The Virus (23 page)

“Perhaps,” the doctor
conceded, “but we wouldn’t be simply different bodies, hosting a
single super brain…like they.”

“As you
say, perhaps. Only perhaps. If every human on the planet was of the
same accord, wouldn’t that make us of a single mind, a single great
consciousness? Back to the Tower of Babel, and all that sort of
thing? And, as I recall,
that
didn’t end all that well.”
Geoffrey watched the doctor as the same old apprehension from
before returned. “But we don’t have to think about that now. We
have a more pressing issue on our hands: This other patient of
yours, Delilah. I know she’s already told you that the only way
she’ll cooperate is if she chooses the guy. Well, perhaps, with
this special new skill set of mine,” he didn’t sound as if he was
certain he was prepared to assume this kind of responsibility.
“maybe, just maybe, I can help persuade her.”

The doctor furrowed his
brow at Geoffrey for a moment, then his mouth curled up beneath his
unshaven growth of mustache, into a faint grin. “I see.” He
eventually said, “And certainly it wouldn’t hurt for you to
persuade
her in your
direction, which would be much easier seeing as how you would be
able to know everything she’s thinking, right?”

Geoffrey chuckled. “And
why not? Do you have a better idea? If this girl is anything like
you think of her, she could easily make an already complicated
situation even more difficult. Unfortunately, you need her to
cooperate for this. You can’t sedate her and impregnate her because
it would affect the process, and you can’t keep her sedated even if
you could impregnate her because the child would be affected by
whatever drugs you put into her system, and you need this baby to
be a healthy as possible if you’re going to get this cure from its
blood. And even that’s a maybe.”

Dr. Crangler was in better
control of himself now, but not so much that he wasn’t clearly
shocked that Geoffrey could be privy to information so well guarded
that even his own assistants didn’t know it. All it took was a
little thought to remind him that Geoffrey was capable of knowing
anything he knew, or at least knowing
that
he knew it. There was no reason
to adamantly deny the fact and call the mere assumption utter
foolishness, as he would’ve definitely done had it been any other
person addressing him like this. There was no need to deny it,
though it stung more than a little for him to feel like he no
longer had the upper hand. At least it didn’t appear as if Geoffrey
was trying to abuse his suddenly-elevated importance. Besides, as
much as the doctor hated to admit it, Geoffrey was right about
everything including the assumption that there appeared to be no
other choice. Dr. Crangler reluctantly agreed to hatch a plan that
may finally move mankind’s hope for survival along.

“Well, you know what they
say, Doc, communication is the key, so the first thing we have to
work on is…”

“Yeah, I know.” Dr.
Crangler interrupted, “Let’s just get started so we can get this
over with. I’m a doctor so I’m much more comfortable with me
working inside people’s bodies, than the other way around, so this
is going to take some getting used to.”

“Yeah, I would think so.
But don’t think that this is like child’s play or something to me
either. This is all very new to me too. But, anyway, like you said,
let’s just get things started so we can get this over
with…”

And so they
began.

Chapter 22

When the two star patients
first met, it was a grand event. Geoffrey was excited because he
had not seen a woman or anything colorful for several long months
now, and seeing both at the same time was a simply ecstatic moment.
Delilah was pleased because she hadn’t seen anyone who wasn’t a
professional in this strange institution. For the moment, they
seemed pleased to see how things played out from here.

Dr. Crangler began to
introduce Geoffrey, “Delilah, this is…”

“My name is Geoffrey, but
most people just call me Geoffrey.” The patient interrupted. Dr.
Crangler frowned. He didn’t know what Geoffrey was doing. He could
only hope that the other did. He was the mind reader, after all. It
didn’t take long before it became evident that Geoffrey knew what
he was doing. Though Delilah was elated to see someone who was
obviously not one of the professional residents in the facility,
she tried not to show it, but with Geoffrey’s completely ridiculous
introduction, she couldn’t help but giggle. It was refreshing to
have something to giggle about. Afterward, Geoffrey asked the
doctor to leave them alone for a while so they could get
acquainted. Unfortunately, though, Dr. Crangler couldn’t agree to
that idea just yet. Delilah was the personification of a VIP right
now, with all hopes of civilization resting upon her well–being.
The doctor’s superiors may bend on a few things, but they would
raise holy hell if the doctor left her alone, unattended,
unprotected, with another patient.

Every one of the assistants
who had come in contact with Delilah at any time had first been put
through a battery of tests themselves for contagious diseases or
viruses, as well as a full battery of psychological tests for
otherwise dangerous tendencies as well as extensive criminal
background checks as a prerequisite to working in this top secret
facility. Everyone had been thoroughly checked out before being
allowed within a few square miles of Delilah, except for Geoffrey.
In all the chaos, no one had exhaustively probed his background and
mental conditions. If they found out that the doctor had taken such
a risk letting Geoffrey near her, heads would fly, perhaps
literally. At the very least, it would allow him to transfer this
woman’s constant bickering into someone else’s corner for a while.
Dr. Crangler gathered his assistants in a far corner of the room
where he was sure Delilah couldn’t hear them, and whispered a
directive to them. Both of them looked at him strangely. “Are you
sure you want
him
.” One of the assistants asked, warily.

“He’s
been cleared for the facility,” another assistant observed, “but
I’m not sure he’s clear to come in
here
.”

“
I’ll
clear him.” The doctor returned
indignantly. He felt as if his two patients were slowly wrangling
power from his hands, and he couldn’t bear to have his subordinates
doing the same. “Now, just go get him. You’re here to follow my
orders, not question them.” He barked. The assistants quickly left
the room to complete the errand. By this time, they were well
familiar with the doctor’s outbursts, especially when what he was
commanding was completely out of the question.

“That guy is a real dick
and somebody’s ass is gonna get chewed, but as long as it’s his and
not mine, who cares?” One assistant mumbled to the other as they
trudged down the hall. Meanwhile, Geoffrey, back in the room, now
alone with Delilah and Dr. Crangler, chuckled to
himself.

“What’s funny?” Delilah
asked, assuring Geoffrey with a look that whatever he was laughing
at, it better not be about her.

“Nothing, nothing. Dr.
Crangler’s minions are just thinking about how much they truly like
him.”

Delilah’s face furrowed,
“How the hell do you know what they were thinking?”

“All right people,” Dr.
Crangler broke in quickly, “here’s what’s going to happen. A
colleague of sorts will be here shortly. He’s going to sit here
with the two of you for a while, while you get
acquainted.”

“Why?” asked Delilah, with
considerable irritation in her own voice. “What are we getting
acquainted for?” The heat in her voice rose with every word.
Already, she had planted her hands on her hips as she assumed her
battle ready posture.

“Well, Miss Hanson,” the
doctor answered coolly “you were adamant about wanting to choose a
specimen donor for yourself.”

“You mean
that
this
…that
he
…”
she shouted.

“What he means,” Geoffrey
interrupted, yet again, “is that I have been brought here to assist
you. I am here to help you in whatever way you see fit. Dr.
Crangler’s assistants don’t really understand what it’s like to be
kept prisoner here, not able to get your hair done properly, not
able to get decent skin treatments, why, I bet your feet haven’t
been scrubbed and manicured in what, forever?”

“That’s
right. My poor feet
haven’t
been touched in forever.” Delilah answered. It
was amazing to see such a drastic change take place so quickly with
the aid of just a few prudent observations. “And you can get me the
things I need?” she asked. Her tone was almost pleading
now.

Geoffrey seemed to mull
things over for a moment, but in reality, he was listening to
unvoiced thoughts. “Well,” he said at last “I’m not excessively
experienced with pedicures and tanning techniques and such, but I
do know how to serve, and I’m sure I could learn the rest if given
enough time—and it would seem that time is the one thing we have
plenty of, here.” He smiled at Delilah sweetly, and though it was
highly unorthodox for her, she returned the gesture. She was taking
to this stranger pretty well, which was saying a lot considering
that she spent the last few days preparing for mortal combat with
anyone who would make the unlucky choice of crossing her the wrong
way. There was something about this guy, something she couldn’t
quite place just yet. What he said, how he held himself, the way he
looked at her, even the tone of his voice, it was all so
mysteriously on point, like there was some connection between
them.

“Can the proper
arrangements be made Dr. Crangler,” asked Geoffrey, turning in that
direction, “so I can attend to Miss Hanson here, on a regular
basis? That is,” he turned back to Delilah now, “that is, if she’s
willing to give me a shot, of course.”

“I’ll try you out.” She
answered politely, then looked abashed as she realized how easily
such a statement could misinterpreted. “What I mean is…”

“No worries. I’m the one
working on a trial basis here. If there’s any embarrassment, it’ll
be coming from my direction, thank you very much.” The same warm
smiled followed, but it wasn’t returned as quickly as before.
Delilah was temporarily offended that she had been interrupted,
even if it was in the name of modesty.

“I’m terribly sorry for
interrupting, Miss Hanson,” Geoffrey answered, “I’m just a little
nervous. I haven’t seen a pretty woman in quite some time.” Delilah
smiled broadly. Geoffrey must’ve said something right.

“Just don’t let it happen
again.” She jested, still smiling.

“So, Dr. Crangler,”
resumed Geoffrey, turning his attention to the doctor again, “can
you arrange it?”

Dr. Crangler, who had been
looking on curiously, was speechless. He never imagined this
fire-breathing female patient of his could be handled so well. He
was convinced that cooperation was not something she was ever
acquainted with, but fifteen minutes with a total stranger and she
was cooperating in a childlike manner that months and months of
stressful interaction with the doctor could never produce. Dr.
Crangler looked on at Delilah for a long second, trying to decide
if the real Delilah, the one that made his life a living hell every
opportunity she got, had somehow been abducted, and replaced with
an elaborate clone.

“Dr. Crangler?” Geoffrey
beckoned the awestruck doctor.

Dr. Crangler quickly
caught himself and thought about the question at hand. All that
Geoffrey was proposing, everything he had just told Delilah, was
strictly forbidden in this facility, but then again, many of the
things she had in her room while the doctor was occupied elsewhere,
were likewise prohibited. Besides, Geoffrey seemed to know what he
was doing. If nothing else, he was already having a more profound
effect on Delilah than the doctor or any of his assistants. What
other real choice did he have?

“It may take some time,
but I’ll see what I can do.” He answered. Just then, the sound of
the door lock interrupted the procession.

“Well hello, General.” Dr.
Crangler said to the visitor who was, at that moment, marching
through the doorway. He was the largest man Delilah had ever laid
eyes on. The man looked like he routinely swallowed normal sized
men whole, digesting one at each bicep, another two at each thigh,
and two in his neck. He was a mammoth, and though Delilah clearly
heard the doctor refer to him as ‘General’, she was sure he was
some kind of steroid-binging football player, or celebrity body
guard. As far as the latter assumption went, she was mostly
correct, because he was here to guard her. Dr. Crangler introduced
Delilah and Lieutenant Dan as the lieutenant general extended his
hand. Delilah reluctantly extended her own hand, mostly because she
didn’t want this guy to think she was scared of him. Even as
frightened as she was, her mother had taught her to bow to no man,
especially if there weren’t massive amounts of money to be had in
the process. Not even the ardent admonition from her dead mother
could keep her from wincing in anticipation of the crushing she was
sure her hand was about to suffer. Luckily for her, the new
stranger apparently knew how to curb his great strength, because he
was as gentle with Delilah’s delicate and slightly shaking hand as
a man a fraction of his size. His grip was much firmer than any
other Delilah had experienced, but nothing like what she
feared.