know? Liron_annoyed: Everything. Starting with that laboratory of yours. Chromosome: That's easy to start with. Liron_annoyed: So start, then. Where is it? Chromosome: First of all, formally there is no lab at all. It doesn't matter where it is. For your readers, it can be just a secret lab somewhere, and that's it. Liron_annoyed: OK. Now tell me about the code you mentioned. Chromosome: Code? Liron_annoyed: Yes, the letter you sent, you talked about the code you cracked, the one of Bobby the Chimp. Liron_annoyed: And why did you call him Bobby. You couldn't have chosen a better name? Chromosome: Sure we could have. And we did. I gave you a fake name. Liron_annoyed: : -))))) An alias for an APE? Chromosome: Didn't I tell you EVERY detail here is fake? If I give you the real name then Security will understand that what you’re writing about is not imaginary but real, based on information you somehow got. Liron_annoyed: But they can’t PROVE it. Chromosome: They don't need to. But listen, that’s why I chose you in the first place. You are an author who already wrote some fantasy or sci-fi shit, and it's known you're interested in science and genetics and God and stuff. Liron_annoyed: How do you know it's known? Chromosome: I tracked down the sites you tend to visit. Liron_annoyed: All the sites? Chromosome: : -)))) Liron_annoyed: Fuck you! Liron_annoyed: So what about that code? You never told me. Chromosome: It’s related to the genome. Liron_annoyed: That, I've already realized. But the genome is a great thing. You were talking about something specific. Chromosome: The code of death. Liron_annoyed: ??? Chromosome: The mechanism responsible for your life span. Liron_annoyed: Mmmmm. Liron_annoyed: Interesting. Liron_annoyed: You mean the mechanism of aging? Liron_annoyed: Hello? Liron_annoyed: Helooooooooooooooooooo? Liron_annoyed: I guess it’s the boss again? Liron_annoyed: Well, I'm waiting! Mitochondria: Sorry. Liron_annoyed: Why did you change your nickname? Mitochondria: I was being tracked, so I had to change chat servers. It's nothing actually, this crap happens to me a lot. They won't catch me THAT easily. Liron_annoyed: I admit that I have no idea what you are talking about. What chat server? Who is tracking you? Mitochondria: I don't really know. It started a few months ago but I avoid it easily. This is also why I turned to you. I don’t want them to catch me before I have a backup. Liron_annoyed: And I'm the backup? Oh well. Mitochondria: Listen, sweetie. I'm going to give you an amazing story like you have never heard in your life and I'm going to risk my life for it. But this story has to go out and eventually you will understand why. Liron_annoyed: Because eventually we all die? Mitochondria: I'm glad you're laughing about it but it is a serious. Liron_annoyed: Death is a serious thing. Mitochondria: You say things you know nothing about. So just shut up and listen and I hope you keep track of these conversations. Liron_annoyed: Don’t worry. Mitochondria: So we were talking about the death code. And I emailed you about how our ape died just as we expected him to do. You have any questions about that? Liron_annoyed: It’s not really as you expected, it was a few minutes short, as I recall. Mitochondria: In terms of the experiment, it is negligible. Mitochondria: Tell me, do you have ANY idea how amazing this discovery is? I'm starting to feel I am wasting my time talking to you. Liron_annoyed: NO! No, you are not. Mitochondria: Really? Liron_annoyed: I am listening. Seriously, I am. No joke. Mitochondria: : -)) Liron_annoyed: So... Bobby died. What were the implications of this?
*
Zomy looked again and again at the champagne cork in his hand. Minutes after he had finished answering all the questions, he went back, with relief, to his office. It was not a large room. An alcove with a door would describe it better. An alcove that contained his