The Lineage
"Dr. Ramm, we have found the source of the latest illness."
Dr. Ramm stares at his research assistant for a long time. This latest strain of coronavirus has been rampaging the planet for a long time. It caused too many things to go horribly wrong and refuses to give up. To have his assistant say this was like a brick wall collapsing on him. "You- You have?"
"It is strange, but I think I have something here. Well, we have an idea. Not just me. I just wanted to- I'll just get to the point. You look like you wanted to say that. So, from what I can see, the virus has been centralized to a place in China, or at least Asia as a whole. I really don't want to stray from the facts, but saying China just makes me think of the American rhetoric- Anyway, we have been testing everyone within China especially, and it seems that there is a certain group of people that have claimed to have it first. Well, they say they are the 'beginning of all illness' according to the field researcher that interviewed them, but I highly doubt it's that simple. I am getting a little off topic, sorry. This group of people say they are a part of a family that knows this, and can trace every illness back to their line. I am not sure how this would be verified, but I have set up an video interview between you and the current head of the family so you can speak to them about their idea. If what they say is true, then it could provide some interesting grounds for testing and possible solutions."
Dr. Ramm rolls his head and pinches the inner corners of his eyes to his nose. This assistant of his is one they plucked out of Bolivia with the intention of helping her get back into the vigorous and astute world of research. In this case, he is pretty sure that she needs a therapist or some time in the local mental hospital. "Are you sure you haven't lost your mind, Ms. Kwake?"
She looks to him with an innocent expression more fitting for a child. "Doctor, I- I am a bit disappointed that you seem to doubt me."
"Do you realize how ridiculous you sound?" He picks up a beaker of water from a nearby table. "That is like saying that this water is the cure to every disease that we have ever had."
"But it isn't, as far as we know." She responds in the same innocence.
Dr. Ramm sighs and sets the beaker down, then gently grabs Ms. Kwake's shoulder. "I appreciate that you are doing this work. I really do. I will speak to this head of the family from China, but please do not expect me to follow you into this wild idea without evidence." She nods somberly. "Please, continue to do your work in here while I go to my office to take care of this. I don't want you to feel your are not contributing your part." She turns away from him and begins her work again. Dr. Ramm pats her shoulder and leaves for his office.
Dr. Ramm's office is a disorganized mess on top of an organized system. His paperwork looks more like a city graffiti sighting than anything else. There are several coffee mugs around his computer from the hours he has spent here instead of anywhere else. He slips a bottle of acetaminophen back into a drawer before logging into his computer and looking for the information for the interview. He finds the e-mail and glances through it. The head of the family is simply called Chan, which is a little odd but not completely unusual. He speaks both Younian Chinese and basic English, which is a relief. He is an older gentleman with a wife and two children, which is abnormal but not something that makes Dr. Ramm react. He hears the ring of the computer as the interviewee is calling. He straightens his appearance and answers. "Is this-?"
"Hello Doctor. I was hoping you would call first, but I was becoming impatient. My apologies." The male on the video replies with a bow. It definitely is an older gentleman; Dr. Ramm guesses about mid-70s. He looks pretty cleaned up compared to his surrounding living space.
"It is no problem. My assistant and this video call only have you referenced as 'Chan.' May I call you that for the purpose of addressing you properly."
"That is not my full name, but it is acceptable." Chan smiles
"Wonderful. My assistant explained a bit of your -theory, for lack of a better word- to me a few moments ago."
"It is not a theory. I am very certain of it."
Dr. Ramm tilts his head. "I'm sorry, but to me it sounds a bit ridiculous. I don't think one family can be the source of every major illness."
Chan folds his arms with a look of disgust on his face. "Tell me, Doctor. Have you gotten sick from this latest illness?"
"I don't see how that is relevant to our conversation."
"It is. So please, if it is not too uncomfortable for you to speak of."
"I have. In July of 2020. I was part of a major spike in my area."
"I see. And how did it feel?" Chan continues.
"Well, not pleasant. Almost like I was going to die. I was the most nervous when I knew I could pass it to my colleagues and friends." Dr. Ramm realizes he is touching the tip of his nose and immediately withdraws his hand. "But I know I did not. I waited through the lockdown and some time after before I came back to my lab."
"Ah, good, good." Chan shifts in his seat and looks up past his camera. "That feeling of passing on the infection. I remember that when I first passed on that flu to Russia back in '77. It was a strange experience. I was visiting Siberia when I fell ill for a day. That was when I knew my grandfather and my father were speaking the truth about our lineage and its - well, its rather strange attribute."
"Are you referring to the Russian flu that was going on in the 70s?"
"Yes, yes. That one. Oh, that was a day I wished I wasn't able to fulfill my lineage's strange fate. But that doesn't matter anymore. That was taken care of." Chan waves his hand dismissively. "But that story and my question to you are connected. As you can see, both of us used to be concerned about spreading illnesses. I used to be. I don't worry about it any longer because of I have fulfilled my fate."
"And what is this fate that you are referring to?"
Chan chuckles. "Isn't it obvious? I was sure Ms. Kwake told you before I called." He stretches out his arms to a shrug for a moment. "My family has started all of the major illness you can think of for as long as we have been around. And we have been around for a long time."
Dr. Ramm shakes his head. "I - I don't know if I can believe that, Chan. I would need evidence."
"Ah, yes! Evidence!" Chan shifts again, this time in excitement. "I had my daughter send a package directly to the World Health Organization with a letter to have it delivered to your lab once they got in contact with you. Did you get into contact with them?"
"So you were the person who spurred this on. Yes, I did. I wasn't sure what was going on. Maybe that is what my assistant was going on about." He grabs one of the printed e-mails off his desk. "It was sent to my lab. Two vials of blood, both labelled with names of individuals and the supposed signs of an illness they helped to spread."
"Yes, yes! Have you tested them yet?"
"Ms. Kwake is working on them now. Why did you send them?"
"Well, to give you evidence. I knew it would be hard to prove myself and my family without evidence. After all, you are a scientist." Dr. Ramm gives a head tilt of acknowledgment. "I was going to send more, but the WHO recommended only two. One slightly newer, one older. I have many of them."
"Many ... blood samples?"
"Yes. Many. One from each head of the family that is in my lineage. It is not difficult to do because each part of our family produces only two kids: one girl, one boy. We track the boys." Chan hears the commotion coming off screen. Chan holds his finger up and addresses a younger male voice in the background that disappears as suddenly as it appeared. "My apologies. That was my grandson. Sweet boy, but very curious." Chan taps his hand to his chin. "Where was I? Oh, the lineage. Most of the illness start with the men, but sometimes the women can cause some horrific ones. Like this latest one. A bit nasty, but apparently necessary."
"What do you mean by that?" Dr. Ramm narrows his eyes.
Chan chuckles and slaps his knee gently. "Oh, Doctor, how ignorant you are. I expected nothing less from you, but it is amusing as well." He returns to his seated position with folded arms. "Illness are always necessary, Doctor. They are nature's way of testing us. Testing our resolve, our endurance, our adaptability. You know, it does it to all of its inhabitants. Not just us."
"I am aware."
"Then why does this seem to bother you?"
"I just find it difficult to believe that your family alone is responsible."
"Well, the evidence might enlighten you. Right, Ms. Kwake?" Chan waves an open hand to the screen.
Dr. Ramm turns around to see a pale Ms. Kwake with a collection of papers in her arm. She looks a little unnerved by Chan, but also seems to be attempting to hide it. Dr. Ramm taps her arm. "Ms. Kwake?"
"Ah, yes. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." Ms. Kwake stammers.
"No, you were not interrupting. You came in at the right time." Chan smiles from the video. "Please, speak with the Doctor if you need to. I will mind my own business."
"Thank you." Dr. Ramm says coldly to Chan. He smiles to Ms. Kwake. "Were you testing the blood samples, Ms. Kwake?"
"Yes, I was." Ms. Kwake shifts on her feet. "Two samples were given. One was reported to be from Mister- sorry, Chan's son. The other was reported to be from the 16th century patriarch of his family. I ran some tests to see what was in each sample. And-"
"Was I correct, Ms. Kwake?" Chan questions from the video call. Dr. Ramm debates on ending the call or at least deafening him, but is rather curious about her findings.
Ms. Kwake swallows slowly. "Yes, Chan. You were correct." Ms. Kwake looks down to Dr. Ramm. "The first sample was confirmed to carry traces of the original coronavirus strain. The second sample was confirmed to carry an unknown variant of the bubonic plague."
"Ah, yes. The Black Plague, I think your ancestors called it. Quite a deadly thing." Chan muses.
Dr. Ramm spins back to his computer. "I would appreciate if you treated this interview more formally, Chan."
"Yes, yes. My apologies." Chan sits up in his own cushioned chair. "It is hard to do when you know what has been passed down through your family for centuries. Thank you, Ms. Kwake."
"Yes, thank you Ms. Kwake. Please feel free to leave if you wish and tell the World Health Organization of your findings. They deserve to know." Ms. Kwake leaves quickly from what Dr. Ramm can hear. This discovery is a bit ludicrous; if it was truly accurate, they had a problem on their hands. "What do you suppose I do with this information, Chan? Just let you feel superior to me?"
"No, I don't intend to bring that tone to our conversation, Doctor. But it does feel good to know that older blood sample was still testable. I was worried I would have to send a different sample." Chan relaxes a little. "But I don't have to. It works. That is what matters."
"Yes. That is what mattered." Dr. Ramm sits up further. "So, what do you suppose I do with this information?"
"No doubt that the WHO will have an opinion. But for you? I guess you have the knowledge now that I have had since my grandfather told it to me." Chan takes a moment to look at the ground. "You know, I thought my family was crazy too. That they were afflicted with a madness that spanned generations." He laughs and looks up to the camera again. "But now I am certain that the WHO will take notice and take some unnecessary actions. But that is expected because it has happened before." He shuffles in his seat again. "They have my information. I am certain of that. That is all they need to make their decision. But I must say good day to you, Doctor. My family has prepared dinner and they are waiting for me. Thank you for speaking with me. Goodbye."
Before Dr. Ramm can get a word in, the video call ends. He stares at a blank computer wallpaper with a bit of disbelief. A few questions bounce around in his brain like an old screensaver. All he can think to do is clean his desk and get another cup of coffee to go with his acetaminophen.
~
Somewhere far away, a committee of international leaders meets in a secluded room of the UN headquarters. New information and a new decision to make.
They look to each other. There are only two options that they can reasonably take without stirring up too much attention. They can either contain the family, or they can kill them. There are ways of doing and concealing both at their disposal.
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