The Gene Trap

By Stephen N Berberich

Change is inevitable, and it is coming to the modern world as it had for a thousand centuries. A mysterious force, hidden in the shadows of the cosmos, holds sway over the destiny of all living things, and the final chapter for mankind is about to be written. A superior species, borne of humans, is poised to assume dominion over the earth. Enter The Gene Trap. This manuscript is the second in a series of techno-thrillers by Dr. Stephen Berberich. Similar in story line to a Michael Crichton novel, the books plot depicts the struggle of contemporary man in his effort to avoid the inexorable consequences of evolution. As the story unfolds, John Lynch and his girlfriend, Gigi Thompson, are on their way to Pittsburgh to begin their new careersJohn as a medical intern and Gigi as geneticist at the prestigious Hawthorne Institute. Though they remain perplexed by the mysterious disappearance of their best friends, Peter Gault and Kate Donavon (main characters of Berberichs first novel, No Known Species), John and Gigi find themselves consumed by the rigors of their new positions. The last thing they need is to be caught in a titanic struggle for human survivala struggle that would pit them against Peters clan of mutants.

Influenced by unexpected events, the couple is drawn into a sinister plot hatched by a worldwide cabal of intellectual elites who are determined to eliminate the gifted species. It is a move that could solidify mankinds rightful place of primacy.

Though the elites scheme seems flawless, unforeseen mistakes begin to occur. A deadly synthetic germ is accidently released into the biosphere, creating a plague the likes of which the world has never known. Worse yet, a deadly trap lurks within secret recesses of the human genome. It is genetic time bomb that will be detonated if scientists attempt to tinker with the essence of mankinds DNA.

The Gene Trap details the age-old struggle between the old and the new, with Gigi and John caught somewhere between the two worlds. The final act makes clear the meaning of the genesis cycle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984522375

Stephen N Berberich

Dr. Stephen Berberich is a retired interventional cardiologist with extensive training in the sciences. He is a graduate of Georgetown College and Georgetown Medical School. Dr. Berberich began an internship at the University of Pittsburgh and then moved on to a medical residency at Georgetown University Hospital. He finished his medical training with a cardiology fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Berberich is the lead author on the first published review of Post Exercise Echocardiography. This test subsequently became one of the gold standards for the early detection of coronary artery disease. In 1974, Dr. Berberich moved from the Boston area, where he was chief of Cardiology at the Boston Naval Hospital, and came to southern California where he continued in the private practice of Cardiology until his retirement in 2004. Dr. Berberich is married and has three grown children. Just like Michael Crichton and Robin Cook, after 40 years in the fields of science and medicine, Dr. Berberich acquired the background that enabled him to explore the mind-bending possibilities suggested by Rebecca Canns seminal work on mitochondrial DNA and its relationship to the evolution of man. The novel comes as close to reality as Crichtons Jurassic Park and Cooks Coma.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Cornwall, England—Present day

S ilas Johnson was tending to the remains of his fall garden on a beautiful late autumn afternoon in suburban Cornwall. As was his custom, Silas was wearing an old pair of canvas boat shoes with soles worn thin from years of use. He removed several shriveled geraniums that were well past their time and stepped back to admire his handiwork. Silas was unaware of the extreme danger that lurked in the tall grass nearby. To his left and behind him was a foot-long wooden plank with a rusty nail protruding from the far end. The two-by-four, along with the exposed nail, was a vestige of a minor construction project completed several years ago by a local handyman.

As Silas stepped back, the weight of his entire body thrust his left leg downward allowing easy entry of the rusted nail through the thinned sole of his boat shoe. As the nail penetrated deeper into the soft tissues and tendons of his forefoot, a searing pain exploded in Johnson’s frontal cortex. On reflex, Silas jerked free of the spike causing the surface material to be deposited deep within the flexor muscles and tendons of his foot. Silas stood on one leg, initially paralyzed by the excruciating pain. However, his mobility quickly returned as blood filled his left shoe. Silas hopped toward the house on one foot and, considering the injury, covered the distance in amazingly brief period of time. He went to the downstairs bathroom, removed both shoes and filled the tub with tepid water. Silas soaked both feet for 15 minutes then toweled off, applied antibiotic ointment to the wound and bandaged the area. Silas limped towards the living room and finally collapsed into his easy chair.

As Silas recounted the details of his injury, the shadows of early evening began filling the living room. More than the pain, it was the presence of the rusty nail that worried him. The thought of developing lockjaw sent shivers up his spine. He received a tetanus shot one year ago for a similar incident, but decided to contact the urgent care center to confirm that no additional treatment was necessary. After retrieving the phone number from his address book, Silas spoke to the nurse on call at the clinic. She checked his chart and then reassured him that he had received a tetanus immunization one year ago and there was no need for a booster at this time. Following their conversation, Silas limped to the refrigerator and grabbed a cold beer. After several generous swallows, he was able to relax.

Then Silas attended to an equally pressing matter—planning for a crucial meeting with a group of venture capitalists scheduled in two days. The technology company he owned and operated was in financial trouble and unless he secured a large infusion of cash, the last thirty years of his life would go up in smoke.

That evening Silas retired at the usual hour but slept restlessly through the night. His mind was invaded by an endless parade of bizarre dreams, one more troubling than the next. The following morning, he felt unusually drained and was barely able to throw together a suitcase of essentials for his trip. If the meeting in Pittsburgh were not absolutely necessary he would have rescheduled it and cancelled his flight. But that was not an option. However, there was a bit of good news. He found that he was able to walk, albeit with a noticeable hitch in his gait.

Silas had a quick cup of hot tea with a crumpet then called a cab for the long trip to Heathrow Airport. The driver dropped him at the American Airline’s terminal where he presented his passport and checked his bag. After going through security, Silas retired to the Admiral’s Club hospitality suite where he awaited the boarding announcement for his flight to Pittsburgh.

After locating his seat in business class, Silas fine-tuned the adjustable recliner to his liking and began reading a copy of The Wall Street Journal. While scanning the front page, Silas noticed a throbbing pain in his left foot near the nail’s point of entry. Several aspirin tablets temporarily relieved the discomfort and he continued with his morning read. Just before take-off, Silas stowed his newspaper and carry-on bag, adjusted his seat for the second time and prepared for the eleven-hour flight to the States.

Meanwhile, deep within the infected tissues of his left forefoot, a life-and-death struggle raged on. The antibodies from the tetanus immunization that lay dormant for over a year had been urgently summoned to the site of the infection. For hours, the deadly microorganisms fought for survival, but they had little chance against Silas’s augmented T cell response. One by one the bacteria were neutralized until all but a single organism remained. This tetanus bacillus was clearly different from the rest. It had been created in an experimental genetics laboratory and then accidentally released to the environment. It was a virulent synthetic mutation that had its cell membrane modified making it impervious to the antibodies and white cells fighting the disease. More important, this organism had undergone yet another lethal change. Instead of infecting a human host exclusively through a deep puncture wound, the newly modified organism could be spread to other victims by exhaling air contaminated with droplets filled with the Bacilli. The airborne method of dissemination was similar to that of an influenza epidemic, only with far deadlier consequences. And if critical mass in the biosphere were ever achieved, the modified tetanus bacilli would become the mother of all human plagues. Once again Darwin’s survival principles were poised to play a role on the stage of history. Only this time the random confluence of events affecting Silas Johnson would ignite a struggle for man’s primacy on Earth.

Chapter 2

Washington, DC—6 months earlier

J ohn Lynch sat quietly in the vanishing light of his living room. Suddenly his hands began to sweat as ethereal images emerged from the lengthening shadows of twilight and then, as the sun sank below the horizon, slowly crawled across the floor. In times past the apparitions became recognizable figures that summoned painful memories, and tonight was no exception.

It had been months since John had seen or talked to his roommate and best friend, yet the circumstances of Peter Gault’s disappearance remained shrouded in mystery. Without warning, Peter and his girlfriend, Kate Donavon, had disappeared. There was no written explanation and just one cryptic phone call. Then his friends simply vanished. John initially thought the young lovers had eloped; but, as time passed, his concern for them became more justified.

First John contacted the local police and when his efforts were stonewalled, he went to FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. He was referred to the bureau’s deputy director, Agent Mackey, and again he received vague answers couched in ambiguity. This was odd since Mackey had personally handled the case of Peter’s disappearance.

John made several attempts to contact Peter’s friends, but his inquiries brought him to the same dead end. In fact, one childhood buddy from Peter’s hometown near Boston had recently committed suicide under questionable circumstances.

At the end of the day, no one had the vaguest notion as to the whereabouts of Peter Gault or Kate Donavon. So, with no additional leads to pursue, John finally abandoned his search.

John first met Peter early in his freshman year of college. Unfortunately, their initial face-to-face meeting was less than ideal. John remembered the moment vividly. He was sprawled on his bed while reading the latest issue of Playboy magazine when his perspective roommate, Peter, entered their dormitory room unannounced. Faced with this embarrassing situation, Peter didn’t miss a beat. He simply smiled, walked into the room and asked John if he was reading any interesting articles. They both laughed out loud. Though it was not the best way to meet someone who would become your roommate for the next seven years, Peter’s witty response to an awkward moment put John at ease and the rest became history.

As John got to know Peter, it was evident that his roommate relished studying certain individuals. And Peter found John to be particularly interesting. John was the second of three children born to Robert and Abigail Lynch. His early childhood was idyllic by anyone’s standards. As far as Peter could tell, the only thing missing in John’s early years was an exposure to nature’s world outside of the Big Apple.

John began his education at an elite eight-year private academy and then finished his secondary training at the finest prep school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. John’s interests were many and varied. He was a gifted athlete in his own right and played quarterback for his prep school football team, a perennial powerhouse in New York City’s Private League. He was also an excellent student. It was John’s hope that academic excellence would be his ticket to his first love, a career in medicine.

In his formative years, John rarely ventured outside the boundaries of Manhattan, preferring to remain immersed in the ubiquitous energy of the Big Apple. Though John mixed well with New York’s elite society, thanks to a supportive and loving family, he remained firmly grounded in life.

John was ruggedly handsome, and, at a height of six feet, measured several inches less than Peter. John was typical Black Irish with dark eyes, a generous mop of auburn hair and sported an infectious smile that stirred the hearts of the young ladies in his social circle. He stood in sharp contrast to his roommate, Peter, who had platinum hair, porcelain skin and intense azure-blue eyes. Despite being polar opposites physically, the boys had much in common and fit together like a hand in a glove. In fact, Peter, with an eye on a career in medicine, also chose biology as his major, but he didn’t appear to be the typical pre-med bookworm, but then, neither did John.

In the day-to-day dealings with his friend, John quickly recognized that Peter was beyond genius. Actually, his intelligence was close to frightening. His roommate never studied, even for final exams. He simply absorbed the material by osmosis. John was a bit jealous of Peter’s gifts, but, since Peter was his best friend, it really didn’t matter.

As graduation from college approached, Peter and John discussed taking a break before they started medical school. On impulse, Peter got a job as lifeguard at a small hotel in Edgartown on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Several weeks after the start of the summer season, a position at the hotel opened up and Peter recommended John for the position. His friend was accepted without an interview.

Good fortune smiled on the boys that summer. They spent some of the happiest days of their lives on this island. It was here John met a young coed named Gigi Thompson who would eventually become his fiancé. While attending one of many raucous beach parties, John literally bumped into Gigi, a Georgia peach and a junior at the University of Alabama. He was immediately taken by her southern charm and after only three dates, John announced to Peter that he was in love.

Gigi was a slender southern bell of medium height who exuded feminine allure. She had brown sun-streaked hair that fell to her shoulders in natural curls. Her skin was sun-kissed ivory, and she had beguiling eyes that could charm the skin off a rattlesnake. She also had a keen mind that complimented her southern aura.

Even Peter scored that summer. He met his first serious interest, Darby Connors, while she was working as a hostess at a local restaurant. After dinner one evening, Darby came over to the boys’ table and served Peter a fresh cup of coffee. She made some polite conversation and generally lingered longer than was necessary. Her interest in him was curious since she was not their designated waitress. John also noticed the immediate attraction between the two and later asked Peter about it. He turned crimson and quickly changed the subject.

John loved Peter like the brother he never had, though down deep he sensed a vast chasm separating them. It was something that Peter never acknowledged, but John knew his appraisal was sound. At times John wondered if he really knew this person he called his best friend. Like the time Peter defended Gigi’s honor at South Beach near Edgartown…

Martha’s Vineyard premiere beach seemed like one of the safest places on the island; but that opinion was about to change.

On a warm evening in mid-August, long after the usual crowd left the area, John noticed the arrival of six townies in a beat-up Ford pickup. The vintage 1960s truck had a boom box resting on the front seat and a full keg of beer in the rear cargo bed.

Initially the interlopers kept to themselves, but as the beer intake increased and their basic inhibitions dwindled, the townies began inching their way up the beach with unwholesome interests clearly focused on Gigi. As they drew closer, John instinctively recognized the warning signs of real trouble. At that point, he stood to protect his girlfriend.

Under ordinary circumstances John was capable of defending himself. He was strong and agile, and had a modicum of training in self-defense. So, when the fight began, he was able to fend off the first attacker without much difficulty. But soon the other five hoods overwhelmed him like rabid dogs and he didn’t stand a chance.

With John lying helpless on the beach, the thugs turned their attention to Gigi, who, quite justifiably, was frightened to death. John watched in a semi-conscious haze as she began screaming for help. Peter and Darby were sitting on a blanket 50 yards to windward and initially didn’t hear her hysterical cries. But when Peter finally recognized that she was in big trouble, he scrambled to his feet and ran towards her spot on the beach. As Peter drew near, he realized that she was in more danger than he imagined, and things were deteriorating by the second. The townies had succeeded in stripping Gigi of most of her clothing and were poised to do much worse.

Because of his initially restrained demeanor, Peter telegraphed to his adversaries he was not prepared to tangle with them. In truth, to delay some sort of involvement in the situation was out of the question. He stopped about 20 yards from Gigi’s location and began speaking to the thugs in a slow and measured voice.

Okay, guys, that’s enough. You’ve had your fun, now it’s time to leave.

All six young men looked up and instantly switched their attention from Gigi to Peter.

As they moved in his direction, the leader of the hooligans muttered under his breath, I know a punk when I see one, guys. Believe me; this is going to be more fun than we’ve had in months.

And they cackled like jackals as they advanced to confront their next victim.

Peter’s physical appearance was not menacing, so when he backed away from the confrontation, the gang failed to understand the motive behind Peter’s passive exterior. So, instead of calling it a night, all six thugs surrounded Peter and moved in for the kill.

Peter quickly concluded that further attempts to reason with these animals would be futile and a brawl was imminent. Luckily, over the past minute or so he was able to cobble together a plan that gave him a fighting chance against such lopsided odds. And the time to act was now. Peter zeroed in on the leader and most aggressive tough of the bunch and directly challenged his manhood in front of his pals.

Try your muscle out on me instead of a defenseless woman, you miserable piece of shit!

That did the trick. The hood charged Peter like an enraged bull and began throwing a series of skilled punches to his face and body. Yet, with Peter’s elusive speed and reaction time, none of the blows came within a country mile of landing.

Meanwhile, Peter had settled into a low crouch and when the hood was well within striking distance, he thrust his body upward and forward with the full force of both legs flexed for action, and a cocked right fist. The impact of the blow lifted the feckless thug four feet off the ground and he landed, unconscious, on a nearby mound of sand. After seeing their leader humiliated, the five remaining townies jumped Peter from all directions, hoping for some payback.

John, who had been watching all of this from a distance, wasn’t entirely sure about the events that followed. Despite the presence of a full moon, the fog of combat obscured much of what actually happened. Though when the fight was over, John was certain of one thing. All six townies were sprawled on the beach in various states of unconsciousness and Peter was the last man standing. Looking back, this was John’s first clear insight into Peter’s hidden persona.

After attending to Gigi, Peter ran back to check on Darby. She had many questions but would hold them until later.

We had better go, urged Peter.

Darby nodded and they hastily packed up their things, collected Gigi and John, and quickly left the beach.

While driving back to town, Darby, John, and Gigi rehashed the events of the evening in great detail. Though for some reason, Peter added very little to the discussion. In fact, when they finally reached the outskirts of Edgartown, he asked that no one in their group notify the police of the incident. Gigi began to object but finally agreed to Peter’s request. Oddly enough, after that, no one ever spoke again of that night on the beach.

With the arrival of an early autumn chill, John and Peter made plans to leave the island, but not without the prospect of one last adventure. John’s uncle offered him the use of his mountain home at Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, and the following evening John invited Gigi, Peter and Darby to join him for one last fling before the start of school. John remembered the experience as a transitional moment in his life…

The ride through New England in mid-autumn met all of their inflated expectations. Peter, with Darby beside him in the front seat, drove John’s graduation gift, a new BMW convertible, while John and Gigi occupied the back seat. It was a stunning fall afternoon. Not wanting to miss any of the incredible sights, Darby persuaded Peter to lower the top so they could take in the fresh country air. With the top tucked away behind the back seat, the car became immersed in the pungent aroma of autumn leaves and fresh honeysuckle.

Peter took his time winding through the byways of the rolling countryside. Hardwood trees filled the backdrop as far as the eye could see. The forest, alive with beams of dazzling light, enhanced the rainbow-colored leaves as they tumbled from branches in the swirling wind. It was their last dance aloft before the snows of winter.

In the midst of this miracle of nature, John and Gigi climbed atop of the back seat of the convertible and with their arms outstretched and hair blowing freely in the wind, they allowed their spirits to soar. Peter slowed to a crawl, put his arm around Darby, and relished this perfect moment, on a perfect sunlit fall day in the mountains of New England’s North Country.

Uncle George’s summer home was located in the wooded mountains of northern New Hampshire. The lodge was woven flawlessly into nature’s habitat. The structure was surrounded by a wooden deck that extended over the shores of an archetypal lake. The structure and its immediate environs were set like an uncut gem into a tapestry of towering mountain peaks.

Following John’s instructions, Peter turned into the pebbled driveway and parked in a space next to a freestanding garage. At that moment, both doors flew open and the passengers and driver scrambled out of the car to stretch their legs. John climbed the steps to the portico and rummaged through several flower pots before discovering the hidden key to the house. The couples entered through a massive oaken door and followed a foyer into a large and comfortably appointed great room.

The focal point of the sprawling log and stone structure was a mammoth fireplace with an ample supply of quartered logs stacked in an adjacent alcove. In typical rustic style, the front of the hearth was framed in stone and surrounded by overstuffed couches and a large oval coffee table.

The lodge had four bedrooms with rustic furniture to match its country pedigree. Flannel bed sheets and a woolen comforter guaranteed guests a pleasant and comfortable night’s sleep.

Hoping to get lucky that evening, John claimed one of the larger bedrooms. After hesitating a moment, the girls glanced at each other and then chose two separate bedrooms to stow their suitcases. Peter dropped his bag in the only room remaining. John appeared disappointed with the sleeping arrangements but decided to deal with it, mainly because he had no other choice. As it turned out, his patience was well rewarded.

That evening, the setting sun angled low over the mountain tops and softened the light from the lake. Meanwhile, John and Peter made their appearance on the deck and waited while the girls applied their final touches of makeup.

The spot on the patio they chose had a drop-dead view of the lake and its surroundings. While Peter prepared the hors d’oeuvres in the kitchen, John mixed a pitcher of potent margaritas. The scene was set and everything appeared in perfect order. The only missing element was the company of two lovely young ladies. And the boys didn’t have long to wait.

When the girls sashayed onto the deck, John nearly spilled his freshly poured Margarita. Gigi was dressed in pink shorts and a modest white tank top. The choice of wardrobe accentuated her homespun, southern beauty. The long summer had transformed her complexion to a honey-colored hue and her light brown hair bore subdued sun streaks among a collection of natural curls. She was the embodiment of an antebellum lady. John tried his best to hide his shameless interests, or at the least make them a bit less obvious. Though, in the end, he conceded to his human weaknesses and let the evening forge ahead naturally.

Aware of his attention, Gigi smiled at John from across the deck and then came to sit by him in an adjacent Cape Cod chair. Soon Darby and Peter joined the party and the couples sipped margaritas and watched the sun slowly sink beneath the mountain tops on a perfect New Hampshire evening.

That night, after a simple dinner of steaks, ears of corn and baked potatoes, the couples sat around the fire and rehashed memories of their unforgettable summer on the island. During a rare lull in the conversation, John asked if anyone would be interested in a game of Hearts. Though he warned that it was a card game that brought out the worst in competitive people. Despite his cautionary comment, the game sounded interesting so the girls told him to deal the cards.

Peter and John were ruthless from the start. The girls were initially a bit reticent, but when they saw the boys’ shameful tactics, they soon got into the nuances of the game. The girls were, by nature, more conniving, and ultimately buried the guys in negative points.

Finally, as the last vestiges of the fire faded to ash, Darby and Gigi excused themselves and retired to their bedrooms. The boys stood, stretched, and reluctantly did the same.

John got bored quickly and discarded his novel. As he got up to turn out the light, he heard a gentle knock at his door. It was Gigi and, by the look of her, his long-deferred fantasies would soon be realized.

Unsure of how to proceed, Gigi hesitantly crossed over the threshold. The room was dark except for scattered beams of reflected light from a crescent moon. Their eyes met and for a moment no one spoke. John stood at the foot of his bed. From a distance, Gigi could see that he was fully aroused and then had no trouble making the next move. In full view of John, she unfastened her blouse, slowly at first, and one button at a time. Then, just as deliberately, she released her bra, exposing flawless breasts with nipples that stood erect. He came to Gigi and kissed the nape of her neck. Then John removed the rest of her clothes and carried her to his bed. He stood for a moment beside her, marveling at Gigi’s perfect figure and naked body. Each feminine curve was accentuated by the soft moonlight filtering through the open pane-glass window. John finally moved to Gigi and began caressing her breasts as she removed the rest of his clothes. They touched each other passionately in secret places and when delay was no longer an option, John entered Gigi, at first with slow deep thrusts that accelerated gradually to a mutual crescendo. Afterwards, as their pulse slowed, Gigi entwined John in her willowy limbs and kissed him gently. Soon they fell asleep in each other’s arms, only to revisit the pleasures of that evening many times in their dreams.

The following morning, after a brisk swim in Lake Echo, the couples departed Uncle George’s slice of paradise and spent the remainder of the week traveling down the craggy New England coastline. John recalled these moments as the happiest of his young life. The only shroud of sadness came at the very end of the trip. Without warning, Darby announced to Peter that she could never see him again. There was no explanation offered to explain her decision and no option given. In fact, John felt that Darby didn’t completely understand her own feelings. There was only one thing about the incident that was clear. Both she and Peter were devastated by her decision on