Free Transhuman by Ben Bova Page A

a jolt of surprise he realized that Yolanda was jealous. She had wanted a quiet dinner for just the two of them. A romantic dinner. Bringing a third party was an intrusion. Bringing a younger woman was an affront.
    The dinner was hardly romantic. The two women talked to each other like a pair of Old West gunslingers sizing up each other. They practically ignored Luke as the waiter brought their salads and entrées and busboys removed their emptied plates. Tamara ate like a wolverine, while Yolanda barely touched her food.
    Luke saw that Tamara was really quite a good-looking young woman, with her high cheekbones and sparkling eyes. Not that Yolanda wasn’t pretty herself, but she was at least twenty years older than Tamara, getting kind of plump and wrinkled.
    â€œAre you sure that dragging the child across the country like this isn’t going to harm her?”
    Luke started to say, “We’ll be checking—”
    But Tamara cut him off. “She’s in an excellent facility, thanks to you. I’m going to run some scans on her tomorrow. If I see that she’s not up to traveling, we’ll have to return her to her parents, I suppose.”
    Petrone smiled coldly. “You can keep her at the clinic as long as you need to. I’ll take care of the paperwork.”
    â€œAnd the bills?”
    â€œPart of my discretionary budget.”
    Luke said, “That’s awfully good of you, Yolanda.”
    Still focused on Tamara, Petrone said, “That’s what friends are for, isn’t it? To help each other.”
    Tamara looked down at her plate. Nothing left but crumbs. Gazing up at Petrone again, she said, “You’re being a wonderful help. I’m sure Luke is very grateful.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Luke said eagerly. “We owe you a lot, Yolanda.”
    Petrone gave him a displeased look as their waiter came up to the table and asked, “Would you like to see the dessert menu?”
    Petrone immediately shook her head. Luke said, “Not me.” Tamara hesitated, then reluctantly said, “Me neither.”
    â€œCoffee, then?” the waiter asked. “Espresso, perhaps?”
    They ordered coffee, and Tamara excused herself.
    As she walked away from the table, Luke leaned toward Yolanda. “You know, she’s taking a big risk to come along with Angela.”
    Petrone nodded.
    â€œIt’s strictly professional. She’s Angie’s doctor. There’s nothing else going on.”
    Petrone’s pale gray eyes narrowed slightly. “Of course there isn’t. Why, she’s young enough to be your daughter. Maybe even your granddaughter.”
    Luke just stared at her.
    *   *   *
    A S LUKE DROVE the SUV back to Bethesda, Tamara said, “She’s interested in you.”
    Keeping his eyes on the traffic in the street, Luke muttered, “I didn’t know. Not until tonight.”
    â€œI bet she’s calling the FBI right about now.”
    â€œShe wouldn’t do that!”
    â€œHell hath no fury.”
    He glanced at Tamara sitting beside him in the shadows, profiled against the passing streetlamps.
    â€œWe can’t take Angie out of the clinic. Not yet.”
    â€œHell hath no fury,” Tamara repeated.
    Maybe so, Luke thought, but at the moment his most immediate problem was pressure from his bladder. Should’ve gone to the freaking toilet before leaving the restaurant, he grumbled to himself.

 
    Kennedy Clinic
    A NGELA WAS SLEEPING soundly when they got back to her room, the monitors alongside the bed showing her heart rate, breathing, and EKG all normal. Low normal, Luke saw, but nothing dangerous. Not yet.
    The telomerase inhibitors were flowing into her bloodstream, he knew. Now it would be just a matter of time until they started to show some effect. How long? he wondered. A few days, at least. Maybe we ought to stay here instead of trekking across the country. It’d