Robin Cook - Chromosome 6

Candace ignored him and helped Melanie up into a sitting position. Melanie’s left eye was beginning to swell, and a trickle of blood slowly ran down her cheek.

Kevin winced and looked away, expecting to hear another blow. He admired Candace’s courage and wished that he shared some. But he was terrified of Siegfried and afraid to move.

When another blow did not materialize, Kevin looked back. Candace had Melanie standing shakily on her feet.

“You’ll be leaving the Zone soon enough,” Siegfried snarled at Melanie. “But it will be in the company of the Equatoguinean authorities. You can try your insolence on them.”

Kevin swallowed with difficulty. Being given to the Equatoguineans was what he’d feared most.

“I’m an American,” Melanie sobbed.

“But you are in Equatorial Guinea,” Siegfried snapped. “And you’ve violated Equatoguinean law.”

Siegfried stepped back. “I’ve confiscated all of your passports. Just so you know, they will be given to the local authorities along with your persons. In the meantime, you are to stay here in this house. And I warn you that these soldiers and this officer have been ordered to shoot if you so much as take one step outside. Have I made myself clear?”

“I need some clothes,” Melanie cried.

“I’ve had clothes for both of you women brought from your quarters and thrown into upstairs guest rooms,” Siegfried said. “Believe me, we have thought of everything.”

Siegfried turned to Cameron. “See that these people are taken care of.”

“Of course, sir,” Cameron said. He touched the tip of his hat before turning to Kevin and the women.

“Okay, you’ve heard the manager,” he barked. “Upstairs you go and no trouble, please.”

Kevin started forward but he detoured enough to go by Bertram. “They were using more than fire. They were making tools and even talking with each other.”

Kevin walked on. He’d not seen any reaction in Bertram’s face other than a slight movement of his perpetually elevated eyebrows. But Kevin was certain Bertram had heard him.

As Kevin wearily climbed to the second floor, he saw Cameron already organizing an area for the soldiers and the officer to occupy at the base of the stairs.

Up in the front hall Kevin, Melanie, and Candace eyed each other. Melanie was still sobbing intermittently.

Kevin breathed out. “This is not good news,” he said.

“They can’t do this to us,” Melanie whimpered.

“The point is they are going to try,” Kevin said. “And without our passports we’d have trouble leaving the country even if we were to walk out of here.”

Melanie put her hands on either side of her face and squeezed. “I’ve got to get ahold of myself,” she said.

“I feel numb again,” Candace admitted. “We’ve gone from one form of captivity to another.”

Kevin sighed. “At least they didn’t put us in the jail.”

Outside they heard multiple car engines start and vehicles pull away. Kevin went out onto the veranda and saw all the cars leaving except for Cameron’s. Glancing up into the sky, he noted that twilight was deepening into night. A few stars were visible.

Turning back into the house, Kevin went directly to the phone. Picking it up, he heard what he’d expected to hear: nothing.

“Is there a dial tone?” Melanie asked from behind him.

Kevin replaced the receiver. He shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”

“I didn’t expect so,” Melanie said.

“Let’s take showers,” Candace suggested.

“Good idea,” Melanie said, making an effort to sound positive.

After agreeing to meet in a half hour, Kevin walked back through the dining room and pushed open the kitchen door. As dirty as he was, he didn’t want to enter. The smell of roast chicken teased his nose.

Esmeralda had leaped to her feet the moment the door opened.

“Hello, Esmeralda,” Kevin said.

“Welcome, Mr. Marshall,” Esmeralda said.

“You didn’t come out to greet us like you always do,” Kevin said.

“I was afraid the manager was still here,” Esmeralda said. “He and the security man had come up earlier to say you were coming home and that you would not be able to leave the house.”

“That’s what they told me, too,” Kevin said.

“I’ve made food for you,” Esmeralda said. “Are you hungry?”

“Very much,” Kevin said. “But there are two guests.”

“I know,” Esmeralda said. “The manager told me that as well.”

“Can we eat in a half hour?” Kevin asked.

“Certainly.”

Kevin nodded. He was lucky to have Esmeralda. He turned to leave, but Esmeralda called out to him. He hesitated, holding the door ajar.

“There are many bad things happening in the town,” she said. “Not only for you and your friends, but also for strangers. I have a cousin who works at the hospital. She told me that four Americans came from New York and went into the hospital. They talked with the patient who got the liver from the bonobo.”

“Oh?” Kevin questioned. Strangers coming from New York to talk to one of the transplant patients was a thoroughly unanticipated development.

“They just walked in,” Esmeralda continued. “They were not supposed to be there. They said they were doctors. Security was called, and the army and the guards came to take them away. They are in the jail.”

“My word,” Kevin commented, while his mind veered off on a tangent. New York reminded him of the surprising call he’d gotten a week previously in the middle of the night from the GenSys CEO, Taylor Cabot. It had been about the patient Carlo Franconi, who’d been killed in New York. Taylor Cabot had asked if someone could figure out what had happened to Carlo from an autopsy.

“My cousin knows some of the soldiers who were there,” Esmeralda continued. “They said that the Americans will be given to the Ministers. If they are, they will be killed. I thought you should know.”

Kevin felt a chill descend his spine. He knew such a fate was what Siegfried had in mind for him, Melanie, and Candace. But who were these Americans? Had they been involved with the autopsy on Carlo Franconi?

“It is all very serious,” Esmeralda said. “And I am afraid for you. I know you went to the forbidden island.”

“How do you know that?” Kevin questioned with amazement.

“In our town people talk,” Esmeralda said. “When I said you were gone unexpectedly and that the manager was looking for you, Alphonse Kimba told my husband that you had gone to the island. He was sure.”

“I appreciate your concern,” Kevin said evasively and preoccupied with his thoughts. “Thank you for what you have told me.”

Kevin went back to his own room. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he was surprised how exhausted and filthy he appeared. Running a hand over his beginning beard, he noticed something more disturbing. He was beginning to look a lot like his double!

After a shave, shower, and clean clothes, Kevin felt revived. The entire time, he mused about the Americans in the jail under the town hall. He was very curious and would have liked nothing better than to go and talk with them.

Kevin found the two women were equally refreshed. The shower had transformed Melanie into her irrepressible self, and she complained bitterly about the selection of clothes she’d been offered. “Nothing goes with anything,” she complained.

They settled in the dining room, and Esmeralda began serving the meal. Melanie laughed, after looking around at the surroundings. “You know, I find it almost funny that a few hours ago we were living like Neanderthals. Then, presto, we’re in the lap of luxury. It’s like a time machine.”

“If only we didn’t have to worry about what tomorrow will bring,” Candace said.