All Along the Coastline (Part 5)

- They have a branch in the south, in the Capital. That's where we're going. We will not be found so easily, once we’re there. When they realize, we'll be far away... I hope! 

- If I go against this idea, it will not do any good, will it? 

The young man wearing glasses seemed gloomy, defeated and scared. The other man ignored the question. He was more focused on making plans for the trip to the Capital. 

- And we're going by train. If we go by rental car, they may have the means to know and find us. We have no idea of the contact networks they have, but these people are very dangerous. Using public transport we will remain incognito, for longer. 

- They think we're dead. 

- For now... and we'd better let them think we are, until... 

- Until we're really dead? 

They exchanged serious, worried looks. 

*** 

- At least we are more confident everything is going right now. So far, all information he delivered is correct. The samples behaved beautifully, according to the report. Now, we must wait for the last part of the material, to begin producing the first units. 

- Can we trust him? 

- Do we have any reason to doubt him? So far, he has been flawless... although quite unpredictable... but the impression he gave was that everything he has done has been out of caution. Given his origin, he must be very prudent. This excessive caution has delayed the project a bit, but we did not go far, alone, anyway. 

- We must not be in a hurry. If we rush things, we may raise unwelcome suspicions. The little man is right. All in due time and we will have no problems... 

The meeting of the management of N.M.E. was interrupted by the sound of the telephone. The executive answered sharply, by saying: 

- I said I did not want to be interrupted. What can be so important...? 

Apparently interrupted himself with urgent news and of unquestionable relevance, the man listened in silence and, without further ado, hung up. Less than five seconds later, the secretary entered the meeting room with a brown envelope in her hands. 

- Sirs, we have good news and bad news. The good news is that the material we were expecting just arrived by special mail. It will be enough to complete the analysis and start producing the drugs, which will be a big step in the company's history. We are entering a very particular era. It is the beginning of the future. 

- And the bad news, then? 

The man looked at the other members of the N.M.E. and cleared his throat. He carefully opened the envelope, from which he took out a notepad, apparently quite worn out by use. It did not look anything like the report he had received earlier. The secretary then handed him another small, open envelope that contained a letter. He took the paper out of the envelope and unfolded it, reading the message aloud. 

*** 

- I did not count on that. We must be very careful. If someone suspects of anything, we are in a big mess. All the eyes and attention will turn to us. 

- We will not be discovered. No one will ever know that it was us. 

- I really hope not. 

- Don’t worry. The company will never be associated or liable for an accident in a research laboratory at the University. Accidents happen every day in research laboratories, especially in the University campus. 

- Even so, we must be prepared. Best to avoid any contact with people. Let's take advantage that it's late at night. This makes it easier not to raise suspicions or get caught in sight. 

- I'll get the van. If something happens that could raise any kind of questions, that one is the vehicle that is already going to campus more often and therefore may seem more natural... 

- OK. 

As soon as his colleague left, the Security chief picked up the phone and dialed a speed dial number. He waited a couple of seconds and said in a low voice, 

- We are ready. We’re are driving to the University now... 

He listened in silence. He felt anxious and tense. A drop of sweat broke out on his forehead and ran down his face. He felt the scent of his own shaving lotion exhale. It was not a good sign that he felt that way. 

- Yes, OK. Leave it to me... 

*** 

- Which way are we going? 

- As far as I know, there must be a hotel on one of these streets near the station. Let me think. 

- There must be many, after all, we're in the Capital. Should not we do what we came first for? 

- Going to the company? Maybe we should go to the university first... I just had an idea. 

The young man wearing glasses smiled. He preferred to go to university, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before he had to face the challenge, for which he did not feel at all prepared. 

- Since we're here, let's go downstairs and take the subway to the University. 

*** 

The University was quite busy, as usual on normal days. There were a lot of people walking around. Quieter groups, lonely students with earphones, others busy with the latest generation phones, girls in groups, laughing, people from many different age groups, from the younger ones, still teenagers, to the older ones, probably PhDs, all contributed to make them go unnoticed in the midst of that crowd of unfamiliar faces. 

- Let's go to the research lab. That article we read mentioned a research in the field of food genetics, but that led to a shift in strategy, more to the side of human genetics and DNA changes. That sounded very strange. There is something smelly here... 

- If they are changing the genetics of food to promote a transformation in human DNA, that’s at least a crime or are they really planning a kind of... genocide?" 

- Let's see what we can find out. 

The young man wearing glasses consulted the signposting information and pointed west, where the Biology Department and the labs were supposed to be. They took that direction. They seemed eager to find out more and still had to plan the next step. 

The two walked in silence, when suddenly the young man wearing glasses stopped and held his friend's arm. 

Right ahead, a white van was parked in the lot of the area reserved for the University researchers. On its sides, written in large red letters, the company acronym: N.M.E. 

- Oh, no. Not again! They look like a plague! 

- Let's walk back, before they see us. We better go to the library. From there we can check a few things before we get a chance to come back and visit the lab. I hope they do not spend much time in here. 

The Library was not far from where they were and had a view to where their point of interest was. They sat near one of the windows facing west and kept watching the movement of the vehicle. They decided they would go there as soon as they felt safe. It was a better bet and a more secure step. 

The day passed slowly dull, and they saw no movements of the van. 

The driver sometimes left the vehicle for smoking. He looked impatient, in his dark suit. The other man would get in and out of the car, go to the bar, come back to the car, go to the other side. He seemed uncomfortable too. The night was approaching slowly, and they still had a mission to fulfil. 

To the disappointment of the two young men, the library was about to close doors, and they had to leave. Worse still, the van was still there. The movement of the students and professionals of the campus had diminished a lot. 

They felt that they had missed the opportunity and the purpose of their journey. They could not find out much about the research, besides what they already knew. The only novelty, which they could still discover, was that the new research was leading to a study of human longevity, not an attempt at genocide, as they initially suspected. 

That was a good thing, after all. They still needed to know, however, why those men were there, parked all afternoon, and also why they had tried to kill them. 

- There is one important piece missing in this puzzle. What can it be? 

As they talked, while leaving the Library building, they saw four people walking lightly towards the lab. At that time, it was not very normal, but nothing disturbing. 

The woman looked worried. The young man who was with her, too. An older man and a younger one, very pale, were coming close after them. They did not notice the van and walked straight to the metal door of the Biology building. 

What happened at that moment was so quick that the two young soldiers only had time to hide behind one of the buildings and watch from afar for fear of getting caught up in the middle of a big mess. 

As soon as he saw the group of people reach the door, the driver got out of the van and pulling out an automatic weapon, fired at them. The group was still able to enter the building, lock the door, which did not stay closed for long. In a few minutes, the armed men entered the building and, not too long after, a big explosion happened in the room. 

As they watched, frightened, the unfolding of that private war, they saw that four people were running out from the other side, towards the forest. In a short time, the two security guards, still armed and firing against them, headed in the same direction. 

- What was that, for heaven’s sake? We are screwed. Now we will not be able to find out anything else. The lab is all destroyed, and we cannot get out of here. 

- We're going to have to leave here, anyway. In a little while this will be an insane pandemonium. There should be a fire alarm, which must have already been triggered. 

Even before he finished speaking, he heard the loud sound of the alarm sirens. 

They should not be seen there. If they said they had witnessed anything, they would be exposed and the N.M.E. would know they were still alive. Just as they turned around to head towards the Campus exit, they saw a man standing behind them. 

- You should not be here! 

***

Pelo Litoral (Parte 5)

- Eles têm uma filial no sul, na Capital. É para lá que vamos. Fica mais difícil de sermos detetados e encontrados. Quando perceberem, já estaremos longe… espero eu!

- Se eu for contra esta ideia, não vai adiantar nada, vai?

O rapaz de óculos parecia desconsolado, derrotado e assustado. O outro ignorou a pergunta. Estava mais concentrado em fazer os planos para a viagem até a Capital.

- E vamos de comboio. Se formos de carro alugado, eles podem ter meios de saber. Não temos ideia das redes de contacto que eles têm, mas esse pessoal é muito perigoso. Usando os transportes públicos permaneceremos incógnitos, por mais tempo.

- Eles pensam que estamos mortos.

- Por enquanto… e é melhor deixá-los pensar assim, até…

- Até sermos mortos de verdade?

Os dois trocaram olhares sérios e preocupados.

***

- Pelo menos estamos mais tranquilos. Até agora, todas as informações passadas estão corretas. As amostras comportaram-se lindamente, conforme o relatório. Agora, temos que aguardar a última parte do material, para iniciarmos a produção…

- Podemos confiar nele?

- Temos alguma razão para duvidar? Até agora, ele foi impecável… embora bastante imprevisível… mas a impressão que deu foi que tudo o que tem feito tem sido por excesso de cautela. Dado a origem dele, tem mesmo que ser prudente. Isso atrasou o projeto um pouco, mas não íamos longe, sozinhos, de todo jeito.

- Não devemos ter pressa. Se apressarmos as coisas, poderemos levantar suspeitas indesejáveis. O homenzinho tem razão. Tudo a seu tempo… 

A reunião da direção da N.M.E. foi interrompida pelo som do telefone. O executivo atendeu com rispidez, dizendo:

- Eu disse que não queria ser interrompido. O que pode ser tão importante…

Aparentemente interrompido, ele mesmo, por notícias urgentes e de relevância inquestionável, o homem ouviu, em silêncio e, sem dizer mais nada, desligou. Menos de cinco segundos depois, a secretária entrava com um envelope pardo nas mãos. 

- Senhores, temos boas e más notícias. A boa é que o material que esperávamos acabou de chegar, por correio especial. Será suficiente para concluirmos as análises e começarmos a produção dos fármacos, que serão um grande passo na história dessa empresa. Estamos entrando numa era muito particular. É o começo do futuro.

- E a má notícia, então?

O homem olhou para os outros membros do Conselho Diretor da N.M.E. e pigarreou. Abriu cuidadosamente o envelope, de onde tirou um bloco de apontamentos, aparentemente bastante desgastado pelo uso. Não parecia nada com o relatório que ele havia recebido anteriormente. A secretária, então, entregou-lhe um outro envelope menor, aberto e que continha uma carta. Ele retirou o papel de dentro do envelope e desdobrou-o, lendo a mensagem em voz alta.

***

- Eu não contava com essa. Temos que ser muito cuidadosos. Se formos descobertos, estamos em uma grande confusão. Os olhos, todos, voltar-se-ão para nós.

- Não seremos descobertos. Ninguém, nunca, saberá que fomos nós.

- Espero bem que não.

- Não se preocupe. A empresa nunca será associada ou responsabilizada por um acidente num laboratório de pesquisas na Universidade. Acidentes acontecem, todos os dias, em laboratórios de pesquisas, mormente no campus Universitário.

- Mesmo assim, devemos estar preparados. Melhor evitar qualquer contacto com as pessoas. Vamos aproveitar que já é tarde da noite. Assim fica mais fácil de não levantar suspeitas ou dar na vista.

- Vou buscar a carrinha. Se acontecer algo, que possa suscitar quaisquer tipos de perguntas, aquele é o veículo que já frequenta o campus com mais frequência e, portanto, pode parecer mais natural… 

- OK.

Assim que o colega saiu, o chefe da Segurança pegou o telefone e digitou um número da lista de speed dial. Esperou um par de segundos e falou, em voz baixa:

- Estamos prontos. Vamos agora para a Universidade… 

Ouviu, em silêncio, a resposta. Sentia-se ansioso e tenso. Uma gota de suor brotou-lhe na testa e escorreu-lhe pelo rosto abaixo. Ele sentiu o perfume de sua própria loção de barba, a exalar. Não era bom sinal que suasse assim.

- Sim… OK. Pode deixar...

***

- Para que lado vamos?

- Pelo que sei, deve haver um hotelzinho numa destas ruas, perto da estação. Deixa-me pensar.

- Devem haver muitos, afinal estamos na Capital. Não será melhor irmos fazer o que viemos fazer, primeiro?

- Ir à empresa? Talvez seja melhor irmos à Universidade… Tive uma ideia.

O rapaz de óculos sorriu. Preferia ir à Universidade, mas sabia que era questão de tempo até ter que enfrentar o desafio, para o qual não se sentia minimamente preparado.

- Já que cá estamos, vamos descer e tomar o metro para a Universidade.

***

A Universidade estava bastante movimentada, como nos dias normais. Havia muita gente a andar de um lado para o outro. Grupos mais silenciosos, estudantes solitários, com fones nos ouvidos, outros ocupados com os telefones de última geração, mocinhas em grupos, dando risadas, pessoas de muitas faixas etárias diferentes, dos mais jovens, ainda adolescentes, até os mais velhos, provavelmente doutorados, todos contribuíam para fazê-los passar despercebidos no meio daquela multidão de rostos desconhecidos. 

- Vamos procurar o laboratório de pesquisas. Aquele artigo que lemos mencionava pesquisas no campo da genética de alimentos, mas que levava à uma mudança na estratégia, mais para o lado da genética humana e alterações no DNA. Isso pareceu muito estranho. Aqui há coisa…

- Se eles estiverem alterando a genética dos alimentos para promover uma mudança no DNA humano, isso é, no mínimo, um crime ou a tentativa de um… genocídio?

- Vamos ver o que descobrimos.

O rapaz de óculos consultou as placas de sinalização e apontou para o oeste, onde deveria estar o Departamento e os laboratórios de Biologia. Os dois apresaram os passos. Pareciam ansiosos para descobrir mais e ainda tinham que planear o próximo passo.

Os dois caminhavam em silêncio, quando, de repente, o rapaz de óculos parou e segurou o braço do amigo, com força. 

À frente deles e parada no estacionamento da área reservada aos pesquisadores estava uma carrinha branca. Nas laterias, escrito em grandes letras vermelhas, a sigla da empresa: N.M.E.

- Essa não! Parecem uma praga!

- Vamos voltar, antes que nos vejam. Vamos para a biblioteca. De lá podemos verificar umas coisas, até conseguirmos uma hipótese de voltar para o laboratório. Tomara que eles não fiquem muito tempo por cá.

A Biblioteca não ficava longe, e tinha uma vista para onde o ponto de interesse dos dois estava mais voltado. Eles sentaram perto de uma das janelas voltadas para o oeste e ficaram a vigiar o movimento do veículo. Decidiram que seguiriam para lá, assim que estivessem seguros. Era uma aposta mais acertada e um passo mais seguro.

O dia passou lentamente e eles não viram movimentos da carrinha. 

O motorista saiu algumas vezes de dentro veículo, para fumar. Parecia impaciente, dentro de seu fato escuro. O outro homem entrava e saía do carro, ia até o bar, voltava, ia até o outro lado. Parecia desconfortável também. A noite aproximava-se e eles tinham uma missão a cumprir.

Para desapontamento dos dois rapazes, a biblioteca estava para fechar e eles tinham que sair. Pior ainda, a carrinha ainda estava lá. O movimento dos estudantes e profissionais do campus havia diminuído bastante. 

Eles sentiam que haviam perdido a viagem. Não conseguiram descobrir muita coisa sobre a pesquisa, além do pouco que já sabiam. A única novidade, que ainda conseguiram descobrir, foi que a nova pesquisa estava ligada a um estudo ligado à longevidade, não à uma tentativa de genocídio, como desconfiavam inicialmente. 

Aquela era uma boa coisa. Restava saber a razão deles estarem ali, plantados a tarde toda e também de tentarem acabar com a vida dos dois. 

- Falta uma peça importante neste quebra-cabeças. O que pode ser?

Quatro pessoas caminhavam ligeiras, na direcção do laboratório, assim que os dois estavam a sair do prédio da biblioteca. Àquela hora, não era muito normal, mas nada preocupante. A mulher parecia preocupada. O rapaz que estava com ela, também. Um homem mais velho e um mais jovem, muito pálido, vinham atrás deles. Não perceberam a carrinha e foram até a porta de metal do prédio da área de Biologia.

O que aconteceu, naquele instante, foi tão rápido, que os dois rapazes só tiveram tempo de se esconder, atrás de um dos prédios e observar de longe, com receio de ficarem metidos naquela grande confusão.

O motorista, assim que viu o grupo de pessoas chegar à porta, saiu da carrinha e sacou de uma arma automática, atirando neles. O grupo ainda conseguiu entrar no prédio, trancar a porta, que não ficou fechada por muito tempo. Em poucos minutos os homens, armados, entravam no prédio e, não muito tempo depois, uma grande explosão acontecia no recinto.

Enquanto observavam, assustados, o desenrolar daquela guerra particular, viram que quatro pessoas corriam pelo outro lado, na direcção da floresta. Em pouco tempo, os dois seguranças, ainda armados, seguiam na mesma direcção. 

- O que foi isso, pelo amor de Deus? Estamos ferrados. Agora é que não descobrimos mais nada. O laboratório está todo destruído e não conseguiremos sair daqui, agora.

- Vamos ter que sair, de todo jeito. Em pouco tempo isso vai estar um manicómio. Deve haver um alarme de incêndio, que já deve ter sido accionado. 

Antes mesmo que terminasse de falar, ouviu o som das sirenes. 

Não podiam ser vistos ali. Se testemunhassem qualquer coisa, estariam expostos e a N.M.E. saberia que estavam vivos. Bem na hora que eles viraram, para ir na direção da saída do Campus, viram um homem parado, de pé, atrás deles. 

- Vocês não deviam estar aqui!

***

All Along the Coastline (Part 4)

- Is it bleeding again?

- Yes. I should have tighten up the bandage a little more.

- We've got to work this out, but we must not raise any suspicion. If we go to an emergency room, they'll call the police.

- There is no need. It's a matter of time. It is just a scratch.

- Fortunately. But if it gets infected, we have no choice but to go to a hospital.

- Let's not worry about that now. It'll be okay. I will be OK.

The young man wearing glasses nodded, still visibly worried. He knew it was not just a scratch. The bullet had come in and out, fortunately, without reaching any vital organ, at least apparently. It was a gunshot wound, however, and it could infect. That’s what they got for facing armed men, having as defense just their clothes and pieces of metal inside them.

They knew they had to stay unnoticed and unsuspicious.

They knew they had to keep the wound clean and controlled, or else...

In fact, they were not sure of anything...

***

- Incompetents. I'm surrounded by useless incompetents! How do three of my handpicked and most skilled security guards let two of those… those… guys… run away like that?

The Head of Security did not respond. He knew the man did not hear anyone when he was enraged. It was a matter of time and patience until the reason would return and he, cooler and calmer, would give new orders or make some kind of a plan, to get out or rid of some circumstance. That was a serious situation. It was a hole in the procedure and it would lead to a very big risk. If the two young men found out what was behind the operation, of which he knew very little, although he was quite sure it was very important, they were in great danger of exposure and that was the reason his boss was so upset and angry.

- You have until the end of the day to put an end to that. Sort that shit out immediately!

The Head of Security turned around and left. He had no idea how to deal with it, but he knew that if he did nothing, he’d have his head ready to be cut off his shoulders.

***

The day after the incident, the two young men drove down to the city, went to the bank, sorted out the issue with the bank cards and the money and found a decent Airbnb to stay in. They did not want to be exposed yet, until they had a good plan on what they would do next. They made a choice based on the fact that they were more difficult to be identified on a farmhouse than in a hotel. The farmhouse they found was sufficiently discreet and well-arranged, in addition to being very well located, in one of the side streets, not far from the city center. It was a very convenient choice.

Still in the morning, they decided to go to the Public Library so they could do some research about N.M.E. They found out that the company was to close a contract for research and development of medical drugs. At first it would seem perfectly normal, were it not for a little detail written at the end of the article. The young man wearing glasses wondered at the fact and commented it with his friend. A deeper investigation was worth it.

- We're need to go deeper into this. We better go there!

- Are you insane? Go straight to the lion’s den? This is suicide. They are already looking for us. They will not let us out of there alive!

- There has to be a way.

The Airbnb farmhouse was not far from the Library. As they were reaching the corner, they saw that a black car was parked near the place where they were staying. They stopped immediately, feeling their muscles tighten. They went back a few steps and went through the gate behind the little church, up on the hill, and watched, hidden.

Two other young men, about the same age, were walking down the street, talking casually, at that very moment. The car pulled away and advanced against the two, who were caught in surprise and did not escape the fatal hit and run. The driver sped up and down the street, leaving the two victims to bleed at the scene of the crime.

- We are screwed! I think they thought they were us! It cannot be a coincidence.

- This is getting weirder and more dangerous. We have to get out of here. We cannot even think of getting close to their den... We will be killed!

- It is true. This was not just an incident. Now it's a crime.

***

The little man sat down. The other man looked uneasy, but opened the briefcase and leafed through the file, his eyes very alert.

- Is this the documentation we need to start the process?

- Yes. It's all there... for the first phase and to study the first sample...

- First phase? What kind of joke is this?

- It's no joke. It is the guarantee that I will leave here alive and unharmed. The second part will be sent here when I am safe.

- That was not part of the contract. This is a scam.

- It is not. I had to take my precautions. I heard what was done to the two boys...

- Side effect. Nothing more than this.

- I do not like your methods, but I have nothing to do with them and I do not want to have, anyway. I'm only interested in finishing this transaction and getting out of here. I have more to do and worry about ... And to show that I'm serious, I'll leave a second sample with you.

- Who guarantees me that this is enough, to start the production of the medicines?

The little man ignored the comment in question and continued.

- There is a clear difference in the behavior of the two samples, although they have come from the same origin. This second is recovered, but has a shorter life cycle. To transform the former into another, in perfect condition, with the much longer life cycle, is easy, if you have the right data. You have the raw material in abundance, right here. It was a mistake we made when we did not use wisely the time we still had. When we got the answer, it was already late. Fortunately, I had time to retrieve the files, before...

- You did? Really?

- Pass the information and the sample on to the lab people and have them compare the two. I'll send the rest of the information as soon as I get out of here.

- That's what I'll do.

The little man gave a queer laugh, like someone who was not used to smile or show sympathy to anyone. His face was almost impassive and devoid of expression marks, except for the region between the eyes, where deep wrinkles of concern appeared. His laughter was only a small movement of his lips, not very expressive. He looked like a ghost... or...

- Very well. Wait for my contact.

***

- That can't be right.

- And it is not.

- That must be why they have things to hide, and they think we know more than we really do.

- But is that so bad they wanted to kill us?

-This is more serious than an unfortunate coincidence. How are we going to find out more about their swindles?

- I do not know, and I do not want to know. The best we do is to go home. Enough of this story.

- Let me think. There has to be a way…

- Oh no. I know where this is going to end.

- At least now we have a chance. They think we're dead! And I just got an idea.

- Oh my God! I'm screwed!

- Come!

***

Pelo Litoral (Parte 4)

- Voltou a sangrar? 

- Sim. Eu devia ter apertado a bandagem mais forte. 

- Temos que dar um jeito nisso, mas sem levantar suspeitas. Se formos a um pronto-socorro, eles vão chamar a polícia. 

- Não há necessidade. É uma questão de tempo. Foi só um raspão. 

- Por sorte. Mas se infecionar, não teremos alternativa. 

- Não nos preocupemos com isso, agora. Vai ficar tudo bem. 

O rapaz de óculos assentiu, preocupado. Não era apenas um raspão. A bala havia entrado e saído, felizmente, sem atingir nenhum órgão vital, pelo menos aparentemente. Ainda assim era um ferimento de bala e podia infecionar. Foi o que eles ganharam por enfrentar homens armados, tendo como defesa apensa as roupas e pedaços de metal dentro delas.

Eles tinham que passar despercebidos, por isso o ferimento tinha que estar contido, ou, então... 

E eles já não tinham certeza de nada… 

*** 

- Incompetentes. Estou rodeado por incompetentes! Como é que três dos meus seguranças, escolhidos a dedo, por serem os mais habilitados, deixam escapar dois rapazes daqueles. 

O chefe da Segurança não respondeu. Sabia que o homem não ouvia ninguém quando estava enfurecido. Era uma questão de tempo e de paciência até a razão voltar e ele, mais calmo, dar novas ordens ou arquitetar um plano, para sair de alguma situação. Aquela era grave. Era um furo no procedimento e um risco muito grande. Se os rapazes descobrissem o que havia por trás da operação, da qual ele sabia pouco, mas tinha certeza que era muito importante, eles estavam em grande perigo de exposição. 

- Vocês tem até o fim do dia para acabarem com isso. Resolvam isso já! 

O chefe da Segurança virou-se e saiu. Não tinha a mínima ideia de como resolver, mas sabia que se não fizesse nada, tinha a cabeça a prêmio. 

*** 

No dia seguinte ao incidente, os dois desceram para a cidade, foram ao banco, resolveram a questão com os cartões e com o dinheiro e arranjaram um Airbnb mais decente para ficarem, porém sem muita exposição, de modo a poderem planear o que fariam em seguida. A escolha era baseada no facto de serem mais dificilmente identificados, do que se ficassem em um hotel. A quinta era suficientemente discreta e bem arranjada, além de muito bem localizada, numa das ruas secundárias, pouco distante do centro da cidade. Era uma escolha muito conveniente. 

Ainda pela manhã, foram até a Biblioteca Pública fazer uma pesquisa sobre os negócios da N.M.E. e descobriram que a mesma estava para fechar um contrato para pesquisa e desenvolvimento de medicamentos. A princípio aquilo pareceria normal, se não fosse um pequeno detalhe escrito no final do artigo. O rapaz de óculos estranhou o facto e comentou com o amigo. Valia uma investigação mais profunda. 

- Vamos ter que ir mais a fundo nisso. Melhor ir até lá! 

- Estás louco? Ir direto à boca do lobo? Isso é suicídio. Eles já estão à nossa procura. Não nos vão deixar sair de lá, vivos! 

- Tem que haver um jeito. 

O Airbnb não ficava longe da Biblioteca. Quando estavam chegando à esquina, viram que havia um carro preto parado, perto da quinta, onde estavam hospedados. Os dois perderam, completamente, a naturalidade, sentindo seus músculos a enrijecer. Eles voltaram uns passos e enveredaram pelo portão atrás da pequena igreja, no alto do morro e ficaram a observar, escondidos. 

Dois outros rapazes, mais ou menos da mesma idade que eles vinham descendo a rua, conversando displicentemente, naquele exato momento. O carro arrancou e avançou contra os dois, que pegos de surpresa, não escaparam do atropelamento fatal. O motorista acelerou e enveredou pela rua, deixando as duas vítimas a sangrar no local do crime. 

- Estamos ferrados! Acho que eles pensavam que éramos nós! Não pode ser uma coincidência. 

- Isso está cada vez mais estranho e perigoso. Temos que sumir daqui. Nem podemos pensar em chegar perto da sede deles… Vamos ser mortos! 

- É verdade. Aquilo não foi apenas um incidente. Agora trata-se de um crime. 

*** 

O homenzinho sentou-se. O outro parecia pouco à vontade, mas abriu a pasta de documentos e folheou o dossier, com olhos bem alertas. 

- É essa a documentação que necessitamos para iniciar o processo? 

- Sim. Está tudo aí… para a primeira fase e para estudar a primeira amostra… 

- Primeira fase? Que brincadeira é essa? 

- Não é brincadeira. É a garantia de que vou sair daqui vivo e ileso. A segunda parte será enviada quando eu estiver seguro. 

- Isso não fazia parte do contrato. É uma fraude. 

- Não é. Eu tinha que tomar minhas precauções. Eu soube o que foi feito aos dois rapazes… 

- Efeito colateral. Nada mais que isso. 

- Não gosto dos vossos métodos, mas não tenho nada com isso e nem quero ter. Só me interessa terminar essa transação e retirar-me daqui. Tenho mais o que fazer e me preocupar… E para mostrar que eu falo sério, vou deixar uma segunda amostra. 

- Quem me garante que isso é suficiente, para iniciarmos a produção dos medicamentos? 

O homenzinho ignorou o comentário em forma de pergunta e continuou. 

- Há uma clara diferença no comportamento das duas amostras, embora tenham vindo da mesma origem. Esta segunda está recuperada, mas tem o ciclo de vida mais curto. Para transformar a primeira numa outra, em perfeito estado, com o ciclo de vida muito mais longo, é fácil, com os dados certos. Vocês têm a resposta numa matéria-prima em abundância, aqui mesmo. Foi um erro que cometemos, quando não aproveitamos o tempo que ainda tínhamos. Quando chegamos à resposta, já era tarde. Felizmente, eu tive tempo de recuperar a pesquisa, antes… 

- Recuperou? Mesmo? 

- Passe a informação e a amostra para o laboratório e mande-os comparar as duas. Eu mando o resto da informação, assim que estiver longe daqui. 

- É o que farei. 

O homenzinho esboçou um riso esquisito, como de alguém que não era acostumado a sorrir ou demonstrar simpatia. Sua face era quase impassível e desprovida de marcas de expressão, com exceção da região entre os olhos, onde apareciam profundas rugas de preocupação. Seu riso era, apenas, um pequeno movimento de lábios, sem muita expressividade. Ele parecia um fantasma… ou… 

- Muito bem. Aguardem meu contacto. 

*** 

- Isso não pode estar certo. 

- E não está. 

- Deve ser por isso que eles tem coisas a esconder e acham que nós sabemos mais do que realmente sabemos. 

- Mas a ponto de nos matar? 

- Isso é mais grave que uma infeliz coincidência. Como vamos descobrir mais sobre as falcatruas deles? 

- Não sei e nem quero saber. O melhor que nós fazemos é voltar para casa. Chega desta história. 

- Deixa-me pensar. Tem que haver um jeito… 

- Oh, não. Eu sei onde isso vai acabar. 

- Pelo menos agora temos uma hipótese. Eles pensam que estamos mortos! E eu acabo de ter uma ideia. 

- Oh, meu Deus! Estou ferrado! 

- Vem! 

***

All Along the Coastline (Part 3)

Determined to comply strictly with the order not to leave traces behind, the security guards dragged the two prisoners out of the building and into the white van. At gunpoint, the two soldiers had no way of trying to escape on that occasion.

***

The strange little man sat facing the other, not so dissimilar from him, in the large room on the second floor of the modern building, whose façade differed greatly from the well-arranged garden, built at the back of the estate. His expressionless eyes and extremely pale skin, denounced the visitor's origins, who, in spite of everything else, did not seem to be uncomfortable in that place. The other man, a little more agitated and with a frown visibly wrinkled, showed how suspicious he was, of the offer that had just been placed on the table. He could not see the reasons behind the reasons that brought that strange man to that place. The visitor then took the lead.

- You got the sample yet?

- Yeah. We have it. We have already started analysing...

- The sample without the dossier is worth nothing... or better... very little. It will be a waste of time to analyse it without due care and without the necessary information on what to do and how... It is a unique sample and should be processed with extreme caution. The codes are pretty complex and advanced... for obvious reasons.

- Of course. It was not going to be so easy, otherwise it would not stop here like this. But it's a strange business... and expensive... in my view...

- Yes. It's a very peculiar offer, but it's virtually beyond question. The risks are minimal, and the return of capital fully assured, in a very short time. But we must keep our society as a very well-kept secret and follow the plan in its due time. We cannot speed things up too much and raise unnecessary suspicions.

- It sounds too good to be true.

- I do not believe that you still have doubts about the authenticity of the origin...

- Of course I have not, but leave me with doubts about the true intention...

- The intention is to guarantee a future for this civilization... and...

- Who cares about the future of this decaying generation, which thinks only of owning more and more useless things, of making intrigues and carelessly destroying the planet?

The little man laughed.

- That's the intention. One can still hope for the future. Only those who have information like this, can appreciate the results... the earnings and the profits... Do we have a business or not?

- We do. N.M.E. will expand its area of ​​operation and include the production of medical drugs and chemicals, in this way, with a very specific purpose. No one will suspect anything.

- As long as this business stays between us, only. My contribution cannot be brought to light of this...

- Time... is money... We have so much to do, yet. I will transfer the money to the designated account. Please confirm the receipt as soon as you have it and have someone bring the sample and the data to start the process as soon as possible.

- I cannot send anyone else to bring information of this importance along here. I work alone. I'll come myself...

- You need to trust humanity more... especially...

The irony was not welcomed by the little man, who replied,

- I have many reasons not to trust anyone... more specifically from here.

- Very well. It's fair... for now. After all, business is business.

***

The rented car was parked at the edge of the ravine. A man in a black suit was leaning against the vehicle, staring out at the sea and smoking an unfiltered cigarette. He glanced at his watch and looked out at the road. The white van was coming up the highway.

- It's about time!

The man threw away what was left of the still lit cigarette and waited. The car pulled up close to him. The driver, also dressed in a dark suit and wearing sunglasses, got out of the vehicle and came toward the man waiting for him. The passenger, sitting in the front seat, also got out of the van and joined the others.

- Let's get this over with.

A crash in the back of the vehicle caught the three of them by surprise. Two young men came out, one from each side, running at full speed, dressed only in their underwear, and each one turning their pants in their right hands and coming straight to the attack on the three other men, who were not expecting such kind of attack. Two men were hit in their heads by something solid and they fell to the ground. The third man pulled a pistol off his jacket and fired, just as he felt something very hard hitting his hand as fell down to the ground too, his senses failed. He had been hit in the head by the other man.

- Fast. Let's tie these three up, before they react again.

The two of them hastened to tie up the three security guards after stripping them of their dark suits, leaving them only with their underclothes on the edge of the cliff, but not in view of the passers-by. To make it difficult, they threw the van down the cliff, before they got into the rented car and left. They would have to get rid of their car on the first occasion, so they went down the coast to the big industrial city, still up north. There it would be easier to change cars and go unnoticed. The intention was to disappear for a while.

***

- It's going to take a few days, until we sort all this out and we can finally get out of here.

- It’s not that bad. They’ll give us provisional cards. We must avoid being seen around however.

- We must report these people! They will continue to chase us and do...

- We do not even know what they're up to. What we know is very little. What would we say and to whom? And who would believe us, anyway?

- Damn it!

- We have to know more about this company and the shenanigans they are involved in before doing anything.

- Are you crazy?!? No way. Let's go back to our lives, before anyone finds out we're in such a mess.

- We cannot leave things like this. It is not right. There is something big going on here and we have to find out what it is, otherwise we cannot do anything to change this situation.

- But we do not have to change anything. It's none of our business.

- Yes, we do. It's up to us now. Or do you think being beaten and treated like animals is part of a normal life? Our holidays are spoilt anyway. We're hiding here, and we still need to have our documents reissued before we get back to our lives and to our holidays. That's not fair. Besides, we still have more than a whole week to go...

- Let's get out of here as soon as possible.

The young man wearing glasses looked at his friend but knew that his battle was over. The other man was not going to rest until he'd settled the case or put an end to his anguish.

- Well, I'm hungry.

-Let's go out, then. We have little money left from the amount we took out of the security guards. We must be reasonable until we can settle the case with the bank.

The two men left the rented room in the small B & B on the outskirts of the city, where they could go unnoticed and have just a few expenses, with the little money they had left. The car was tucked away in one of the nearby streets, but not the same as the B&B, so they would not be discovered if someone came looking for them. Nobody knew them, and they did not ask for anything, either. They were strangers living incognito... for a while...

***

The Cafe was practically empty when they left, after a quick meal. The night was cool, even for the hot day it had been. They walked side by side, not talking much. Each one was very busy with his own thoughts. The street, where their accommodation was located, was almost deserted. The two of them walked lightly while a few cars passed by them, and when they did, they avoided being exposed to the headlights, lowering their heads, so as not to be recognized. 

The man wearing glasses stopped, mute, looking ahead and very seriously. His partner looked at him and followed the direction of his gaze. Coming out of the street where their car was parked, they saw the white van. The big red letters painted on the side of it did not hide the origin of the vehicle, nor the purpose of being there. The two of them jumped over a wall and crossed a vacant property to the other street and hurried up the steps to the room where they were staying.

- We got to get out of here. How did they find this place?

- I do not know, but now it's too dangerous to stay here now. They must have contacts everywhere...

A noise downstairs, followed by muffled voices and doors slamming, left them on alert. A woman shouted out loud. The last thing they heard, before jumping down from the balcony into the dark street, was the sound of a man's voice calling out,

- Where are they?

The young man wearing glasses only had time to hear his friend whisper and pull him by the arm, though an opening on the broken wall:

- Quick! This way! 

***