Marco nodded, and showed his teeth in a fierce grin. “That’s good news, at least. When will he be mobile?”

Wake weighed his answer carefully. “Another couple of days, provided there aren’t complications. Speaking of complications, I’m guessing from your appearance that there’s been a reoccurrence of your spasms?”

Marco nodded, his shoulders drooping.

Wake steepted his fingers under his chin. “I’ve done some tests, and I’m quite concerned. However, I think I might have pinned down part of the problem. I’m setting up a treatment for you that should correct things, and if my analysis proves out, I might actually be able to restore some of the damage done to you during the initial procedure.”

For the first time since their conversation began, Wake watched Marco’s face light up. “You’re kidding. I thought you said the damage was irreversible?”

Wake smiled, “I didn’t say I was promising anything. Thanks, however, to your generous contributions to the project, I’ve been able to make some advances that even I didn’t know were possible. But there isn’t much time. We have to arrest the deterioration in your system before it does more damage. When can you come out?”

Marco’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Wake thought he might have tipped his hand. However, all Marco said was, “How long will this procedure take?”

Wake pretended to check something on the desk, trying to weigh his answer into a balance that would provide Marco with something believable, without making it seem impossible. “It’s a complete battery of submersions, as well as injection, therapy, but my guess would be that it won’t take more than a month, six weeks at the most. Depending, of course, on how well your body is able to adjust.”

Marco didn’t answer for a moment. Then, “You realize that this is a very precarious time for my organization. Especially now with my brother creating problems.”

Wake nodded. “Yes, but Warren will be up and able by the end of the week. Couldn’t you put him in charge as soon as he returns? You could even claim that you know where he is and that you are going to fetch him. Then you could say you’re going to Europe to take in the baths, or something. We could set up a line, so that Warren could report to you each day.”

The dark gleam in Marco’s eye let Wake know he’d said just enough.

“Doctor Wake, you are worthy of my trust. While the plan is far from foolproof, it isn’t like I will be out of the country or anything. If something goes wrong, I’ll just interrupt the procedure and take care of it.”

Wake hid his smile. “Tomorrow morning, then? It will be the last time you’ll be able to look at the sun for a couple of weeks.”

Marco nodded. “I’ll be there.”

Wake cut the connection. He paused for a moment, and took a deep breath, then punched in a private number.

Pakow answered on the first ring. “Yes?” He looked disheveled and was breathing heavily.

“Have you started the procedure?” Wake asked.

Pakow nodded. “Yes, I’m injecting the solution into the tank as we speak. Is there a problem?”

Wake shook his head. “Not really. I think I’ve taken care of it.”

Wake watched as Pakow’s eyes narrowed, though his voice was carefully neutral. “What is it?”

“I want one of the full stasis rooms prepared by tomorrow morning. Not one of the tanks, but one of the big rooms in delta wing. Set it up so it looks like a regular treatment room. Mister D’imato is going to be our guest for a while. I’ve convinced him we might have a way to slow his deterioration. I want him put in stasis. He’s only got about a month of life left in him anyway, and it’s time we removed him from the equation before he jeopardizes our operation.”

Pakow looked puzzled. “That’s a lot of resources to devote to someone you want out of your way. Why don’t we just finish him when he comes in?”

Wake laughed. “My dear doctor, those are very harsh words from someone who took an oath to preserve life.”

Pakow didn’t join in. “Universal Omnitech didn’t require either you or I to take any oath. In fact, I think they would have been opposed to the whole idea of preserving life when any easier measure was available.”

Wake’s laughter faltered. “Touche Doctor Pakow,” he said softly, “though you show a foolish amount of confidence in your former employers. Still, it’s not like you to be so cynical. Maybe you do need some rest. However, even though I am reasonably sure that Mister D’imato has outlived his usefulness, I am not totally convinced. Until that time, we will carry out the game. Unfortunately, the man is completely inane, utterly delusional, so I would prefer to have him somewhere I can keep an eye on him.

Pakow nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements tonight.”

“Excellent, doctor. Now finish the procedure and then try and get some sleep.”

Wake cut the connection, and keyed the monitor to show him operating theater number six. He watched as Pakow finished the fluid transfer and then wearily left the room.

In the ensuing silence, Wake studied the figure in the tank. “You could be the one. The one that leads me to the final answer. I wonder if you will find a name in the history books?”

27

From the preliminary tests I’ve run on the genetic material still viable, it would appear that Marco D’imato has an anomalous cellular structure that has given rise to a mutation in the virus’ RNA strand. This anomaly is found in one out of every one million people, and is rare enough that it was overlooked in our initial scans. The ramifications of this are extreme. Rather than the simple host deterioration we have come to expect when using the Beta strain of the virus, this subject’s cellular structure will begin to decay at an exponential rate. The side effects will most likely be loss of motor control, extreme pain, and eventual insanity. Unfortunately, most of our genetic sample has already deteriorated and, therefore, further testing is impossible without taking afresh sample from Mr. D’imato.. .

– 

Dr. Raul Pakow, laboratory notes, Subject Marco D’imato. Test series BV3847, 07 August 2060

Deep in his study, Marco D’imato leaned back and forced himself to relax. Things were not going well, and he knew that. The tremors were like a wave inside of him, and even now he could feel the forces building inside his body. A rolling ocean of pain that crept forward bit by bit, until that seventh wave crashed over him and made him feel as if he were drowning.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to the small minor on his desk. Is that really what I look like? He looked over at a picture of himself and Julius, taken two months before his infection, then back to the mirror.

Under the make-up, Marco’s black skin had turned flaky and dry, and as he turned his head, a chunk of flesh fell to the front of his shirt. His forehead was dotted with blood-tinted sweat. Marco could smell the dead animal odor coming from his body, and it was enough to gag him.

No wonder Wake is concerned I took like I’m dead already. He smiled at his private joke, then pulled open the top desk drawer. Removing the make-up stashed there, he began the process of rebuilding his face, until it looked normal once again.

As soon as he was done, he opened the line to his secretary. “Peter.”

The young man’s voice was firm, though a bit hesitant. “Yes, sir.”

“I’ve just received word on the whereabouts of my nephew. I want a car ready to go tomorrow morning, at eight sharp. You will drive me.”

“Of course, sir. That’s excellent news about Warren.”

Marco grunted. “Yes. There have been some changes on the board of directors. The paperwork is being drawn up to limit Julius’ power in the corporation. For the time being, my brother is to be removed from any positions of authority, If he is seen, he is to be placed under house arrest until I return.”