THE SWORD AND THE SICKLE

PART ONE

CHAPTER FIVE

PRESS DEBRIEFING

"Okay, Doctor, you have my attention. What should I do?"

"First, I need to know everything that has happened to you that would cause this, Mr. President."

"I am sorry, Doc, but I can't tell you that, so you will have to work with what you see. Besides, if I told you I would have to have you killed. What is your first impression, and what can you tell me at this minute?"

"Well, Mr. President, you are suffering from some type of rapid aging disease or condition, and some cases are documented. Usually, after something like this happens to a person your age, he or she has suffered some type of extreme shock to their system. Meaning this could be emotional, physical, or a medical condition, such as radiation poisoning. It might explain the slight glow you have to your face."

"So, what is it, doc? What do you think has happened to me?"

"Well, in layman's terms, you are aging faster because every cell in your body is damaged, and somehow all of your telomeres in each cell are unraveling. It could be a change in your genome where your liver can no longer filter a toxin such as copper, which causes Wilson's disease, but I have already run the tests on your liver years ago, and it showed no signs then that you have Wilson's disease. If you did, your eyes and skin would have a copper tone, instead of this weird glow. It could be some type of new cancer, which ravages the body in hours; maybe some alien shot you with a death ray, or simply, God decided it is time for you to pass. It could be that someone has poisoned you with trace amounts of radioactive material. Now, we can play twenty questions while you die in front of my eyes, or you can trust me and tell me exactly what has happened to you so I can start treatment."

"I will tell you some possibilities, and then you can ask questions if you want. First, it could be radiation, and well, I have no other thoughts about it. You will have to tell me what other possibilities are out there."

"Have you been exposed, knowingly, to radiation?"

"No, not to my knowledge," he watched as the doctor reached into one of his drawers and pulled out some type of device.

He held the device up to the President and ran it around his body. "No, you do not have any radiation poisoning as far as this device can measure. How long ago did you think this happened to you?"

"Four hours ago, a little after noon."

"That recently? I need to draw some blood and check your telomeres and rush the results, in the meantime, we do have anti-aging drugs that should slow your aging. Then I need to check for trace amounts of radiation levels in your blood. It would have to be something really potent to cause you to age this quickly."

"How long will this take, and when can you have me functioning at my best?"

"We know vitamin D is an anti-aging agent and will help to slow the deterioration of your telomeres. We also have a vast array of Alzheimer's medications to help your brain from deteriorating. The side effects will be minimal, upset stomach. But until we get you stabilized,d we need to hospitalize you so you can rest. Every bit of energy you use destroys your cells, and from what I see, your body is no longer producing new cells."

"Can't you just give me the medications and let me go back to work?"

"I am afraid that from where I stand, you will be dead in hours unless you do as I say. From the amount of aging I have seen in the few minutes we have been talking, time is of the essence."

"I need to talk to Vice-President Smithson and inform him about what is happening," said the doctor. "Mr. President, as your doctor, I am telling you that I authorize the powers of the President to be transferred to the Vice-President and I need to call him now."

"Doctor, the Vice-President is out of the country with my wife. Call the Speaker of the House, Dianne Menisci."

"Yes, sir," said the doctor as he began to make phone calls.

Meanwhile, at the Security Council meeting, the tone had reached a fevered pitch, as several members asked why they had not been informed about the situation. General Abrams was irate about being left out of the most recent loop and guaranteed them he would never have let the President of the United States be in a room with Levi and Laida Jackson alone. The Secretary of State reminded General Abrams that he had been informed earlier, and he was left out of the loop, because the President didn't want to frighten Levi away with a military presence. Abrams replied, "A lot of good that did him! Now that man, or whatever he is, is loose in the city and doing who knows what!" he shouted.

William Alderman said, "It doesn't matter who knew what, when, or why.... The problem is that we have a situation of grave importance, which has to be handled quickly. Now, can we get back to business, Madam Secretary?"

"Yes, we have to tell the public something, and fast. We have an aging President whom we cannot hide forever. Sometime, someday, he is going to make a public appearance, and then the whole world is going to be stunned. What should we recommend to the president, what shall we release, and who is going to tell the public? Obviously, it is not going to be the President, at the moment."

General Abrams replied, "Why don't we just dye his hair black and give him a makeover?"

"Jim said, "General. You have no idea how rapidly he is aging. My guess is he only has a few days before he is dead. I have already told the Vice-President Smithson of the situation, and he and the first lady should be back in eight hours, so he can assume power, and she can be with her husband."

General Abrams said, "I see. Perhaps, we should bring the CIA in on this."