We are born, imperfect humans. Louis was no exception, and while pursuing the company of a wealthy widow in Barbados, he is handed the ingredients for eternal life. Longue Durée, can not only reverse your mind and body to a younger age, but also cures many issues like Osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s.
There is only one catch! It’s expensive.
How would the world respond to such a miracle drug? What would they pay to have all of their pain and imperfections removed? Sounds good, but… what about social security and pension plans.
If people don’t die from age, cancer, or a heart attack, the pharmaceutical and medical empires would go bankrupt.
The 1% will still want Longue Durée, but surely it cannot be available to, everyone?
“Louis, I understand why you had to maintain secrecy about the Longue Durée. I was impressed at how you handled your situation. Most men would have lost everything and probably been suicidal. You not only came out with extreme wealth but had a new life on standby! I was cheering for you with each report that I got. I am still your biggest fan, but, for the first time in my life, I need a favor.”
Jennifer, is only one of many unusual, and crazy, characters in the Longue Durée books.
Jennifer played by her own rules. I needed a person I could trust and depend on at the front desk of M.R.I., my pharmaceutical research corporation, and gave her a chance. She kept track of everything going on in my business and alerted me when it got suspicious. In scientific research, you don’t have a lot of walk-in customers, so her choice of attire, didn’t really matter.
There were a few times that she pushed it. The Nun outfit with thigh-high’s comes to mind, followed by a sexy cop uniform, with a very real looking gun and badge. She not only alerted me when my presence was necessary to resolve departmental wars, but called me about suspicious customers regularly visiting my high security research and development department. Thanks to her, the Feds busted an espionage group that cost me millions.
Jeniffer got married and moved to Chicago. After years of service, she told us that her boyfriend here in Orlando, managed a playhouse, and together, they had just bought one in Chicago. Who knew?
Jennifer, is only one of many unusual, and crazy, characters in the Longue Durée books. The download on Amazon is cheap… or free!
That evening, Sandra wanted to go to church. There was one little church on the other side of the island. It was similar to the one that she went to in Florida so she dressed conservatively and I wore a white shirt and a tie. I ran the air conditioner in the Miata and kept the windows closed to not mess up her hair. We parked in the sand lot beside the building and sat in the car watching the people go into the church. They were all carrying bibles, so we also carried ours. We walked to the door and were greeted with handshakes and smiles. “Good evening brother.” “Good evening. I shook the procession of hands and proceeded into the room. We were the only white people in the church. I looked around a little worried.
“God doesn’t see colors.” She smiled at the room full of faces watching us, took my hand, and found two seats about half way to the front. “Hello, I am reverend Thomas. I don’t think I have met you before.” I reached up and shook his hand while he and Sandra discussed histories, where we lived, and how her father was also a minister. I sat in a daze looking at the bleeding statues and wondered why they saw their savior as a tortured man with thorns piercing his head and a baby in a manger when to the best of my reading, he was a powerful and impressive archangel before he saved humankind, and would later be their global sovereign.
I snapped back to Sandra as the music started and the hands clapped in unison. There was no air conditioning in this building. It had metal louvers on two sides and a nice ocean breeze occasionally blew a paper from the benches of randomly placed books. The preacher spoke occasionally but mostly, everyone sang. Song after song with hands clapping and butts swinging.
In the end, a bowl was passed and we dropped a twenty in as we passed it on. We left the church with the rest of the group and drove slowly along the shoreline road. It was a full moon and there was no conversation in the car. Sandra was deep in thought, and so was I. I never planned to have a family. I still don’t want to have a family. I would be restricted in my travels and activities. I love spontaneous sex and now we will be dragging a baby everywhere. The thought of leaving Sandra crossed my mind, but was quickly dismissed. Then again, there will be a baby inside her contorting her tight body into a shape that may or may not be repairable. I then questioned if it could be someone else’s baby. I almost wished it was for a few reasons. One, I would have a justified exit plan, and two, it would dismiss the possibility that the Longue Duree, that resides in my body, may kill them both as it did Nicole. I realize I am being selfish, scared, groping for an exit, but deep down I know that Sandra’s morals are infinitely higher than mine, and she would not have cheated on me. “Deal with it Louis.” I said aloud.
D. B. Alexander 