Chapter 36

By the time Dr. Choi had found the second woman to help her with her cloning project, three weeks had passed. Almost a month since her previous meeting with the first female willing to support her: Miss Belsunce.

Since that unexpected meeting with the woman who called by the name of Teresa, Dr. Choi had traveled to every corner that existed on the outskirts of the city where she resided. However, even with her efforts and without giving any rest, there was no triumph at the end of those trips made.

The question was that either she did not get to know people who were in really complicated situations, or she did end up meeting them, but when they asked the questions regarding the doctor's proposal, they took a step back and did not dare to help her.

«They're just cowards», she convinced herself, as she drove back to her home having been rejected by another woman. Moments before, she had witnessed the fear in the young woman's eyes after explaining in simple words what her cloning project was about. After that gesture, the female denied any contribution that she could have offered previously and left the place —almost running—, away from Choi. «Damn cowards, why can't I find someone who is capable of helping me?»

She looked through the polished glass of the window to her side. The death of the sun was approaching step by step, with increasing speed. Dusk would come in a matter of minutes and Dr. Choi could only imagine all the time she had wasted trying to find the right woman. Or rather, to the two females suitable for the kind of work required by her cloning project.

In those circumstances —where she had less time left than planned and, as if that were not enough, where she did not even have the first phase of her plan completed— she decided that she would give herself one last and only opportunity to explore the limits of that city. In order to have a better chance of finding the woman she was searching so desperately for.

«Tomorrow will be the last trip I will make to the mountains of the city», Dr. Choi told herself as she looked carefully at the grayish track in front of her, which was gradually turning darker due to the pale light coming from the Moon. «If I can't find anything, then I'll have to find another point on the map».

[...]

In less time than the doctor would have anticipated, the cloudy, snow-covered day showed through the curtains as she woke from her drowsiness. Finally, the morning had come, and that only meant that she would dedicate herself that day to make the last trip to her hometown.

«I hope I can find what I'm looking for», Choi thought, making the breakfast. Beside her was a steaming mug full of coffee, while inside the appliance in front of her, some slices of bread were being heated inside the toaster. She needed to hurry about preparing her for the trip, but equally, she needed to stay as awake as possible, with lots of energy if she wanted to drive thousands and thousands of miles away from home.

After a while, the porcelain cup —once filled with the caffeine-containing liquid— was now empty as well as cold. The plate that contained the hot toast was also deserted, without any bread crumbs, as it dried in the plastic kitchen sink.

Dr. Choi seemed to have finished all the previous tasks before leaving the medium residence where she lived and getting into her car. At that time, the doctor was immaculate, with a clean face and shiny teeth, wearing a plush wool coat, protecting the cold environment that reigned outside. Without a doubt, she was absolutely ready to drive, even if the destination she was heading to was uncertain and unknown. Unknown in its entirety.

The many times before that she had set out to find a woman to be useful in her cloning project, she had visited the north and east of the mountains that fearlessly surrounded the city. There was an impulse within the doctor to discover the southern side, however, she had remembered that there was no home in those parts. No one inhabited these parts, so it would be a complete waste of time if she forced herself to drive there. Therefore, in this last trip that she would make, only she could go to a single area: the west of the mountains.

As the doctor's vehicle continued on its way on the track, she was thinking about the points where exactly she should look. «Is there a town nearby? Perhaps it would have been best to do my research before making this trip. Well, never mind, I have to get on with this. I can't take a step back».

The professional was so immersed in her thoughts that she almost caused collisions with the limits of the road. However, it was a beep from the car which made her break out of her trance state, managing to return to winter reality. She carefully looked at the controls and needles inside the control panel that included her vehicle, which brought a feeling of exhaustion. The gas left in the car was running low, and if she didn't rush to the nearest gas station, she wouldn't be able to continue the journey.

«Perfect. This was the last thing I needed.»

The flushing sensation soon took over much of Dr. Choi's body and mind. She looked from time to time at the car's gas gauge, witnessing how the needle got lower and lower as the minutes passed. The stress and fear of knowing that she might be stranded in the middle of nowhere consumed her without a break between one emotion and another, making the time she spent even slower and more exhausting. Even if only a few seconds had passed.

She remained in that state of tension until in the distance, her gaze caught a kind of establishment that raised a few meters from where she and the car were. As she continued to approach that position embedded in the track, she clearly noted what kind of place it was. She smiled at the image she was looking at, it was just what she needed right now.

She continued driving until she parked on the side of the business that she had been aware of previously. This gas station was perfect for the recent problem that had interrupted her journey through the west.

Taking the lock on the door, Choi got out of the car, but before leaving the transport completely, the wallet that was kept inside the gray drawer was reached by the doctor's hand. Now she could continue with her journey.

However, moments before Choi could notify one of the clerks who worked at the gas station, a conversation at a distance caught her attention, to the point that she deviated from her initial path. And also the main objective of it: to acquire enough fuel gas.

The noise of a woman's voice could be heard not so far from the dispensaries of the gas station, where the pistols rested in their own places, and precisely where the doctor was prostrate at that time, paying full attention to the words that were released by that Mrs.

The woman was holding the hand of a little girl —whom Choi would approximate about seven or eight years— while her spare hand tightly took control of the public telephone that belonged to that gas station. The face of the female was disfigured in a feeling of despair and terror as if she were truly anguished and fearful of the possible consequences that would come to her life sooner or later. And Choi was betting on her facial gestures that this woman longed for such effects to appear in her life later than sooner.

—What time are you coming back? —Asked that stranger, while she lightly trampled the floor. Really, Choi could tell how her nervousness seeped inside her. —Don't wait too long, I don't have any money now... Yes, we're coming home, but Lía is hungry and you haven't done the shopping. What am I supposed to prepare now? There is nothing left in the cupboard... —She stopped herself in talking, then, listening to what the person on the other line tried to tell her. —I don't have cash now! Don't you understand, Carlos?! And don't give me that little lie, I no longer believe it or anyone else!... You're not getting working, because nobody hires you anywhere! And meanwhile, your wife and your daughter are rotting in the hovel that you call home... Who the hell am I going to leave Lía with? If you don't even have to pay for a babysitter... —She paused again. —I do not care! Don't come home without a damn job, Carlos! —Finally, after all that scandalous scenario in a lonely gas station, that strange woman hung up the phone abruptly.

—Now what are we going to do, Lía? —She asked the girl, who was biting her finger without truly providing any answer to her mother. In the same way, that woman did not suppose to receive the answer that she longed to hear from her child. She was just talking to a little girl. —I only have a few coins left. So I will buy you some cookies and with that, you will have to endure until the night. At least until daddy arrives.

Both, holding hands, then went to the tiny post inside the gas station, however, neither that mother nor that girl were warned by the attentive gaze that Dr. Choi gave them. So sure was that the dark eyes of the professional distilled an incomprehensible brightness, but of which only she knew the real reason. «I have found what I was looking for». And she, walking behind them, began to follow them, also entering the small space business.

She watched them with her eyes, wary of being discovered by one of them, or both at the same time. She was hiding a few meters away from that mother and her daughter until she finally noticed the moment in which she should act. Her perfect moment was played in front of her when the silhouette of the store's only employee was lost inside the warehouse. Then, she advanced with rapid but equally silent steps to find the woman's back.

—Good Morning. —Choi greeted her looking at the tired eyes of the unknown female. She kept contemplating the presence of the doctor until she was able to return her greeting, confused by the sudden conversation that that stranger was having with her. —Excuse my audacity, but I did notice your agitated chatter on the payphone at this station.

The little girl's mother frowned visibly at Choi, as she took the hand of her first-born daughter and placed her behind her, offering protection from the daring that the stranger used to talk about a rather sensitive topic. Or at least, for this lady, it was delicate to talk about her socioeconomic position.

—What are you talking about? —She answered without regard. —Stop meddling where you are not concerned, ma'am.

After that, that mother seemed to continue her brief passage through the business to the cash register, but Dr. Choi was quicker and she grabbed her shoulder as long as she didn't run away from her. —Listen, I can give you the money you need. I am looking for someone to do insignificant work for me, and in return, I will generously pay a considerable amount of money.

Upon hearing this, the woman's features were deformed in a way that genuinely represented the surprise and relief of knowing that she had an unimaginable opportunity in her quest to get money in any way. However, even if she did not know exactly what kind of work she would do, an immense part of her being was willing to accept, even if it meant selling her soul to the devil. She was too desperate to get some financial support that, for her, did not really matter what conditions or terms it would take to adapt to that job.

—Please allow me to buy you and your daughter a breakfast. I think that with those cookies you will not be able to eat properly. We will talk a little about my proposal and in the end, you will decide if you want to help me or not. Remember that when it is all over, I will repay your support with an exuberant amount of cash. Would you like to accompany me, if you are so kind?

The woman, unknown to the doctor, noticed the deplorable image that her child was showing. She was dirty, because the water had run out in the house where they lived, but she was also hungry because the day before she had only consumed an apple and a few cookies. And it had just been that. They were both going through a difficult situation, but on top of that, the brutal famine was consuming their weak bodies as the minutes passed. Maybe an aperitif invited by that strange woman didn't sound so bad after all they had to suffer since her husband had been fired —again— from her previous job.

With that in mind, she prepared to nod at the doctor's question and followed her, until she found the vehicle belonging to the woman who was offering her a good breakfast and a new job. When mother and daughter were already inside Choi's car, the doctor turned to the woman to inquire: —Excuse, but I must introduce myself: My name is Choi Yang Mi. What is yours, ma'am?

The female sitting in the passenger seat spoke to her instantly. —My name is Alicia Turpin. —Then she turned to the seats in the back. —And she is my daughter, Lia Turpin.

—I see. —The doctor answered. —So, you are the Turpin family. What a beautiful last name, it is not very common to hear it today. Well, do you know of any coffee shops near here?

—Yes, there is one a few miles from this station. —Alice affirmed. —Actually, it's in that area where we also live.

—Nice, so, we will have something to eat over there and then I will take you to your house. Also, we must discuss all the guidelines for this new job that I am asking you to accept. It sounds good?

—Yes. I think it would be great.