Pandemic

F. Bone Jesse

Description

In this short story from Jesse F. Bone, immunology researcher Alan Thurston is on the brink of making a major scientific discovery that will impact humanity for thousands of years. But at a crucial juncture in the project, something goes horribly amiss. Will Thurston and his team be able to set things right again before it's too late?

Sujets

• Science fiction

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776671656
• Langue: English

Extrait

PANDEMIC
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JESSE F. BONE
 
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Pandemic First published in 1962 Epub ISBN 978-1-77667-165-6 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77667-166-3 © 2016 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
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Generally, human beings don't do totally useless things consistently and widely. So—maybe there is something to it—
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"We call it Thurston's Disease for two perfectly good reasons," Dr.Walter Kramer said. "He discovered it—and he was the first to die ofit." The doctor fumbled fruitlessly through the pockets of his lab coat."Now where the devil did I put those matches?"
"Are these what you're looking for?" the trim blonde in the grayseersucker uniform asked. She picked a small box of wooden safetymatches from the littered lab table beside her and handed them to him.
"Ah," Kramer said. "Thanks. Things have a habit of getting lost aroundhere."
"I can believe that," she said as she eyed the frenzied disorder aroundher. Her boss wasn't much better than his laboratory, she decided as shewatched him strike a match against the side of the box and apply theflame to the charred bowl of his pipe. His long dark face became halfobscured behind a cloud of bluish smoke as he puffed furiously. Helooked like a lean untidy devil recently escaped from hell with histhick brows, green eyes and lank black hair highlighted intermittentlyby the leaping flame of the match. He certainly didn't look like apathologist. She wondered if she was going to like working with him, andshook her head imperceptibly. Possibly, but not probably. It might bedifficult being cooped up here with him day after day. Well, she couldalways quit if things got too tough. At least there was thatconsolation.
He draped his lean body across a lab stool and leaned his elbows onits back. There was a faint smile on his face as he eyed herquizzically. "You're new," he said. "Not just to this lab but to theInstitute."
She nodded. "I am, but how did you know?"
"Thurston's Disease. Everyone in the Institute knows that name for theplague, but few outsiders do." He smiled sardonically. "Virus pneumonicplague—that's a better term for public use. After all, what good doesit do to advertise a doctor's stupidity?"
She eyed him curiously. " De mortuis? " she asked.
He nodded. "That's about it. We may condemn our own, but we don't likelaymen doing it. And besides, Thurston had good intentions. He neverdreamed this would happen."
"The road to hell, so I hear, is paved with good intentions."
"Undoubtedly," Kramer said dryly. "Incidentally, did you apply for thisjob or were you assigned?"
"I applied."
"Someone should have warned you I dislike clichés," he said. He paused amoment and eyed her curiously. "Just why did you apply?" he asked. "Whyare you imprisoning yourself in a sealed laboratory which you won'tleave as long as you work here. You know, of course, what the conditionsare. Unless you resign or are carried out feet first you will remainhere ... have you considered what such an imprisonment means?"
"I considered it," she said, "and it doesn't make any difference. Ihave no ties outside and I thought I could help.