Chapter 36



For two days, Roku sulked in the tunnel, nursing his wounds. His head sported a deep gash, and his shoulder and leg wounds sent shock waves reeling throughout his body. He had lost a great deal of the red substance Mother called blood, making him too weak to ramble about. So he remained in the tunnel, eating only a little of the bread he had.

Now, he felt stronger, but he was thirsty, extremely thirsty. So at dark, he ventured out of the tunnel, hobbled through the vegetation a short distance to where it ended at the edge of a sidewalk that looked out onto an avenue of cars speeding right and left. He crouched behind a large shrub and peered out into the night. The loamy earth smelled sweet and luxuriant.

As usual, traffic was light, but men in black uniforms paraded along the sidewalks and sped down the street in their special cars. They seemed to be everywhere. The same men who hurt me.

Watching the traffic through the boughs of the shrubbery, he noticed a black uniformed man strolling on the sidewalk toward him. The man was tall and stout. In the dim streetlights, Roku saw that he carried a stick in his hands. He walked along at a leisurely pace, turning his head from side to side, as if searching for something. His cap was pulled down low over his eyes hiding his face from Roku’s view. The man stopped directly in front of him, looking out over the street, his back to the shrubbery.

Roku crouched deeper within the dense vegetation, the only sounds piercing the still night were the chirping of crickets and the barking of a distant dog. He remained perfectly still, not twitching a muscle or hair, his eyes riveted on the man in front of him.

The uniformed man twirled his stick and whistled a low tune. And he continued to stand there, watching, looking.

Something deep within Roku bubbled to the surface, forcing him to clench his fists and emit a soft low growl. The man turned and stared into the shrubs where Roku was hidden. Roku huddled deeper. After staring for a moment, the man turned his attention back to the street. Roku felt a sudden rage take hold of him. He bounded out of hiding and grabbed the man from behind in a powerful grasp.

The man lurched to one side, but Roku’s grasp held him tight about the neck. The man fought, trying to extricate himself from Roku’s clutches but Roku only tightened his grasp on the man. The man’s left hand reached up and tried to grab Roku by a shoulder, but Roku tightened his grip. When the man struggled to turn his head to face him, Roku’s other powerful arm wrapped about the man’s neck. While the man struggled, he only managed a soft gurgling noise. Roku pulled the man back into the reaches of the shrubbery. Concealed by the vegetation, he continued his grip on the man’s throat until he collapsed. Roku dragged the man through the underbrush until they arrived at the tunnel.

Then the man struggled again, soft murmuring noises erupting from his mouth. His eyes were mere slits. Roku gnawed on the man’s arm, and he let out a short, garbled shriek. The gaping wound spurted blood, and the man tried to get to his feet, but he fell back into the dark hole of the tunnel.

Roku snapped the man’s neck, and he went limp.



***



After questioning Millie for the better part of an hour, Special Agent Jacoby dismissed the police stenographer who had taken her statement, sat, and lit the stub of a cigar. The unpretentious command trailer felt cramped, stale. As he blew acrid smoke into the air, he surveyed the group assembled. Each person’s brows were knitted into a furrow of concern and dismay.

Finally, after a long silence, Harry spoke. “So, what do you think?”

It’s not up to me, Doctor. She’ll be transferred to the city jail until the court decides what to do with her case.”

Have you arrested her?” Siscom said.

No, not yet.”

Are you going to?” asked Dixie.

I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Jacoby said, puffing on the cigar.

If you don’t arrest her, then there’s no need for her to go to jail, is there?” Dixie was patting Millie’s arm.

Doctor Olson, I do believe you have something,” Jacoby said, smiling. “If I released her into your custody, can I rely on you and your husband to bring her in if necessary?”

She can stay with us,” Harry said. “Couldn’t she, honey?”

Of course,” Dixie said, squeezing Millie’s arm.

We’ll be happy to take Millie off your hands,” Harry said. “When you need her, all you have to do is call.”

Jacoby frowned and shot a glance toward Millie.

Miss Harbaum, can I rely on you to stay in the Olson’s custody and not disappear again?”

Millie nodded. “Yes sir,” she said, in a halting voice.

I mean, if you ran away while the Olson’s are responsible for you, it will not only be bad for you, but they would be in serious trouble.”

Millie nodded her understanding.

It’s settled, then,” Jacoby said. “You all are free to leave. I’ll call if I need you for anything.”

Siscom drove them down the peninsula to San Mateo and Harry and Dixie’s home. It was after midnight when they arrived, and Dixie made coffee while they lounged in the study.

You’ll spend the night, of course, Gerald. You can drive back to the facility tomorrow,” Harry said.

Thanks,” Gerald said. “I’m bushed.”

As they sipped their coffee, Millie spoke of her guilt.

It’s something I don’t think I can recover from,” she said. “I never thought I was the sort to thumb my nose at ethics. Like your plaque reads, Dr. Olson, ‘Truth and Honor.’”

We scientist do have certain responsibilities,” he said. “Ethical questions appear at the forefront of many advances in the field of human genetics. Following high-profile successes, genetic therapies have been researched for treatment of various blood diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancers. You know, the promise of groundbreaking cures entices those inside and outside the scientific community. But questions regarding science and research have come alongside ethical, religious, and political ones. Some fear the technology could be implemented for less benevolent purposes, such as artificially improving intelligence or cosmetic features.”

Parents will always desire smarter, better -looking children,” Siscom interjected.

Until recently,” Harry continued, “a distinction was made between the acquisition of knowledge, science for science sake, and the application of knowledge in technologies--science for technology. While this distinction is still theoretically valuable, we must recognize that, in practice, the frontier between them is becoming increasingly blurred, because within modern societies, such domains as politics, economics, technology, and science are more and more interrelated and interdependent. Consequently, we cannot make a radical separation between pure science, which is not subject to any ethical norm, and applied sciences, which must be governed by ethical rules.

As a general principle, any knowledge concerning the human genome or any potential technique of intervention in the human genome are ethical and, therefore, would be welcomed, provided that they respect human dignity and human rights. On the other hand, science and technology, which are potentially detrimental to individuals, as well as to populations, must be totally rejected, even if they greatly benefit science itself. This limitation is set more to guide than to stop research.”

You are correct in that assessment, Harry,” Siscom said. “In science, as well as in ethics, an awareness of the elements involved in a problem is the first step toward its solution. It’s also the first step toward wisdom. And humanity stands in great need of this wisdom in using science and technology when it involves the human genome. I know it sounds like preaching but it must be recognized that scientists, throughout history, have played, and will continue to play a vital social role in improving the general well-being of individuals and populations, even if some of their discoveries proved to be detrimental, as in the case of nuclear physics used for military purposes. Because of their expert knowledge, scientists are called upon to alleviate suffering and to improve the welfare of society in general. Science and technology, therefore, are needed to meet these challenges.”

Dixie poured more coffee for Harry and Siscom then returned to her chair.

Scientists involved in genome mapping and sequencing,” she said, “must recognize that they occupy a pivotal position, thus far unknown in the history of science. Their field of research is not only around or outside the human being, but rather inside the very blueprint of the human being, that is to say, decoding genetic information.

As soon as research findings and techniques involve present and future generations, they are no longer morally neutral, and ethical concerns must go hand in hand with the task of the scientist. As the saying goes, ‘No science without conscience.”’

You are making my point, I think,” Millie said, yawning.

But, in addition to responsibility, there is education of the public,” Harry said. “And that is a fact that the scientific community has not taken seriously. It is the reason we find ourselves in the position we do.”

I think what Harry is trying to say, Millie,” Siscom said, “is that the trustees do not truly understand what we at the primate facility are about. And even though what you did may have crossed some intangible ethical line, you did what any curious scientist would have done, given half the chance. I think I can safely say that.”

And we scientists need to come to your aid,” Dixie added. “Right, Harry?”

Couldn’t have said it any better, honey,” Harry said.



***



The police corporal’s disappearance caused a stir within the SFPD, and the chief ordered a full-scale search for the man. Jacoby, after releasing Millie, returned to his office in the FBI field office and collapsed on a cot for a few hours. Rising shortly after dawn, he washed his face, used his electric razor, brewed coffee, and then drove back to the Chinatown command post to be appraised of the latest developments.

There was no sign of the chimera and no sign of the missing policeman. The massive search was still underway, and Jacoby wanted to be near the information center in case there was a discovery or breakthrough. So, he sat in the trailer, drank coffee, and smoked a cigar, waiting.

Near mid-morning, his cell phone rang, and it was Harry,

Just wanted to let you know that Dr. Siscom has gone back to the primate facility. If you need him, you can reach him there.”

Thanks,” Jacoby said. “Nothing new on the search for the chimera. Still looking for him. In addition, a policeman involved in the search has gone missing. There’s a large dragnet in Chinatown looking for any trace of him. I hope your monster didn’t drag him off. They got a couple of shots at him, you know.”

What?”

Yeah. Several days ago some uniforms chased him down an alley and fired several rounds at him. They believe they hit him because they found some blood splatters around a fence he jumped over.”

Let’s hope he’s not hurt bad. Keep me posted, please.”

Will do.”

After hanging up, Jacoby strolled down to the corner and ordered a lunch to go from the Hunan deli. Back in the trailer, he attacked his food and was half way through when a policeman burst through the door, out of breath.

Sir,” he said, panting, “there’s been a discovery. A large pool of blood has been found in some bushes not far from here. And, from the looks of things, the body was dragged a ways, for there are some tracks leading into the middle of the park. The sergeant wants you to come and see for yourself. Please follow me.”

Jacoby sprang from his chair and followed the policeman out into the bright sunlight.