"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 finishing 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 association, the Methuselah Society. Membership 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, assuming the Beta worked with you. And now we see it has. The first memberships 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."
"I think that's obscene," she said.