Part 88 (2/2)

My G.o.d. She didn't have to watch. She could already feel it beginning to heal.

”What's ... what's going on? Is this--?”

”He had hopefully completed the Beta on you just before Kristy's mother showed up. But did it work the way it was supposed to? We didn't know.

Until now.”

”My G.o.d. I knew I was feeling--”

”You received just the right amount of telomerase injections,” Bartlett interjected, ”to induce the Beta without any side effects. It was the 'Goldilocks dosage' Karl had been trying to calculate, just enough that only aged or damaged cells are replaced, while healthy tissue is not altered.”

She now realized that was why she'd been having bouts of incredible energy.

”We're the only ones,” he went on. ”Just us. You and me. We've been given this gift, Alexa. And now we have the responsibility that goes along with it.” He glanced down at her hand. ”By the way, how's that cut doing?”

”What are you getting at?” It was definitely healing.

A wave of thunder boomed over the river, sending Knickers scurrying to Ally's side.

”What I'm getting at is that you and I are now two very special people.

We both are living proof of what the Beta can achieve. The question is, what are we going to do about it?”

She was still stunned.

”This is a lot to absorb. I'll have to think--”

”I've already thought about this and I believe it must be kept secret at all cost. At least for now.”

”But why? It's a miracle that--”

”That must be handled prudently. I need your cooperation with that.”

She was having extreme difficulty getting her mind around what he was talking about.

”I don't really know what's going on. I think I'd better see some doctors. And Stone is finis.h.i.+ng his book about ... I've got to tell him--”

”Those things cannot happen, Alexa.” He looked out at the river for a moment, then turned back. ”A brand-new world has dawned. Finally all things are possible.” He moved closer to her, then reached out and took her wrist again. She looked down and realized the cut on her hand was all but healed. ”For now, this has to be our secret, yours and mine.

Just us.”

She thought about all that had happened in the weeks since her wayward brother had accosted her running along this very river. It felt like an eternity.

”I'm asking you not to talk about this,” he continued. ”To anyone. You must give me your solemn word.”

She felt the grip on her wrist get stronger.

”Now that we know the Beta can work,” he went on, his voice piercing through the rain, ”I am forming an elite a.s.sociation, the Methuselah Society. Members.h.i.+p buys a guarantee that you can stop aging; in fact, you can pick the age you want to remain. Karl is sure he can do that, a.s.suming the Beta worked with you. And now we see it has. The first members.h.i.+ps will naturally be somewhat expensive, but as time goes by, the cost will be gradually scaled down to respond to market forces. One may only join with a companion, but for obvious reasons all those who undergo the Beta must be sworn to secrecy, on pain of death, since there's bound to be a hue and cry and government intervention if word leaks out that only individuals with significant resources can have this miracle.”

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