The Cuckoo In The Nest Chapter 22

©GeraldineBanksJanuary2025

The Washington Albany Research Centre was at first sight a very large, well financed University Campus. Once you passed through the first Security Gates and the trees that surrounded the Centre. You could see the large impressive buildings covered in reflective glass. They stood out on the manicured lawns like glistening jewels on the horizon. The foremost building was glass and steel with a long straight driveway leading up to it. The only thing missing were students wandering on the impressive acres of grass. Sandy squinted as the sun caught one of the steely glass spires and shot a high intensity beam in her eye. She immediately reached into her handbag for her sunglasses.

As the car glided up the driveway, they were stopped by a security barrier .Sandy noticed a small Portacabin beside the barrier which was manned by uniformed guards from a Private Security Firm. Their uniforms had badges on them. Sandy noted the Company’s name and intended to write it down when she had the chance. She reflected, however, that for her sake it would be safer to try to remember it. Her notes would probably be checked and why would she need to know the name of the Security Company? She wanted to appear totally supportive of Allenby’s organisation. She felt that he would be adverse to hostile criticism or to anyone digging too deep.

The chauffeur appeared at the passenger door and opened it, Joss beckoned to Sandy to get out of the car to sign in with security. Once inside the cabin Sandy had her photograph taken which included an iris scan . Sandy was given a few forms to sign and one of the guards went out to the car to check with Joss. When he returned he said firmly to the guard doing the inputting on the computer.

” Yes access , all areas”.

Sandy was going to be on site for a couple of days ; she had been given a Condo on “The Bay Area”. As Joss had said the accommodation was near leisure facilities. She was given a map which detailed the weights room, sauna and swimming pool as well as a running and jogging track and trail. The iris recognition would give her access to anywhere she wanted to go.

Sandy was relieved when she picked up her information pack and got back in the car with Joss. She was feeling claustrophobic as if she was entering a spider’s lair. Joss was speaking to Professor Allenby on the phone when she sat back down on the soft leather seats. Sandy couldn’t help but notice that there was some warmth in the relationship and that Joss spoke gently to the Professor.

” OK, we’ll meet you in the Atrium.” she finished her call. ” Sandy, slight change of plan , no time to freshen up yet. One of the Professor’s meetings was cancelled , he wants to meet you for lunch, is that alright?” Joss turned and looked at Sandy.

“You are very honoured, he rarely stops for lunch.” Joss smiled.

” That’s brilliant, to be truthful that’s great, I mean it’s only a short visit , so I can freshen up later.”

The car continued it’s stately journey and glided silently along past the main building, it made a left turn and stopped outside another impressive glass fronted building. As Sandy got out of the car, she gazed at the enormous impressively etched Romanesque Glass door, which featured many colours. As Joss and Sandy approached, the two doors slid apart effortlessly .Joss turned and told the driver to drop off Sandy’s luggage at her condo. The driver nodded and silently departed.

Sandy and Joss walked into the large plant filled space. It was full to the brim of exotic plants and they were displayed at all levels that the eye could see. Joss made small talk to Sandy as they walked towards the elevator along a raised platform which appeared surrounded by an artificial pond. Sandy looked down at her feet ; the impression it gave was that she was walking on water.

Joss raised her hand and pointed to the greenery.” These plants are all grown hydroponically with distilled water and organic nutrients, we grow some rare succulent herbs. The Professor is extremely interested in how we grow our own food and wants the Atrium to be totally self-sufficient. We haven’t quite reached that stage yet there are so many factors, we struggle with getting the nutrient mix right.”

They reached the elevator. As the doors opened automatically water appeared to swish around either side as they got in. Sandy thought her feet were going to get wet, but she remained totally dry.

” The Professor’s sense of humour, it usually makes people jump”. Joss laughed

As the elevator doors closed and the elevator began to go up , the displaced water moved back to it’s original location in the clear Perspex floor. Also as the elevator rose, plumes of water cascade off as they moved through the different floors, the effect was stunning and Joss explained that it also helped maintain the correct humidity as well as being a delightful feature.

On the upper floor ,where the restaurant was, the special effect plumes ceased and Sandy and Joss got out of the elevator. The effect was similar to downstairs, except the water had a sapphire blue hue. Again Sandy couldn’t help but look down at her feet to see if they were wet or stained blue , but they were bone dry.

Sandy remained poised as she saw Professor Allenby walking towards her and Joss, he was with a couple of other smartly dressed men. Allenby appeared to be giving them instructions, they parted ways just before Allenby reached Sandy.

” Ah, Sandy, I’m so pleased that you are able to finally see our site. I know it’s just a whistle stop tour, but thank you for coming. I’m so sorry Gerry couldn’t make it”. Allenby smiled and took Sandy’s hand. The grip was a little too tight and Sandy felt went on longer than she was comfortable with.

She talked as he held her hand.” Hello Professor , this is quite a place. I’m really looking forward to finding out about what you do here. It’s such important work. I hope we can do you justice in just two days. I just didn’t expect this.”

Allenby let go of Sandy’s hand.

” Come on , come on , please let’s have lunch, it’s certainly not your average work’s canteen.” Allenby turned and beckoned Joss and Sandy towards a table.

They all sat down and Sandy noticed that there were probably about thirty covers, all deceptively placed among pots of foliage. There were formally dressed waiters and waitresses moving backwards and forwards across the floor, imperceptibly taking orders, bringing dishes and clearing tables.

Sandy picked up her menu and began to read it. There was water on the table and some long glasses, Joss poured each one of them a glass. Sandy thanked Joss and sipped the water as Allenby and Joss continued to converse politely. When the waiter came Joss checked what everyone wanted and ordered.

The Professor began talking . Sandy listened and took a long sip of water to disguise her surprise when she saw Gregor, the Icelandic Researcher she had met at the Conference in Barcelona, at one of the tables on the opposite side of the “Atrium”. Sandy knew that Allenby had noticed she had spotted Gregor, but Allenby made no comment , he continued talking to her about the work of his Institute and Sandy replied by asking a question about how such a prestigious facility was funded. Allenby was very forthright on that issue, there were major donors , philanthropists who supported the work. They realised that cleansing the Human Genome was the only way to stop disease . You only needed to look at cancer figures, that had been a real success story and had helped him gain support. Cancer had effectively been eradicated. The rest would follow naturally , why stop at cancer. The money to be saved in curative care was enormous and easily funded the preventative measures that Allenby and his supporters were promoting.

“Already the Medical Insurance Companies are on their knees, imagine. There just is no need for intrusive medical care, we have healthy populations and we want to keep them that way.”

Sandy found herself accepting the Professor’s arguments and found that Allenby was being very open and frank. She was impressed by his arguments and it wasn’t until later when she was alone with her own thoughts back at the Condo that she realised what a good promotional job he had done on her.