Chapter - 13

- I think you, as a competent person, have already guessed that the conditions in which you find yourself do not quite correspond to those stated in your business trip list? The manager asked.

Roman nodded curtly, waiting for Vasily Viktorovich to continue. The doctor put his hand in his pocket and took out two capsules, placing them on the table in front of him.

- There are two vaccine options in front of you. At the top they are called conditional Alpha and Omega strains. Initially, it was really planned to conduct laboratory studies with the involvement of the best specialists in the industry, including you, my dear. Later, under the influence of certain circumstances, the plans changed and the possibility of research was lost. We were forced to move to the phase of active use of vaccines, despite the protests of some scientists. It's not for me to explain to you what antibodies are and how quickly the strain of this shoddy virus adapts to new forms of vaccination," the head winked at Roman.

Roman, who has not yet caught the connection in the man's words, continued to listen carefully.

- Therefore, it was decided in principle to skip laboratory tests. Or rather, not even to miss them, but to conduct them in real time, do you understand what I mean?

"Not really," Roman shook his head.

- An order was given from above to start vaccination and monitor support programs for people with a white bracelet. This concerns the Alpha vaccine. It was her formula that you received yesterday and had the opportunity to get acquainted with her.

Vasily Viktorovich fell silent and stared at Roman, clearly expecting some kind of reaction from him. What happened? According to the head of the vaccine, which was planned to be administered to patients, was still not tested. Thoughts began to get confused, and while Roman was not mired in guesses, he asked a question.

- What does such vaccination give? Roman asked cautiously.

- This damn division into whites and reds is disappearing, like during the Civil War, you know what I mean? People will become the same in essence, at the genetic level.

- What are you talking about? Roman frowned.

- Every single one of them will have a red bracelet, - Vasily Viktorovich explained.

- You mean that...

- I want to say that we are injecting a strain of virus to the patients of the center, - the head shrugged his shoulders. - A strain of the virus developed in the laboratory. But don't be afraid, our government is not completely out of its mind yet. The formula that is derived in the Omega vaccine and is intended for people on whom the staff is based, it completely nihilates the virus. The manager took a small pile of papers from the side pocket of his briefcase and handed them to Roman. - You can view the research results.

Roman took the papers without even looking at their contents. The words of the man in the white coat were frightening.

- Are you serious? What are you telling me now? If I assume for a second that all this is true, which I personally strongly doubt, then why can't the conditional Omega strain be injected into ordinary people? - he asked.

The man in the white coat broke into a smile.

- You're asking a stupid question. Are you sure you want to hear the answer to it? Maybe you will be satisfied with the words that our country does not have sufficient funds to remove the Omega strain for the entire population? I suggest we stop there? What do you think?

- I think I want to hear the answer and I have the right to do so! I think I'm not the only one who is willing to work for free in order to breed the Omega strain for people!

Roman, that's right, you have every right to know the answer. And the whole answer is that a good people is an easy–going people. That's all I can tell you. Then think about it as you see fit.

Roma felt uneasy at these words. What did this man mean? the elite, who finally got the opportunity to fence themselves off from the virus, was it beneficial to have an infected controlled society?

"I'm coming to the main point," the manager continued. "That's what you're here for. We need to adjust the Alpha and Omega strains. In the first case, we must exclude the possibility of the appearance of antibodies and modification of the virus, in the second, on the contrary, we need these very antibodies. I heard that you are an excellent specialist and I am sure that you can do it," Vasily Viktorovich got to his feet, straightened the crumpled robe and again extended his hand to Roman for a handshake. - Our center will be opening any minute and I have to attend such an important event for the city. If it pleases you, you can keep me company, or I will call an employee and he will take you to the laboratory, where you will receive the first samples.

* * *

- For many deceivers have entered the world who do not confess Jesus Christ, who came in the flesh: such a person is a deceiver and the antichrist…

Robert sighed and went to the window, looking through a thin, barely visible crack in the boards that were boarded up the windows. On the other side, there was not a soul on the street. Dawn started about half an hour ago. Finally, the screams and groans disappeared, all this was no more. But for how long? He knew he wasn't. After sunset, all this will happen again. All this had been repeated for many days, weeks, and now for months, and it seemed that there would be no end to the trouble. Robert rubbed his eyes tiredly, under which purple bags hung and yawned. He hadn't been able to sleep a wink all night. Thoughts about the center, about tomorrow, which gradually flowed into today, drove him crazy and he spent the whole night reading the Gospel of John. The man walked up to the table, turned on the electric kettle and reached for a can of natural coffee.

- Will you have coffee?

He stared at the young man sitting on the pew for the parishioners. A girl was sitting next to him, clearly not herself and not fully understanding what was going on.

- Thank you, we will not refuse, Holy Father, - the guy nodded. – But I would still like to hear the answer to my question. Can you help us?

Robert raised a mug of freshly brewed coffee to his lips with a trembling hand and, trying not to burn his lips, took a sip.

- I answered you, - the man lowered his gaze. "You're looking in the wrong place, Grisha.

- But the captain gave me this address, he said…

Robert shuddered at these words and shook his head. He once again ran his eyes over the inscription on the piece of paper that the young man had given him.

- Whatever he said, this man told a lie! I don't know any captain," he interrupted. – This is a parish, not... and there is no parish anymore. Robert looked around the basement. - I was left alone. These benches, icons… I'll clean them up today. There cannot be a parish without parishioners.

- You don't understand Robert, I don't need your sermon, I'm asking for real help! Grisha threw up his hands. – My wife and I don't have a mark.

Robert lowered his eyes.

- I can't help you. I don't understand what it's about at all. Your coffee, please.

Grisha did not pay attention to the words of the priest. He remained sitting on the bench. The muscles in the guy's cheekbones were clenching. He clenched his fists.

- Please, my wife Nadia is pregnant, you can't help her if there is something sacred in you.

- There is no righteous one; there is no one who understands; no one is looking for God; everyone has gone astray, they are worthless to one; there is no one doing good, there is not one... - Robert stared at the coffee mug. – All I can help you with is to give advice – do not stray from the true path, do not be bribed by sins, - he drawled thoughtfully.

Grisha sat on the bench for some time, apparently trying to digest Robert's words, then the guy got to his feet, took his wife by the hand and headed towards the exit. It was obvious that the guy was desperate and did not know what to do next.

"You're crazy, Robert," he called after her.

Robert said nothing. Maybe this guy was right about something. Anyway, there was nothing he could do to help him. He didn't know who gave him the address of the parish and where the guy copied these lines, which were not in the Gospel, but it didn't change the essence.