In the Deadlands (24 page)

Chief,

It's my guess that the Paul-John Murdock lead is going to be another dead end and we'll probably have to start digging backward. (I'll try to get up to Manweather Complex before the end of the month, though I don't
think
I'm going to find much up there.)

We located Murdock in South Frisco, where he's working as a shoe salesman. He has neither seen nor heard of Ledgerton since their post-college days. Apparently, he doesn't miss him either. I get the impression that the only reason they married was so that Murdock could avoid the labor-draft. The full interview tape is enclosed.

On the other side of it, there's some evidence that there was an emotional involvement on Ledgerton's part and that he's been trying to contact Murdock, but without success. We'll continue to monitor Murdock on the off chance that Ledgerton is still trying.

Oh, one more thing. The latest word on Ledgerton hints that he is somewhere in Africa and heading south. But I doubt it. Last week, he was in Scotland.

MAY 14, 2036

THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD CONGRESSMAN JOHN J. HOOKER; DEM, GEORGIA

Gentlemen, we are presented today with a unique opportunity. The development of the artificial enzyme insures that the human race will not die out—and it gives us the chance to end, once and for all, the population explosion.

We need not manufacture the enzyme indiscriminately, nor need we make it available to every member of the world's population. In fact, even if we wanted to, it would be beyond our technology to service twenty billion individuals.

We are not geared for rehabilitating the human race; we can only provide enough enzyme for a fraction of the people. Dr. Fremm has stated that even if we began a massive synthesis program right now, we would never be able to reach all of those who are infected.

According to Dr. Fremm and others, it is only a matter of time until every man, woman, and child on this planet has the disease. When that happens, the only people who will be able to procreate will be those to whom we provide the enzyme.

Gentlemen, I say to you—here is an opportunity we cannot pass up—historians will condemn us if we allow this golden moment to slip out of our grasp—the chance to optimize the human race, to remake humanity. Therefore, I wish at this time to introduce this bill which would give the government the right to withhold the enzyme from those individuals who are judged to have undesirable genes...

(The rest of Congressman Hooker's speech was drowned out.)

MAY 3, 2037

FROM:
   
FIELD OPERATIVE JASON PETER GRIGG

TO:
        
F.B.I. DIRECTOR WARREN J. HINDLER,

HOOVER CENTER,

WASHINGTON D.C.

FILE: LEDGERTON, DL 551-69-5688

Chief,

The monitor on Murdock has turned up an interesting postcard (fax herewith enclosed) postmarked Brazil. Although there's no name signed to it, the content and phrasing could be a code of some sort. Or perhaps a reference to a personal experience known only to Murdock and
Ledgerton. It should be checked out by one of our Brazilian operatives as soon as possible. I would appreciate being kept informed on this lead.

2037.05.09/TIMEFAX

...THE RIOTERS FOCUSED PARTICULARLY ON THE SYMBOLS OF ESTABLISHMENT CONTROL. FOUR BIRTH CONTROL CENTERS IN HARLEMTOWN WERE SACKED AS WELL AS ALL BUT ONE OF THE AREA'S TEN ENZYME CONTROL CLINICS. THIS OUTBREAK WAS THE WORST RIOTING TO HIT THE CITY IN SEVEN MONTHS, AND ACCORDING TO MAYOR GILBERT ROCKEFELLER, “IT DOES NOT LOOK AS IF THE END IS IN SIGHT.” MEANWHILE, IN WASHINGTONTOWN, THE PRESIDENT DEPLORED THE NATION'S GROWING TREND TO VIOLENCE AND PROMISED IMMEDIATE STEPS TO HALT IT IN THE FUTURE. WITH THAT, HE SIGNED INTO LAW THE CONTROVERSIAL MANPOWER CONTROL BILL….

2037.05.11/DATELINE:BRAZIL. RIO DE JANEIRO. PRESIDENT GARCIA TODAY ANNOUNCED THE CAPTURE OF THE NOTORIOUS RACE-CRIMINAL, DANA LEDGERTON (DL 551-69-5688) AT RIO DE JANEIRO AIRPORT. LEDGERTON WAS
ATTEMPTING TO BOARD AN AFRICAN-BOUND FLIGHT WHEN BRAZILIAN AGENTS SCOOPED HIM UP. HE IS BEING HELD IN RIO INDEFINITELY.

THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED IT INTENDS TO TRY LEDGERTON FOR THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE, AS WELL AS OTHER CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. ANGRY CROWDS HAVE BEEN MILLING IN THE STREETS OF RIO EVER SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEDGERTON'S CAPTURE WAS MADE.

WORLDWIDE REACTION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS IMMEDIATE. IN THE UNITED STATES, THE PRESIDENT SAID...

MAY 5, 2040.

REPORT TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION BY DR. JOYCE FREMM

MOST CONFIDENTIAL—TRANSCRIPTION OF REMARKS

Gentlemen,

Our recent studies on the enzyme synthesis program suggest that there is just no way to do what you ask—at least not without massive appropriations—and I, for one, am opposed to it.

(Pause)

If I may continue… If I may continue… I'll wait….

If the delegate from Nairobi will stop calling me a racist slime long enough to listen, I will explain my position. Any appropriations for the enzyme synthesis would have to be made at the expense of other programs and the amount of money needed to do what the delegate from Nairobi wishes us to do would necessitate the closing down of almost every other United Nations
Program now in existence, with the exception of the pollution board. And the pollution board is far more important than this!

If I may continue.... I believe that there is a way to save the human race, but enzyme synthesis is not it. In any case, a few years of minimal breeding will not hurt this planet any. There are about nineteen and a half billion too many people on Earth already.

2041.05.11/TIMEFAX

THE IRISH CIVIL WAR, WHICH HAS BEEN SMOULDERING FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS, BURST INTO THE NEWS AGAIN TODAY WITH THE BURNING OF DUBLIN. THE CATHOLIC FACTION IN IRELAND CONTINUES TO CHARGE THAT THE NEOPROTESTANT GOVERNMENT IS WITHOLDING THE ENZYME FROM CATHOLIC MOTHERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CATHOLICS IN THE NATION. THAT CHARGE WAS ECHOED ACROSS THE GLOBE BY OTHER MINORITIES IN OTHER NATIONS. IN ISRAEL, ARAB NATIONALS CHARGED THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WITH DELIBERATE BIRTH CRIMES. THE JEWISH MINORITY IN RUSSIA LEVELED THE SAME CHARGE AGAINST THE KREMLIN. THE CHINESE MINORITIES IN MALAYSIA AND INDIA HAVE ALSO CHARGED THOSE TWO GOVERNMENTS WITH WITHOLDING THE ENZYME.

THIS BRINGS TO A TOTAL OF FORTY-THREE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED WITH THE U.N. MINORITY PROCREATION CONTROL OFFICE.

MAY 19, 2041

TO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

FROM: WARREN J. HINDLER, HOOVER CENTER

Mr. President,

The situation is becoming more and more serious every day. I have reports coming across my desk to indicate that the activists are planning to step up the number of urban disturbances within the next two months. This nation is headed for civil war unless some way is found to take the steam out of the Anti-Enzyme movement.

I recommend immediate action along the following lines....

MAY 20, 2041

POLICE REPORT, MANWEATHER COMPLEX

At 7:45 pm, Officers J.G. and. R.F. investigated a complaint at 1456 Rafferty Avenue, Block 12, Apt 56789. Investigating Officers found Donald Ruddigore in process of assaulting his, wife, Alice. Woman had already sustained minor injuries.

Ruddigore explained that his wife had told him she was pregnant As he had been infected with the Ledgerton Virus some years earlier, he knew that he could not be the father of the child, and he had only begun beating her when she refused to tell him who the real father was.

When questioned, Mrs. Ruddigore insisted that she has never copulated with anyone but her husband. Officer G. Suggested that both Ruddigores see a County Clinician before the week was over.

Mr. Ruddigore became abusive at this and had to be forcibly restrained. He was booked at Station 12 (preventive detention) and released the following morning on his own recognizance. Mrs. Ruddigore spent the night at her sister's after being released from the Emergency Hospital, where she was treated for minor scalp injuries.

As he was being taken into custody, Mr. Ruddigore noted that he was “glad that whoever the bastard is, now he's got it too!”

MAY 38, 2041

TO: DR. JOYCE FREMM

FROM: DR. CARLOS WAN-LEE

Joyce,

I've had four physicians call me in the past two days wanting to know if someone is bootlegging enzyme or something. All of them report a number of women (with previously infected husbands) turning up unexpectedly pregnant. Yes, I know it sounds like adultery, but I suspect it is something more. I'd like to talk to you about it in detail. I think we should investigate this. Are you free for lunch?

2042.05.14/DATELINE:BRAZIL. IN RIO TODAY, A CROWD OF MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND FORMED IN FRONT OF THE LEDGERTON GALLOWS TO HOLD A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DANA LEDGERTON, WHO DIED FIVE YEARS AGO ON THIS SPOT. WHILE LEDGERTON'S NAME IS STILL REVILED IN MANY PARTS OF THE GLOBE, A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO REALIZE THAT NOT EVERY EFFECT OF THE LEDGERTON VIRUS IS NECESSARILY EVIL. THE BRAZILIAN BIRTH RATE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS DROPPED TO A COMFORTABLE...

MAY 20, 2042

REPORT TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION BY DR. JOYCE FREMM

TRANSCRIPTION OF REMARKS—FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

...what has happened is this: The virus has mutated. It wasn't stable. Few viruses are.

We have, in the laboratories, taken the virus through a total of seven different mutations, each of which has a different effect on human fertility. At present, we have no way of stopping the virus completely, but if our early tests hold true, the human race will be able to stop worrying about its birth rate.

Ledgerton Virus sub-one reduces fertility to a scant 7%. Variety sub-two, which is currently sweeping the globe, raises that percentage to 53%. Certainly not what it was before, but high enough for two very determined people to start a baby, if they wish. The other varieties,
which we've produced through careful bombardment of radiation (and other techniques), produce fertility levels ranging from 89% normal to 17%.

We can expect the virus to keep mutating at least once every four years. This is often enough to keep humanity from developing any kind of immunity to it. Also, it will hold the birth rate down, without keeping it dangerously depressed.

Gentlemen, without knowing it, Dr. Ledgerton seems to have stopped the population explosion.

MAY 43, 2045

TO: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

FROM: THE SECRETARY OF INFORMATION

Mr. President,

Enclosed are samples of the publicity releases you requested.

You will note that we have taken great pains to
minimize
Ledgerton's homosexuality. As you said, “It wouldn't do to have an effeminate American hero.”

Motivational Research indicates that the need for a new American hero is greater than ever now, especially since the recent Mexican defeat. For that reason, I urge that we initiate this program as soon as possible.

MAY 49, 2045

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION PAMPHLET #354657-098

…Single-handedly, this determined little man stopped the population explosion, stopped it dead with a biological brake—then he set that same brake so that it would release gently, allowing the race to maintain itself, but to cease its cancerous growth. When the death rates level off in the next few generations to match the new birth rates, the Earth will enjoy an era of peace and prosperity such as it has never known before….

MAY 4, 2046

TO: THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE

FROM: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Dear Jase,

Sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to quash your economic report on the primary causes of the current depression.

You're probably correct that the economy's continued growth is a direct factor of the nation's population spiral—but we can't suggest that fact publicly without starting a minor panic. (Besides, anything which would reflect negatively on the Ledgerton Program would not be welcome in certain circles.)

I agree with your recommendations though, and if you will circulate copies of your report (privately) to the Vice President and to the Secretary of Commerce, and also to the
Secretary of the Treasury, between us we can initiate some of the steps you recommend to keep our financial heads above water.

And the sooner the better. This is an election year and we want to retain control of the House.

MAY 19, 2049

EXCERPT FROM
TODAY'S PSYCHOLOGY

...one of the effects is the disappearance of the term “unwanted child” from the language. There is no such thing anymore as an unwanted child. All children are wanted. Just look at the crowd of adults standing by the fence at any playground today.

Of course, not all the cultural changes are so beneficent. For instance, in the past, the pregnancy of an unmarried girl could quite likely have been the result of a mistake. Today, it can only be the result of several nights of steady “mistakes.”

However, now that the onus of pregnancy has been removed from intercourse, certain other moral conventions are vanishing. Women are enjoying a sexual freedom even greater than that of the late twentieth century when use of oral contraceptives first became widespread.