Mark of the Beast by Adolphus A. Anekwe

morning,” each said, as their names were given.
    â€œPlease, let’s sit down,” invited the governor.
    There was a brief exchange of more handshakes while everyone helped themselves to coffee and bagels. Sitting down at the east end of the small round conference room table, the governor began.
    â€œI have known Dr. Abramhoff for almost fifteen years now. We had an interesting conversation last time we met at the Sheraton just prior to the election. He very eloquently briefed me on a project that he has been working on at the Kankakee Federal Prison. I would like Dr. Abramhoff to explain the project to you. Okay, Doc.”
    Abramhoff explained to the panel his belief that some people are predisposed to engage in horrific criminal acts due to their genetic makeup, and that medical science can identify the genetic markers involved.
    â€œIndividual lives are nothing but manifestations of these various genetic programs. Science has successfully decoded the programs for various diseases. The coding processes are located at the HLA site. HLA coding is a lot different from DNA inheritance,” Abramhoff said. “In DNA, individuals are just manifesting certain characteristics that already existed in their parents, but HLA coding is unique to each individual.
    â€œI strongly believe that criminality is encoded on an HLA site, or several sites, and a test can be successfully cultivated to detect it, or them,” he concluded.
    â€œFascinating, don’t you think?” the governor asked, nodding his head at the health commissioner.
    â€œI’m really impressed,” Dr. Mary Jackson responded. “If what Dr. Abramhoff is saying is true, this would signal a significant advancement in science with national and international implications.”
    â€œHow can the state…” Dr. Artis started in his deep baritone voice.
    â€œLike I explained to the governor”—an excited Abramhoff did not wait for the question to finish—“we would like the state to fund the project at Kankakee along with any assistance we might get from the National Institutes of Health in Washington.”
    â€œI don’t know how we can do that,” Dr. Jackson said.
    â€œThe trick maybe is to find unallocated money, or discretionary money, and then funnel it through the health department. What do you think?” asked the governor, looking at Dr. Jackson.
    â€œYeah, I think through the health department, that will give it legitimacy and cover, especially from human rights advocates and the state legislators,” Dr. Jackson agreed.
    â€œWhat will we call it?” the governor asked.
    â€œA Health Department Study of Diseases in Criminals at the Kankakee Federal Prison,” Dr. Artis suggested.
    â€œSounds … okay?” grimaced the governor, hands outstretched, looking at Dr. Abramhoff.
    â€œThat’s fine by me,” Abramhoff said.
    â€œIf, and when, an association is established … what then? Gene therapy…?” Dr. Jackson asked the open-ended question.
    â€œWe will cross that bridge when we come to it,” Governor Roderick replied.

 
    3
    A T THE BEAUTIFUL AND recently opened Marriott Grande Lakes Hotel in Orlando, Florida, the American Academy of Immunology and Genetics Conference attendees could be seen everywhere. Dr. Abramhoff arrived Sunday evening at the hotel, driven from the airport in a chartered limousine. He was very impressed with the shiny marble floors, the marble walls, the elegance and ambience of the registration desk area, and how the hotel had that European look to it. The last time he had seen such a beauty was in Switzerland, at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva. After registration, he was ushered to his suite on the twenty-sixth floor.
    Dr. Dickerson had arrived earlier in the afternoon. She was disappointed by the location, mostly because there were no surrounding waterways except for the few small lakes scattered