Re-Creating the Cretaceous: A Tale of Survival

By Kurt M. V. Rich

HERE IS THE STORY HOLLYWOOD
DOES NOT WANT YOU TO READ!

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the United States and other nations conducted numerous scientific experiments intent upon recovering and then replicating the DNA genomes of animals whose lives had been extinct for a period of over tens of thousands up to several millions of years. With no guidelines to follow and, even worse, no external monitoring, many formerly extinct life forms were eventually cloned and successfully re-created, but with deadly and destructive results. Most of the nations involved in such devastating experiments, including the United States, promptly responded by enacting highly controversial laws prohibiting both the research into replicating the DNA and the revival of such extinct creatures. While some nations reacted by passing bans on such research for twenty-five to fifty years, the United States enacted a ban of only twenty years, due to expire on January 1st, 2015. Other nations, including many third world countries, openly resisted the pressure put upon them by the larger nations and opted out of enacting any type of restrictions.
Sensing a shift in popular opinion during the two years preceding the expiration of the ban, the United States Congress began to conduct numerous hearings on the matter, including collecting the testimony of nearly one hundred fifty of the nations most prominent geneticists and scholars. Among the group invited to testify before Congress was Nicholas P. Heinz III, a thirty-two year old paleogeneticist and chairman of the highly esteemed research firm, BioGen, BioGenetics International Technologies, LLC, in Cupertino, California. One of the last witnesses called to testify, Heinz had hoped his impassioned testimony and detailed documentation of the myriad benefits derived from DNA genome research would help to continue the momentum gained from earlier witnesses and would sway the Congress into letting the ban expire without being renewed. From Kurt M. V. Rich, the author of the critically acclaimed historical novel 'Chasing the Golden Hoard: The Story of the Lydian Hoard,' 'Re-Creating the Cretaceous' invites you to investigate the story of scientific wonders intermingled with greed, arrogance, subterfuge, and a quest for power far beyond the imagination of Hollywood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491807088

Kurt M. V. Rich

The author is a former teacher of Ancient & Mediæval European History in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. public and private school systems. He has had a lifelong interest in the civilisations of the Ancient Near East, the Classical World, Mediæval, Renaissance & Reformation Europe. The author continues to have a deep interest in art, architecture, archaeology, literature, theology, geology, and prehistory. He is also the author of photographic studies of Etruscan Tomb Art and the Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson near Nashville, Tennessee. His exciting and detail-packed first novel, Chasing the Golden Hoard: The Story of the Lydian Hoard, A Tale of Theft, Repatriation, Greed & Deceit, was conceived while reading a popular history of archaeological thefts. Ideas behind the inspiration for the story of Re-Creating the Cretaceous, A Tale of Survival were accumulated over a period of approximately six weeks of reading and research. The author currently resides in Houston, Texas and may be contacted at [e-mail] .

Book preview

Contents

-1-

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7-

-8-

-9-

-10-

-11-

-12-

-13-

-14-

-15-

-16-

-17-

-18-

-19-

-20-

-21-

-22-

-23-

-24-

-25-

-26-

-27-

-28-

-29-

-30-

-31-

-32-

-33-

-34-

-35-

-36-

-37-

-38-

-39-

Don’t Only Practice Your Art

But Force Your Way Into Its Secrets.

For It and Knowledge Can

Raise Men to the Divine.

-Attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven

The story which follows is entirely fictitious. The resemblance of any character(s) in this book to any person(s), either fictional or real, living or deceased, or of BioGenetics Technologies International, LLC, BioGenetics International, or BioGen to any real or fictional corporate, research, educational or investigational organisation, either public or private, is accidental and unintended. New ideas for the replication of dinosaur DNA posited within this book are exclusively those of the author and therefore proprietary to this story.

This story pre-supposes the reader to have a basic grasp of the metrics system as well as international currency exchange. In order to better assist those readers who do not have such knowledge, tables converting English and metric measurements as well as international currencies are provided at the end of this story.

BioGenlogoBEFOREchapt1.jpg1cyrolophosaur.jpg

Cryolophosaurus (Mini T-Rex)

(Drawing: Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

-1-

A re you sure my tie is fine? Somehow it just doesn’t feel right, the man said as he tried his best to relax in the soft leather rear seat of the black Lincoln limousine. It had just driven past Union Station and was now rapidly heading toward Capitol Hill.

The tall lithe blonde sitting next to him knew he was already nervous. All morning long she had tried her best to lighten his mood and humour him. The dome of the capitol was easily within sight. As the Lincoln drew closer and closer, she could tell his anxieties were exponentially increasing. Stop your fidgeting and worrying, my dear. Here, turn around and look at me. Momentarily she paused, looked at him with her violet tinted eyes and then broadly smiled. You’re fine. You were fine fifteen minutes ago and nothing’s changed in the last quarter of an hour to make it otherwise.

I’m worried about how I’m going to look on TV, at least for the C-Span broadcast and perhaps the six o’clock national news.

My dear, you worry far too much. If you keep this up, you’ll be a basket of nerves and wrinkled worse than a prune before you reach forty. You’ve gone over your statement. We’ve also gone over your statement with you multiple times as well. Even Senator Wright has read your statement and has given it his silent blessing. How much more reassurance do you want? You’re going to sail through this just as long as you stick to your statement.

It’s not Wright who worries me. It’s people on the committee like Jameson, McKinney, Molina, and dos Santos. They’ve been out for my skin ever since I began BioGen nearly eight years ago. This group is out for blood, my blood. They’ve never been satisfied with the law they passed. They’re intent upon forcing me and others with research firms just like me into bankruptcy. It’s impossible to placate these people. We’ve brought onboard a new group of trustees, new investors and even a new group of technicians and yet they harass us continuously, hoping they’ll eventually find a loophole or we’ll give up and finally shut down. I made a clean start with my own company, but yet they still want my neck in a noose. If I make one miscue in front of them today, they’ll crucify me… and do it on national TV !

That’s not going to happen, she said calmly and reassuringly. Stick to your statement, don’t ad lib and always defer to Allen. He’s going to be sitting right there at the table beside you from the very beginning. He’s arguably one of the best lawyers on the planet. God knows, you already pay him enough for his services. Stop the proceedings and confer with him if you have even the slightest doubt about answering any of the committee’s questions. It will be all over much faster than you can imagine and, after lunch, we’ll be on our way back to California. Your suit’s immaculate and so is your shirt and tie. Once we get inside the capitol, you can step inside one of the wash rooms, adjust your tie and comb your hair. There’s no point worrying about it now. The minute you step out of the car, the winds today will rearrange everything for you.

The black Lincoln began to noticeably slow down as the Capitol began to loom larger and larger in front of them. Within a few moments of entering the capitol grounds, the Lincoln pulled up in front of a large yellow sign which said Reserved Parking. U. S. Senate. As the couple exited the car, the strong late December winds rushed by, chilling each of them to the bone. Fortunately, a side door to the building opened and a security guard emerged, soon followed by the couple’s attorney.

Just be glad you weren’t here earlier this week, sir, the guard said jokingly. We had five inches of snow on the grounds and a layer of ice underneath it. The city and every politician within a fifty mile radius of this place were struck helpless.

Hello, Allen, we’re glad to see you, the blonde said as she extended her gloved hand.

I’m glad we all could make it today and the committee was able to reschedule us so quickly, he replied as they continued walking. The three thanked the security guard and moved quickly away from the frigid currents coming through the side door and into the noticeably warmer corridors of the capitol building. At least for the moment they were alone, out of earshot from the security guard and anyone else nearby. I was talking with Wright late last night. He’s doing everything possible to insure your statement is well received and the questioning afterwards is as superficial and perfunctory as possible. I am not sure if dos Santos is going to be present today. After the snowfall earlier this week and the upcoming Christmas break which begins in two days, I don’t think he was interested in flying back from New Mexico for just four days, even if one of the rewards was being able to publicly chew on your hide. Let’s pray the good Senator dos Santos stays at home in New Mexico.

Look, it’s nearly 09:15. I need to find a wash room nearby and freshen up before we begin. My hair probably looks like it’s been styled by a Waring Blender. I seem to remember when we get off the elevator, there’s a wash room right beside the committee meeting room. Why don’t you guys go on ahead to the committee meeting room and I’ll join you within a few minutes?

I’m impressed with you, Nick, Allen responded, trying his best to look serious and solemn. I would have never thought you would have trusted me to be alone with this incredibly beautiful young lady for more than ten minutes. Are you sure the two of you haven’t been fighting?

Just don’t wrinkle my statement or get the pages out of order. Also, keep your hands to yourself. Elena is a brown belt in karate, so if I were you, I’d be on my best behaviour. On with the two of you now, he said as he smiled and jauntily walked into the marble lined wash room.

Nicholas Heinz III quickly removed the jacket to his suit and gently hung it on the corner of a door of one of the nearby stalls. Heinz was tall, nearly 1.9 metres (six feet, four inches), with a full head of blonde red hair and blue eyes. He removed a small pinkie ring of twenty-four carat gold inset with a deep rich eight carat lapis lazuli stone from his left hand, then a pair of gold cuff links, two gold aureus coins struck during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius, setting them on the corner of the off white marble wash basin. Heinz then rolled back his starched French cuffs and began washing his hands while simultaneously surveying himself in the mirror in front of him. His face was clean shaven and slightly tanned, the result of a recent trip to the Dominican Republic. At only thirty-two, the skin around his eyes, mouth and chin was tight with no signs of wrinkles. He rapidly patted his face down with water, but not enough to get his shirt collar or cuffs wet, then he removed several towels to quickly dry his face. As predicted, his hair was a disaster. After drying his hands and replacing the gold cufflinks he had removed earlier, Heinz walked across the marble floor and reached inside his suit jacket. The jacket was a favourite, a dark charcoal grey double breasted Armani which the Mayflower had expertly pressed for him the previous evening. An inside breast pocket held a small faux tortoise shell comb which he used regularly for such sartorial emergencies. Heinz brandished the comb and soon had his unruly crop of hair parted and again compliant. With the backs of each of his hands, he brushed away any loose hair on his shirt and trousers before donning the dark grey jacket. Surprisingly, his tie, a red and white rep tie from Harvard, seemed to be bearing up well. He pulled back the sleeve on his left wrist to reveal a rare Rolex Explorer One. Made in a limited edition in the 1960’s to honour members of the Royal Navy stationed in South Africa, the Explorer One was his late father’s and a prized possession. It was now 09:23. The committee was scheduled to begin at 09:30. Heinz quickly surveyed the wash room, again brushing away any errant hair which had fallen on his jacket. Now confident he had everything needed, he walked toward the dark mahogany front door and out into the hallway.

Heinz walked past security in front of the doors to the Senate conference room. As he entered he was in awe of the history which had been made within its chambers during the past seventy years. In the 1950’s, the room had been the scene of the infamous McCarthy investigations into alleged communist activities. In the early 1970’s, hearings and revelations by the Senate Watergate Committee had led eventually to the downfall and resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. Similar hearings in the late 1990’s had led to an unsuccessful attempt to impeach President Bill Clinton. The room was regal, much larger than expected, and momentarily intimidating. Heinz stopped temporarily to scan the space. The C-Span cameras were already in place. Several senatorial aides were busy placing notices and papers on their respective desks. At least four senators had already seated themselves and were simply killing time before the proceedings would begin. Realising Heinz had perhaps frozen as soon as he had entered the conference room, Allen turned his head, then immediately stood up and walked toward the large doors, hoping to quickly regain the focus of his client.

Both Allen and Heinz had secured front row seats, as Heinz’s testimony would be the first heard on what the Senators hoped would become an abbreviated work day. Elena would be seated directly behind them. At approximately 09:32, five additional senators and their attendant staff entered from the front and slowly took their assigned seats. Both Allen and Heinz scanned the group, as several seats were still vacant. To their great relief, the seat of Senator Joaquin dos Santos was empty. Senator William Knowland Wright, Chairman of the Committee, leaned forward and clicked on his microphone. To insure the microphone was working, he scratched it briefly with his forefinger. The rasping sound which reverberated around the room served to alert everyone Wright was ready to begin the day’s business. Wright was short, balding, and acutely myopic. At the age of sixty-nine, he had served in Congress for nearly thirty-five years, twenty-four of which had been as Senator from Rhode Island. Sliding his large overstuffed blue leather chair forward until he had a clear vision of all inside the conference room, Wright began in an officious but his usual soft spoken manner, The Senate Committee on Science and Ethics has a necessary quorum present to conduct its hearings today. We should like the record to show the names of those members who are present and that we began at 09:35. At issue today is a discussion of U.S.C. 94-1403, a law which for a period of twenty years bans unmonitored research into and attempts to replicate and revive life forms which have become extinct. This ban, if not renewed, will expire in less than three weeks, at midnight on the thirty-first of December, 2014. For the record, approximately one hundred sixty-three other nations have enacted a ban either similar or identical to the ban enforced by the United States. Wright stopped unexpectedly for a moment, cleared his throat, then continued, Our first witness today to offer testimony in this matter is Doctor Nicholas Heinz III, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of BioGenetics International Technologies, LLC, in Cupertino, California. Dr. Heinz obtained two degrees at Harvard and his doctorate in the field of biogenetics at Stanford University. During his short professional career, Dr. Heinz has both written and lectured extensively on the sensitive topic of genetically replicating and reviving long since extinct life forms and also on the benefits of stem cell research and genetic replication. For the record, sitting next to Dr. Heinz this morning is his attorney, Mr. Allen Liebowitz. As I understand it, Dr. Heinz, has prepared a brief introductory statement prior to entertaining questions from members of the committee who are present here this morning. Now, before you begin your statement, Dr. Heinz, would you and Mr. Liebowitz please stand, raise your right hands and be sworn in?

After being sworn in, Heinz seated himself at a dark wooden conference table approximately fifteen feet from Senator Wright. He quickly opened the manila folder containing his prepared statement. To his surprise, clipped to his statement was a handwritten note from Elena, How about oysters, a lot of them, for lunch today after you’ve finished? Directly below the inscription was her sketch of an anatomically detailed coital encounter. His face grew momentarily red, then he turned around to see the large smile on her face. Under his breath, he smiled and whispered, Been reading the Kama Sutra again, I see. She began laughing. We’ll discuss this later, he whispered back. Now, quickly regaining his composure, in a low, yet clearly audible tone, Heinz began reading, Distinguished Senators and respected guests who are present here in this august chamber, I would like to thank you for the opportunity and great honour of addressing this committee today regarding the contentious and controversial provisions of U.S.C. 94-1403, a law which has banned for a period of two decades any form of research and experimentation within the United States and its territories, any attempt to revive life forms which have become extinct upon this planet. As you are all well aware, this is a highly volatile topic, a response to the greed of irresponsible persons years ago whose actions were a direct cause for the loss of many innocent lives and the wanton destruction of property. We are not here today to relive or to rehash those tragic incidents, although we still grieve over the senseless loss of lives. Instead, in the next few minutes I would like to point out to each learned member of the Senate committee the benefits which mankind has reaped over a similar period of time by studying the basic forms of all life and by the careful manipulation of their genetic structure, a feat which has served to improve the quality of mankind’s life as a result.

Heinz would continue to read from his statement for nearly fifteen minutes. As predicted, some Senators who favoured not renewing the ban were the most receptive to the proposals outlined in his statement. Those who wished the ban on such research to continue almost immediately began to look bored, shuffling papers, or entering text messages on their cellular phones. Heinz had also noticed halfway through his statement that his cell phone had received a text message. In spite of the ban on using a cell phone or pager during live congressional sessions, Heinz had tempted fate, leaving his phone turned on but lying face down instead. The text message, as he had expected, was from his mother.

You are magnificent and very handsome on TV. I loved your opening statement. Next time, please do something about your hair. It looks horrible. /s/ Mom

After the conclusion of Heinz’s statement and a few congratulatory remarks by Senator Wright, questioning was then handed over to various members of the committee. Heinz was questioned gently for nearly ten minutes by Arkansas Senator Joseph P. Durham before being handed over to Tennessee Senator Charles McKinney. Heinz was acutely aware McKinney was a strong proponent of retaining the ban as well as a strong believer those who studied DNA and attempted to revive extinct life forms were tinkering with the plans of God.

McKinney began, To advocate the theories of ‘eevil-oution’ is one thing, Dr. Heinz, but going in to restructure DNA and the chromosomes of long since extinct animals and plants is the height of mankind’s irresponsibility. Why do you spend your time and our taxpayers’ money on such foolish and dangerous pursuits?

Heinz leaned back in his seat, twisting briefly, before he reached over to pour himself a glass of water. He then hunched forward with both elbows resting on the table. His blue eyes were transfixed on the Tennessee Senator whose own eyes now bored in directly upon him. Heinz moved even closer to his microphone. "Senator, please permit me, if you will, to correct one of the inaccuracies in your last statement. My company, BioGenetics International Technologies, LLC, is a private company whose operations since our very first day have been funded entirely by a group of private investors. Since we began we have yet to ask for, much less receive, one penny of assistance from either any state or the federal government. I respectfully submit you are incorrect when you imply U.S. taxpayers are funding our research. Secondly, in studying the DNA structure of present day life forms, we are proving ourselves able to replicate the abilities of some reptiles and amphibians, those species which you so quickly denigrate as inferior but who are readily able to re-generate tissue, including entire patches of skin, specific organs, cartilage, and bone, all with the specific pattern of DNA of the recipient patient in mind. Organs and other body parts generated in such a manner have a virtually zero chance of being rejected by the recipient’s system. We discovered also that the need for immune suppressing drugs was virtually eliminated within six weeks of the initial donor transplant. Most recently, Senator, we have taken cells from human gums and combined them with very similar cells from mice, enabling us to grow a human tooth. Last year, this process took us twelve months to complete. Earlier this year, we have effectively cut it in half. Our group strongly believes if we continue to work on this process, by the end of next year we can further halve the developmental process."

All of this is very well and good, Mr. Heinz. To be honest, I would say it’s beyond ‘well and good’ and that your efforts are commendable, McKinney interrupted. However, I fail to see how you’ve tied in your recent genetic manipulations which result in new skin and teeth with the law which prohibits the revival of extinct species. What you’ve offered us, so far, has been an exercise in the art of smoke and mirrors.

It’s extremely easy to tie the two together, Heinz quickly retorted. Everyone knows the stories of how new drugs, potent, therapeutic ones, were discovered while studying the flora of the Amazon River basin and also flora in the jungles of New Guinea. Who knows what new and undiscovered miracle drugs can be derived from examining plants which flourished fifty, one hundred, or two hundred fifty million years ago? The potential for science here, Senator, is boundless.

Mr. Heinz, those plants and native animal life in the sea, on land, and in the air went extinct for a reason. They were deemed unable to compete. That’s the reason they went extinct, McKinney continued.

Senator, everyone knows that line of reasoning is total nonsense, Heinz responded in an uncharacteristically blunt manner. "The dinosaurs and their supporting plant life died out not from natural causes but from a sudden inhospitable change in their environment, the elimination of their source(s) of food and also the quality of the air they breathed. The cataclysmic destruction of from seventy to ninety-plus percent of the world’s living creatures has happened not once but at least three or four times in earth’s geological history and, to no one’s surprise, Senator, it is also going to happen again at some time in future. The dinosaurs and the plants they ate did not die because they were inferior, Senator. Instead, they died because the force(s) which killed them off were far too superior. Those same forces which wiped out the dinosaurs today would also kill off even us. It would mean the end of mankind, Homo sapiens. The dinosaurs and the plants in their world were unable to stop the earth’s collision with giant meteors. Regardless of what you may read in books and see in the cinema, mankind also lacks this ability. Would you argue we, then, are just as inferior and as deserving of total extinction? Just imagine what we might learn if given the opportunity to revive and study those plants which thrived during the time of the dinosaurs. Who knows what lifesaving compounds or drugs we might discover if given the opportunity? There’s also another side of this coin, Senator. If we Americans are not permitted to engage in this research, just imagine what those nations who currently participate in such research will receive as a reward. Viewing the issue in yet another way, there is also the potential some nation engaged in such studies might try to use its discovery for its own self-serving benefits or even act aggressively against another nation. How do we react to that?"

Senator McKinney paused inexplicably just as he prepared to ask a follow-up question. He looked briefly at Heinz and smiled.

We are also pleased to note, Senator, that BioGenetics International Technologies has received an unprecedented one hundred thirty-four patents for its work and research since its inception eight years ago. Fourteen of those patents are for the synthetic skin which we have developed. In the aftermath of caring for severely wounded veterans of our country’s most recent wars with Iraq and Afghanistan, we strongly feel the inherent good of our studies and deeds far outweigh any perceived evils. Heinz paused for a moment for emphasis, then he began speaking, Now, if I could only show you… Heinz’s comments were cut short by his attorney who quickly grabbed his arm in a vice-like grip. Say no more, Liebowitz adamantly whispered into his ear. This is more than enough. Let’s not divulge any more of your secrets to the world today.

Questioning was then turned over to Idaho Senator Lucille Mason. A veteran of the Senate for nearly twenty years, Mason was short and matronly, almost always dressed in the conservative attire and colours of a southern schoolmarm from the early 1960’s. Mason’s personality, however, was a pugnacious Republican cross between former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Diane Feinstein. She tolerated neither idiots nor fools. Doctor Heinz, she slowly began, your technological achievements, especially for such a short time in existence, are highly impressive. So too are the patents you have received for your efforts. In this era of competitiveness between nations around the world for technological superiority, what steps have you taken to prevent a disloyal or disgruntled employee from selling one or more of your patented secrets to such countries as China, Russia, North Korea, Iran or even some other ‘friendly’ nation who currently poses itself as our ally?

Interesting question, Senator Mason, Heinz began. Most modern laboratories either have a team of anywhere from one to three or perhaps four people who work exclusively on any given project, day in and day out, for the duration of that research project, which can last many months or even several years. Each person on that project has either information or access to information which has been developed from day one. BioGenetics International, instead, employs what one commonly refers to as Henry Ford’s assembly line method. We have small groups, generally one to three people, who work on only a small portion of the entire project, say eight to fifteen percent of the total, before passing the project along to another small group who, in turn, will eventually do exactly the same. No single group has access either to the past or future knowledge of anyone else working on their project. As each of our projects nears completion, one or two of our senior technicians, our most trusted employees, is then assigned to carry the project through to its completion. Also, in most instances, our teams may be assigned to work on two or three different projects daily or weekly. At BioGenetics International, it is physically impossible for any single employee to amass total knowledge of any given project, from its beginning to its conclusion. Permit me to also add, if you will, Senator, that since we initiated such methods, the FBI has borrowed a number of our employee screening and monitoring security measures. I think we have more than adequately acted to protect not only ourselves and our work, but also our nation’s best interests and security, Senator.

At 10:50, with all members of the committee having been able to question Heinz, Senator Wright grabbed his microphone and gavel. With the witness, Dr. Heinz, having been able to both provide us with a statement and answer questions from all members of the committee who were present today, we now wish to thank Dr. Heinz for his participation and to declare this committee is adjourned for lunch. The committee will resume testimony today at 13:30, with Dr. Max Steiner from M.I.T. as our final witness. The committee is now adjourned. Wright’s sharp rap of the gavel resonated throughout the room. It also served to wake up those who had been quietly sleeping or day dreaming, both common occurrences during congressional hearings. Elated with the ease at which they were able to present their testimony, the group quickly packed and prepared again to face the brusque weather outside. A really nice, warm lunch and then a long ride back to Dulles in the frozen Virginia countryside. I can’t wait to get back to California, Elena was overheard saying as the trio left.

Claiming to have opened five years before the outset of the American Civil War in 1861, the Old Ebbitt Grill, at 675 15th Street, NW, is a Washington, DC dining institution, only scant blocks from the White House. Its Beaux Arts façade and elegant dark mahogany, polished brass, beveled glass, leather and marble fixtures have continuously attracted many of Washington’s most elite politicians and power brokers for decades. Today Liebowitz had secured a small private dining room at the Old Ebbitt Grill for himself and his high profile clients. I could personally do without displaying that disgusting stuffed walrus head, even if it were supposedly shot by Theodore Roosevelt, Elena remarked sarcastically as they passed through the dining room into the back. After quickly studying the menu, it was decided lunch would begin with a tray of a dozen fresh Chesapeake Bay oysters, Blue Bay Mussels and mushroom ravioli along with a bottle of 2007 Etude Chardonnay. With Heinz’s Senate testimony now officially over, it was time for the trio to relax and count among their blessings their relatively warm reception among the members of the committee. They could not also help comment on the noticeable absence of Senator dos Santos. As they began Elena could not resist commenting on the magnificent chardonnay with its inviting aromas, rich and full bodied taste of sweet red apple, Bosc pear and almonds. The chardonnay, she remarked, also substantially enhanced the taste of the oysters and lightly seasoned mussels. After some debate, a second platter of oysters was ordered. Nearly twenty minutes into the meal, a cart with a large antique silver plated cloche, or dome, was wheeled in with the group’s entrées of Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Pan Seared Chesapeake Wild Catfish with Old Bay seasoning and mushroom cream sauce, grilled Filet Mignon with Sauce Choron, and a winter vegetable platter of maple glazed acorn squash, butternut squash, and kale. A second bottle of Etude Chardonnay was opened along with a bottle of 2007 Raymond Vineyards NAPA Valley Reserve Cabernet. A deep garnet colour, the cabernet with its well structured and concentrated flavours and long, toasty finish was deemed a perfect accompaniment for the expertly grilled filet mignon. We’re going to work all this off in a few weeks, Heinz casually remarked, but for the moment I’m going to enjoy every morsel of goodness today. As the entrées were about to be finished, the group groaned in false protestation when an American Farmhouse Cheese Sampler tray, featuring four different varieties of locally produced artisanal cheese, was placed on the nearby sideboard. Beside the large tray of cheese, the wait staff had also left three ramekins of pumpkin Crème Brûlée, courtesy of the head chef, and an unopened bottle of Delamain Pale & Dry cognac. I’m personally glad I’m not flying back to California with you this afternoon, Liebowitz remarked. After eating all this food, you’re going to have to roll me out of here to my office on Connecticut Avenue. Fortunately, I can take a cab and it’s only five minutes from here.

Leibowitz then leaned over and directly stared at Elena’s left hand. I’ve been admiring this beauty all morning long, he remarked facetiously. And by ‘this beauty’ I mean the ring that’s on Elena’s left hand and not, for once, just Elena herself. Is this what I think it is?

Heinz laughed. "Yes, it is. It’s the famous