"I changed the procedure this time," comes a voice. "I injected the special Beta enzyme separately from the activated stem cells. Whatever happens will happen at the enzyme's own pace now. And I kept the dosage as low as I could. We'll be monitoring her telomerase levels throughout the day. If there's no rejection, we will be past the first phase."
"Is the dosage the only difference from before?" comes the other, accusing voice.
"At this point, David, manipulating the Beta is an art, not a science. I'm just attempting to create antigens, the way a smallpox vaccination does. Then we'll try to harvest them. This is not really a full‑scale Beta procedure. I don't plan to do that ever again."
There was another long silence.
"That man who was here with her. Her cousin, did he say? I saw no family resemblance, but he seemed very upset."
"That's why I had him sent upstairs. I think he's the reporter W.B. was so concerned about. Anyway, he's gone."
Stone. She realizes that's who they're talking about. And now he's gone. She's on her own.
Next the voices drift away for a time, into some echo space that mutes them. Finally, though, they come back.
"This should be adequate for another four hours. After that, you'll need a glucose IV to keep her hydrated."
"I've already put it on her chart. By then we should have some idea of which way this is going. I'm thinking, I'm praying, that this time is going to be the charm. That I've learned how to modulate the enzyme."