The Methuselah Gene Read Online Free PDF

haven’t paid me yet.”
    This was getting old faster than I was.   “Come on, Darryl,” I pleaded, “I know we haven’t gone the barbecue and bowling alley route together, but we’ve shared opinions on everything from politics to women to . . .”   I paused, floundering and exasperated that I couldn’t resurrect memories of us doing much of anything other than arguing in the car.   “Anyway, I haven’t got that much on me.   You want me to give you fifty bucks in plain view of Jeffers’ secretary, over there?   They been watching me close enough, as it is.”
    Darryl glanced back at the cafeteria window, meeting Allison Chambers’ askance but inquisitive gaze.   “Okay, I see your point.”   He laughed, as if at a joke.   “You can get me all the money tomorrow.   And by the way, did you know you have some vacation time you haven’t used?   Better use it before the next quarter, or you’re gonna lose it.   I suggest you skip Disney World and the Bahamas in favor of a nice drive out from the Des Moines airport to see what an ocean of wheat and corn looks like.   That is, unless you think you’d enjoy Hepker sticking a pitchfork in your ass for the next two decades.”
    I stared across the table numbly, considering it.   “What if they follow me?”
    Darryl raised his eyebrows.   “You are paranoid.   Just keep your eyes open.   Anyway, I’ve used all my vacation time, but they can’t stop you.   You’ve earned it, despite your many fumbles.”
    â€œHow do you know all this?”
    What remained of Darryl’s smile spread quickly but evenly, like dawn on the desert.   “Hey, pal, I’m God when I wanna be.   You wanna know what Allison made last year, or the scoop on that new research assistant, what’s-her-name?”
    I experienced a flash memory of long shapely legs.   A name found its neural path through my brain maze.   “Donna Crossman?”
    â€œYeah, that perked you up.   Listen, I know other passcodes , too.   Except for the ones you used.”
    I sighed.   “So then you can tell me, has anyone retired from Tactar recently?”
    â€œNope, checked that weeks ago.”
    â€œBut you suggested—”
    â€œIt was just a suggestion.   You haven’t paid me for Mills yet.   My theory is worth two cents without knowing who Walter is.”
    â€œOkay, then,” I said, fishing in my pocket for change.   I dropped two pennies on the table next to Darryl’s bag of carrots.   One of them rolled off into Darryl’s lap.   “Spill it,” I demanded.
    Â 
    That afternoon I visited Mary in Personnel, who informed Hepker of my request for time off.   Hepker complained to Jeffers, but Jeffers called me with the go ahead.   Thankfully, I didn’t pay for it this time by enduring a long comparison speech about those Caribbean cruise lines Jeffers preferred, like Royal, NCL, or Celebrity.   Although I waited for him to ask me where I was going, the question never came.   With my request approved at last, I then called American Airlines.   A round trip ticket from Washington to Des Moines cost me four hundred and thirteen dollars on standby, and as I read my Visa card number over the phone I made a mental note to ask Darryl for a thirteen dollar refund if his second theory didn’t pan out and I was forced to watch Dancing With The Stars on in-flight television.

4
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    On Friday morning American’s Flight 162 stopped for an hour in Indianapolis.   While waiting, I considered what Darryl had told me, and almost decided right then and there to join a line of passengers at the ticket counter to purchase passage back to Washington on another Boeing 757.   But then I thought about the virus that ‘ Cindyboo ’ had sent Trojan-horse style to infect my