Puppeteer

By Edgar Kreis

The United States is catastrophically losing its leading role in world politics. The country's leadership is trying in many ways to maintain its influence, but all efforts do not give the desired effect. At this time, an ambitious politician, Assistant to the President of the United States for National Security, learn about a brilliant young geneticist who, by order of an American food company, managed to create bacteria that can generate stable consumer demand for specific products. The politician decides to use the scientist's invention in the interest of restoring US world domination. But Russian spies are also on the alert.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edgar Kreis
• Release date: Jan 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005519964

Edgar Kreis

Life is very multifaceted and so it is interesting if you try to discern it from different angles. There is a situation when a person, as it seems to him, reaches the final point, and then there is a deep abyss from which he can no longer get out. But even in this situation it is worth taking a closer look, and I hope that you will be able to discern at least a very small, narrow path, which can, over time, turn into a wide, torn road for you. The main thing is not to lose faith in yourself and the people around you.Several times in my life I had a chance to start all over again. He worked in factories as a mechanic and an installer of radio equipment; was a student at the institute; served as an officer; worked as a computer designer and system administrator; headed the marketing department at the bank, dealt with remote access systems. Everywhere it was interesting to master new layers of knowledge and at the same time it was instructive to observe the life of people from the outside in various groups and life circumstances.I began to write my stories when I was a little over twenty, but after a while I abandoned it, considering it empty self-indulgence. In those days, they were still writing by hand and my manuscripts, due to frequent travel, were lost over time.With interest he switched to the design of radios, various electronics, personal computers. In the 70-80s of the last century it was interesting for me, but for many people it was a wonder. After all, it was very difficult to find a personal computer in an ordinary Soviet family, and therefore my son always had a gang of his acquaintances and friends at home.I resumed writing already in my fifties, apparently the attraction of youth to writing stories has not faded away, but simply calmed down for a while. Now I have written several books, but it is not for me to judge what I got out of it. It is now up to you to decide if you don’t consider it a problem to read these books.I am grateful to my wife, son and two grandchildren for having them and for their unlimited support in all my endeavors.The main thing is that a person at any age is able to master something new, interesting and, possibly, useful for others. All the best to you in your endeavors. Good luck and your dream come true!

Book preview

Part one. Perfect product

Chapter 1. Laboratory

In a small, pretty town in the south of the United States, there is a little-known Institute of Genetics and Microbiology. The head of this scientific institution is the forty-year-old blooming and proud handsome Alan Snickers. After a recent acquaintance with a famous and very influential politician, he began to consider his work at the institute as just a springboard for future career growth. All this could not be said about his subordinate: a modest hard worker-scientist Steve Stone, who three years ago came to this town as the head of the institute's laboratory. Twenty-nine years old, the guy had an unremarkable appearance and short stature. He did not have particularly outstanding physical data, the opposite - his entire appearance indicated that his owner was more of a library frequenter, but not a fan of sports equipment. Steve's face, in contrast to his boss's tanned bronzed face, was pale from an apparent lack of sun. A short brush of hair and white, almost colorless eyebrows, which always stood like a house, gave Steve's face a surprised and bewildered look. The young scientist did not attach much importance to his appearance. He preferred comfort over polish and his daily clothes were frayed jeans and a shirt outside, and when it got colder a warm sweater was added to this wardrobe. For the young scientist, the main thing was business, and in this, he sharply differed from the brand-new director, for whom the main thing was to make a favorable impression on those around him with his appearance. But for all his completely unremarkable external data, Steve had an extremely important and rare gift - he was an amazingly talented scientist. In addition, he was infinitely devoted to the science and simply could not imagine his life without it. Despite his early age, he had already managed to achieve certain successes, had many articles in scientific journals, and now his latest discovery in genetics threatened to completely turn the whole way of life of the people of his country, and the entire world.

Steve, come to me, and grab your report on our latest project, the sharp, demanding voice of the director of the institute from the communicator interrupted Steve's thoughts.

Leaving a selection of materials of his experiments in a folder, the scientist went to Alan's office. The boss was standing by a huge, wall-to-wall panoramic window, dressed in an expensive navy-blue suit and black, perfectly cleaned, patent-leather shoes. Alan's impressive office was furnished with luxurious furniture, with a clear pretense of antiquity. The shine of gilding, cherry leather armchairs, sofas with carved legs, paintings by famous painters of the past centuries, and the entire wall with the most modern information screen panel. All this interior was supposed, according to the owner of the office, to make a proper impression on the guests of the director of the institute. Folding his hands behind his back, Alan swayed thoughtfully from heel to toe, admiring the wonderful view from the window from the height of the sixteenth floor of the administrative building of the institute. The town spread out below, with one-two-story private houses, was buried in greenery. Only in the very center, around a small round square, there were three-story buildings of the city administration offices, a police station, and a hotel, on the ground floor of which there was the only restaurant in the city. From the square, there was a straight, arrow-like road to the ocean, which could be seen behind the tops of tall palms. At the same time, the director of the institute in the parking lot adjacent to the office building of the institute was very clearly visible to his brand-new limousine. Alan chose pearlescent gold from the offered colors. Not a single resident of the town had such an expensive car, and the director of the institute was immensely proud of this fact. The glare of the rays of the setting sun softly illuminated the expensive furniture of Alan's office, and they made his face even more tanned, like a bronze statue.

Have a seat, Steve, continuing to admire his brand-new car, Alan said slowly. How will you please the boss?

Steve, with obvious physical effort, pushed a heavy leather chair closer to the table, sat down, and drowned in it. Embarrassed, he adjusted a warm, thick, knitted scarf around his neck. Despite the comfortable temperature in the director's office and the fact that it was August, one of the hottest months of the year, Steve felt a little chill. Affected by sleepless nights in the laboratory. He looked expectantly at the boss, but he seemed to have forgotten about the presence of a subordinate in his office and continued to look out the window.

The work is going according to plan, boss, the young scientist began his report with embarrassment, looking at the boss's back. In a representative group of volunteers, the coefficient of preference for food products with our activator of taste sensations has more than sufficient value, and I believe that the additive we have created already now practically has the parameters that were laid down by the customer's specifications, but still, I believe that we still need to conduct an in-depth review of the safety of our product for human health. I strongly insist on a longer study of the health status of our volunteers for side effects from the use of the activator. The folder contains all my conclusions on the work done so far. I have already sent a detailed copy of the report to the server, so you can familiarize yourself with it at any time.

Alan finally admired his car and turned to face Steve. A tall, slender, blue-eyed blond-haired person looked spectacular against the setting sun. Alan slowly walked from the window to his chair, confidently sat down in it, and, crossing his legs, picked up the folder with the research results. He turned it around a little and put it aside, not even looking at its contents. Then he looked closely into Steve's eyes. A slight chill blew from Alan's gaze. The young scientist, despite the warm scarf, involuntarily shivered.

Are you sick? Grimacing said the director and pulled away from Steve a little.

It seems to me that no, the young man replied, slightly embarrassed. Lately, I have been constantly shivering, but there is no temperature. It's funny, but while others are sunbathing and swimming in the ocean, I have to wrap myself in a warm scarf.

It seems to him so, grumbled the director. Did you go to the doctor?

No, I have a lot of work in the laboratory now, Steve tried to justify himself.

To go to the doctor after work! It was not enough for me for you to get sick before handing over such an important project to the customer!

Okay, Alan, I will go to the doctor.

Okay, you distracted me from the main thing. So, Steve, I called you to warn you that our customer, United Top Products, is rushing us with a finished design. In two months, a large food fair will take place and by its opening, the customer company wants to have in its arsenal a ready-made sample of our revolutionary product. We need to somehow not be in time for this exhibition, so I believe that the deadline for the delivery of the industrial design should be the end of the current month, and this is not for discussion! Take this as a guide and please don't disappoint me! Alan said insinuatingly and looked attentively at Steve.

But then the laboratory will be forced to completely curtail my main project – ‘Healthy man’, the scientist answered, puzzled.

You see, Steve, the financing of not only your laboratory, but our entire institute depends on the fulfillment of an order from United Top Products. The well-being of many people is at stake. For the sake of your scientific ambitions, do you want to deprive your colleagues of material support? insinuatingly, but firmly, at the same time gazing intently into the eyes of his subordinate, said Alan.

Yes, I understand that very well. But I came to your institute to realize the idea of a healthy person, Steve replied bitterly, bowing his head.

That was then, but now! Now my institute needs to receive another funding, and not to check your theoretical calculations! Your Healthy Person program is good for scientific journals and assemblies. But pure science is far from real life. She can wait for now! Don't get me wrong, Steve! If I receive the promised funding, I can give you money to continue your experiments. But this can only happen if you strictly follow my instructions. If you receive money from a customer company, you can count on some additional funding for your project. Yes, some time ago I needed to show the scientific world that our institute is seriously engaged in fundamental research. That is why I took you to me, but now you are obliged to work off the advance given to you earlier and not put your project at the forefront. Our institute operates on a commercial basis, we must earn our living, and therefore we must hold on to any customers. Do you understand me, Steve? Anyone! Tomorrow a plenipotentiary representative from the customer company will just arrive. It will be necessary for him to arrange a beautiful, effective demonstration of our product.

Okay, Alan, I understood you and I will do everything as you say, Steve said without much enthusiasm and stared at the floor.

Remember, Steve, I hope for you! Demandingly, with pressure pronounced the director. And yet, now my guests want to talk to you. Please be more kind to them. This is an important state structure, and it has overly exciting potential. We will also receive additional government funding. This is especially important because government funding is always guaranteed money!

Who are they? looking at Alan with interest, the young scientist asked.

Now you will see for yourself.

Alan pressed a button, and behind Steve, a mechanism rustled, pushing open the wall in front of the oval meeting room, thus uniting it with the office. The young man turned and saw two guests seated at the center of the long table. Alan got up from his chair and walked into the oval hall. Then he walked around the table and stood behind the backs of his guests.

Allow me, gentlemen, to introduce you to the leading geneticist of our institute, Steve Stone. Pointing to the young scientist, the director said, then turned his gaze to the guests and continued. These are our guests: James Rice and Adams Bourn. They're from the FBI and they've got some questions about your research.

How can I be useful to you, gentlemen? asked the young scientist.

It was the last thing Steve said and remembered. Then there was darkness. He woke up already in a chair with a cold compress of ice on his head. The scientist looked at the people around him distantly and for some time could not understand where he was.

Well, you Steve, and scared us. Again, your night vigils in the laboratory. I have already warned you many times that it could end very badly! Health must be protected! It now belongs not only to you! but the director also lamented, glancing guiltily at the guests.

Sorry, Alan, I didn't calculate my strength. How long have I been unconscious? Steve said in a still not strong voice.

No, not so long, about a minute and a half, but in the morning be sure to go to the doctor. For this, I can free you from work for half a day. You understand yourself — a lot of work, you have to be on time, the director said fussily.

Okay, Alan. Don't be angry with me. Everything has already passed, and I have already felt much better. I swear I'll go to the doctor tomorrow, Steve assured him.

Good. Now, if you can, have a little talk with our guests. They will not take much of your time and will ask a couple of questions, said Alan, at the same time inviting the guests to return to the table with a gesture. Maybe coffee, gentlemen?

No thanks, Alan. We just grabbed a cup of coffee and a biscuit at the cafe, James replied.

No, so no! Alan shrugged his shoulders.

Sitting in an armchair slightly away from the people who were talking, he took out a stack of thick, colored magazines from the basket. I chose the thickest one and started flipping through it. From time to time, the director of the institute glanced at the guests chatting with his employee.

How is your health, Steve? asked a gray-haired guest in a tight-fitting business suit, at the same time carefully observing his interlocutor.

Seems okay so far, thanks, Steve replied, sitting down carefully in a chair just across the table across from the gray-haired man.

Alan said that you have short-term seizures.

This is only one second time.

During the week?

Yes, Steve replied and lowered his head.

You are still incredibly young, and you really should not neglect the advice of the director. I join your boss's advice and suggest that you go through all the necessary medical procedures as soon as possible. To complete the project you have begun, you will need a lot more effort. Now, with your permission, let's talk a little about the work of the laboratory you oversee. We are aware of your latest developments, but we would like to personally clarify the questions of interest to you.

Steve glanced at Alan, but James caught his eye and interpreted it in his way, so he hastily added:

Excuse us in the resulting commotion. We missed the opportunity to properly introduce ourselves to you. I'm an FBI inspector, and this is my assistant Adams, James pointed with his hand at the strong-built guy sitting next to him with a tenacious, heavy look and continued: We are tasked with ensuring the safety of your laboratory. And therefore, we want to expand our understanding of the developments that you are currently doing. This will help us to better orient ourselves in the situation and more professionally perform our duties.

Steve looked back at Alan. The boss with a serene air leafed through a bright magazine, on the cover of which was a photograph of a famous actor. He completely did not notice the emotional throwing of his employee.

Well, ask your questions, gentlemen, trying to suppress his excitement, said, Steve.

Please tell us in general terms about the essence of your developments, about the main task, James asked with interest.

My laboratory, as part of the Healthy Person program, is completing the creation of a bacterial gene modifier. To put it simply, it will be an active biological shield for a man capable of providing comprehensive protection of the body from diseases and minor physical injuries. Such a bio-shield will have several possibilities: autonomously conduct periodic scanning of the human body, create, and update the current information databank; to carry out a comparative analysis of changes in the cellular structure of the body; if necessary, carry out the reconstruction of damaged areas of human cells. If you want, it will be a smart autonomous clinic inside the person himself. We will enable people to protect their bodies from almost any external influences, Steve finished with optimism in his voice.

As I understand it, you want to fight diseases in such a difficult way, James said with some bewilderment in his eyes. Why would you waste a lot of time for no reason if there are already enough different drugs, including those based on bacteria? Why is it necessary to waste money on something that already exists in our country?

The fact of the matter is that this is a completely new, one might say revolutionary approach to preserving human health. Because, if we are guided by the current treatment methodology, it is necessary to create separate vaccines and drugs for each type of disease. Together, this makes up a huge inventory of vaccines and antibiotics. There is a need to use enormous resources, both human and material. In addition, the distribution of medicines requires a developed coordination network, a vast number of pharmacies and medical institutions, an incredible staff of medical workers of various levels and specializations, and in every settlement of the country. These are all huge costly resources, and a natural question arises about the effectiveness and availability of medical services for all segments of the population? It is no secret that not all our citizens have health insurance, and therefore many people simply drop out of the system, and this worsens their quality of health many times over. Our laboratory is on the verge of creating a universal remedy for combating both any existing diseases and all their further mutations. We have a desire to create an autonomous, intelligent structure inside a person that allows us to maintain his health in almost perfect condition throughout his life. We will create a genetic factory that can endlessly modify a person, by the changing external conditions of the individual. Thus, we will be able to multiply the body's resistance to negative influences. We will give a person absolute health; he will stop getting sick and thus we will end all epidemics. Over time, even high radiation will become harmless for people, and the risk of a decrease in oxygen in the atmosphere of our planet will not be terrible either. Yes, you never know what changes can occur on our planet in the future and the man of the future will receive absolute adaptability to them. He will be able to extract energy for his existence from anywhere and live on Earth under the most difficult conditions. Such a thing as hunger will disappear! Steve finished his message excitedly.

This, of course, is good, but more fantasy than reality - noted James - we, with your permission, will move on to the realities of our day. You have had some practical success in using bacteria to create artificial psychological dependence in humans? James asked.

No, we do not interfere with the human psyche. Our latest product that we create only mimics the high taste of their food and in no way does any harm either to the people themselves or the products they consume. We are continuing to investigate the complex responses of volunteers to our supplement and will be able to provide a more objective assessment in the future, Steve replied with obvious resentment in his voice that guests did not accurately assess his message about the Healthy People program.

But why exactly was your laboratory assigned to deal with this problem? asked a clarifying question, James.

The fact is that it was in our laboratory that the idea was born that genetically modified bacteria of a certain type can be used to obtain a powerful taste effect, and it is our laboratory that deals with issues of genetic engineering. Penetrating with food into the human body, bacteria created in our laboratory create a temporary, powerful gustatory background, and then, due to their short life cycle, these bacteria die, and at the same time, the gustatory sensation imitated by them disappears in a person. It is like a background gustatory sensation that has nothing to do with the real taste of the product. This sensation is generated by a complex of consumer reflexes. They are akin to hallucination. That is, there is a hypertrophied sense of taste, said Steve.

Wouldn't your genetically modified bacteria cause any deliberate changes in the human body?

Our bacteria physically do not have time to do this because of their truly short life cycle.

You have already received an order from one commercial structure for the practical implementation of your idea. James continued to ask.

Yes, a large food company is interested in the practical promotion of its goods, and we have created a similar genetic supplement for them under the code name ‘Taste Activator.’ Our supplement creates a feeling of truly absolute pleasure for the consumer of the product. It can even be said that in this way a person receives a reaction to the use of the product of this company, as a kind of bliss at the level of divine sensations. In this case, it will be the product of our customer, United Top Products. We help the consumer of the product to get the most out of the food processor itself. I think people will be simply happy to eat fabulously delicious foods. Delicious food for a person is one of the states of bliss that he is unable to sacrifice.

Thus, you intend to form the demand for specific food products on the market by changing the taste preferences of buyers. Having bought a product from United Top Products once, the customer will not forget the pleasure received from his consumption and will have to purchase the product from this company repeatedly because it will use your ‘taste sensation activator.’ It is so? James asked and looked at Steve with unblinking eyes.

You can, of course, say so, but this is the condition that United Top Products set for us. We have fulfilled the condition set before us and give a person the opportunity to feel bliss from the taste of the food product of this company. Our supplement is just a taste sensation activator and nothing more. This is a new enhancer of taste sensations, created on fundamentally different, revolutionary technologies! Steve said with firm conviction in his voice.

Everything you said looks convincing enough and, perhaps, some people will agree with your arguments. But I am completely convinced that not everyone will adhere to this point of view. Everything will depend on who and from what angle will look at your research. Of course, improving the palatability of food is not, as such, illegal. It is still used by all grocery companies without exception. But ... There is one, but a very weighty but. You are not improving the taste of the product. You make people believe that these tastes are indeed improved. And this is not the same thing. You have just said that gustatory sensations with your activator arise in people only in the brain and are a fiction, a hallucination. And besides, as far as I understand, with your additives you give the food manufacturer one hundred percent guarantee that the consumer of his products will be dependent on them. Thus, you, like a drug addict, add a person to an awfully specific product, without leaving him the possibility of a conscious choice. It is so?

No, I suppose that you are not right. Firstly, we have not yet achieved a 100% effect of our supplement on all consumers without exception. There are, to our regret, exceptions, but we have made efforts and have already reached ninety-five percent of cases of repeated selection of products with our activator. And secondly, we believe that this is not addiction at all, but just the formation of a stable preference for a certain type of food, Steve said with a challenge in his voice. - And in general, we have not yet fully completed the study of the side effects from the use of our ‘Taste Sensation Activator,’ so it is not yet possible to draw such unambiguous conclusions. But we are ready to return to the discussion of this issue when we have concrete figures in our hands and right now, we are closely dealing with this issue."

But you are trying to form a stable consumer preference for a specific type of product with your activator. Is not it?

Yes, it is precisely the formation of stable demand that is the technical task of United Top Products.

And if so, then this is already called a direct deception of the end consumer, - having pinned the scientist to the wall, James smiled with satisfaction. - I think you understand me, how can this threaten you?

I think I’m starting to understand what you’re trying to blame me, Steve said quietly, dropping his head.

I agree that your activator can pass standard food control checks. A standard analysis will not reveal anything reprehensible and cannot, because they will search according to the usual criteria, and your product is not ordinary.

We weren't going to hide anything from the public, Steve muttered, discouraged.

It is you, as a scientist, who would like to be publicized, but so far not in a single scientific publication, there is no information about your current work!

All of my lab staff have signed a separate contract that prohibits us from publishing any information about our work.

You see, this means that the end consumer will be deprived of the opportunity to make an independent choice. For now, I am only hypothetically analyzing the possible course of further developments after the product with your modernized bacteria enters the American market. So, the product is ready for sale, it passes all preliminary checks, and there is a certain well-wisher who tells the relevant government agencies were to dig deeper. And I think that then it will not be difficult for the sanitary inspection of food to understand that they have found a case of direct influence on the choice of the buyer. What do you think, Steve, will be your further destiny? For some reason, it seems to me that there will be a high-profile trial with a huge scandal in the press. Then the closure of your laboratory. You will lose the opportunity to engage in scientific activities. You will be charged with organizing illegal activities and a decent prison term. Do you understand, Steve, that in this case, you have a very real chance of being jailed? the Inspector finished his speech with a sympathetic look.

Yes, Inspector, now I understand it well enough, Steve dropped his gaze and lowered his head.

But there is also a certain positive moment in our today's conversation, I have the authority on behalf of our state and certain structures, for now, to close my eyes to this, let's say, side effect and help you get out of this very unpleasant situation. You, Steve, are incredibly lucky that high government agencies are interested in the developments of your laboratory. Therefore, your work can acquire national importance and the final decision on this issue is strongly dependent only on you personally. I urge you to correctly assess the current situation and make the right decision. Then I assure you that all your projects will receive state support, appropriate financial guarantees, and, of course, the patronage of high state structures. For you and the staff of your laboratory, this will be a guarantee of employment, and I think that it will be your job that will be paid well. But at the same time, this is a new, much higher level of your responsibility to the state. You will gain fame in the scientific world and demand from the state. Now, this will not only be your scientific research but interesting work for the benefit of the successful future of the United States. I believe that you are fully aware of how great the prospects that have opened before you are. How do you like the prospects?