Mark of the Beast (32 page)

“Yes,” the dean said. “A few of the faculty members, not many, have expressed concern about … how should I say this…? How you're allowing your religion to influence your research. They feel that your research may lose its objectivity. What do you think?”

“Who are these faculty members?” Dickerson asked, in an angry tone.

“You know I can't tell you that,” the dean said with a conciliatory smile. “I really believe they don't mean any harm. They are just scientists like you,” the dean added, “and they want religion to be kept out of science, as decreed by the Pope.”

“You know I can't do that,” Dickerson said. “What I discovered was based on science, but it has a deeper meaning, in my understanding. Religion is sometimes difficult for people to understand, and in the Bible, we were asked to use wisdom in our calculations. Dean, that's exactly what I did. There are things happening right now, as verified by the Pellagrini-Pinkett Project, and more are about to happen. I can't stop now. Maybe this is destiny at work, I don't know. Ask Dr. Abramhoff; he will tell you.”

With a huge smile on his face, the dean said, “That's exactly what I thought you were going say. Keep up the good work.”

 

3

T
UESDAY MORNING—6:30
A.M.
IN
San Diego, as most Californians were barely waking up—in Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court reconvened. Several days of arguments between the United States government lawyers on one side and the state of California on the other, rested on nine Justices who would render their opinion on the mandatory testing issue.

“So what do you think is gonna happen?” Pinkett asked Pellagrini, as they sat in the U.S. Supreme Court building waiting for the justices to return.

“I am not a betting man, but if my hunches are correct, they are probably going to reject California's argument,” Pellagrini replied, as he sat cross-legged, tapping his well polished shoe against the edge of the empty chair in front of him.

“What! What makes you think that?” Pinkett was surprised.

“Didn't you watch Chief Justice Harris's body language as he listened to the arguments? He clearly was exhibiting signs of indignation as California presented its oral argument.”

“I didn't perceive that at all. As a matter of fact, he smiled several times at the counselor from California,” Pinkett replied.

“That exactly is the point,” Pellagrini explained. “The smile was made as he sat back and listened, thumb resting on his jaw, his index finger near his temple, and the rest of his fingers covering his mouth. That's a bad sign in court. If he was leaning forward, hands clasped together while he smiled, I would give California the edge.”

“Let me guess, this is one of your occult analyses?” Pinkett mocked.

“Keep watching,” Pellagrini said.

“In case you have forgotten, several states have legislation in place ready to institute mandatory testing once the Supreme Court renders their opinion.”

Just as Pinkett was finishing her statement, the nine justices strolled out and sat at the bench. Chief Justice James Harris read the majority opinion.

“After thoroughly reviewing the Constitution of the United States, the various previous religious persecutions, and the wonderful criminal justice system in the United States that has worked for over two hundred years, the Supreme Court, in a five-to-four decision, has rejected the state of California's argument. We therefore urge the United States government and the state of California in particular to put in place a plan for total cessation of all mandatory testing.”

As they were exiting the Supreme Court building, Pellagrini said, “Human behaviors are most often easily predictable.” He then looked at a stunned Pinkett and smiled.

For the next several hours, all television stations in the country preempted their daily programming for an in-depth analysis of the Supreme Court decision. There were calls from various quarters for impeachment of the five justices that voted against mandatory testing. Sensing a huge national unrest, the president immediately took to the airwaves and urged all Americans to remain calm. He reminded all that the United States of America is still a country where the rule of law, not anarchy, governed. He urged restraint from those who might use the Supreme Court decision to incite violence.

After the president's remarks, Dr. Dickerson appeared in front of a huge television crew, which had camped outside the university administration building, to read a statement.

“We were truly disappointed at the Supreme Court's decision against mandatory testing,” Dickerson read. “We have shown beyond all reasonable doubt the associations between certain criminal elements and HLA B66. I have also postulated the association between HLA B66 and the number that stands for the beast. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the governor for his tireless efforts. I would also like to thank Dr. Abramhoff in Chicago for his dedication. He is such a brilliant man. I would also like to extend my deepest appreciation to the Pellagrini-Pinkett Project. They have truly opened our eyes. The HLA B66 issue is not dead, far from it. This is the beginning of our campaign, and I urge all good citizens to join our campaign. We all have been called, and it is up to us to answer that call. Thank you.”

A statement from Dr. Abramhoff was also read on the networks, expressing disappointment and dismay at the Supreme Court. His statement added that it made the work of determining predestination all the more difficult, but nonetheless science would go forward and someday prevail.

 

4

T
HE CAMPAIGN FOR THE
next president of the United States was gathering steam in several key states. The two candidates, tied up in several recent polls, were tirelessly searching for support from all fifty states. The battleground states were Florida, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Michigan, and surprisingly, New York.

President Steve McClellan, the Republican running for reelection, had labeled the challenger, Governor Betty Clayton, the Democrat from Ohio, a waffling liberal Democrat, soft on crime, weak on defense, and poised to raise taxes.

Governor Clayton, for her part, promised to restore discipline in government by reestablishing accountability, controlling runaway fiscal spending, and reestablishing American's pride overseas. Most importantly, Governor Clayton promised to dedicate her win, and her first official duty as president, in an all-out effort to reverse the federal government's ban on mandatory testing for HLA B66.

*   *   *

Two weeks after the Republican convention in Houston, Texas, two of the older Supreme Court justices, both of whom voted against mandatory testing, announced their early retirement from the bench. Associate Justice Jackson planned a retirement in January, right after the presidential inauguration, while Justice Sandra Denver-Moose announced she would retire in mid-March. The importance of the next president of the United States could not have been made any clearer. Governor Clayton, seizing the opportunity, declared that if elected president, America would again resume its leadership role in the international campaign for mandatory HLA B66 testing.

*   *   *

“How are you, David?” Dickerson had called Abramhoff to finalize the arrangements for his upcoming San Diego trip. “I've booked you a suite with an adjoining double room at the Hyatt in downtown San Diego. I hope you like it.”

“You shouldn't have, but thanks anyway,” Abramhoff said.

“It's close to the marina, in case you want to take the kids on a boat ride or sightseeing,” Dickerson suggested.

“Oh, they would love it, and by the way, let me have Sabrina take care of all the finances,” Abramhoff said.

“Oh, don't worry about it; that's nothing considering what's been happening these days,” Dickerson responded, letting out a big sigh.

“What … the Supreme Court ruling, or the presidential politics?” Abramhoff braced for Dickerson's volleys.

Ever since the Supreme Court ruling, Dickerson had become a vocal critic of the U.S. Supreme Court, its political influence, and the president's position in particular. She would sometimes call just to vent, and all Abramhoff could do was listen.

“This is the first time I've been really excited and enthused about our presidential elections,” an excited Dickerson responded.

“Who do you support?” Abramhoff asked, chuckling.

“Do you really have to ask? Of course I am a hundred percent behind Governor Clayton, and she knows it. I just found a new love for governors, and … and with two Supreme Court justices retiring—mind you, these were the opposition justices—I believe we'll be back in business big time if the governor wins. What about you? You sound subdued.”

“She is not a candidate I adore—after all, she is a Democrat—but on this one particular issue, I will campaign hard for her and make sure she carries Illinois. Governor Roderick would kill me if he heard me say this.”

“I'd assume so. Isn't he the campaign coordinator for the president in the state of Illinois?”

“You got it.”

“Listen,” Dickerson said, “you know we totally forgot about that physician from West Virginia, the one with the special water from Peak Hole.”

“Yes … Dr. Eugene Norfolk from West Virginia University. I remember him. And also don't forget about Dr. Dominic St. John in Boston, with his blood transfusions,” Abramhoff said rather easily.

“How did you remember their names that easily?” Dickerson said, baffled.

“Because we have doctors here with the same exact names, only these guys are both from Massachusetts. But back to the fellow from West Virginia—what was your question?”

“Should we have a meeting with him, or possibly both of them, and investigate their claims of cures associated with the Peak Hole water and the blood transfusions?” Dickerson asked.

“Hmm … I would probably wait until after the presidential election to see which way the pendulum is swinging,” Abramhoff said philosophically.

 

5

I
N
C
HICOPEE,
M
ASSACHUSETTS, THREE
decapitated bodies were discovered in the shallow southeast end of the Chicopee River, not far from the junction of Highway 291 and Fuller Road.

Two seventeen-year-olds playing with their Labrador retriever made the gruesome discovery. State police, federal agents, and the Pellagrini-Pinkett Project team were immediately notified. An intense investigation was launched. Initial identification was problematic because of severe decomposition, but eventually all three bodies were properly identified.

The three dead teens were all Latinas. Investigators questioned their mothers, their boyfriends, other friends, and relatives. It turned out that in a twelve-month period, their single mothers had all dated the same man. Lithuania Alvarez became the prime suspect in the investigation.

A search along Chicopee River west to the Connecticut River and east up to Palmer, Massachusetts, failed to yield the decapitated heads.

National news media swarmed Chicopee, Massachusetts, as Governor Clayton used the gruesome killings to make the case for national HLA B66 testing.

Governor Clayton, on a campaign rally in Los Angeles, California, aroused the crowd, vowing that, “If elected president, my first order of business is to start the reversal process of the federal ban on mandatory HLA B66 testing.”

Thunderous applause followed.

“And when vacancies do arise, as they certainly will, I will appoint judges to the Supreme Court who support our stand on mandatory testing.”

More applause followed.

“Crime in the United States is at an all-time high, and the nature of some of these crimes is increasingly gruesome. Unless mandatory testing becomes the law of the land, criminals and criminals-to-be will continue to wreak havoc on you, your children, and your loved ones. Now that we have the means, we should not wait to see our relatives' mutilated or decomposed bodies all over the television—like the families in Chicopee, Massachusetts, have—before we do something. If we continue with the president's current plan, we will always be behind the eight ball.”

Prolonged applause followed.

The president's team immediately fired back, letting voters know that, if elected president, Governor Clayton would use this unfair litmus test as an excuse to appoint liberal judges to the Supreme Court.

 

6

A
T THE
P
ELLAGRINI-
P
INKETT
P
ROJECT
Center, Mr. Alvarez's blood had undergone the usual HLA B66 testing.

“What was the result from that guy in that Massachusetts decapitation story? Sorry, I forgot the name of the town,” asked Pinkett.

“You mean Chicopee, Massachusetts?” Pellagrini replied.

“Yeah, that's him.”

“He tested positive, of course.”

“You think he's guilty?”

“I know he's guilty, despite what he might say.”

“Do you think this is a cult thing?”

“I don't know. The fact that their heads have not been found makes one think of a cult thing, but they're all dead teenagers. I believe sexual perversion has to be part of the story,” Pellagrini analyzed.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Lithuania Alvarez on suspicion of murder. Under intense police and Federal Bureau of Investigation questioning, Mr. Alvarez admitted to knowing the young women, but still denied knowledge of their deaths.

He alleged that the young women made sexual advances toward him, and he rebuffed them. With no solid evidence linking Mr. Alvarez to the crimes, he was released under monitoring by the Pellagrini-Pinkett monitoring system.

Finally, the mother of one of the teenage girls came forward with damaging information. She claimed that she had initially feared for her life, but after counseling, she was ready to testify.