Chapter 25

The journey in the hired ground shuttles was deliberately roundabout and showed that the remains of the grim edifice of the Castle did indeed glower over the city and its surrounds. Chalmers Street had retained its air of elegance even if slightly faded. It was overshadowed by the Castle Hill and the storied hospitals around. The old school had seen far better days since being condemned even as a residential site. McCock with his party entered the door and up the narrow stair way through the now dingy passageway to the office with the door bearing the message:

Sir Lancelot Splatt

Aging Physician

"Reassuring" muttered Nan to Sally.

They entered a surprisingly sunlit room and were greeted by a cheerful woman of a certain age with piled up grey hair held in place by combs and hatpins(?). She closed the ledger on the otherwise bare desk top, and having ascertained their identity led them into an inner sanctum and announced them while the Havildar walked to the room's window and gazed out to the buildings opposite. A large solid man with a black old style shaped beard rose from his wheeled chair in front of his desk to shake McCock's hand and bow to his ladies; he waved them to the three chairs strategically placed to ring the desk.

"Some details first, your full name, date of and place of birth, please," and having received the details, went on, "hmmm, fifty four years old, becoming longsighted, hair line beginning to recede and the slightest bags under the eyes; tell me, Mr McCock how it is that you have no received "Antigerone" immunisations as a child. I know that Sol has been very strict in enforcing the emigration policies."

Nan's face registered deep shock and she turned to exchange looks with Sally to find a carefully neutral gaze returned. Realisation came rapidly,

"You knew" she accused Sally, "and you didn't tell us. How?" she demanded.

Sally explained to a furious Nana Nan and to a curious McCock,

"His pre-graduation medical. I found it in his file when I was working on 119's reabsorption back into the Queen's service; many of them were reservists and their files had to be activated. As Sir Laurence's PS I handled those of the officers. I saw the highlighted entry and read it. I was as stunned as you are but I realised that Aggy had countersigned it. He has known from at least that time and has said nothing. I made the conscious decision to say nothing and remember I already had Peter by that time and you now have Matthew."

"Peter? Matthew?" asked McCock.

"Later" said both ladies in unison, with Sally going on, "this is far more important."

"We don't want to lose you." persisted Nan.

"Shelly already has lost her man" McCock pointed out in hard tones.

Sir Lancelot coughed,

"Ladies, shall we postpone the family argument until you get home? Let me give you a bit of medical history which, I think is relevant, and I will then go on to what I might be able to do for Mr McCock.

Early in the twenty first century, research discovered genetic treatments which prolonged life. By the end of that century "Regen" was developed and introduced widely. It was found to delay natural degeneration by one hundred to one hundred and fifty years and could be repeated with the same benefit. extending enjoyable life by some half millennium for most people and further for many. The problem with "Regen" is that in a small number, a percentage so small as to be clinically insignificant, except for the puir sods who develop and die from malignant breakthrough. It was for that reason that research was continued and "Antigerone" discovered as a childhood immunisation but we are now finding that it lasts for four to five centuries and does not work if repeated. Research is still developing variations on the theme improving it but there has only been relatively small increments in survival. We are also finding that "Antigerone" recipients do not benefit from "Regen" treatment. Thus work is being continued on "Regen" but to date, the only significant finding has been to identify the genotype most likely to suffer the breakthrough of the malignancies. Work of course is exploring cancer prevention but to date nothing significant has developed. I would therefore recommend Mr McCock receive "Regen" therapy in its concentrated form if he is not allergic to the delivery medium."

"How long does it take?" queried the potential recipient.

"You will not experience any effects for about a seven day. After that you will be slightly lethargic and your appetite will be voracious for about a month. To obtain the best physical development from the treatment you should commence a vigorous programme of exercise which the "Regen" will establish as the norm."

"Can you do it now? Here?"

"Yes, it is not technically difficult; and being forewarned I obtained a supply from the regional stock. There will be loud wailings from them when they become aware that the material has been injected into an off-worlder, but they will no be able to take it back and sometime next century their bill might catch up with you. If you are agreeable, take off your coat and expose whichever arm I can use. Meantime I'll have my girl prepare the limb while I do my thing." McCock moved to the examining couch and began removing his upper garments.

"Rosemary, would you prepare Mr McCock's forearm for me?"

His 'girl' entered from the reception room to take McCock's coat, fussily placing it on an elaborately shaped frame, apparently designed to maintain the shape of the garment, and hung it on the coatrack standing off to one side. Sally noted her clothing and recognised it from those prints of Victorian Corsetry. Rosemary delicately coughed as she saw McCock lying down clad in the grey undervest and sleeve pistols. Sir Lancelot asked,