The Death of Immortality

By J. M. Cobb

Detective Graham Richardson is enjoying his long retirement at the end of a seemingly easy career. After all, he lives in a utopian society in which crime has been all but eliminated and death itself retreats from advances in medical technology that have created immortality. Surgical robots now handle patient care, and humanity has lost its fear of what comes next.

As one of the healers who enjoy the many benefits of robotic assistance, Dr. Steve Marshall has also become a bit complacent and confident. The anguish felt by his predecessors is a thing of the past. Science has helped the human race evolve.

But one fateful day, everything changes. A trauma victim, the survivor of a horrific car accident, is placed under Dr. Marshalls care. Despite the heroic efforts of the medical team and its technology, the patient dies. It is not simply the only patient he has ever lost; it is the first human death in centuries.

Intrigued, Richardson comes out of retirement to investigate this suspicious death. During the investigation, he befriends the brilliant doctor. Both are baffled at the patients death, and Richardson suspects foul play. As the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that there is a killer on the loose. Can the detective save the doctor from the killers wrathor will the impossible happen again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Nov 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781480803428

J. M. Cobb

J. M. Cobb is a practicing medical doctor specializing in emergency medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Florida before completing his residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The Death of Immortality is his first novel.

Book preview

PART I

THE DEATH

CHAPTER 1

I sn’t it strange how the mind wonders in its last seconds of life? In this man’s case, he couldn’t help but contemplate life, the chance for an endless life, free of disease and suffering. After all, he was one of the first to have been given the potential of a life free of dying. His life span thus far had exceeded his parents by a factor of more than fifty.

To never grow old, to never have someone close to his heart who would age, suffer, and then die would be blissful. At least that was what he believed to be true, but how did he know that those thoughts were valid? Since the beginning of humanity, each person who had ever lived had either died or was dying. The life spans on this planet were so short. Every person who was living knew he would die. Perhaps that was why the topic of immortality had so intrigued those who had considered it.

What would happen to a society if it were given immortality? Would life be cherished, or would those who no longer knew death take life for granted? After living hundreds of years, would they grow tired of living? Would petty differences between friends and loved ones multiply over time, eventually becoming intolerable and resulting in a collapse of all of their lifelong relationships?

For this man, an unforeseen and disastrous turn of events brought him face to face with death. This person who had expected to live forever had to ponder his own life and mortality.

He lay motionless, with his eyes closed tightly as the blood dripped from the side of his face. He tried to move, but the pain was too intense. Even breathing caused unbearable agony. He was barely conscious and struggled to stay awake. As he became weaker and weaker, he thought, Is this what it’s like? Is this what it feels like to die? I have lived so long, perhaps too long, if that’s possible. But can I really be this old? Wasn’t I a young boy just yesterday?

He moaned in pain, temporarily forgetting not to move or breathe too deeply. He mourned the loves and friendships he had lost during his lifetime. Why had he not reconciled with his lost friends and colleagues? he wondered. Gradually he felt more and more fatigued. The pain was becoming less important to him. Before losing consciousness he mumbled, I feel so cold. Is this what death feels like?

CHAPTER 2

A fter the last guest departed, the host poured a final glass of brandy for himself. Out of frustration, he slammed the liquor cabinet door. The excessive force rattled the bottles inside and they clanged against one another. Apparently the noise carried to the bedroom, because his wife stomped out of that room and glared at him.

You’re having another brandy? she said. Do you know what time it is? Don’t you think you’ve had enough to drink tonight? When he didn’t answer, she continued, Wait a minute. You’re not still upset about tonight’s meeting, are you?

Reflecting on what one of his houseguests had said, he answered, Yes, I am. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. I didn’t like his comments about humanity.

Do you mean when he compared humanity to vampires?

Yes. That comment really pissed me off! Mankind is nothing like vampires. We’re not a bunch of night-dwelling, bloodthirsty monsters. What a horrible analogy!

He was probably trying to push your buttons, that’s all. I think he was just comparing our longevity and how it makes us a little cold and cruel. She smiled and joked, He probably meant that we were like vampires, but with nice tans and no aversion to seeing a cross.

The man was still upset at his old friend’s remarks. I’m not like you, he said. I can’t forget about things as quickly as you can.

So, you think another glass of brandy will make everything okay?

Of course I don’t think that. But I do think it will help me relax and get to sleep a little faster.

Dear, don’t let tonight upset you too much. The two of you have been good friends for a very long time. Even before we met, before we were dating, you two were friends. You met in college, right?

Right, he was one of my favorite professors. He looked at his wife, unsure if she was joking with him or not. Don’t you remember? We were in one of his classes together. You even sat two rows behind me. Don’t you remember that? We started dating after we took his final!

She began to speak, but paused as if to gather her thoughts. Oh, that’s right! I had forgotten about that. Damn, he was such a boring professor. I must be getting old. I’m turning into an absentminded old lady.

They both smiled as he said, Dear, you don’t look a day over thirty!

He swirled his glass and took a big sniff of his brandy before having another sip. It felt warm and comforting as he swallowed it. After a cleansing breath, he calmly told his wife, You know I think he did made several good points at the meeting.

It wouldn’t hurt you to take his advice and be a little more patient. You know that old saying, ‘Good things come to those who wait.’

Wait a minute, he said, a slight smile on his face. Who’s your husband, me or him?

His frustration rising again, he added, I wish the others had been here tonight. They would have backed me up!

Dear, whom are you talking about? She thought for a second and then her eyes opened wide. "Wait a minute, you’re not talking about those two are you?"

Her husband looked away. Yes, those two, he mumbled.

Dear, I’ve heard some of their ideas and I think they’re crazy! I thought they were voted out of the group. Weren’t they?

He shook his head, staring at the floor after taking another sip of brandy. It tasted sweet in his mouth, but burned his throat as it passed through it to his stomach.

Apparently trying not to make him feel worse, his wife said, I’m sure when you two talk tomorrow everything will be all right.

Well, I’m not so sure about that.

What do you mean? Don’t you have another one of these meeting tomorrow?

Not exactly.

What do you mean, dear?

I decided not to invite him to tomorrow’s meeting.

Not invite him? But he’s the founder of your group. Will he be upset about not being invited?

Upset? No, he won’t be upset.

How do you know?

I know because he was never informed of tomorrow’s meeting. Besides, he told me earlier that he has a big day planned and that he would be traveling out of town.

CHAPTER 3

A lone in his car, the driver sped along the interstate, happy that he was the only one on the road. How I hate traffic! he thought as he glanced at the digital clock on the front dash. His meeting had started later than expected and lasted until the early hours of the morning. His host had offered to let him stay the night in the guest room of his and his wife’s house. Although it was a long drive home, the driver was anxious to sleep in his own bed that night. Besides, after a heated disagreement with his friend, he felt it was better to just go straight home.

He was still surprised at how quickly their conversation had escalated, from discussing friendly and creative ideas to a screaming match.

Over the years, some of his friends and colleagues had developed rather radical ideas. My God, I can’t believe how irrational some of them have become, he thought as he continued speeding down the road How many times do I have to explain to my dear friends of the importance of proceeding cautiously?

Taking a few deep breaths, the driver could feel his pulse and respirations slow and return to normal.

He was now well on his way home. Driving along the interstate always helped him relax and feel at ease with himself. The night was beautiful, the moon and stars were shining in a cloudless sky.

The distant mountaintops were still covered with snow, but much of it had melted, signaling the end of this year’s ski season. The light reflecting off the moon’s surface lit up the long interstate extending in front of him. The clarity of the night sky allowed him to see for many miles. He marveled at the engineering wonder he was traveling on. The interstate was nestled among the different-sized mountains that made up the mountain range he was traversing. The road was constructed on top of the smaller mountains, connecting their peaks. Then it tunneled through the center of some of the larger mountains. This construction kept the interstate at an even elevation and allowed for efficient and fast travel.

Unfortunately the tranquility of his night drive could only hold back his anxiety for a brief period. He couldn’t help but drift back to the earlier meeting. As he squirmed from side to side in his seat, trying to find a more comfortable position, he thought, I hope my old friend can forgive me for the words I used earlier tonight.

At a far distance he saw a car approaching from the opposite direction. He wondered where the car had come from. It seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He figured it was someone like him, out late and in a hurry to get back home and into bed. Leaning forward, he activated the car’s autopilot. Better play it safe, he thought to himself. It was one thing to drive at two hundred miles an hour when the roads were deserted, another when there was traffic headed toward him. As he rested back in his seat, the car’s computerized voice announced, Autopilot activated. Immediately, the windshield darkened and transformed into a graphic display screen. The car’s velocity, direction, GPS location, and his arrival time at his destination were now all displayed in front of him. He could even see the computerized display of the oncoming car.

As the other car drew nearer, his car surprised him by alerting him of a potential danger. Caution, caution, caution, the computerized voice loudly announced. Proximity warning, proximity warning, proximity. Seconds later the computer said, Warning, anticollision software activated!

Reflexively, he tightly gripped the armrests of his seat. His gaze was fixed on his car’s display screen. The other vehicle was clearly displayed. It was moving erratically, swerving back and forth. For a second it reminded him of one of those old Hollywood movies, when two men get into their sports cars and play chicken. But as the other cars got closer, he knew this was no movie. This was real!

Watching the other car, he saw it was driving in the same lane he was traveling in. Suddenly it dawned on him. The car coming toward him was not about to crash into him; rather, he was about to crash into the other car. The other car had been erratically as an attempt to avoid crashing into him.

He yelled at his car’s computer, saying, Computer, what the hell is going on? You’re driving straight for that other car! For God’s sake, change lanes!

Running a self-diagnostic, the computer responded in a calm voice. One second. One second. No error found Currently traveling in the correct lane.

Damn it, computer, you’re not in the right lane. You must be having some type of malfunction. Everyone is going to die if you don’t listen to me. I better take control of this car before it’s too late. Computer, disengage the autopilot immediately. Do you hear me, do it now!

Unable to comply. Request denied.

As he braced for impact, he felt his seat belt automatically tighten.

Request denied, the computer repeated. Unable to comply. Human error. Traveling in correct lane. Prepare for collision, prepare for collision.

The two cars smashed into each other violently. A thunderously loud crushing sound rang out as the metal of the driver’s car folded from the impact. The force spun his car around in a circle as the car’s cabin collapsed. Immediately the driver felt a horrific pain in his abdomen and chest.

As his consciousness faded, he thought, This isn’t supposed to be possible, not … possible.

The car had caught on fire and the interior was filling with smoke. Gasping for air and fighting to stay awake, he undid his seat belt and pulled himself toward the opening where the car door used to be. It had been ripped off its hinges from the impact of the collision. Struggling to get out, he slid through the opening, landing on his back. Like a snail, he inched away from the intense heat of the flames streaming out of the car. Then his body went limp and his vision faded into blackness.

As he lay motionless outside the mangled car, the car’s injury software automatically obtained his vital signs. The numbers were deemed critical and immediately transmitted to a local trauma hospital, thus alerting the EMS system.

When the two EMTs arrived to the scene of the accident, they were both surprised to find only one car. It was severely damaged, and it was clear this accident had involved at least two cars. Where and how the other car or cars had driven off, they did not know. There was no time for contemplation. They had a job to do and every second counted. As they bent over the injured body and prepared to move him onto their backboard, they heard the man mumble, Is this what it’s like to die? After pausing slightly, one of them commanded, Okay, on the count of three. One, two, three.

In the local hospital where Dr. Marshall was on duty, an automated voice announced the patient’s vital signs and estimated time of arrival as the staff scrambled to prepare to receive him. A severely injured automobile victim was unheard of, even at a busy teaching hospital like this one. Advanced automotive technology was supposed to make life-threatening injuries impossible.

Some of the nurses wondered whether the hospital or the EMS Med Control was testing them. Just in case, they all assumed the accident was real and quickly prepared for the worst. One of the EMS called the trauma center’s charge nurse, giving her details of the patient’s condition and his estimated time of arrival. It was the first time she had ever received such a call. Her fellow nurses stared at her as she spoke on the phone. One nurse who had questioned if this was a drill shook his head.

I take that back, he said. This isn’t a drill!

The charge nurse knew each second would be critical for the patient. Immediately she paged the senior resident to come to the trauma bay of the emergency room.

CHAPTER 4

E arlier that evening:

It was after midnight before the busy trauma center finally entered its lull for the night. What had started out as a demanding and hectic shift was tapering off into what whould likely be a peaceful respite for the doctors and nurses. The events of the day were typical for a busy teaching hospital and emergency care center. A huge sign for the recently renamed care center was proudly displayed at the entrance of the hospital. It made the hospital administrators smile with contentment as they passed under it each day, but the sign irked the hospital staff that