The Virus (26 page)

Geoffrey took a moment to
let what he was saying sink in.
Now, I’ve
cooperated fully the entire time I’ve been here. I haven’t given
you or your staff any real trouble, and now I finally have an
opportunity to have at least some kind of relief. I mean, damn, Dr.
Crangler, even murderers get conjugal visits. Besides, you’ve
already run all kinds of blood tests on me when I first got here,
so you know if I’m clean or not. And if I did check out—which I can
see in your thoughts that I did—then why not? Now that I think
about it, it would be fitting if I could father the child. I mean
besides the fact that I don’t deny that I want to do this for the
same reason that any other man would. You’ve seen, Delilah, it’s
not like she’s ugly, look at everything that’s been taken from me,
including my freedom. Why shouldn’t I be the one to father this
child? Believe me, children were the absolute last thing on my mind
before I came here, but considering that there are millions of guys
up there that are watching their kids dies ruthless deaths, I think
I’d like someone to carry on my name, now. When Delilah is
impregnated, no matter how it happens, I will have helped make it
happen, so why shouldn’t I be involved in it?

Geoffrey wanted to say so
much more, but he didn’t know what, if anything, could be added.
He’d been rambling already. Dr. Crangler genuinely sympathized with
his patient. He recognized the validity of everything he’d said,
and knew Geoffrey was right. He did check out, and according to the
same tests that the other specimen donors underwent, he was as good
as any for the procedure. In actuality, he may’ve even been
slightly better, since his sperm count would be much higher
considering that he hadn’t been allowed to engage in any sexual
activity at all. He couldn’t even masturbate, not with cameras
watching his every move, for many long months. Even though the
doctor was ready to allow this request as well, it was not because
sympathy, but rather fear: Fear of what Geoffrey might do if he was
denied. Dr. Crangler had no doubt whatsoever that his patient could
use his telepathy for more nefarious means than simple, good
old-fashioned sex, and if it wasn’t forced on him to find out from
experience, then the doctor certainly wouldn’t invite it
heedlessly.

Just one day.
Only
one day, and then
we begin the procedure. There’s no telling if she’ll just go along
with this, no matter how good you are at these spa treatments of
yours. Speaking of which, how do you propose to convince Delilah of
this little scheme of yours in the first place?

Well, that’s the
thing
, answered Geoffrey, in the doctor’s
head,
I haven’t had an opportunity, like
the one you gave her, to leave the facility for a day. I’d like to
have that opportunity and I’d like to use it as a date with
her.
The doctor was frowning again.
It’s only fair, Doc. How many months have I been
here? And how many times have I been allowed a trip in the mirror
truck? That’s right, zip, none. Look, I’m not trying to escape. I
don’t like throwing it in your face, but I can read minds. If I
really wanted to make a break for it, it’s not like I couldn’t find
a way. I mean, if you or your assistants know the security systems,
then
I
know them.
Not to mention the information I get from Lieutenant Dan that he
doesn’t even know I’m getting.
Dr.
Crangler’s frown deepened, until he let out an exasperated sigh
(the only audible part of this whole conversation), as he knew
Geoffrey was right.
No, I’m not trying to
escape or usurp your authority or anything like that. I know what’s
at stake here and I have as much to lose from the end of the world
as you or anyone else. This is my planet too. I’m just trying to
get a few freedoms and not go crazy down here in the
process.

So, what exactly are you
asking?

Just a day out in the
mirror truck with Delilah, with no guards in the back with us. You
can send as many people as you want with us, just have them up
front in the cab of the truck. I think things would go a lot better
without Lieutenant Dan and his faithful minions around. That’s it.
Maybe set us up with some food and perhaps a little wine to have
while we ride, and that’s it. If she doesn’t go for it after that,
then do whatever you want and I’ll provide as much assistance as I
can, and I won’t ask for anything else.

I’m going to take some
time to think about it, Geoffrey. That’s all I can tell you right
now.

Well, we both know there’s
not much time. You’ll let me know one way or the other by
tomorrow?

“Tomorrow.” Dr. Crangler
conceded aloud and left the room. He had already made up his mind,
but he still wanted some privacy to figure out a few things. He
left quickly and skirted down the hallway. As much as he didn’t
want to think about it, he would have to run this past his
superiors. He could perhaps get a few things past their ever-prying
eyes, but to allow both patients out of the facility and off the
premises, especially with the chaos that was ensuing outside, would
definitely cost him his head if he didn’t ask, and immediately,
since things could wait no longer. It would seem as though the
unbridled fun would never end for poor ole’ Dr.
Crangler.

Chapter 25

After enduring hours of
exhausting deliberations and questioning, Dr. Crangler finally
managed to convince his superiors to allow Geoffrey’s and Delilah’s
little field trip. As the two lucky shut-ins were about to find
out, the world outside was very different than what they remembered
and because of this, Dr. Crangler’s bosses were initially very
reluctant to approve of this little outing. In fact, it was only
after the doctor had spent nearly all his breath convincing them
that Geoffrey and Delilah had formed such a bond that should this
request be granted, she promised to render her full cooperation
henceforth. Of course, such was not the case, but it was the best
argument the doctor could think of on such short notice, and this
was only after the commission overseeing the doctor had strictly
stipulated that the mirror truck was to be led as well followed by
an armed consortium, all headed solely by Lieutenant Dan
himself.

When Dr. Crangler arrived
at Geoffrey’s room the following morning, it was with news that
Geoffrey desperately wanted to hear. “But be absolutely assured
Geoffrey…” the doctor began seriously.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I
only get this one day, and if things don’t go as I planned, then
bright and early tomorrow you start the procedure.”

“That’s absolutely right.
No more games.”

“I assure you, Dr.
Crangler, this has been no game for anyone, especially me, but I do
understand…I’ll make today count.”

With that, Geoffrey and
Delilah were ushered to a waiting mirror truck followed and
preceded by at least four armored vehicles, and filled with
heavily-armed officers operating under the lieutenant general’s
command. Delilah wasn’t nearly as distracted this time as she had
been the last, so she got a good look at the grounds under which
the secret facility she was being held was housed. It was like a
small city. She saw what looked like a small power station and
water treatment plant in the distance. A large building with plenty
of windows, and a near-constant influx of people, most in uniform,
some not, but many holding what appeared to be Styrofoam food
containers—an industrial-sized kitchen, perhaps—loomed nearby. She
also noticed that directly above the secret underground facility
was a large, normal-looking brick building. There were a few other
nearly-identical buildings here and there, off in the distance. She
wondered to herself if secret facilities—and possibly other
captives, who, like her, had been stolen from family, friends, and
life as they knew it—likewise sat beneath those
buildings.

She and Geoffrey were in
the large, vacated cargo area of the mirror truck, alone, with
Lieutenant Dan and another man, both heavily-armed and talking into
small, black two-way radios, up front in the truck’s cabin. A round
table had been bolted to the floor nearly in the middle of the
space where Geoffrey and Delilah were, and a checkered embroidered
cloth covered it. Delilah turned to Geoffrey and was about to ask
him what he made of the facility and everything, when she noticed
that he was cupping his ears and his eyes were drawn tightly shut.
Lieutenant Dan and his man up front were giving orders, but they
were barely audible.
What in the world
could Geoffrey be hearing
, she thought.
“Are you all right?” she asked, with some alarm.

“Huh?” Geoffrey shouted,
as if he was forced to yell above the roar of the phantom
noise.

“Are you all right?” she
asked again, this time much louder.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He
didn’t sound like it, he was still yelling. “I just haven’t been
outside in a very long time and I guess I just need to, I don’t
know, adjust.”

This didn’t really make
sense to Delilah but then again, a lot of things stopped making
sense a long time ago, so she just continued to look around her
until the truck finally pulled off and out of the facility. As soon
as the truck cleared the heavily-barred and guarded triple gates of
the complex, Delilah noticed that all she could see of the entire
miniature city was a very thick and high concrete embankment that
was overgrown into obscurity by an equally thick growth of vines
and brush. It took a little closer observation to realize that the
growth was not random foliage, but a deliberate ruse to draw
attention away from the fact that something very important was
hidden just beyond it. She hadn’t noticed this formidable barrier
before, and as it looked relatively fresh, she thought that maybe
it had been recently built. Then again, the last time she was out,
her mind had been wholly occupied, so there was no telling if this
was one of the many things she had simply failed to
notice.

The phantom noise must’ve
dissipated because Geoffrey seemed like his old self again. “Well,
you look like you’re feeling better.” She observed.

“I do. I guess I’ve
finished adjusting.”

“Good, cause I don’t know
how you managed to convince The Warden,” of course, she was
referring to Dr. Crangler, “to let us out of solitary again. You
can’t imagine the hell I raised to get out the first time. But,
like they told me last time, we should probably enjoy it. No
telling when we’ll be allowed out of our cells again.”

Geoffrey inched closer to
Delilah and lit a gentle hand on her own manicured one, “I’m
already enjoying it, being out with you.”

Delilah turned away
demurely, but did not withdraw her hand, “I’m sure you say that to
all the pretty girls that are the only ones you’ve seen in
forever.” Geoffrey chuckled gaily in a way that was obviously
unscripted. It was good, especially considering the proposition
that he intended to present a little later. An awkward, but
blithely romantic moment of silence ensued, until Delilah again
spoke up, “That table was definitely not here the last time. Is it
for me? Because Dr. Crangler’s little followers didn’t bring me my
lunch today like they usually do, and they’re usually right on
schedule. And I’m actually pretty hungry.” Now, perhaps a year or
so ago, Delilah would’ve never made an admission like this so
blatantly, especially not to someone who she didn’t know existed a
couple of months ago. It was just not something a sophisticated,
privileged, revered socialite such as herself would do, to admit so
openly that she was starving. Somehow, after all she’d been
through, at least this form of etiquette, if not others, was just
not worth maintaining.

“You know what, I’m hungry
too,” answered Geoffrey, trying to match her zeal. “Let’s see what
we can do about that. You know, I happen to have a few
connections.” With that, Geoffrey tapped on the window between the
bed and the cab of the truck. Almost instantly, a booming voice
filled the bed of the truck.

“Yes, Mr. Summons, is
there a problem?” the voice was so loud and resounding that it felt
to Delilah and Geoffrey as if it was vibrating into their bones. It
was almost impossible to tell that it was Lieutenant Dan and not
God Himself speaking.

“Well, there wasn’t,”
Geoffrey answered, wincing in discomfort “but there is now…would
you please turn down whatever speakers you have back here.” There
was a brief silence before the sound of screeching feedback, even
more discomforting that the lieutenant general’s godlike voice
filled the rear of the mirror truck.

“My apologies, Mr. Summons
and Miss Hanson. Is that better?” the voice, speaking at a much
more agreeable volume, now asked.

“Yes,
much
better.” Geoffrey and Delilah answered nearly in
unison.

Geoffrey worked his pinky
finger into his ear and yawned his jaw up and down until his ears
popped and his normal hearing returned, before he spoke, “Yes,
Lieutenant Dan, Dr. Crangler said it had been arranged for us to
have something special to eat.”

“Yes, Mr. Summons, and a
bottle of champagne. Are you ready for those provisions?” It was
easy to tell by the words he used that the lieutenant general was a
ranking officer, probably more comfortable in a theater of war than
surrounded by civilians.