The Nemesis Cell by Brian L. Porter

Apr 13

Apr 13 The Nemesis Cell

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Crime & Mystery

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Book Excerpt

Part One - A New Genesis

Prologue - Spring 1974, Ostend, Belgium

The woman screamed, a primeval howl that represented the unchanging nature of humanity’s physical continuance through the ages. Though she’d promised herself she wouldn’t no matter how great the pain, she had finally given in to the most natural urge associated with the birth of a child, and, at the moment the head finally forced its way from the birth canal and made its way slowly into the world, her body could take no more. She’d heard that scream so many times in the past, from others in the same position, and had thought those women weak and incapable of self-control. Now, she knew better.

The man in the white coat whose hand she gripped tightly spoke gently to her, reassuring, coaxing. “It won’t be long now, it will soon be over, and all will be well.”

She was sweating; her legs ached from being held apart for so long by the stirrups. He’d insisted on them, in case he needed to take immediate action if complications developed, and her back felt as though it would never again be free of pain. Over and over in her head she asked herself if anything was worth the pains and the humiliating exposure she was enduring, and over and again the answer came back to her. Of course it was!

As the man had promised, it was soon over. The pain gradually subsided, and the woman, free at last of the weight she’d carried within her womb for so many months, and with the pain of childbirth receding into memory, slept. The man sat watching her contentedly, knowing that between them, they had achieved something special, perhaps as all men who witness the birth of a child feel, though this was more than special, and he knew it. He had no idea of what the future might have in store for any of them, but for now, he basked in the glow of success as he watched the sleeping woman’s breasts heave gently beneath the thin gown as she breathed rhythmically in her deep, well deserved sleep.

Darkness fell over the small isolated cottage, the sound of the ocean waves breaking on the nearby beach. The man checked one last time that his charges were happily sleeping, and as a combined sense of relief and elation crept over him, he finally succumbed to the tiredness in his limbs, his eyes slowly closed, and he too drifted into a peaceful sleep. There was much work to do; it would take time, patience, and much trial and error. But that could wait until tomorrow.

Chapter One

Turin, April 1976

The news from around the world had hardly been good. On the 2nd April of that year, Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia stepped down as monarch of his country in the face of the rising tide of communism that had taken hold of the land, to be replaced by Pol Pot, who became Prime Minister, and virtual dictator of that beleaguered nation. Few people could have envisaged at that point the holocaust that would soon sweep across Cambodia, killing millions and bringing fear, degradation, and sweeping poverty to almost all who dwelt within Pol Pot’s evil sphere of influence.

Whilst the happenings in South-East Asia were serving to make headlines around the world, news of lesser global proportions but of intense personal importance were the chief topic of speculation at the home of Antonio and Lucia Cannavaro, where news of paramount importance had arrived.

“The letter, Antonio, I’ve got the letter, from the clinic. I’ve been accepted!”

“Cara, cara, I’m so happy for you, for us, my beautiful wife. Maybe now we will be able to have the family we have longed for.”

“Yes, my husband, and they will pay us well for allowing me to let them use their new methods upon me.”

“As long as it is safe, then I am happy, my darling. Please, may I see the letter?”

Lucia passed the letter to her husband, who began to read.

The Clinique Sobel

Brussels

28th March 1976

+32 (0)2 640 97 97

Dear Signora Cannavaro,

I am delighted to inform you that, following your application to the clinic, and the subsequent results of the tests carried out by our representative in Turin, it has been decided to offer you a place on our experimental infertility treatment programme.

As was made clear at your local interview, you will be required to spend a period of two months with us, during which time we will apply a revolutionary technique developed by our medical team to bring an end to your infertility and hopefully to ensure that you and your husband will be blessed with a child of your own in the near future.

At the end of your time here, you will be paid the agreed sum of two thousand dollars to recompense you for the time you will spend here and to compensate for the separation from your husband.

At all times during your stay here, we will adhere to safe medical practices and you will at no time be in any danger of harm. As was also pointed out to you at your interview, however, the practices we employ are revolutionary in the field of medicine, and it is necessary that you do not reveal your participation in these trials to anyone outside of your immediate family, and preferably then only to your husband.

Your failure to adhere to these conditions will invalidate this offer to participate, and your place will be offered to some other fortunate lady.

Please be kind enough to telephone the above number at your earliest convenience to confirm your acceptance of this offer, and please follow this with your signed acceptance.

Congratulations once again on your success, and I shall look forward to making your acquaintance when we see you at the clinic on May 1st.

Yours sincerely

Charles DeVries

Dr. Charles DeVries

Administrator

Antonio and Lucia danced around their tiny apartment together. They were far from wealthy, Antonio making just enough for them to live on from his job as a motor mechanic at the small service garage down the street. He and Lucia had been trying for a baby since they were married three years ago. Tests had shown her to be highly unlikely ever to conceive naturally because she had a small blockage in her fallopian tubes. Further, Antonio had been found to have a very low sperm count, so their chances of a natural conception were minimal.

The tiny advertisement in the local newspaper had seemed like a message from God to Lucia. The new clinic had recently opened its doors to the public, and they were seeking women with clinically diagnosed infertility to take part in trials of their new treatments for the problem. They promised a high chance of success, and even to pay those accepted for their time.

Lucia had been delighted to be invited to the office of a local doctor who had been appointed by the clinic to ascertain her suitability for the project, and had attended all the necessary and at times invasive tests required by the clinic. The doctor had sent his report to the clinic and now she had the letter, and she was happy, happier than she’d felt for a long time. Antonio shared in that happiness with his wife, dancing once more round the tiny, cramped living room of their one-bed apartment, where they both hoped soon to hear the sound of a baby’s voice to join with their own.

“We shall have to buy you some new clothes for the journey, and for your stay in Belgium,” said Antonio.

“We cannot afford such extravagance, Antonio,” replied his wife. “We must save our money for the time when the baby comes.”

“If it is a success,” Antonio cautioned her, trying to be realistic about their chances.

“Oh, it will be, my darling, I just know it will be,” she replied.

Over the next week, other couples across Europe and in the United States received similar letters of acceptance, and the delight of the young Italian couple was reflected in the joy and the excitement experienced by those fortunate enough to have been selected. At that moment, Doctor Charles DeVries, administrator of the pioneering new infertility clinic set in the heart of one of Europe’s oldest cities, could have asked for and been granted anything in their power to give by those young people, such was their gratitude at receiving this opportunity to become parents.

They of course couldn’t know that DeVries himself would have little or no part to play in the actual treatment they received at the clinic. He was after all just the administrator of the facility, but he did enjoy being the public face of the clinic, and he worked hard to cultivate his image as the benign and caring father figure of the establishment. Every visitor to the facility commented on his ability to put the most nervous of patients quickly at ease.

In a matter of weeks, women from around the globe began their journeys, by air, by sea, and by train to the revolutionary new clinic, where for all of them the one hope was to see their dreams of motherhood being turned into reality.