Episode Details

On to part 2. Are you ready? Please let me know if you're enjoying the chapter-by-chapter books. Once I have all of this uploaded I'll have time to work on my new installments. I also have another author who has graciously allowed me to tell his short stories that he is uploading to amazon. Lots of good stuff coming out.If you missed part 1, you might want to read or listen to it first. Enjoy!Part 2Cristian put his arm around me. He had changed into a black terry cloth robe, his black curls trailed over his face. The robe opened a bit, enough for me to have a glimpse of his strong, muscular chest. He pulled me close and put my head on his chest, just as he had in the past. I looked up into his eyes, waiting for them to comfort me, but they were empty of life.“What is wrong?” I spoke quietly, afraid of pushing him too hard.“Remember how I told you about my research?”“Yeah?”“Love, I died there a long time ago.”“Tell me, Cristian. What really happened to you? You told me someone jumped you. Who?” I could hear the apprehension in his heartbeat.“It was all in the name of research, Teresa.” He rubbed each of his temples with his middle fingers. “In 1995, there was a discovery in Venezuela about vampire bats. The saliva of the vampire bat contains a protein that helps keep the blood from clotting. It’s how they feed on animals at night, but at the time we didn’t know it was a protein, we only knew it could keep blood from clotting. What a wonderful thing to have in the future–the discovery of a serum or pill; which would help stop strokes and heart attacks, reverse the effects of anemia, and more! When we parted, I was still studying genetics at Berkeley. I dove into my work because nothing else mattered at that point. I would stay up studying for days, Teresa. I wanted that cure to help people, and I wanted you. What else could I do? Without you, my life was meaningless. I had to make up for my loss of you. Berkeley wanted in on part of the action in Venezuela really badly. They played cutthroat to get the money for me to set up a lab down there. Investors poured in cash, including drug companies, and millionaires. It was a mad house trying to keep the word under lock and key.”I stared at him, amazed at how far he had gone in his studies. He was never open with me about his work at the college and now, was it wasted on a life that he had to live underground? I searched his eyes for some visible clue of remorse, but he just stared back at me.“Go on.” I traced his facial features with my fingers.He sighed, and then continued, “Let me explain something about the bats first. Vampire Bats are nocturnal creatures. They feed on their victims at night while the animals are sleeping. Their saliva contains several,” he paused for the right words, probably in order for me to grasp the meaning, “ingredients that help to keep the blood from clotting. They also have other qualities.”I watched his face light up with excitement as he carried on. “Their saliva also contains an anesthetic that numbs the skin of the sleeping animal so it doesn’t feel the pain. We had to find out more about these creatures. For years, we studied their habits in the jungles and on farms in Venezuela. We watched them prey on unsuspecting animals and drink their blood. Interestingly enough, they do not suck the blood but just lick it up while they are eating. Their saliva helps the blood continue to flow. Only when they have stopped does the wound heal. Think what this discovery could do for human life!” Cristian smiled bigger than I had ever seen.“That sounds so wonderful, Cristian.” I marveled at his excitement. I don’t believe that any one thing in my life ever touched me the way his research affected him. His eyes then darkened and I felt the cold air envelope my body. “I tried,” he continued, “to capture this miracle and failed.” Cristian buried his head in his hands. I didn't dare say anything or mention his grief.“I’m sure you found some way to harness the power.”