The Zorkoff Experiment: An Elder's Journey Into the Unknown

By Robert T. Hatch

The tenured head of the Neural Department at a Boston University has experimented with and developed an unusual procedure. It has been successfully tested many times on various animals and now he wants to test it on a human. His long time assistant suggests his own grandfather. This elderly man fits all the requirements; besides if everything works as planned, the assistant stands to inherit half a million dollars. This innovative thriller may be speaking of things to come which could change the meaning of old age, senility, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Dec 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483439129

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The Zorkoff Experiment

An Elder’s Journey Into the Unknown

Robert T. Hatch

Copyright © 2015 Robert T. Hatch.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

The characters and situations in this work are wholly fictional; they do not portray and are not intended to portray any actual person.

Bojangles lyrics were used with permission of Creative Commons.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3913-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3912-9 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Cover and design by Kendra Huspaska, Ohio

Edited by Teresa Smithers, Watervliet, MI

Proofread by Miriam Pede

Sponsored by Michilander Industries

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 12/9/2016

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Part One: The Cocoon

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Part Two: A New Life

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

Epilogue

Other Works By Robert Hatch

Cover Design By Kendra Huspaska

Dedicated, with gratitude and love to all those who

have made a positive difference in my life.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Several people have furnished information and assisted me in clarifying its context and use. For this I would like to thank the following:

Jean Smith

Jimmy Butt

Cynthia Demetriou

Mr. Jean Massad

Drew Hill

Matt Severin

Dean Manley

Burke Lokey

Phil Manni

Doris Stright

George Aoki

Dan Abbott

Scott Hill

Kathleen Levin

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PART ONE:

The Cocoon

1

My feet rise up and my back drops down as I lever my easy chair into a horizontal position. After all, no one can blame a 91- year old man from taking a short snooze in the afternoon. I reach down between the cushions and dig out the small towel I keep in the chair seat. Folding it neatly into a strip, I place it over my eyes and drop off to my favorite place—dreamland. As I am reaching the wonderful state of euphoria, the phone rings on the stand by my side. Grudgingly, I slip on my glasses and look at the caller ID—University of Granfield calling. Snatching up the phone, I half-shout, Is Mark okay?

Yes, he’s fine, Mr. Thayer, said a calm voice.

Thank heavens, I answered, releasing the lever at the side of the chair that pops me upright. Mark Nelson is my grandson and is working on his PhD there.

This is Professor Emile Zorkoff, Chairman of the Neural Department here at the university the voice continues. As a matter of fact, Mark suggested I call you. I wondered if I could stop and see you at your home to discuss an interesting proposition.

Can you give me a clue about the discussion?

I’d prefer to explain it to you in person, but I’m sure you will find it fascinating.

Very well. When would you like to come over?

Would this evening at 7:00 be convenient?

Yes, I’ll see you then. You know where I live?

Yes, your grandson gave me your address.

My afternoon siesta was interrupted, so I wandered around the house straightening books and magazines. Living a widower’s existence allowed me some degree of freedom, but that takes a toll on my house. I started dusting the top of the piano. I lifted my late wife, Carol’s, picture and studied it for a minute. Sure wish you were here, I thought. I miss you. I didn’t see too many things out of place, and those that were I covered with an afghan.

I still had plenty of time before my seven o’clock appointment so I hung the sling around my neck, hooked up my alto sax and played my favorite tune, I’ll Be Seeing You, by a songwriter of my era. I was teaching myself how to play this instrument, but was still having problems holding some of the bass notes. Occasionally I can blow them properly, but the real low ones give me trouble. But this is one song I associate with Ruth, a gal I met during the war, so I keep trying. Feeling guilty about my thoughts, I put the sax down. I’ll put on Carol’s favorite DVD of the Bee Gees. It’ll make me feel closer to her, I thought.

After a light dinner of chili and garlic toast, I waited for Professor Zorkoff’s arrival. I was curious as to what he had to say. Promptly at seven, the doorbell rang. I turned the volume down on the Bee Gees and padded to the door in my comfortable slippers. Opening the door, I found in front of me a man in his mid-sixties, sparkling blue eyes and neatly dressed, who appeared to be acutely aware of his surroundings. He introduced himself as Professor Zorkoff, and I invited him in.

Even though it is near the end of April, I had built a fire as this late season chill is uncomfortable, particularly for an old man.

Come in, professor. It still feels a little nippy out.

Thank you, Mr. Thayer. Yes, the winter cold seems to be hanging on.

Make yourself comfortable and tell me what this is all about. Would you care for some coffee or tea first? I asked.

He declined the offer with a nod and proceeded. My purpose here started with a suggestion from your grandson, Mark. He thought you might be the perfect subject for an experiment we plan to conduct at the university. We have been looking for a gentleman of your age, who has successfully experienced life of 90 or more years, a person in good health, acutely sharp mentally, aware of current science and a seeker of knowledge.

Well, that’s very complimentary. If I am the one selected, what will be the result of your discovery?

Succinctly put, Mr. Thayer. We are looking for a gentleman like you to experiment with a new procedure that could revolutionize humanity. The result could alter the life and future of people of advanced age who are hungry for their youth. If you would be willing to accompany me tomorrow and meet with a couple of others in the laboratory at the university, I think we could make things much clearer.

Please, in one or two words, could you enlighten me a little more?

Yes, of course, it has to do with regeneration of the body. Is your schedule such that you could spare a couple of hours with us?

Yes. I’m really not involved in anything earthshaking that would prevent me from a meeting with you and your friends.

We agreed that at ten the next day he would pick me up and take me to their laboratory. We shook hands at the door and he proceeded to his car at the curb.

As he drove away, an ominous feeling came over me, as if a great change was impending. Well, we’ll find out about that tomorrow at the college, I thought. But it can’t be all bad if my grandson suggested it.

2

The next morning at ten, the professor pulled up in front of my house. I put on my Burberry coat, scarf and hat, and walked to his car. When I got in, I felt the warmth of his car heater pouring the air out of its vents. It felt quite comfortable, because it was still a bit chilly out.

I’ve got to tell you, Professor, I slept rather restlessly last night, wondering what today would bring.

Yes, I can well imagine what went through your mind to suddenly have thoughts of a possible experiment which could interrupt and change your way of life. I think you will find it fascinating after you’ve given it some thought.

We drove through my neighborhood and reached the thoroughfare that took us directly to the college. Not too many more words were spoken on that subject, although I’m sure he would have liked to reveal their plan to me. And, likewise, I was most eager to learn more.

After about 20 minutes travel and some talk about the school’s football team, he pulled into a parking lot surrounded by a quadrangle of buildings that I knew to be the science area. We got out and walked toward the large four-storied brick structure. Upon entering, I detected the smell that I remembered from my college days. There’s something about a science building that carries a unique odor never to be forgotten.

We took the elevator up to the third floor, walked down the polished hall to a door marked Neural Science. Through the large glass door I could see laboratory tables upon which were nestled microscopes and other scientific paraphernalia. We walked through the room to an office at the far end. For some reason, I believed that I would become very familiar with this room and that office.

Professor Zorkoff pointed to a chair, picked up a phone and touched a button. His conversation led me to believe that we would soon be visited by other professors. Sure enough about five minutes later, two gentlemen in medical garb bearing distinct nameplates, joined us.

Mr. Thayer, this is Dr. Edward Harris who is a Doctor of Medicine and a surgeon, and this is Dr. Leroy Johnson who is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. They both have their doctorates in Neural Science and have been of immense help to me on this project.

We smiled and shook hands and they seated themselves around the table. All eyes seemed to focus on me as if I were a specimen in a jar.

Mr. Thayer, may I call you ‘Ronald?’ asked the professor.

Please, I answered. Or, perhaps, ‘Ron’ would be more apropos.

Ron, said Prof. Zorkoff, here at the university we have been conducting experiments on various species of animals. We have been very successful in our experiments. We have been able to regress an animal practically to birth. This is not new; we have been working on this premise for over ten years. There have been major advances in stem cell research, regeneration of cells, organ duplication and other experiments pertinent to this project. We have tested our procedures on lab animals, everything from mice to monkeys, and measured the various output of the cells. We know to an exact amount the proper cellular input to achieve the precise degree of regression.

Yes, agreed Dr. Harris. It is astounding what we have been able to accomplish by our new method of cell regeneration. And with this procedure we are able to help the body re-grow new organs, as well as organs that have been removed or have failed because of illness or disease.

In other words, added Prof. Zorkoff, we believe we can regress a human to any age he chooses. And we are looking for a proper individual who has the health, stamina, and mental acuity to accomplish this.

"Whoa! You believe?" I interrupted.

I should have said, we are CERTAIN, added the professor with a smile.

That’s more comforting, I said. But how sure are you that this procedure will be effective on humans?

Let me tell you what we have learned in our experiments. All of the test animals have survived the procedure and recovered extremely well. They’ve shown no pain or discomfort. There was a visible change in their demeanor. Upon close examination of their skin, it was soft and extremely pliable, indicating a youthful texture.

We will insert into the wrist bone area, added Dr. Harris, "a probe which measures, very accurately, its density, porosity and age within two years. This is how we can determine how far back we have regressed them. Also we attach probes to the cranium, from which we can determine the brain waves, long- and short-term memory, and other information. We can assure you that every step will be under our team’s observations, so that we can regress you to almost the exact age you prefer. Upon revival, you will be 15- or 16-years-old with very little, or no, memory of your previous existence.

We can’t determine for sure, but from post-operative tests we have made, there could be an occasional momentary recall or memory of a past event. It’s called ‘procedural memory.’ For instance, if the person were to have learned the typewriter keyboard, he probably would automatically continue his use unimpeded. His fingers would not hesitate above a letter, but strike the key as was originally learned.

That answers a couple of my questions. I realize this is research science and some experimentation may be slightly incorrect. But I believe you have satisfied my curiosity and answered my questions for the moment.

Also, we have been successful, Dr. Harris continued, in locating the different sections of the brain and have pinpointed the memory areas, particularly the long-term and short-term memory locations. We have been working and cooperating with the government on this part. They realize a great number of service personnel are returning with post traumatic stress disorder. They have perfected a procedure wherein they can remove from the brain, the gruesome memories bothering them. It affects only the reverie, not the intellectual memories of their mind. This will allow us to alter and subtract only the continuing memory of prior existence.

Wow, you should be decorated and highly commended for these discoveries! Why have I not seen any mention of this in the general media or scientific magazines?

We have kept a low profile and have not requested outside funding. The government has been very discreet in revealing their programs to the public in general.

I see, I remarked, and you are suggesting that I take part in this regression? How far back would I be regressed?

We would like to take you back to age 16.

Whew! That would be like re-living my childhood, my teen years, my college years, my married years! I would essentially experience life all over again! That’s a shock to lay on any man, let alone a man of my age. You would be asking me to re-experience the last 75 or so years, knowing what I know now, and become a guinea pig to your successors.

Yes, that’s about it, said Dr. Harris, smiling at my reaction. We know it’s a lot to ask any individual to consider. We wouldn’t have chosen you or even known about you, except that your grandson, Mark, thought that you would be a natural candidate.

Of course, Prof. Zorkoff added, before either of us makes a final decision, we would like to run some tests on you. This is not necessarily to disqualify you, but to give us some basic information and a starting point for future reference. And I’m sure you have a thousand questions, which we will gladly answer.

Yes, but they can wait until I know more, I said.

Fine. Would you mind giving us a brief background of your life, Ronald?

"I was born here in Boston and graduated from MIT with a degree in electrical engineering. I went to work for Atlantic Power and Light and made a career there. I guess I was a Type-A personality and worked long hours. During my free time, I took flying lessons and received my private pilot’s license. After I had about 200 hours flying time, another pilot and I decided to venture a true cross-country trip. We flew to Florida in a Cessna 120 to attend the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association meeting in Saint Petersburg. It was a long trip and gave us a lot of flying experience. We were able to meet other aircraft owners from around the country and were awarded as the pilots as coming from the farthest distance in a single-engine plane. We went deep sea fishing and I caught the winning Kingfish. Later, I took sailplane lessons and got that license, too. I have several hundred hours of flight time, all in single-engine planes, however.

I also joined the Elks and played golf in their leagues. I won the championship twice and was runner-up three times.

You are a fairly good golfer, then? asked Prof. Zorkoff.

"Was, is the appropriate word. I haven’t played for years; I put my clubs in the attic and they are now collecting dust instead of trophies, I answered. After 40-plus years, I retired from business and my wife and I traveled to over 37 countries. We raised one daughter, Elizabeth, who, with her husband, Vincent, gave us our brilliant grandson, Mark."

That’s interesting, Ron, please continue.

"Prior to attending MIT, I served in the Army for 20 months, saw action in Europe and was honorably discharged in 1945. After retirement from the power company, I tried real estate for a change. Although I was relatively successful, I decided sales was not my forte, so I again retired. After that, my wife and I had been volunteering in various organizations wherever they needed someone—that is, up until her death three years ago.

Near the age of sixty I had a quadruple heart bypass which prompted my retirement. The doctor removed veins from my leg to use in the bypass. I have had them for 32 years which surprised the doctors. They must have been strong from my college track days.

That’s quite remarkable, said the Dr. Harris.

After the operation, we joined the YMCA. I continued to work out there. After about two years, we grew tired of paying the dues and leaving the house early to get to the Y" to exercise. So we purchased a treadmill, barbells and an exercise machine, which I have used daily for over 30 years. After a half-hour workout in the morning, I can go about my day feeling relaxed and loose. My wife didn’t quite hold the same schedule, but with her weakening bones, she did the best she could. She died from a fall in the kitchen; hitting her head and causing irreparable brain damage from which she never recovered. Since then, for a hobby I’ve spent my time learning and enjoying the sax and catching up on a lot of books that I missed over the years.

One other thing, I added, I watched my father die an agonizing death from prostate cancer. This was in the fifties and not much was known on how to control the disease. I have had my PSA drawn every year so when it started to rise, even though the doctor told me not to be concerned, I was. My wife and I agreed that I would have my prostate gland removed. She didn’t want to see me suffer that same slow death. Will this procedure replace my prostate?

Yes, and I’m glad you mentioned that. It will also re-grow your tonsils, adenoids and appendix. Unless, of course, you had them removed before the age to which you are regressed. You will be as God originally made you.

You mean I’ll have hair and teeth again?

"Yes, and perfect eyesight, hearing and, if you’ll