Life, Death and Consequences: A Selection of Dual-Language German-English Short Stories and Poetry

By Kathy Steinemann

This e-book by Kathy Steinemann is a suspenseful and thought-provoking collection of short stories and poetry—dual-language pieces that will leave you wanting more. English students trying to learn German—or German students attempting to learn English—will benefit while reading intriguing plots that expand one's horizons and pose ancient questions about morals and ethics, sometimes with a dash of humor.

The publisher has taken great care in the e-book's layout, with careful insertion of white space to improve your reading experience. The hyperlinked table of contents allows booklovers to move around in the publication easily, with the choice of font and justification left up to the reader and mobile device software.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kathy Steinemann
• Release date: May 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781927830024

Kathy Steinemann

Kathy Steinemann, Grandma Birdie to her grandkids, is an award-winning author who lives in the foothills on the Alberta side of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. She has loved words for as long as she can remember, especially when the words are frightening or futuristic or funny.Her career has taken varying directions, including positions as editor of a small-town paper, computer-network administrator, and webmaster. She has also worked on projects in commercial art and cartooning.Kathy’s website: KathySteinemann.com

Book preview

Preface

Dedicated to

Ulrike Zeyse

The Right Thing?

Dr. Joseph was one of the most respected scientists and authors in the world, and today was his big day. His subterranean lab hummed with decreasing intensity as it powered down into hibernation mode while the emergency lighting system activated.

He sighed, picked up his latest book, opened it, stared at the first page and read, The end of the world is near. We have only 50-100 years before pollution, a lunatic terrorist, nuclear war, or overpopulation sparks a chain of events that annihilates all of us.

He nodded. His research definitely confirmed that statement. The human race would not survive unless a catastrophe or disease killed 75% to 80% of the population. Humankind would then slowly reproduce and the earth would eventually repopulate itself.

A few people believed him.

Most did not.

In any case, this afternoon he would be heading out on a book-signing tour - to bookstores in France, Canada, the USA, China, Japan, South Africa - and several other countries. His tour would last 30 days. Afterwards, he planned to fly home and continue his research.

But -

But why should he continue? He put down the book and reached into his pocket. He had the answer to the world's plight right here in the palm of his hand - a hermetically sealed syringe filled with a potent virus that he had developed after years of research.

The virus was extremely contagious, transmitted quickly through the air. Unsuspecting victims were symptomless for weeks, until lapsing into a coma, followed by death about two days thereafter. The entire disease process was painless, and the survival rate was less than 10%.

It had been simple to find test subjects. He had started with animals. Then he had moved on to humans. It was easy to venture out into deserted alleys in the slums of nearby communities. He offered a homeless person a sedative-laced chocolate bar, and loaded the limp body into his van once the drug took effect. Nobody missed the occasional disappearances of these pathetic creatures.

The upper floor of Dr. Joseph's lab on the outskirts of the city was open for the world to see, and had been the topic of numerous television documentaries.

However, his covert experiments were conducted deep underground. The mind-altering effects of the psychosedatives he administered round-the-clock rendered his victims helpless and cooperative. There was no screaming ... no moaning ... no apparent inhumanity.

The process was predictable. The last labored breath of a patient faded to a barely audible whisper as the lips turned blue. The doctor then donned protective gear and disposed of the body in a sanitization chamber, powered by a hybrid laser-microwave process that turned biological tissue into fine white powder within seconds.

The very few victims who survived were in such a state of disorientation from the sedation that they had no idea of what had happened to them when they suddenly found themselves back in their old haunts. Once they recovered, they were no longer contagious.

Research into their DNA had revealed a genetic anomaly closely linked to that seen in descendants of bubonic plague survivors and a few people who had recovered from AIDS. Unfortunately, analysis of Joseph's DNA showed that he was not immune.

While he traveled over the next month, Dr. Joseph intended to find homeless people abroad in slum neighborhoods and inject them with the virus. It would take months for the world to realize what was happening. Once established, the disease would spread quickly. Nobody would suspect him. He would be long gone before the World Health Organization identified the trigger.

He opened his suitcase. It was packed and ready to go, containing 29 injections - cleverly disguised as insulin.

He stroked the syringe in his hand with trembling fingers before positioning it next to the others - and groaned. His eyes filled with tears, and he grimaced in despair while a vision of his wife and daughter invaded his consciousness. They had been the most recent victims -