Chapter 9

Harry sat at one end of the long mahogany conference table in a room adjacent to Dr. Pauling’s office. At the other end was Alistair Forester, chairman of Cal Pacific’s Board of Trustees. Dr. Pauling sat, unperturbed, in the middle of one side of the table. The other trustees occupied the rest of the chairs. The mood was somber, none of the men were smiling. Several thermal pitchers sat on the table along with a number of crystal glasses.

Earlier, Dixie consoled him with upbeat chatter, telling him not to worry, that everything would work out. That the trustees couldn’t be so stupid as to get rid of a man like her husband. He had smiled at her and caressed her face. She was his rock.

Harry’s head pounded, and his stomach was in knots. His palms were damp. This is the moment of truth, he thought. My opportunity to speak to the trustees. Please, God, help me find the right words. His head jerked when Forester’s baritone voice filled the room.

“Gentlemen,” he said, “we’ll come to order. This meeting of the board of trustees is to consider action on the matter of Dr. Olson. Members of the trustees have interviewed the involved parties, with the exception of Dr. Julius Kesler, recently deceased. As we all are aware, Dr. Olson stands accused of forging scientific data in a journal article in an effort to further his career. Before I allow Dr. Olson to speak on his own behalf is there anyone present who would like to say something on the record?”

Harry was surprised when Dr. Pauling raised his hand.

“Yes, Dr. Pauling. We are eager to hear you. Please go ahead.”

Pauling looked around the table, smiled at each trustee, and nodded at Harry.

“As I mentioned in my interview, and I would like to reaffirm now,” he began, “my faith in Dr. Olson has not diminished one iota since this unfortunate incident. I have seen many young faculty members come and go during my career, and Dr. Olson is a rising star in his field. Actually, his star is at its zenith, and Cal Pacific is indeed fortunate to have him as a member of our faculty. Because of his courage and diligent work, he has brought both fame and fortune to our university, no small feat in these times of dwindling support.

“Our Primate Research Facility, forged into reality under his supervision, routinely adds much needed scientific discoveries in the fields of biology, genetics, and anthropology. His tireless efforts in the teaching area cannot be discounted either. Hundreds of students can attest to Dr. Olson’s caring attitude in the classroom. His department has the fewest complaints from students and faculty alike, almost nil. What occurred years ago is best forgotten, in light of his continued service to our university. If Dr. Kesler, a brilliant scholar and distinguished leader in the field of paleoanthropology, could manage to deal with this situation and put it behind him, even look upon Dr. Olson with genuine fondness, can we do no less? I beseech the members of the board to not ruin a young man’s career. Thank you.”

Bless you, Dr. Pauling, Harry thought.

“Thank you, Dr. Pauling. Now, Dr. Olson,” Forester said from the far end of the conference table, “you have the floor and our undivided attention.”

With his head pounding and his stomach reeling, Harry stood and faced the trustees.

“I want to thank the board for the opportunity to address this issue,” he began. “In no way do I wish to diminish the gravity or enormity of my actions. They were deplorable. There was no excuse. However, as a way of explanation, let me say they were the actions of a naive young man, motivated by what all young scientists are motivated by--tenure and acclaim. I looked upon Dr. Kesler, my professor and mentor, with jealous eyes, wanting what had taken him a lifetime to achieve. And I wanted it without putting in the years of work. In my misguided attempt to circumvent years of arduous work, I chose to falsify data in an article I published. For that, I stand guilty as charged.

“My actions hurt Dr. Kesler deeply. No one knows that better than I. But to his credit and my continued shame, he rallied to my aid and corrected the problem. Even though he never mentioned it, and we became extremely close, I knew how deeply I hurt him. And it wasn’t until shortly before his death that we reconciled. Not only was the man my mentor, he was like the father I never had. I know how much I disappointed him. However, I do believe he moved beyond that, and I redeemed myself in his eyes. In fact, he told me so while we were together in Mongolia. In a tearful embrace, the man I had hurt forgave me. From that moment on, to Dr. Kesler it was as if my mistake had never happened.

“Having said this, I wish the trustees to know that since that unfortunate incident, I have worked tirelessly to redeem myself and bring credit and honor to this university. I will accept the decision of this board, whatever it may be.”

Harry sat in his chair, head still in a whirl.

“Thank you, Dr. Olson,” Forester said. “And now you may excuse yourself to allow the board to deliberate in private.”

***

Dixie caught up with Harry on his way to the faculty dining room. He looked as if he had lost his best friend. She took his arm as they entered the dining room.

“So, honey, how’d it go? You don’t look well.”

“Stressful,” Harry said as they made their way through the lunch line. “I think they’re going to hang me.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Pauling gave an impassioned speech on my behalf. I’m grateful for that. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“If it doesn’t turn out in our favor, we can always go elsewhere. I am sure there are universities out there who would love to have you.”

“Our favor? I’m the one being hung here.”

Dixie squeezed his arm as they arrived at the serving line. “Remember,” she said. “We’re a team. We’re in this together, whatever happens.”

They sat at a table and ate their lunch in silence. Dixie’s heart poured out for her husband who was clearly hurting, traumatized by the morning’s events.

“I guess I can tell you now,” she said finally. “A member of the trustees called me last week and asked me questions. He told me I was not to mention his call to you under pain of repercussions.”

Harry looked up from his food. “Oh?” he said.

“He asked me what I knew of the journal article and Kesler’s actions. If I had first hand information. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, but he told me I could be fired if I did.”

Harry smiled at her. “It’s fine, sweetheart. Don’t worry about it.”

“I told him I knew for a fact that the Professor had forgiven you and wished the matter forgotten. I pray it helped.”

“I dunno, Dixie. Remember public opinion and donor money are at stake.”

***

Back in his office, Harry received word through his secretary that Dr. Radner desired a videoconference with him, Dr. Siscom, and Dr. Harbaum. An update on Millie’s IVF project.

Harry didn’t feel much like discussing a science project. His head was still pounding. He grabbed some aspirin and swallowed them with a gulp of water. Then he sat and massaged his temples, hoping to will away the throbbing pain. When everyone was online, he sauntered into the adjoining room where the three smiling faces were on the screen.

“Good afternoon, all,” he said. “You’re a motley looking threesome. A pretty scraggly looking group, I must say.”

Everyone laughed at Harry’s humor. He slouched in a chair and tried to give his faculty members his undivided attention.

“Dr. Olson,” Radner began, “Gerald and Millie wanted to give you an update on the IVF project underway here. I’ll let Dr. Siscom go first.”

Harry settled in his chair and tried to relax. He was finally back in his element. The aspirin was beginning to work.

“Yes, Dr. Olson,” Siscom said, “we are well underway. The chimp, Tika, as Millie has opted to call her, is now five months along in her pregnancy. All is fine. She is beginning to act like a pregnant chimp. At this point, the ultrasounds show no problems with the fetus. Which happens to be a male, I might add.”

“Good to hear, Gerald,” Harry said. “How about you, Millie? Pleased with the project to date?”

“I am, Dr. Olson. The waiting has been rather nerve-racking, but, so far, we are scheduled for a delivery in a few months.”

“Millie, you’re on the faculty now, so please call me Harry.”

“I’ll try,” was Millie’s reply.

“Miles,” Harry said, “do you have everything you need up there? For this delivery and subsequent care of the infant Yeti?”

“I believe so, Harry. Gerald gave me a list a month ago. We have most of the items here, and the rest are due to be delivered shortly.”

“Fine,” Harry said. “Keep me posted. I’ll try and come up there after the delivery for a firsthand look.”

After signing off, Harry sat and contemplated the meaning of Millie’s project.

He would never have thought of it and felt proud that a former graduate student of his was on the forefront of this marvelous project.

After the Yeti’s birth, maybe the facility could get back on track with their investigation into its place in the evolution family tree.

Millie and Siscom would certainly deserve a raise.

***

So it’s a male, Millie thought. Now for a name.

“Roku,” she said aloud. “I’ll call you Roku.”

She was alone in her office at the far end of the Animal Care Unit. All the technicians and Siscom had gone home for the day, leaving her with her thoughts. The air conditioning had ramped up, starting its cycle to lower the temperature in the unit. As the temperature began to fall, Millie donned her fleece jacket she kept for such times when she worked late. Down the hall, the chimps were quieting down for the evening. The unit was dark except for her small office.

Tika’s pregnancy forced Millie to contemplate if or when she would divulge the injection of her DNA into the growing fetus. The sooner, the better, she knew. But with each sunrise, she postponed the inevitable discussion one day further. If she waited until Roku was born to tell Radner and Dr. Olson, she knew she would find herself in deep trouble. But coming clean now might mean the end of her project. Dr. Olson might order the pregnancy’s termination. After birth, he still might order the newborn creature destroyed, but it was a gamble worth taking.

What was the creature exactly? She knew it was to be a chimera, a creature with its DNA supplied by two different species. Simple enough. Technically speaking, a hybrid contained genetic information from two individuals of the same species. A chimera was different. But what would it be like? Look like? Would it spend its infancy like other primates? Millie allowed her mind to wander over the possibilities for a few moments before deciding she would just wait and see. She couldn’t control her excitement and anticipation.

And what about Gerald? What would he have to say? Things were taking a turn for the romantic, and she didn’t want to screw it up. No, she thought, the risks of saying anything before Roku was born were too great. She would wait until she had no other alternative. And when she let Gerald in on her secret, she hoped he would understand.

She hoped everyone would understand.

She logged into the facility network and then found her file on the Tika Project. She typed a current note.

1750 ~ Just found out that Tika’s fetus is a male. I have named him Roku. He is a chimera, part Yeti DNA, part human. I don’t know where this will lead and I am somewhat fearful that it will not end well for the little fella. What have I created? What does the future hold for Roku and me? Only time will tell.

Millie turned off her computer and headed to the dining hall, where she was to have dinner with Gerald. After dinner, they would stroll around the facility grounds and look at the stars, talk. It had become their favorite pastime. Last evening, he had even ventured to kiss her, a fumbling gesture at first, but when she kissed him back, he regained his composure, and his repeat attempt was entirely satisfactory.

Then, during Roku’s sixth month of gestation, a disturbing crisis developed.