The Pigeon Project Read Free Page A

laboratory. See if there is any corroborating evidence.”
    Major Kedrov watched Kapitin go to the desk and take up the journal, and then watched Petrovsky follow the servant into the corridor. For a while, he remained immobile, staring at MacDonald’s bedroom door. After three or four minutes, he began to pace in a small circle, waiting.
    It was Dr. Kapitin who intercepted him, brought him to a halt. The scientist held up MacDonald’s journal. “It is here,” Dr. Kapitin said cautiously. “The professor claims to have found it. He is very explicit.” He opened the journal and located the passage. He read it aloud. “‘At 5:15 this afternoon… From this day on, my formula, C-98, will extend the longevity of every human being on earth from an average age of seventy-two to an average age of 150.’”
    “Can that really be?” said Major Kedrov with wonder in his voice.
    Dr. Kapitin’s brow wrinkled. “I do not know. Great progress had been made in the field, but even the most optimistic did not expect the discovery to come for another forty or fifty years.” He tapped the journal. “Of course, this could be an elderly man’s delusions or plain romantic nonsense—more wish and hope than reality—leaping prematurely at conclusions.” He hesitated. “Still, Professor MacDonald’s work is not unknown to me. While I am acquainted with him only slightly from his many visits here, I have read his papers. He is greatly respected internationally, has high standing in the field. But this…” He closed the journal and rubbed the cover thoughtfully. “It is impossible to say. We would have to know more.”
    “We do know more,” a voice interrupted. The speaker was Dr. Petrovsky, approaching with a sheaf of charts attached to a board. Vasily followed closely after him. “These meticulous records of MacDonald’s tests on his laboratory animals are conclusive. The segregated group he injected with some kind of formula he calls C-98 has lived twice its normal lifespan. There can be no question in my mind. Professor MacDonald has made some landmark discovery, perhaps one of the most important of all time—one of such meaning and magnitude as to be almost incomprehensible in the effects it will have on the human race.”
    “I am not interested in the human race,” said Major Kedrov flatly. “I am only interested, first and last, in the welfare of the Soviet Union, our beloved Motherland.”
    “Of course, of course,” agreed Dr. Kapitin.
    “So now we deal with reality.” Major Kedrov stared once more at the bedroom door. “It is time we congratulate Professor MacDonald.”
    As the three started toward the bedroom door, Vasily darted ahead of them. He wrenched at the doorknob and flung the door open, stepping back to allow his superiors to pass him.
    Major Kedrov reached inside, snapped on the light, and entered. He stopped in his tracks, eyes widening at the empty bed. He glanced about the room, walked slowly to the closet, opened and closed the door. He moved to another door beside it, opened it, and peered into the bathroom. He backed away, once more studied the room, and then he observed the open window.
    “Well, now,” he said. He half-turned, narrowed eyes fixed on Vasily. “You are sure he went to sleep?”
    “Leonid told me he was going to take a nap,” said Vasily nervously.
    “Could he be anywhere else in the house?”
    “No, sir. I kept an eye on the room here.”
    “The window. Did he always keep the window open when he slept?”
    “I-I don’t remember. I don’t think so.”
    Shvernik reappeared in the bedroom doorway.
    “Major—”
    “Yes?”
    “We have found the assistant, Leonid, in his room. He was undressing for bed. We questioned him about the discovery. He claims to know nothing about it. He says his duties were limited to keeping the laboratory in order and watching over the test animals.”
    “He lies,” Vasily interrupted. “He and the professor were in the living room for