mouse offset by a vermilion crystal paperweight her mother had given her. She took a deep breath, preparing to go through the material once again. Her gaze drifted upwards to the framed print on the wall opposite. It was a large poster of the Escher drawing, Circle Limit IV. She had always been fascinated with how Escher tessellated images to tell a fundamental truth. In this image, angels in white and devils in black opposed each other through the print, the shadow of one highlighting the other. It was a permanent reminder that both were needed to form the whole, she thought. We all have light and dark in us and the barriers between them are permeable.
There was no grey in the Escher image, only white and black, and Maria believed that all scientific research needed to be seen through this prism. So much of it could be used for good or evil purposes and she was grateful that she worked for an ethical company like Zoebios, whose focus was on improving the human population. But she acknowledged the potential diabolical uses for even her own research if it got into the wrong hands. She had accepted long ago that there were trade-offs in ethics, that animal experiments were justified to save human lives, that the abhorrent experimentation of the past informed the breakthroughs of the present. The Escher print helped her put that in perspective.
“Morning Maria.” Her assistant, Simone, popped her head around the open door. “Can I get you anything?”
Maria smiled and snapped out of her Escher trance.
“Morning. No, I’m fine, thanks. Any news?”
Simone frowned. “There have been some problems with one of the clinics using the drug pairing with the new headsets. Harghada has dealt with it, apparently, but you need to know in case they bring it up.”
“Yes, I got the email this morning about the suicides. It’s an anomaly, I’m sure of it.” Maria frowned at her watch. “Can you shut the door behind you? I just want to go over these figures one more time.”
Simone nodded and backed out, closing the door behind her. Maria bent her head to review her work again, trying to distill years of effort into the short presentation, acutely aware of what was at stake.
*****
The boardroom was on the thirty-fifth floor, just below the penthouse where the Director, Milan Noble, had private apartments. Maria had arranged with his secretary to gain access early in order to set up the presentation for the event. Everything was now ready and she stood at the window, looking out over Paris. It was a glorious day and she felt a touch of vertigo as she looked out towards the curving Seine far below. The wire outline of the Eiffel Tower reflected the sun over shimmering buildings. Fall would come soon, her favorite time, when she would feel part of the earth and the seasons again. The craziness of summer heat would give way to chill nights, warmed by wine and friends.
A door opened and voices could be heard in the lobby. Maria straightened, put on her best professional smile and watched the Board members as they entered and sat at their appointed seats, six men representing the decision-making power behind Zoebios. They spoke to each other as they entered, none acknowledging her. At one minute to ten, Milan Noble entered the room.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” he said as he looked around. “Dr Van Garre, thank you for your time today. I’m looking forward to your presentation.”
Maria flushed slightly.
“Thank you, sir.” She chided herself inwardly. How could a mature woman such as herself feel like a schoolgirl in front of him? She checked her notes while he finished his greetings. Milan Noble made women weak and men jealous. Tall and commanding, his physical presence filled the room.
“You may begin,” Milan smiled, and sat down, switching his attention fully to her. She had heard of the power of his gaze, but now she truly understood it. It was a gift, one he cultivated, and his
There was no grey in the Escher image, only white and black, and Maria believed that all scientific research needed to be seen through this prism. So much of it could be used for good or evil purposes and she was grateful that she worked for an ethical company like Zoebios, whose focus was on improving the human population. But she acknowledged the potential diabolical uses for even her own research if it got into the wrong hands. She had accepted long ago that there were trade-offs in ethics, that animal experiments were justified to save human lives, that the abhorrent experimentation of the past informed the breakthroughs of the present. The Escher print helped her put that in perspective.
“Morning Maria.” Her assistant, Simone, popped her head around the open door. “Can I get you anything?”
Maria smiled and snapped out of her Escher trance.
“Morning. No, I’m fine, thanks. Any news?”
Simone frowned. “There have been some problems with one of the clinics using the drug pairing with the new headsets. Harghada has dealt with it, apparently, but you need to know in case they bring it up.”
“Yes, I got the email this morning about the suicides. It’s an anomaly, I’m sure of it.” Maria frowned at her watch. “Can you shut the door behind you? I just want to go over these figures one more time.”
Simone nodded and backed out, closing the door behind her. Maria bent her head to review her work again, trying to distill years of effort into the short presentation, acutely aware of what was at stake.
*****
The boardroom was on the thirty-fifth floor, just below the penthouse where the Director, Milan Noble, had private apartments. Maria had arranged with his secretary to gain access early in order to set up the presentation for the event. Everything was now ready and she stood at the window, looking out over Paris. It was a glorious day and she felt a touch of vertigo as she looked out towards the curving Seine far below. The wire outline of the Eiffel Tower reflected the sun over shimmering buildings. Fall would come soon, her favorite time, when she would feel part of the earth and the seasons again. The craziness of summer heat would give way to chill nights, warmed by wine and friends.
A door opened and voices could be heard in the lobby. Maria straightened, put on her best professional smile and watched the Board members as they entered and sat at their appointed seats, six men representing the decision-making power behind Zoebios. They spoke to each other as they entered, none acknowledging her. At one minute to ten, Milan Noble entered the room.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” he said as he looked around. “Dr Van Garre, thank you for your time today. I’m looking forward to your presentation.”
Maria flushed slightly.
“Thank you, sir.” She chided herself inwardly. How could a mature woman such as herself feel like a schoolgirl in front of him? She checked her notes while he finished his greetings. Milan Noble made women weak and men jealous. Tall and commanding, his physical presence filled the room.
“You may begin,” Milan smiled, and sat down, switching his attention fully to her. She had heard of the power of his gaze, but now she truly understood it. It was a gift, one he cultivated, and his
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