Biowar

38

Dr. Kegan had an excellent stereo system, and while his CD collection favored sixties and seventies rock, there were seventy-three CDs devoted to jazz.

Seventy-three was an extremely interesting number. Not only it was it prime — which by definition meant it had power — but also in many Christian mystical systems it represented the union of Christ and the Trinity—“7” and “3.” Seven alone—“4” equals man, “3” equals God. So it was 433—another prime. This filled Johnny Bib with a certain amount of awe, which merely compounded his excitement when he discovered that the first CD in the collection was a Thelonious Monk compilation. The music of Monk, with its complicated references and atonal digressions, was to Bib’s mathematical mind an artistic precursor to the revelations of chaos theory. Or, more precisely, a statement of the underlying principles, which of course were anything but chaotic.

Johnny Bib slid the disk into the player and cranked it; the notes began to fill not only the library where he was working but the entire house, ported through an admirable remote arrangement. But just as Johnny began pondering the simple yet elusive rifts of “Ruby My Dear,” the phone rang.

“Bib,” he said, grabbing the line and answering as if he were in his own office.

“Hello. This is Dr. Chaucer. Mr. Rubens directed me to call.”

“Yes?”

Johnny listened as Chaucer explained that they had developed new information regarding the targeted bacteria. It seemed as if it would turn out to be a penicillin-resistant strain built from the bacteria that caused rat-bite fever. Did that ring any bells?

A curious turn of phrase, thought Johnny as Monk’s piano jangled in the back.

“Could the DNA itself be an encryption?” asked Johnny Bib.

“Well, we haven’t gotten the DNA sequence itself,” said the scientist uncertainly. “In any event, even with a bacteria, it would be exceedingly long.”

“Chaucer, right? Any relation?” Johnny Bib had always wondered why there were 24 tales, or even the 124 contemplated. These were not auspicious numbers.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re saying.”

Monk slapped into “Well You Needn’t.” That said it all for Johnny Bib.

“What was your question?” asked Johnny.

“I, uh — is there anything that you’ve come across that might have to do with treatment-resistant disease, specifically rat-bite fever?” said Chaucer. “And…”

Plants — it was the plants!

“… was there any evidence regarding something like penicillin, because there would have been—”

“Put on Mr. Rubens. I have important information for him,” said Johnny Bib.

“Uh—”

“We can discuss your questions later. Please. This is of vital importance.”