Proxima B. Pulvirenti Giorgio

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ one.

      The doctor used to live in a rooftop penthouse of one of the most known buildings in San Francisco with Lilly, which is her lovely dog, and Lorry, which is the parrot that had been given to her as a present brought from Africa by Jenny. The building was a modern-styled house, big enough to ensure her the space she needed. Amelia parked her electric car inside her garage in the basements of the building and she got ready for going up the few stairs to the hall of the building where a certain Charlie worked as a doorman.

      “Good morning, doctor!” the man greeted her, seeing her coming. She was an android equipped with a full artificial intelligence.

      “Charlie…,” she answered, going towards the lift.

      “Stressful day?” the robot asked her. He had noticed that the woman was tired.

      “Enough. I look forward to lying in my bed!”

      Then the android said, “Wait…” The sound of that voice caught Amelia’s attention, and she reached the writing table.

      “A few hours ago I received this one for you.”

      The man handed a letter over to the doctor and she looked at it with surprise. Then she asked with puzzlement, “Why didn’t they put it in my letterbox?”

      “I don’t know. I can only say that the man who delivered it was wearing all black. He didn’t even look to be from San Francisco…”

      Amelia was still looking at the letter out of curiosity.

      “I’ve understood. Thank you, Charlie. Have a nice day.”

      The woman said goodbye to the android and walked towards the lift.

      Once she came at home, she leaned her bag and her jacket on the sofa. The letter was still in her hands. She looked at it tone more time, and then she leaned it on the table in the sitting room. She meant to read it when she would awaken. When the mistress came, Lilly began to bark with joy. Once she put on more comfortable clothing, Amelia went up to her bedroom. She was holding her smartphone to read the latest news before falling asleep like she used to do. Before entering her room, her eyes fell once more on the letter on the table in the sitting room. The woman rested a moment while she considered what to do, and then she thought she would not hang on until she awakened. So, she decided to open it. She turned the letter inside out and noticed that it was sealed and that on the upper side there were the U.S. government logo and the New NASA Corporate logo. On the lower side there was also an inscription: For Amelia Fisher. For the benefit of all! She did not notice that detail earlier. Then she did not hesitate to open the envelope to unveil its contents. Amelia pulled the accordion-folded paper out of its own envelope and started to read it. She had been invited to a special lecture that would hold at New NASA Corporate in Washington. The woman kept on staring at the letter without saying anything…

      Springfield, Missouri.

      Northwest Missouri State University, Room no. 3. There were about fifty people sitting in their places while a woman was sitting behind a writing desk and was using a stick to show some schemes that had been projected on a giant screen behind her. Doctor Abigail Sanders’ AP chemistry class was almost over. She was forty-five, her hair was dark brown and curly, her bright eyes were hidden behind thick glasses that let her look like a young nerd. She had been tenured and had been teaching chemistry for five years in one of the most important faculties of the whole State. She used to hold four classes a week in the morning and serve as director and head of Springfield biochemical engineering laboratory, which she loved too much, since she had financed a part of the renovation work that was carried out nearly ten years ago. She loved chemistry unconditionally. Since she was a child, she had been attracted by all that could be turned into something else. She was fond of all that. Thanks to her father, Carl Sanders, who was a successful chemist now retired, Abigail had succeeded in carrying out all her studies, since she had graduated from high school and from university with full marks. Unfortunately, mainly due to her work and her several travels for many updates, Abigail did not have much time to spend with her family. Her husband Sam, who was an honest electric car mechanic employee of Ionix & Co., and her three children, Robert, Cody and little Gwen, were often home alone and got used to taking care of each other over the years. They knew their mother loved her work and that when she could she spent her spare time with them in the best way. It was so. No one was really satisfied with that situation, but each one did something by respecting everyone’s will for the family’s sake.

      “Once again, we’re facing a partial oxidation! 1,200 degrees!”

      Abigail stopped for a while so that he could take a breath.

      “Well, that’s enough for today! Within Thursday I want you to send me the e-mails concerning your today’s report, which shall be at least six pages long! Thank you all! Have a nice day!”

      While our professor was uttering these words, the people who were sitting in front of her began to stand up, murmuring softly.

      Abigail was reorganizing her notes on the writing desk while those who were there were all leaving the classroom. A man wearing a dark suit entered. He was quite calm. He went up to the woman who was about to unplug some wires from her notebook.

      “Professor Abigail Sanders?” the man wondered while taking off his sunglasses, which let him reveal his eyes, which were as dark as his jacket.

      “It’s me,” Abigail answered. She began to gaze at him.

      “I must give you this one.”

      The strange guy pulled an envelope out of his jacket. It was sealed with two seals. The woman did not hesitate to pick it up.

      “Who has sent it? And who are you?” Abigail wondered. She was almost puzzled.

      “I can’t answer these questions. All you need is inside the envelope. Goodbye.”

      After these words, the man put on his dark glasses again and left the classroom. The professor stood there and held the envelope in her hand. The woman observed the shadow of the man until it was gone. Then she directed her glance towards the envelope again. She turned it inside out again and again. On its back side, the envelope was sealed with two seals. On its front side there were two logos that were as big as a stamp; they represented the U.S. government and New NASA Corporate. Abigail observed those symbols carefully and her eyes opened wide in amazement. On the lower side of the envelope there was a writing that the woman did not hesitate to read: For Abigail Sanders. For the benefit of all!

      Chicago, Illinois.

      Jerry was an ordinary guy. He was twenty-five and had an unbridled passion for biology. After graduating, he enrolled as a researcher in the Chicago biology institute for further study (a master’s degree). That was the reason why he had studied and this made his mother happy and proud. Jerry used to live with her in a flat in the eastern outskirts of the city. He did not want to change his lifestyle at that time. Still, his intention was to live alone shortly. He never came late at work. That morning he was about to come to the biology institute. He was wrapped up in taking on another day of research. He greeted those who were working there – the doorman first and finally his colleagues – and he entered his lab where he could see his colleague Bob, who was a biologist like him but who was not as good as Jerry.

      “Why are you here already?” Jerry asked his friend.

      “You know… being single may have its pros!”

      The СКАЧАТЬ