Free Genesis by Michael McCarthy Page A

the
baby. Besides, if he’s going to live in this new world, he’s going to have to
be a lot tougher than that, anyway,” Cooper rubbed Ilsa’s stomach.
    “You know you can’t feel anything yet? It’s
way too early for that.”
    “He can feel me,” Cooper replied
reflectively. There was a long moment of silence.
    “Is that man here to arrest you? Are you
involved in all of this somehow? Is that why he is here?” Ilsa reluctantly asked.
    “No. He is alone. If the Agency knew I was
here, they would have sent a team to kill me.”
    “A team? Are you that dangerous?” She
sounded impressed.
    “Man is the most dangerous animal on the
planet. When hunting such an animal, once must always take precautions. When
hunting a man, a team would most definitely be prudent.”
    “Why did he come alone then?”
    “There could only be one reason an Agency
man would have to track me down solo. If he is alone, then he is here for my
treasure. He is here for that.”
    “Do you really have a treasure?”
    “How else do you think I could keep paying
for all our dates the last two years?” Cooper grinned.
    “I don’t know. I just thought you got rich
on Social Security money.”
    They both laughed out loud. Cooper finished
his glass of champagne in one large gulp before standing up and setting his
empty glass on the table.
    “I have a treasure, but I can assure you,
it is not the type you are thinking. You will be safe here Ilsa, I promise. I
have to leave now, but I won’t be gone long.”
    “Where are you going?” Ilsa asked, with
concern in her voice.
    “I’ve got a job to do.”
    “Why can’t I go with you?”
    “You can’t be a part of this anymore than
you already are because of the baby. It’s too dangerous for you. You must
protect the baby. That is your only concern now. That baby will keep you safe
in the years to come. I promise you.”
    Ilsa nodded in understanding and began to
tear up.
    “What have you done? Please don’t lie to
me.” Isla pleaded with him to answer her directly.
    “I did what needed to be done.”
    “Did you cause all of this?”
    “Did I cause all of this? No, I did not
cause all of this! I did not create it, nor did I weaponize it. The Agency did.
Well, not created, but they learned how to contain it. How to weaponize it.”
    “So this is the result of some sort of
chemical weapon?”
    “No, not chemical. This is an advanced
biological weapon. A weaponized virus.”
    “So this is where it ends.”
    “No, this is not where it ends. This is
where it begins. It begins all over again. Like it has countless times in the
past. Trust me, the planet will be better off with humans back in the food
chain. But you should not be concerning yourself with any of this. Stress is
not good for the baby.”
    “Why Coop? Why did you do this? Why now?”
    “Why now? Simple. I can’t let my baby grow
up in this world. This world of half-wits and dip-shits. He deserves better than
that. The ocean already has more plastic than plankton floating in it. More than
ninety percent of the big fish are gone. The ocean is literally dying. Collapsing.
Do you understand the implications of that? The bottom of the global eco-food
system is collapsing. Man-made chemicals and pharmaceuticals are found in
almost every drop of water on the planet. Ninety-eight percent of native
forests are gone, ninety-nine percent of all native grasslands are gone, ninety-nine
percent of all native wetlands are gone. Tell me, Ilsa, how should I judge
mankind? By what standard? By whose standard? Whose standard should we
use? Do we use Mankind’s standards or the rest of the Animal Kingdom? At what
point is it time for someone to say enough is enough? Shall we ask the
Passenger Pigeon what his vote is? What about the Caribbean Monk Seal? Does he
get a vote? No Ilsa, I have looked all around in every direction, and I see no
sign of redeemability in mankind. No sign of hope for the future. No sign of
hope for my child. Not