The Thanatos Syndrome

inquiries last night. They know what we know and that we know, even the individual cases. I’ve been at my terminal and telephone for the last two hours.”
    â€œThat’s okay. I’ve already spoken to Comeaux.”
    â€œHere’s something that’s not okay.” Her voice slows. “Neither NIH nor NRS nor ACMUI ever heard of a sodium pilot by the name of Blue Boy or any other name. What do you think of that?”
    â€œMaybe they don’t want to tell you.”
    â€œTom, I’ve got Grade Four clearance. I can access all three of them. Furthermore, I talked to Jesse Land himself.”
    â€œWho’s he?”
    â€œThe director of ACMUI, and a friend and classmate at Vanderbilt. He would know and he would tell me.”
    â€œThat is strange, but right now all I want to do is—”
    â€œTom.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œListen, please. This is stranger than you think. This means that Blue Boy is unauthorized officially and must have been put together by some sort of dissident coalition from NRC and NIH with some foundation money, probably Ford—I think I picked up something from them—plus an interesting local political connection.”
    â€œVery interesting, but what are you worried about? Evidently you’ve already blown the whistle, told Jesse whoever.”
    â€œIt don’t work that way, Tom.”
    â€œIt don’t?”
    â€œYou don’t keep up with politics, do you?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThe way it is in politics, Tom, is that if you’re head of an agency you generally like to keep your job.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œTom, may I give you a couple of elementary political facts?”
    â€œSure. You’ve got a couple of minutes.”
    She speaks patiently, patting my thigh to make her points. “Number one: Tom, you are aware that the presidential election will occur next month?”
    â€œI was aware of that.”
    â€œYou’re aware that the incumbent ticket is a shoo-in, almost certain winners?”
    â€œI suppose.” I am thinking of all the political arguments at Fort Pelham, which were endless and boring and often inflamed to the point of fights.
    â€œTom, if this Blue Boy outfit can make it until November 7, they’ve got it made for good. Blue Boy can be presented as a fait accompli. They’ve got the clinical results, Tom, the numbers. And the numbers are going to be irresistible. And, Tom, they’re not only going to be authorized if they can make it by then, they’re going to be heavily funded. NIH can’t turn them down. You know that, don’t you?”
    â€œWell—” I look at my watch. School is out.
    This time Lucy’s hand stays on my thigh. “But there’s one fly in the ointment, Tom.”
    â€œIs that so?”
    â€œThat’s so. Guess who?”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œYou.”
    â€œMe.”
    â€œTom, you’re the one thing they’re worried about. You’re the danger. They even have a name for you—or what they’re afraid you might become.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œAn intervener. Which is to say, the deadliest sort of whistle- blower. Tom, they have to do something about you.”
    â€œI know. They offered me a job. On the team.”
    â€œAre you taking it?”
    â€œI haven’t decided.”
    â€œTom, for Christ’s sake, they can send you back to Alabama, or—”
    â€œOr?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œHow could they send me back to Alabama?”
    â€œTom, you busted your parole when you crashed into the shunt site on Tunica Island. They have you.”
    â€œI see. So?”
    â€œHe thinks you’ve already blown the whistle on them.”
    â€œHow’s that?”
    â€œIt seems the deal between your pal Bob and your Father Smith has fallen through. Father Smith is not only not going to sell his hospice to them, he called the wrath of God down on him. Bob thinks you told him about the pilot and that you’re going to turn loose the Catholics and fundamentalists on him. That would blow it.”
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œFortunately, you’ve got one thing going for you. No, two things.”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œOne, Father Smith is crazy as a jaybird and everyone knows it. He spoke to Bob through a bullhorn.”
    â€œWhat’s the other?”
    â€œThe other is, you’re not exactly the type to get involved