When Ted entered the power plant’s biofuel room, he was surprised to find Ian at the top of the tube. Ted studied him quietly, and Ian was so intent in what he was doing, he didn’t notice Ted watching him.
“And just where do you think you’re going?” Ted finally asked him.
Ian, of course, couldn’t hear him and continued working on the top of the cylinder. He was, in fact, trying to push the top of the tank off. Ted walked over and banged on the glass tube, startling Ian inside. Ian flipped around inside the tube and floated back down to midwater.
“Going somewhere?” he asked again. He held up the piece of fish from the bucket he carried. Ian pressed his fingers and face against the glass. His tongue compulsively began licking at the algae.
Ted held the fish closer to the glass and Ian began swimming up and down faster.
“Someone’s hungry . . .” said Ted. He dropped it back into the bucket and placed it on the floor. Ian floated down to the bottom of the cylinder and stared at the bucket.
“Sucks for you, doesn’t it,” said Ted. He grabbed a step stool and pulled it close to the cylinder, then climbed up and examined the lid, making sure it was securely fastened closed. He stepped off the stool and stepped back from the tank, arms folded with an evil smile as he watched a frantic Ian swim up and down the tank staring at the fish in the bucket.
Ted walked out of the biofuel room and locked the door behind him.
***********
Jess and Tony had walked straight to her cabin and closed the door behind them. He pulled her close and leaned in to kiss her, but she pulled her face away.
“Tony, what if I’m infected?”
“Like you said—then we’re all dead anyway, right?”
She buried her face in his chest. “It’s been so awful, Tony. First Ian, then Jim—I can’t believe they’re both gone. I don’t want to die like that.”
Tony hugged her and held her close. After a minute, she looked up at him. “Tony—promise me, if I get sick, you’ll give me enough morphine to stop my heart. Promise me.”
“You aren’t gonna get sick,” he said softly.
“Promise me! I saw their faces. They looked so scared. They looked like they were in agony! All I could do was hold their hands and watch them die the most awful death. It was unimaginable.”
Tony held her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “You’re not gonna get sick. But if you do, I promise you, I’ll make it quick, okay? You’ll do the same for me?”
She nodded as tears ran down her face.
“Let’s forget that for a while, okay?”
She nodded again and wiped her face with the back of her hand. Tony started kissing her tear-covered face, and she didn’t resist when he pulled her top off . . .
************
Theresa walked into the lab to find Ted sitting at a lab table, staring at a beaker. He almost jumped out of his seat when Theresa said hello. He tried to cover the beaker, but Theresa saw him trying to hide whatever was there and questioned it.
“Just something I’ve been observing. Nothing conclusive yet.”
“Let me see,” she said suspiciously.
He stammered, but relented when she reached for the beaker. At first, she thought she was looking at a small tube worm attached to the inside of the glass. She looked harder at it. “Sea slug?” she asked as she stared. Then her face showed her slow recognition. She almost dropped it, but instead caught herself and placed it quickly on the table. She stepped back in revulsion without even realizing it. “What is that, Ted?” she screamed.
“You can see what it is,” he replied quietly.
She had her hands at her face in horror. “Is that a finger, Ted?”
“It was.”
“Jim’s?”
“It was from his body, yes.”
“Oh my God.” She dropped into the nearest chair without even thinking. She was still staring at it in total shock. The finger flexed up and down, firmly attached to the glass, the top of the digit now showing the beginning of a red plume.
“It’s a major breakthrough,” said Ted.
Theresa stared, but couldn’t bring herself to speak.
“It didn’t hurt him, Theresa. Like donating your organs to science or a hospital.”
“Jim’s dead?”
“Jim, as you knew him, is dead, yes.”
“But is he dead?” she cried out.
“I can’t really answer that question. In fact, the answer to that question will be my research for the next eleven months. It will change science, Theresa. Are you prepared to help me with this?”
She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know, Ted. I honestly . . . oh my God. Jim’s finger is moving.”
“It’s not Jim’s finger, Theresa. It’s a new life-form. The bacteria have taken over the tissue in the same manner as they take over a tube worm host. The finger exists only to provide a place for the bacteria to live and multiply. In return for the favor, the bacteria supply oxygen and food energy to the tissue to keep it viable. For all I know, it will grow Jim another body.”
She looked up at Ted in abject horror.
“I’m quite serious. Starfish can regenerate almost an entire body. So can crustaceans and insects. Many animals can. I have no idea what that beaker will look like in a month. Yesterday, the nail fell off. Today, it is growing lungs from the tip, which means internally, the metamorphosis has occurred extremely quickly. It has to be studied. I could use your help.”
“This is like Frankenstein’s lab, Ted. I can’t. I’m sorry.” She got up and ran out of the lab. Ted made a face and shrugged. No matter. He had plenty of time. A slurping sound from the back of the lab reminded him that Jim was nearby. He walked back to see if Jim’s pinky knuckle showed any signs of regeneration.
************
The hum of the power plant drowned out the quiet thuds of Ian’s hands pounding against the inside of the glass as he stared at the bluefish only inches away.