A Strange Cure

Jonathan glanced out the window at the sunset developing in the West. Fog had rolled in earlier, partially blocking the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. On any normal day, the bright orange hues of the brilliant sky would have calmed his soul. But not today.

“What do you see?” The strain in the voice of his professor was plain for all to hear. After all, this was no ordinary day.

“They’re down there, alright.”

“How many?”

Jonathan grabbed a pair of binoculars from the table and, from the view of his sixteenth-floor apartment, studied the scene below. “It looks like twenty, maybe thirty so far.”

A deep voice broke the silence. “Do they look angry?”

Jonathan looked at his friend Alex and sighed, resignation in his voice, “Honestly, I can’t really tell.”

Alex continued, “Professor, I don’t think we should stay here much longer. That crowd is only going to grow and become angrier. I say, let’s get out of here.”

The professor stood and moved toward the window, careful to stay out of sight of the growing crowd below. The professor, Dr. Joshua Chase, had seen his life turn upside down in a matter of weeks. As the senior professor of Virology at the University of San Francisco, he had been the first to identify the pathogen slowly killing everyone on the planet. The symptoms of this virus were more severe than anyone had ever seen. It was only a matter of time. Billions of people were going to die.

At first, he had been hailed a hero. After all, no one else had even come close to identifying this mysterious illness. He had even identified patient zero and traced how the virus had started to spread. Briefly, his discovery had given the world some hope. Researchers, pharmaceutical labs, and medical doctors had raced to find a cure or at least a vaccine to stop the spread. No one had yet succeeded. Now, without a cure, the world had come to a halt. People everywhere on the planet were sick and dying. This pandemic made all previous ones look like a simple common cold. But there was something far more unique about Dr. Joshua Chase.

He wasn’t sick.

Alex nodded to his friend Jonathan and the other students who had gathered in the elevated apartment. “Okay, everyone, let’s wait until it’s dark and find somewhere else to hide the professor.”

“Wait.” The professor's sharp response startled everyone. “I can’t let you put yourselves at risk for my sake. This is my battle, and I need to see this thing through.”

Alex started to speak, and instead, started coughing. After a few moments, he continued, “We have to protect you. I mean, come on, you found this thing. I think you can probably solve it too. Who else has the research you…?”

The others nodded in agreement. Once again, Alex launched into a severe bout of coughing. It was clear that he was becoming weaker.

The professor offered a weak smile and stepped to where Alex was seated. He placed his hand gently on his shoulder and said, “I know you mean well, Alex. But let’s face it, you have a family. You’ve been a good friend, but you know, as well as I do, that your own survival and that of your family is more important to you than what you want to do for me. Let’s not kid ourselves here.”

“Don’t say that, Joshua. I’d take a bullet for you, and you know that.”

“Do I? Look, I don’t want to argue with you. I know what I need to do.” He looked at Alex, then to Jonathan and the rest of his students. “You know that I love you guys. You’re my best students. You have helped me and supported me, and I appreciate it more than you know. But I have to finish this. I know where I need to go and what I need to do.”

Now it was Taylor who spoke, “What do you mean? What are you going to go?” The high pitch of her voice reflected the uncertainty they were all feeling.

“Trust me, guys. You don’t want to go where I am going.”

For a few moments, silence hung over the room like a dark cloud, interrupted only by the persistent coughing of those trying to absorb those last words.

“I’m out of here.” The voice came from near the front door. Jared looked at the professor with disappointment. “We put our trust in you. You said you could figure this thing out. And now you’re going to leave us? I don’t believe this.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “I can’t deal with this anymore.” With that last sentence, Jared stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The professor let out a long sigh as he looked across the room at the remaining students. They were brave, he thought to himself. The very fact that they were here indicated their support and loyalty. They probably didn’t even realize the danger they were in or what was soon to come. Finally, he spoke with careful deliberation. “I want you to listen carefully. I know you are scared. Honestly, so am I. You know I have tried to help this world with what I know. I shared my research and carefully laid out what I believe the world needs for people to survive. But it looks like there is no other way to help solve this. Jared was right, people have trusted me. And now, they are going to have to trust me again.”

The professor slowly looked into each student’s eyes. Some looked confused, but for those beginning to understand, he saw tears glisten on their cheeks.

The professor continued. “The world knows by now that I am the only one who is not sick. For some reason, that has made them angry. I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. I have a gift to share with this world. I sure didn’t want this ending, but if it means that the whole world will survive, what choice do I have?”

“What are you going to do?” Jonathan asked.

“The medical community has already determined that there is something in my blood that has kept me from getting sick. And it’s not the usual things that make a vaccine. It’s something else. They want to take that from me.” The professor paused to let that last sentence sink in. For a few moments, no one spoke, no one coughed. The only sound was the hum of the overhead fan. The professor’s words were forming a clear picture of what was coming. Then, in a voice no louder than a whisper, he continued, “What they don’t realize is that I am willing to give it if it means the world will live.”

Alex blurted out, “Are you sure? There has to be another way.”

“Yes, I am sure. And Alex, I think you were right earlier. We do need to get out of here. I want to go to Golden Gate Park. I’ve always found that is where I do my best thinking.”

***

Sixteen stories below, Jared emerged from the building still angry at the helplessness he felt. He needed to do something. He didn’t want to lose control of this situation. The professor was giving up too soon. He glanced down the street at the crowd that had formed. It didn’t take long for him to recognize the ones who were in charge. It was obvious. They were the only ones wearing bio-hazard suits to protect themselves. Surely, these people could intervene and convince the professor to continue his research.

“Excuse me,” Jared shouted from some distance away. “Excuse me. I need to talk with some of you.”

“What do you want?” The voice was muffled by the suit, but the tone was clearly angry.

“I know where Professor Chase is.” As soon as the words had left his mouth, he began to regret his decision. What was he doing? It was as though there were two voices in his head competing for attention. One regret, the other rationalizing his choice to betray the professor’s location. The latter voice won. “I know where he is going. I mean, right now, he is up in an apartment on the sixteenth floor. But I don’t think he’ll stay there. The others were already talking about moving him.”

That seemed to get the attention of the people in the suits. One seemed to be clearly in charge.

“Okay, tell us what you know. Where is he going?” The suit had a name tag, Dr. Anna Chen. “And what’s in it for you? What do you want?”

Jared hesitated. He thought he recognized the name. This was the chief of infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco. Honestly, he wasn’t sure how to answer that last question. He really hadn’t thought that far ahead. He just wanted to see the professor continue his work. “I don’t know what I want. All I know is that we are wasting time. I think I know where they might go.”

Dr. Chen motioned to her associate. “Take care of him.”

The associate reached into a small bag and pulled out a wad of bills. Without counting, he handed them to Jared. Dr. Chen nodded her approval.

At first, Jared recoiled. “What’s this. I didn’t ask for this.”

“Take it.” Dr. Chen could read the conflict on Jared’s face and continued. “It’s a small price to pay for our survival. Now, where is he?”

Jared started stuffing the bills into his pocket before realizing their meaning. Before he could finish, he started coughing violently. The pain in his throat and the greater pain in his soul threw him emotionally off-balance. This isn’t what he wanted. He wanted to help. He wanted to survive just like everyone else.

When the coughing subsided, he croaked out, “I don’t want your money.” Jared threw the money back at the suit.

“Whatever. Take it or leave it. At this point, it doesn’t matter.” Dr. Chen was growing impatient. “Just show us where Dr. Chase is going. We will take it from there.”

That last sentence sent a chill down Jared’s spine. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but it sounded sinister.

***

Alex led the professor and the remaining students to an exit on the other side of the building where no one was watching. With the help of a dim flashlight, the whole group moved quickly and jammed into the small space of an old VW van. The professor rode up front with Alex. Despite their concerns, the professor tried to assure them that it would all work out.

“Listen, I know you’re all worried, but I have a plan. If it works like I know it will, it will be the end of this pandemic. You have to trust me.”

The professor listened to the murmurs coming from the back of the van and sighed. He knew they had doubts. He also knew they were afraid. He couldn’t blame them. He was, too. The scientific community had already developed numerous vaccines; none of them had proven successful. That is why Joshua knew what he needed to do.

They raced down Fell Street, alone on a thoroughfare that used to be bumper-to-bumper. Since the pandemic, the traffic in the city had become much lighter. Most people were afraid to leave their homes and had sheltered in place to avoid exposure to the virus. It made sense. Still, the virus had found its way into every corner and crevice of the world. No one was immune.

When they crossed Stanyan Street, the sun had completely disappeared beyond the western horizon. The professor asked Alex to pull over.

“You guys can find a place to park. I’m going to walk to Hippie Hill. I love to walk the path through the trees.”

Alex protested, “No, let us go with you. It’s dark, and it’s not safe for you out there alone.”

“You know where to find me. I need to think and pray.”

“Okay.” Alex realized it was no use arguing with the professor. He seemed determined by a destiny that no one in the group understood.

By the time Alex and the others reached Hippie Hill, they saw the professor seated on the grass ahead. It was strange to see him like this. Even at this distance, they could tell he was deeply troubled.

“Do you think he plans to do what he said earlier?” It was an honest question that Jonathan asked. No one would expect someone to just volunteer their life without a fight.

Alex stopped and faced Jonathan. “I don’t know about that, but I plan to do everything I can to stop it.”

“How?”

Alex stopped again and quietly pulled a small shiny revolver from his pocket. “Like this. This is how I will stop it.”

“Are you crazy? You’re going to get us all killed.”

Alex sighed. “Somebody has to do something. I’m not going to let this go down without a fight.”

Just then, the faint sounds of sirens emerged from the hill below. They were coming.

Jared.

He must have told the authorities where to find the professor. Alex thought to himself, “I’ll deal with him later.”

When Alex and the other students reached the professor, the crowd led by Jared and Dr. Anna Chen had already converged on them.

“Well, if it isn’t the esteemed professor. Hello, Joshua.” Dr. Chen’s voice dripped with contempt as she uttered each word.

“Dr. Chen. Anna. How nice to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Cut the crap, Joshua. You know why we’re here.”

Alex was drawing closer to their exchange. Soon, he could hear every word. When he was within a few feet of them, he pulled out the small revolver, the darkness hiding his intention. A faint reflection from the shiny metal caught the professor’s eye. Quickly, he stepped in front of Alex and faced him. In one swift movement, he batted away the gun.

“Alex, not like this.” The whisper carried an intensity that made everyone step back.

“No, Joshua. Please. I know what you’re going to do. It won’t work. Even if it does, do you think they will give you the credit?” Alex could feel the explosive pressure of frustration in his chest. He realized that in a single moment, all they had worked for would be gone. He didn’t understand. How could this happen? Even as he looked into the professor’s eyes, he recognized something he couldn’t understand—peace. Finally, Alex stepped back, resigned to what his mentor and friend was about to do.

“Alex, I know you don’t understand now. But I need you. I need all of you to tell the truth. The world needs the truth. When this is over, you will understand. And, Alex, I’m counting on you.”

“What’s going on?” Dr. Chen asked. Fortunately, the dangerous exchange had been lost in the darkness. She stepped forward once again. Determined, she ordered, “Officers, handcuff this man.”

In that moment, the darkness surrounding them smothered the noise of the arrest. Alex turned and looked to each of the students who were still present. Some had already left. A deep sadness etched itself into their expressions. So, this was it. It was finished.

Alex found Jonathan comforting Taylor as she wept quietly. It was so unfair.

“I think I know where they are taking him.”

Alex looked at his friend and wondered whether it was a good idea to be seen now, following a man who had lost the world’s respect. He might feel lost, but he still needed to survive.

Finally, he sighed, “Okay, Jonathan, let’s see where they take him.”

As they walked slowly following the procession, Alex turned to Jonathan and asked, “By the way, have you seen Jared? I need to deal with him.”

“I saw him running down the hill right after they cuffed the professor. I think I saw him crying. I’m not sure.”

“Whatever, I guess I’ll deal with him later.”

The building was gray and depressing. It looked completely lifeless. Like so many buildings, it mirrored the character of a modern society absorbed with meaningless pursuits. Alex wondered, “How could anything good come from such a place?”

***

The world is full of strange ironies. This one topped them all. Several days after Professor Chase was detained, Jonathan was banging on Alex’s door.

“Okay, Okay. I’m coming.”

Jonathan was out of breath. “I got here as soon as I could. Look.” Jonathan thrust the morning paper into Alex’s hands. The headline read: “A Cure Discovered.”

Alex quickly studied the article. It was no surprise that Dr. Joshua Chase was never mentioned. The article was giving all the credit to Dr. Anna Chen and her team of researchers. It figured. They had never intended to credit him. To them, the professor was expendable and unnecessary. The article reported that their team had worked tirelessly to create the ultimate vaccine. They were sure it worked. The article even included several pleas for everyone to accept this cure. The real irony was that no one seemed interested in this vaccine. To the world, this was just another empty promise, like so many before. But Alex knew better. This was real. The cure was real. This was no empty promise.

In that moment, Alex realized that he never really understood the professor. He knew him, that was certain. But there was something about him that was still a mystery. He had seen with his own eyes what had happened. Yet, he still couldn’t explain it. He now knew what he needed to do. He had to tell the truth. The world needed to know. After the endless struggle of this pandemic, the world could finally live.