ways to do this!”

Faye despaired. “What can I do to help sitting in bed?”

“The work will go on,” asserted Janis.

“But what’s more important? Like you said, there’s no coming back from extinction. What good is bringing a sterile baby into the world the way it is?”

Janis stiffened. “This doesn’t sound like you. Who else knows about this?”

Faye hesitated. “…Colin.”

“I thought so,” snapped Janis. “I don’t know what he told you. I don’t want to know; I think I can guess. But you can’t listen to any of that. You hear me?” Janis moved in and held Faye by the shoulders.

Faye answered with a weak nod.

Janis leaned in, took Faye in her arms and hugged her.

“We’ll get through this,” whispered Janis. “You’re going to do what the doctor said. Don’t listen to Colin. The baby will be fine. The work will go on. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. We won’t let it. You’re not being selfish.”

Faye leaned into Janis shoulder, releasing into the consoling embrace.

Janis tried lightening the mood. “I’m surprised you put any stock into what Colin says at all. It was strange hearing him use the word BIOPONORE like that. Did you also tell him about our other word?”

Faye wiped her tears. “What word?”

“You know, the one you used to tease me with all the time?”

“Teased you? You’re the one who liked to tease unmercifully.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t remember.”

“I remember BIOPONORE.” Faye tried to chuckle, “How can I forget? I remember you wouldn’t let me forget my biological clock was ticking…”

“Yeah, and to get even, you had your own special word for me. Maybe you didn’t use it as much but when you did you made it count.”

Faye’s interest was piqued. “So what is it? Tell me…”

“You really don’t remember? I’m surprised…”

“It must have been good if it bothered you,” remarked Faye.

“It made its point.”

Faye sat up. “So are you going to tell me?”

Janis grinned. “I don’t know…”

“Why not? What’s the big deal?” Faye sighed. “You’re acting just like you did in college, being a little shit.”

Janis looked past the tears and wonder on Faye’s face. In the instant, she saw the girlfriend she’d once shared classes and dorm rooms with. The feeling took her back and suddenly she was that mischievous classmate once again.

“I’ll make you a deal…,” offered Janis. “You get Colin to get us
GenLET
and my files from NovoSenectus. When I finish synthesizing 2GenGen and everything’s done, I’ll tell you the word.”

“Promise?” demanded Faye.

“I promise. It’ll be our codeword for success.”

Chapter 48

Marie-Louise Square

European Quarter,
Brussels

Javier Francisco stood at the upstairs window looking down on an anxious world. An occasional snowflake fluttered by, headed for the busy street. Thoughts of other days standing in the same place, waiting for Eugene Mass, were inescapable.

To protect the necessary work that had to be hidden, Mass never hesitated to sacrifice the artifice of propriety. In return, the rabid press never failed to provide a plausible but scandalous cover for what was really going on. It was the perfect partnership between adversaries who seemed to be forever at odds with one another. The tabloids profited off the salacious innuendo about Mass’ occasional rendezvous in
Marie-Louise Square
with Javier, his suspected lover.

And Mass got his dirty work done in broad daylight.

Javier watched as the black Bentley Mulsanne pulled to the curb and parked. It was a familiar sight but the circumstances made all the difference. Stepping from the car was not Eugene Mass, but his wife Leah. She was accompanied by one guard, a well-heeled and suited veteran of
Marie-Louise Square
, today in topcoat and cap.

There was nothing Javier could do. He watched as they crossed the sidewalk and ascended the short flight of stairs to the front door. They turned the key in the lock and made their entrance four flights below. The moment of truth was about to arrive. At the mercy of fate, Javier kept his gaze fixed and downcast on the snowy park across the street. The scent of fresh-brewed espresso tormented him with visions of better times.

There was no commotion downstairs. None was expected. No doubt, the way it would all work out had been too well planned to let such a thing happen. Whatever was about to occur could only be guessed. He only hoped it included his survival.

Muffled voices and hurried steps on the staircase preceded a burst through the door. A gloved man led the way brandishing a gun equipped with silencer. Behind him was Leah Mass followed by another man who guarded the doorway.

Javier turned to catch the terror in Leah’s eyes. At the same moment, both of them turned their attention to a third man lounging on the sofa. He had been in the room with Javier for quite some time, waiting.

“Well, well, look who it is…Leah Mass. I’m so glad you could join us.”

The man on the sofa set down his cup of Jamaican Peaberry.

Leah turned to Javier. “Javier, what’s going on?”

Javier’s embittered expression told all even before he spoke.

“There was nothing I could do. They took me in Marseille…”

Leah demanded of the man on the sofa, “What’s the meaning of this?”

The man leveled a steely glare at his guest. “You took the words right out of my mouth? What’s the meaning of this? Why are
you
here?”

“Why shouldn’t I be here? I own this place and I don’t remember inviting you. What do you want? Is this a robbery?”

The man stood. “Hardly. One might call it an intervention. I call it justice. You’re the one who’s guilty of robbery.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The
future
.” He strolled closer and let the word hang. “You and your husband have robbed humanity of its future. That in my eyes is a capital offense.”

Fear shot through Leah’s face. “Who are you?”

“You don’t recognize me?”

Leah glanced back at the other armed accomplices. “No…”

“I’m surprised…” He sauntered around her. “Eugene and I go way back. In fact, I didn’t realize how far back until I had a chance to talk with our friend here. It’s been over ten years…back when I was helping out the
Friends of the Ocean
in the North Atlantic;
Eugene
had Javier track my efforts to form a new group. But you knew that already, didn’t you?”

Recognition widened Leah’s eyes.

“New Class Order…?” gasped Leah. “You’re André Bolard!”

Snow began to fall on the slanted windows in the vaulted ceiling.

André stepped to the window next to Javier and looked out at passing flakes.

“I remember back then…the thought of life extension was a dream. Reducing the population to save the planet was offered as a noble but lofty goal.
Eugene
wanted to help. He bought NovoSenectus. He made himself beloved by spending a fortune distributing free vaccines to the world…”

André turned back to glare at Leah. “But I saw through it. Even back then, I knew if he had his way it wouldn’t end well, at least for people like me. When your husband first started lecturing on the utopia of his New World Harmony, I knew it was a sham, a cover for a new class order. Eugene Mass wanted two kinds of people; the elite class who would live hundreds of years in positions of power and privilege, and the rest of us, the second-class survivors he’d manage under an all-encompassing net of global governance.”

Leah saw the fear in Javier’s face. Desperate, she tried to speak up.

“You’ve got it wrong…”

“No!” shouted André. “You got it
right,
didn’t you? Everything is happening just as
Eugene
planned. And now that he’s gone, you think you’re going to finish what he started. You’re dead wrong!”

The reference sent chills through Leah. She realized the next few minutes would mean her life one way or another. The invitation from Javier to meet had been a ruse, a desperate attempt to entrap whoever showed up. Javier had obviously been kidnapped and forced to send the message. Having her show up was nothing less than the grand prize for New Class Order. There was low probability she could talk her way out of this and yet with no other option she had to try.

“You’re a smart man; you’re quite aware that things are not always as they seem. I would be surprised if you’d accept conspiracy theories on face value.”

André leaned back on the window. “I don’t have to see the spider to know it’s there; all I have to see is the web.”

“A web of lies,” asserted Leah. “You must admit there are other parties at play. The media exaggerates and fabricates; business competitors smear and conspire. Some are merely envious, others deranged by greed. Do you really think in the swirl of all of that you could possibly know what’s really going on?”

André stared back. “
GenLET
is a fact. So is GGD3. What people say about them is one thing. Regardless they exist, all according to plan, your husband’s plan. Don’t try denying it. I didn’t come here to debate it with you.”

“All right, then what do you want?
Eugene
is gone. I am heiress to his estate, not his way of thinking.”

“Then why are you here?” snapped André. “Why did you show up expecting to meet with
Eugene
’s underworld lapdog?”

Leah hesitated as Javier traded glances. She stood stern and defiant.

“I came here to arrange justice for the man who poisoned my husband.”

André jerked away from the window and lit up with sarcasm.

“Arranging justice are we? How decent and gallant of you. One man dies and you are compelled to deliver justice.” André’s tone soured. “Well then, tell me… what would be justice when
billions
of people are murdered?”

Leah felt a surge of panic. André was only toying with her. Any idea of talking him out of whatever he planned faded. She rushed to his side.

“I also came here to arrange the release of a vaccine…”

Blurted out, the statement was as much a confession as a plea for leniency.

“Vaccine for what?” snapped André. His skepticism showed.

“GGD3.”

“Amazing! The smartest minds are frantic in their search for such a thing. How could you have it so quickly? Are you admitting you and your husband are the ones who started the plague?”

“No. I’m telling you I have a vaccine for it.”

“If that was true, why not simply give it to the world? News like that would be momentous; you’d be the savior of mankind. But no, you sneak around and come here.”

Leah’s attempt to use the truth had trapped her. If her story of a vaccine was true, then André was right; giving it to the world openly would be the thing to do. That is unless she needed to hide her complicity in creating GGD3. If André believed a vaccine didn’t exist, her excuse failed. But if she tried any harder to convince him, she’d only be admitting her attempt for an anonymous release of the vaccine was necessary to avoid the presumptive guilt for GGD3 that would surely follow.

She couldn’t defend her excuse without incriminating herself.

She tried to stall. “There’re reasons for everything. Don’t presume you know the way things work.”

“Admit it; you’ll say anything to save yourself.” André stepped closer to her. “No doubt you’ve already received
GenLET
. Look at you – you stand there smug, thinking you’re going to outlive me by a hundred years.”

Her desperation turned frantic.

“We don’t have to be enemies; I am not
Eugene
,” offered Leah.

“After twenty years of supporting him? I saw the two of you standing side-by-side at
Oxford
when he gave his speech. What did he say? ‘
Necessary actions might seem severe. But without them and our resolve to see them through, none of us will reach the distant shore.
’ You said nothing against his call for ‘severe action.’ Now, I’m afraid, I have to take mine.”

André signaled the man with the gun with a jerk of his head.

The man grabbed Leah by the shoulders and pulled her back.

“What are you going to do?” wailed Leah.

The doorway guard left his post and shoved Javier onto the sofa.

André stepped to the open doorway.

“What did you say earlier? The media exaggerates and fabricates…”

Javier tensed, preparing to bolt, but the guard held a gun on him.

“This makes no sense, André. This won’t stop anything…”

“Maybe not,” answered André. “But it will be justice.”

“Tell me what you want, anything,” pleaded Leah. “You have to listen to me – the vaccine is real. Let me give it to you!”

“As they say, the cat is out of the bag. You can’t give me what I want. I want all of what you’ve done taken back. I want it undone. Can you give me that?”

“I can give you extended life. I’ll give you the vaccine,” yelped Leah. “It’s real. Take it. You can be the savior of humanity.”

André was unyielding. “I have no reason to believe you. Besides, this isn’t about what you can do for me. This is about what you’ve already done.”

“You won’t get away with this,” shouted Javier. “How do you think this is going to look?”

André put on his winter coat. “A love triangle is a sad thing. No matter how good it is or how long it lasts – someone always gets hurt.”

Javier became frenzied. “Wait, think about it. I’m just a mercenary. I did what they paid me to do. I can do the same for you…”

André ignored the plea. “I can see the headlines now…” He stepped to a table and picked up his cup of Jamaican Peaberry. After downing the last sip, he put the cup in his coat pocket and took his fingerprints with him.

“Grieving Billionaire Heiress Shoots Dead Husband’s Gay Lover then Herself. Read all about the Love Triangle Murder/Suicide.”

Leah was frozen in fear. Javier wanted to run but knew his slightest move would trigger the gunman. André gave one more look around the room. His eyes lifted and considered the snow now covering the vaulted ceiling’s slanted windows.

“Javier…what did you say this room used to be?”

“
Eugene
told me – it was a children’s bedroom.”

André took a moment before settling, subdued. “Hmm…what a shame.”

He turned and walked out. On his way out he closed the door.

On the way downstairs he heard the silencer go off. A few moments later, it went off again. He knew the gloved one would place the gun in Leah’s dead hand.