Divisions, James Gerard [simple ebook reader .txt] 📗

mean they were fighting.  I was confused.  Somehow the gun went off.”

 

“Who was fighting?”

 

“Jeffrey and Augustine.”

 

The detective let out a sigh that sounded of frustration and responded, “Doctor, statements from witnesses say that you were alone with Augustine in the room.”

 

“But…how could that be?  Jeffrey and Augustine….”

 

“Look Doctor Hatford, I’m trying to make this easier for you.  Now, if you want, I can order a test looking for the gunpowder residue on your hand and coat sleeve, but I’d rather that you just….”

 

The detective suddenly swung the attention to the door as it opened.

 

“He’s been cleared,” a voice declared.   “Doctor Hatford, I apologize for the inconvenience.  You’re free to go.”

 

Paul was confused.  The message was muted by the shock of the news.  He looked at the detective’s gruff expression and wondered why he looked to be somewhat frustrated by the unexpected intrusion.

 

“Did you hear me Doctor Hatford?” the man repeated, “you’re free to go.”

 

“I don’t understand….?”

 

“You have been cleared of the shooting,” a voice was heard from the hallway.

 

“Troy,” Paul called out as the young man stood at the open door.

 

“Come on Doctor Hatford, I will give you a ride home.”

 

Troy remained silent as Paul closely followed him through the maze of hallways and threw out question after question concerning the chain of events.  In the midst of yet another question, Troy opened a door to the chilly night air.  He walked briskly towards a sedan parked in the back of a highly illuminated parking lot.

 

“Please Doctor Hatford, get in,” a squeaky voice announced as Troy opened a rear passenger door.

 

“Jeffrey,” mumbled Paul, “is this all your doing?”

 

“Well Doctor, first, to ease your burden, you are not the one that pulled the trigger.  Someone performed that action remotely.”

 

“I do not understand.”  Paul paused as a deep disturbing thought came to mind.  He lowered the head and in an instant the connections between the memories of what was said and what was done became clear.   He then looked up and glared into Jeffrey’s eyes, “All of this was planned years ago wasn’t it?”

 

The disturbing facts were revealed to Paul in Jeffrey’s face.  It was a look of sheer joy that fit his newfound childish pleasures.  At the same time, the outright arrogance of an old man whose memories were of a mature and sophisticated past came shining through.

 

“How did you know I would be the one that ultimately would find a solution?”

 

Jeffrey smiled and said, “One does not achieve a level of success without a well-laid out plan Doctor.”

 

 “Well-laid out plan,” Paul scoffed.  He stared directly into Jeffrey’s eyes and wondered what sort of man was capable of arranging events so far in advance?  Suspecting the worse, especially after witnessing the sickening chain of events, he sought to uncover the motives of an old man hid behind the innocent look of a mere child.  “May I ask a personal question Jeffrey?”

 

“Please do.”

 

“Who are you?”

 

“Who am I?” Jeffrey restated.  “Why Doctor Hatford, if I did not know better, I believe I heard an accusation in the tone of your voice.”

 

“Why would you think that?”

 

“Look Doctor, I am just a man as you are.  Beyond that, who I am is not important.  It never has been.  I have always conducted my business in anonymity.”

 

“And who was Augustine?  The others?”

 

“They were just men as well Doctor.  But, if they had it their way, then I suppose the purpose of their transformation may have been for reasons by which you suspect:  A world ruled by a select few, filthy, rich men whose only desire would have been to wield their power with complete and utter control over all things.”

 

As the car pulled into the driveway and came to a stop, Paul again looked deeply into the eyes of Jeffrey and asked, “And you too were part of this group?”

 

“I was.”

 

“And do you share your cohorts’ vision?”

 

“Troy,” said Jeffrey, “please remain in the car while I escort Doctor Hatford to the porch.”

 

As Paul walked around to the other side of the car, he could not help but to notice the odd sight of the ten or eleven year old body hobbling towards the porch with the assistance of a cane.  After making their way up to the front door Paul uttered, “Well Jeffrey?”

 

Jeffrey smiled and turned his back on Paul.

 

“And what about me?  I have knowledge of what happened.  Do you not consider me a risk of revealing the truth?”

 

Jeffrey stopped and without turning around responded, “For the mere fact that when given the opportunity to push the button, you chose not to.  Then again, you never had a choice because your goal was always to enhance life, never to destroy it.  I believe that speaks highly of you as a person Doctor Hatford—I am secured in the thought that there is no reason to reveal what you have witnessed based on that.”

 

“You have used my passion against me Jeffrey.  Where my only objective was to restore to those what life had cheated them of, you manipulated to simply cheat death itself.”

 

When Jeffrey reached the car he turned and countered, “And what an honorable objective that was Doctor, but please spare me the sentiment.  You must admit that as a man of medical science you too must find our process to be intriguing, perhaps to the point where you too could profit from such a transformation.”

 

“What?  Had you prepared a body for me as well?”

 

“Do you really want to know Doctor?”

 

“What would it profit me Jeffrey?” Paul scoffed.  “What can I, what can you gain by living yet another lifetime?”

 

Jeffrey closed the car door and hobbled back to the bottom of the porch.  “Funny you should ask me that, for I have found an ironic twist in all this.  True, while I had at least temporarily regained my vigor and physical stamina, I have discovered a pitfall to it all.  While we believed we solved the problem of resetting…resetting the biological clock as it were, I find that it is not only my old mind, my own memories that prevents a complete renewal of both mind and body, but it is our failure to reset the genetic code as well.  I am afraid that I am aging at an accelerated pace even as we speak.”

 

“So all of this, all of the horrible events that have led to this has been in vain?”

 

“Doctor, I have enjoyed the finest things in life, including an exceeding abundance of wealth and all other earthly pleasures, yet the very memories of such has dimmed the passion of any such conquests.  Has it been in vain you ask?  Well, I might be in a ten year old body, but all I long for is to continue to live a quiet and discreet life for as long as I can, for I have done everything in life I have desired and have no hunger to do it all over again.”

 

“I suppose that is the price you pay for eternity Jeffrey.  If, in the future, you find a way to transfer only those memories of a ten year old boy, find away to reset the biological clock, then what fun would it be if you had to relive a life you have no conscious of?”

 

“True Doctor.  I must agree with you sadly enough.  But in a way, I believe I am much better prepared for death by this experience.”

 

“What will you do in the meantime?”

 

“That is a good question for which I have no answer at this time.”

 

“Is your desire to maintain your base of power, your stranglehold on the world?”

 

“Yes, but be assured Doctor, unlike Augustine and the others, I have no desire to put their maniacal plans into effect.  Well Doctor, I think it is time that we part ways.”

 

“Another question if you don’t mind.”

 

“I know Doctor.  You may think of me as pure evil, and you know, that may be entirely correct.  But, if you want to know my beliefs on the subject I will only go as far as to acknowledge that intelligent design may have come into play.”

 

“Not so much the question of intelligent design Jeffrey, but a question of the creator himself.”

 

Jeffrey chuckled and looked to the clear night sky above.  “Who knows Doctor?  Maybe.”

 

 “Will I see you again?”

 

“No Doctor, but trust me, until your…well until your demise, I will keep an eye on you to make sure you are comfortable.”

 

“You will keep on eye on me until my 'demise?'   Is that your obligation to me Jeffrey or the creator's?”

 

Jeffrey smiled but offered no answer.

 

“Jeffrey, maybe you need to deeply reflect on your beliefs.”

 

“It has been a pleasure Doctor.”

 

Paul stood on the porch as the car pulled out of the driveway and cruised down the quiet lane.  He looked up to the sight of the field of stars and smiled, “If it is all the same to you, I will wait for my appointed time.” 

Imprint

Text: James Gerard Burch
Images: Right to use purchased from mik38-Fotolia.com
Editing: James Gerard Burch
Publication Date: 10-07-2015

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