Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Blood Vessels

Margaret moved around, trying to stretch out, but there wasn't enough room in the claustrophobic BSL-4 lab.She walked over to Amos, who seemed stunned by the slides under a powerful microscope. "What did you find on that thorn?" "Continuing the experiment. But I think you should look at a thing I just found. Hurry up, it will break down in a moment." He stood up and told her to take a good look.The thing looks like a deflated capillary when the image is magnified at a high power, a normal human blood vessel, but not completely normal.A certain part seemed to have been damaged, and a gray-black fork protruded from the damaged area. The skin at the end of the fork was dissolving. Like all other victims, the corpse was decomposing at an accelerated rate.Amos was right, the thing was going to disintegrate right under her nose.She quickly turned her attention to the little fork.

"What the hell is this?" "Your use of scientific terminology is brilliant, Margaret. That 'fucking thing' looks a bit like a siphon." "The siphon? You mean the thing penetrates Brubaker's circulatory system like a mosquito sucks blood?" "No, not like a mosquito, not at all. The mosquito just sticks its proboscis into the skin and sucks the blood out, and what you're seeing is something else. The siphon also sucks blood from the blood vessels, but It's permanently attached and there's no way to turn it on or off. That means there has to be a matching siphon to bring blood back into the vessel—otherwise, the growth will burst from hyperemia."

"So it's pumping blood back into the circulatory system, so that means the growth doesn't just feed off blood like a mosquito does?" "Yes, no, but it must have made full use of the host's bodily functions. The growth obviously absorbs the oxygen and nutrients it needs from the blood, only in this way can it grow gradually. Of course, it can also obtain it directly from the host Energy, but I don't think it's possible. That would have to involve a digestive process and a mechanism to remove waste. Indeed, the growths we've seen have been completely decomposed, so it's impossible to confirm whether the digestive tract exists, but based on what we've seen so far , I am negative. There is no need to evolve a complex digestive system - the blood will provide all the nutrients for the growth."

"So it's not just a hunk of cancerous tissue, but a full-fledged parasite?" "We don't yet know if it has life in what we normally call it," Amos said. "If it's a neoplasm, it's a neoplasm—and the parasite is a separate organism. Remember the experimental results Right? All skin tissue - including a lot of cellulose, belongs to Brubaker himself. But it does seem to be using the host's bodily functions to survive, so at least for now I have to agree with you and define it For a parasite." Margaret could sense a hint of surprise in his voice.He was beginning to be overwhelmed by the strange parasite, she thought.

Amos returned to the microscope. "This is really a revolutionary breakthrough, Margaret, do you understand? Think of tapeworms as lowly organisms, they don't need a digestive system because they live in the intestines. The host digests food, so the tapeworms don't need a digestive system. Digestion - it only needs to absorb the surrounding nutrients. But where will the nutrients that the tapeworms not absorb eventually go? They will enter the blood. The blood brings oxygen and nutrients to the tissue cells, and transports the tissue cells to metabolize generated waste gas.” "Just stick a siphon into the bloodstream, and the parasite can enjoy itself."

"That's what it looks like. Pretty amazing!" "You are an expert on parasites," Margaret said. "If things develop in this direction, then you will be responsible, and I will be your follower." Amos started laughing.At that moment Margaret really hated him—they only took a 20-minute nap during the 48-hour marathon experiment, but he still looked so refreshed. "You're kidding! You know I'm a coward. At the first sign of trouble—whether it's physical danger or emotional crisis—I'm going to run and hide. I guess my wife kept my little guts in one of the family's It's sealed up in the jar. She's taller than me, and she keeps the little jar out of my reach."

Margaret burst out laughing.Amos was very open and honest when he talked about who was in charge of the family. "I'm happy with where I am," Amos said. "If being in charge means dealing with guys like Du Phillips and Murray Longworth, I'd rather be a sidekick." ’” said Amos, “but if it’s my turn to call the shots, remember, I like black coffee.” They sat in silence for a while, their tired minds still processing the strange information that could not be explained. "This can't be kept secret forever," Amos said. "I can now name three experts who should be here right away. Murray's secrecy policy is bullshit."

"But he's not unreasonable, you have to admit," said Margaret. "We can't let the situation out, at least not now. That way, people with rashes, bug bites, and even People with a few patches of dry skin can overwhelm the hospital. It will be harder for us to find out who is infected, and we don't even know what the early symptoms of this infection are. If the news leaks now, we will only You can stare at thousands of patients." "I understand the situation is serious," Amos said, "I just think Murray is overdoing it a little bit. Secrecy is one thing -- understaffing is another thing entirely. If we keep it a secret, and What should I do if the matter has evolved to the point of no return?"

He went back to work, leaving Margaret staring at the half-decomposed body in a daze.The continued decay has altered the posture of Brubaker's hands—the shriveled hand, once upright, is now bent at an almost 45-degree angle, touching the tabletop.His body was blackening and dissolving, and they didn't have much time. Margaret began to think about what Amos had said.If there is a rogue lab using genetic technology to create some behavior-altering parasites, is it really too late?