Survival Gene
Science Fiction Novel
Artsun Akopyan
© Artsun Akopyan, 2020
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
About the Book
Survival Gene is a fast-moving science fiction action and adventure novel about the possible future of the human race in a devastated environment.
The story idea is derived from the documentary When the Earth Stops Spinning (National Geographic). What would happen to us if life conditions changed for the worse drastically in the near future? Will the humanity become extinct like the dinosaurs? The answer is No, if we keep fighting for life. But what will the price be? And what about love?
***The science fiction novel Survival Gene was first published by Double Dragon Publishing in Canada in 2015.
Book cover images are used under the Pixabay License.
About the Author
Artsun Akopyan is a writer and freelance translator based in Russia. He worked at a high school teaching Russian and at a university teaching English. His publications include books for English language learners, short stories and novels, translations of fiction and nonfiction books from English into Russian.
Chapter 1
Lieutenant Andrew Barkov ran down a dark staircase to the basement of the food warehouse holding a pistol in his hand. A heavy metal door blocked his way with a red light on the magnetic card reader mounted on the wall next to it. The lieutenant took a universal police card out of his bullet-proof vest and placed it on the device. The red light changed to green. Having thrust the card back into the pocket, Barkov gripped the handle, his gun firm in his other hand, and pulled it.
In front of him there was a miraculous garden lit by myriads of light-emitting diode lamps. Bright, juicy peaches, apples, pineapples, bananas, melons, grapes all of that growing on dwarf trees with dense crowns and thick trunks planted in holes in the concrete floor. The strong tang of sewage struck Andrews nose.
There was no need for a laboratory analysis to see that these were genetically modified organisms. GMO. Direct evidence of criminal offense. Cultivation of such plants was prohibited by the World Government on all continents. The trees apparently were nourished by Miami feces supplied via the network of pipes under the ground. Use of sewage instead of soil was an aggravating circumstance. Mister Housman, the product warehouse owner, would do long time in prison for that in a high-security institution in the Colorado Desert or maybe in the north of Alaska. Those were the right places for such people. It remained only to find him.
Where are you, bastard?
Andrew moved forward slowly, his gun leading the way. The area was like half of a soccer field. There were hundreds of trees standing in an orderly manner. The criminal could have climbed any of them to hide in the crown. Andrew had no doubt that the man was nearby. Housman had slipped out of his office to the stairs as soon as the task force stormed into the warehouse. Andrew noticed him at the last moment and rushed after him.
The transmitter pinned onto the breast pocket of his vest squeaked.
Lieutenant Barkov, where the hell are you?
It was Captain Palmer. At the wrong time, as always.
Im downstairs, Andrew answered in a low voice as he brought the transmitter closer to his lips. Im following the suspect.
I didnt give orders to go downstairs. Come back and receive my orders!
Palmer, you are an idiot. Sometimes Andrew wanted to shout these words right in the captains face. But such a pleasure would cost him the job. Palmer had no special sympathy for Andrew and would start hating him if insulted. Andrew had been thinking of quitting job for a long time, but what would he do after that? Catching criminals was the only thing he could do in his life. Nevertheless, he dreamed of a totally different career
Captain, I dont get you. Too much noise!
Barkov turned off the transmitter and strained his ears. From childhood, he had had an ability to sense danger. And a quick reaction, which had helped him to avoid being beaten by anyone at school or under other circumstances later in his life. This time, according to his senses, there was no danger. Moving on, he reached the first row of trees. And stopped.
All of a sudden he went hot and cold all over. A terrifying vision appeared in his mind: his chest exploded, parts of his body flew in different directions, slapping against walls and hanging on branches
Housman was going to discharge a rifle-attached under-barrel grenade launcher at him. The man was sitting in the tree in the last right row, and the barrel was already projecting from the foliage. Barkov was looking the other way, but he could see the criminal so clearly in his mind it was as if he had gotten into the mans brain. He even felt the cold of the trigger with his forefinger. Five more millimeters and he would be dead.
Andrews heart started beating like a sledge hammer. Muscles of his whole body strengthened as if struck by electric current. As soon as they relaxed, a shiver went up his back and neck. Arms and legs became light, almost weightless, and were filled with extraordinary strength. A fat fly floated before his eyes as it flapped its wings unhurriedly, as if it was a slow-motion movie. There was no time to admire it. Bending down, Andrew darted to the side.
The vision turned out to be true. A shot resounded. A grenade exploded on the spot where Barkov had just been standing. A hail of grenade splinters drummed on the wall, the floor and the nearest tree trunks. They didnt reach Andrew as he had already left the effective zone heading for Housman. This took him a second or a second and a half at most. Stopping under the tree in which Housman was sitting, he drew the branches apart. Before the shooter knew that he had missed and the target was already standing next to him, Andrew delivered a blow to his stomach. Housman breathed out sharply, bent forward, dropped his weapon, and fell from the branch.
Andrew kicked away the rifle with his foot and pointed his gun at the small plump man with a bald spot who had rolled himself up into a ball on the floor.
Lie on your stomach! Hands forward!
Housman raised his head slowly as he rolled out. His grimace of pain slowly turned into the expression of astonishment.
Thats impossible. How did you do that?
I can run fast. Hands forward!
The criminal lay on his stomach and stretched his arms. Dont be so proud. Youll be finished soon anyway. All of us will be finished!
Making sure that Housman didnt have other weapons, Barkov took handcuffs off his belt and slapped them on the criminals wrists, and turned Housman around to face him.
Youre mistaken, Mister Housman. Well live long and happy lives without your GMO.
Suddenly a kind and likable smile appeared on Housmans round face. Now its the year 2060. Didnt you hear about the prophecy of the greatest scientist Isaac Newton? He scrutinized the Bible and estimated that the world would end in 2060!
Youre mistaken again. For Newton, it would be the beginning of a new era. Dont try to frighten me I dont believe in prophecies.
Dont you listen to the news? An asteroid is already flying toward the Earth! You will die, and me, and the whole of humankind too! Why dont you let me free and have fun in the last days? Ill give you three hundred thousand credits! In cash!
The asteroid will fly past us. And as for the bribery attempt, that just adds to the charges against you, Andrew answered as he stepped back to the wall.
His heartbeat slowed down, his muscles relaxed. Legs and arms grew heavy and sluggish. He had a desire to sit down or even to lie down for a while. Probably his body was just trying to regain strength after an adrenaline rush.
He measured the distance he had just overcome by eye. Really, it was surprisingly long. He had never run thirty meters in a second and a half before. The reason was, of course, the stress level. It was the first time in his life that someone had pointed a grenade launcher at him!
Youre right, three hundred thousand is barely sufficient, Housman smiled even wider as he rose to his feet. Ill give you five hundred! Done?
The pistol in Andrews hand was becoming heavy as lead, his legs started trembling with strain. He felt as tired as if he had carried sacks full of sand all day long. He didnt dare collapse on the floor and drop the gun. No doubt the criminal would take advantage of it at once!
Sound of hurried footsteps came from the staircase. A few policemen barged into the premise. Lining up along the wall, they took aim at Housman. Captain Palmer was the last one to come in.
I can see the suspect! he announced with triumph pointing with his forefinger at Housman. Officers, arrest this man!
Hes already arrested, you fool, Barkov thought.
However, he was glad to see the captain for the first time in all the years hed worked for him.
Palmer looked at Barkov.
Lieutenant, what are you doing here? You didnt hear my orders? Thats a serious problem. It seemed he was about to reprimand Barkov but suddenly he cocked his head and scowled. Well take the suspect and you go to the doctor to check your ear. Move!
Chapter 2
Andrew parked his Ford at a two-storied house buried in overgrown bushes and looked at the rear-view mirror. There was no tail. It meant that Palmer hadnt sent people after him to check that hed followed his order as he sometimes did. So much the better. They shouldnt know where Andrew actually went or why.
Barkov left the car. Instead of his police uniform, he now wore a light gray suit trousers and a shirt with short sleeves made of pure linen. Off duty, he always wore civilian clothes.
Barkov looked around once again and headed to the house.
A few months ago he read an announcement in the Internet about services provided at this address. He decided to give it a try. The result had satisfied him. Since then, he came there every Friday, which helped him to relieve stress after a workweek. Andrew kept his new hobby a secret from everybody, even from his own mother. Otherwise, she would surely be upset and tell him something like, Sonny, you should better get married instead of cherishing illusions! Youre thirty-three already, its time to have children!
Already sensing the delightful aroma of jasmine, Barkov pushed the metal gate. He walked on a path paved with colored tiles to the entrance door and knocked three times. The lock clicked almost at once. The door opened. Before him stood a dark-haired blue-eyed girl with a slim figure in a close-fitting white suit. Andrew had never seen her before.
Hello. He was confused. Who are you?
She smiled. Come in, Andrew. Im waiting for you.
She stepped back to let him in.
A pretty girl, Barkov thought as he entered a small foyer with black tiles on the floor and light-beige walls. Is she the home owners relative?
But it was tactless to ask such a question aloud. Dan Mortimer would introduce her himself if he wanted to.
Barkov stopped before the escalator. Is Dan upstairs?
No, he had to leave for an urgent matter, the girl answered as she locked the front door.
Why? He doesnt hold classes at the conservatory, does he? We agreed by mindphone Whats happened?
Nothing, its no big deal, but he wont be back for at least two hours. Ill teach you today.
At first, Andrew thought she was joking. Are you a singing master?
Naturally. My name is Emily.
Her facial expression was quite serious now. She isnt joking. Obviously, she was Mister Mortimers colleague. It was strange that he hadnt warned Andrew about the replacement.
Nice to meet you. My names Andrew.
I know. Follow me.
The girl pronounced words quickly and, as it seemed to Barkov, was a little nervous. An inexperienced teacher, probably.
Not turning onto the escalator, she began to go up the steps slowly, moving her hips from side to side with an unnaturally large swing. Did she work as a model before this?
On the second floor, in the biggest room, there was an ancient black piano and a brown leather sofa. The room had two windows, both of which were soundproof.
Usually Andrew rehearsed standing between the sofa and a window. Mortimer didnt allow him to sit because lungs work badly in such a position.
Sit down, please, Emily offered, pointing at the sofa, and opened the piano cover as she curved her back with affected grace. Lets begin with a scale: do, re, mi, fa, sol. She sat down on a swivel chair and started to poke her finger abruptly into keys starting for some reason with note la of the contra octave. Reaching re of the small octave, she stopped and turned to Andrew. You know what? Lets become better acquainted with each other for a start. Are you married?
The behavior of this damsel was strange at the very least. Did she like him so much that she lost the sense of propriety?
No. Im single. A sudden thud was heard in Dans bedroom adjoining the study. Who is there?
No one. A cat, I think. My God, its so hot in here! She rose and unbuttoned her jacket, revealing her thin top fitting close to her round breasts with protruding nipples. Why dont we go down to the kitchen and drink some coffee?
What is going on? he thought. Perhaps the girl was nutty. If so, why had Mortimer invited her? And since when did Mortimer have a cat?
No, thank you. Im tired. Think Ill go home.
The thud in the bedroom repeated, but this time it was louder.
Suddenly Barkov felt tingling in his stomach. It was a signal that a blow was going to be struck in that place. The threat emanated from Emily. Andrew felt it as clearly as the aroma of jasmine in the street a few minutes ago or the softness of the sofa he was sitting on. Muscles of his body strained involuntarily.
Wasnt his sixth sense mistaken this time? There was not a hint of aggression in the girls facial expression.
Emily stood up slowly and went behind the piano as she threw off her jacket. Did she decide to undress completely?
Going around the instrument, she suddenly rushed towards Barkov. She had a pointed crowbar in her hands, which was targeted at Andrews stomach. It was easy for him to dodge. The bar ripped the upholstery open and stuck into the sofa back.