THE TROUBLE WITH DECEIT

Part 10 Fortune favors the bold (Hopefully)

Sitting at that small table in a quiet pub with one of the most illustrious scientific names in his field seemed almost surreal to Peter. But he couldn't let sentiment or respect cloud his judgment. "I'm sorry Sir," he said "but no way! that would be a career ender for me, I am not this well known and revered professor like yourself. Those people back there, those scientists and professors of medicine, they would vilify me when they found out what we were doing. I am only just embarking on my career Sir, I cannot just throw it away on an act of impulse." Holding up his hand and showing the palm to Peter professor Tom Arnold said, "hear me out Peter, this virus, this Pollen flue, is going to wipe out probably 15 percent of the entire earth population. Now think Sir, when a flue bug finishes its cycle what historically happens next? I'll remind you. After around a year has passed the next edition comes along, always, in this case, it will be PF superbug, more efficient and even harder to stop. This one will wipe out around 90 percent of the survivors of the first wave. The remaining population of the world will consist of peoples from underdeveloped island groups and African and nomadic pockets of survivors. Civilization will be lost forever and mankind might easily become extinct." With his hand clutching his forehead Peter croaked "you are right Sir, I hadn't thought it through. And what about after that variant has run its course, another even more advanced PF?" Grimly Tom Arnold said "no! that will be it, to survive a virus needs a host and like the bubonic plague in the middle ages it will itself become extinct. A victim of its own success, as it will have eradicated its own breeding grounds."

"So what's the plan?" Peter enquired. "Well, your brother, you told me, is a teacher, and he was on one of the actual BTP's, I happen to think that is a very unlikely coincidence. You pulled some strings for him, didn't you!. You have someone on the inside. Contact him, or her, right now! and arrange a meeting, in say five hours or even less if it's possible." "Ok, you are correct!" Peter conceded, "but even if she does help us, the portals are all gone!." Smiling wryly Tom retorted, "no way Peter, that's just politics talking. Nobody throws away equipment worth millions of pounds, they simply disable it and tell the general public that it has been dismantled. Now what we need to do is to get the one used by your brothers' party back up and running again. Then we must send somebody wearing full isolation clothing through the portal to collect some 21st-century blood for us to work with. Now then Peter, are you with me on this or am I on my own?" "I'm in Tom" Smiling broadly Tom offered his hand, which Peter shook enthusiastically. "So Peter, what part of the world does the devious lady in question come from? Beaming at him Peter replied, "barely a ten-minute cab ride away Sir."

Hastily paying the cabbie they scurried along a long pathway to an imposing house of a style not seen much at all these days, obviously very old and much more spacious than any buildings erected in the last seven decades. In spite of its size, it turned out that Professor Ritch, in fact, lived there alone, also surprisingly she employed nobody to help her in the running of the big house. Ushering them inside to what was obviously her main living room they all were quickly seated and gratefully sipping hot coffees. "So! what brings you both here completely unannounced and looking, quite frankly as if you have just rolled out of a bar somewhere!" Laughing Peter said. "I apologise, Helen, in fact, that's not so far from the truth. I'm sure you recognise Professor Arnold from New Oxford. I won't beat about the bush with you Helen, I told him of the strings you pulled for me to get Derek on board for the BTP, but you will see, it was necessary." Tom then went on to explain everything that had occurred at the meeting and of how Peter had come up with the only solution on the table. "So now you see," Tom continued, "we are throwing ourselves at your mercy, because, to be frank, you are our only hope, mankind's only hope I and Peter happen to believe."

Two hours later and the three of them were at the secure facility at Sinclair Cambridge. Escorted inside by Colleagues of Helen's they were soon alone at the site of the huge portal. Chuckling Helen said to Peter, "if you could see your own face right now!" Shaking his head he said, "you were right Tom, the portal is intact, I am too gullible for this world!" Tom quickly put the hardest part of the plan to them both. "We are going to be breaking the law now in a major way, this will be viewed as a big crime if we are caught, maybe even treason against the entire planet, we mustn't get caught. So! are you gamblers my friends? I have to admit in my younger days I was very partial to the make or break casinoes. I lied to you both I'm afraid, but I needed to get you onboard. The truth is two of us go through, not one as I told you, and we will not be wearing protective suits, but rather the same attire as was worn by the BGT party that your brother Derek led." Helen was indignant, "I'm sorry, but over my dead body, think of the risk, if we should carry the virus back with one of us. Instant annihilation of everybody." "Nevertheless it will have to be done this way" Tom reiterated. "We need to get close to somebody without alarming them and then, we are going to have to trick them into giving us four vials of their blood. And to be clear, if they get suspicious we must take it by force, and that is why two of us will need to go through." Ok ok said Helen, "yes you are right, of course, and the odds of one of us being infected and not being aware of it are slim. I'm in!." "I'm in too!" said Peter. Turning to Helen Tom said, "ready the portal, we go the instant it is operational again, Peter and I will go as you need to be here to send us through and to make sure we come back. Peter, come with me, there are some items we will need to take with us and some precautions we must take also!"

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