Dickson Invention Man Part 2

1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5439-3429-8
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 200 Seiten

Invention Man is a story about Rodney Danville, a young urban youth in anywhere USA. Growing up very shy, being black no one thought his shyness was caused by his intellect. His intelligence was close to genius and during a school science project, an executive from Bio Tech, saw a future in his imagination. He spoke with Rodney and talked him into joining a 'future scientists' program his company was sponsoring. These people had a drug they wanted experimented on and past test showed the drug to be too addictive to use, but with the proper research, some executives at Bio Tech felt it would be worth billions of dollars. So, they groomed Rodney through school and before he graduated from college, they hired him to work for them. It was there they put him to research a drug called Xadil, with horrendous results.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Dickson, John

Leseproben

Prologue   Even though it was against all odds and to a great extent, unethical for Karen, she and Rodney continued to grow closer and closer, meeting in the infirmary as often as possible. One morning, Karen came to Rodney’s cell earlier than normal for a Saturday conference. Once she arrived at his cell door, Rodney looked surprised, although he wasn’t. “Karen, what a surprise to see you here now-I didn’t expect to see you for at least a couple more hours. I hope everything is alright?” Rodney asked, approaching the cell door. “Yes and no…I mean it could be alright; as long as it’s alright with you. It’s just that … it’s so unexpected and I should have been more careful. I don’t know what I was thinking,” Karen admitted. Karen was doing battle with herself, because of the dilemma she was now facing. Her colleagues all had opposition to her getting deeper involved with someone that was her patient, but she couldn’t stop her feelings from growing for Rodney. And to make matters worse, she had missed her period. “Wait a minute, what’s the problem? What are you rattling on about? I’m ok with anything that concerns you and me,” Rodney assured her. “Rodney, I’m pregnant. Or I think I am-I only missed one month and I’m worried because I’ve never missed a period before. Oh Rodney, what are we going to do?” she asked with tears welling up in her eyes. Rodney reached out to her and gently rubbed her neck as he began to speak, “First thing, we have to make sure that you are, and if you are, it looks like we’re going to be parents.” “You mean if I’m pregnant it’s ok with you, Rodney?” Karen asked happily. “Yeah, it’s ok with me. Is it ‘ok with you’ is the real question to be asked.” They held hands and touched foreheads through the bars. Over the months of therapy they had developed a way of communicating without speaking and at this moment they were happy about the news of Karen’s pregnancy. Rodney remained silent as he thought about what could be. It was one thing for sure, he had never imagined himself becoming a father; but the more he thought about it the smile just broadened across his face. “Yeah, this is going to be alright. My trial is coming up in two weeks and you’ve already said I stand a good chance of being acquitted. If I am, we can be together as a family-that is if you want to. I can’t make you do it, but if you want to, I sure do.” They embraced through the cell bars. “Rodney, I am really considering taking this pregnancy to term, but …” “But what-come on, tell me. Whatever it is, I can take it and I want to hear it. Please, let’s not start off not being totally honest with each other. I can stand it, whatever it is,” Rodney repeated. “Rodney, it’s kind of silly and it might sound a little bit old fashion … but I never wanted a child without being married. It’s been a hope of mine that I’d be married before giving birth to a baby.” Rodney began smiling even more broadly. “Are you proposing to me?” he asked. “No silly. I’m just telling you how I feel about an out of wedlock baby.” Rodney became very excited as he stood back and began tucking his top into his pants. He looked in his makeshift mirror and after approving his appearance, walked back over to Karen kneeling down on one knee. “Karen, I know how my situation put a damper on things, but this is a real question-will you consider marrying me?” he asked. “Rodney, of course I would consider it; but I wouldn’t want you to ask me that just because I’m pregnant. I want you to really want me as your wife.” “Listen Karen…you may not understand this, but I’ve been fantasizing about you and me being married for the last few months. I didn’t think you would even consider it. I kind of thought you were just having a little fun with me. But you gotta accept that I am as serious as a heart attack right now.” * On June 26th, 1982, Rodney’s second trial began. It only took 19 days before the jury went to deliberate, but not surprisingly, it took them 1 day to reach a not guilty verdict. On the day the verdict was to be read, Rodney came into court in a suit Karen provided for him, but he was still shackled at his wrists and ankles. He stood at his seat until his attorney motioned him to sit down. “Listen Rodney, the trial went quite well for us and based on how quickly they came to a verdict, things are looking pretty good. The way Miss Billingsley wrote the report really put a dim light on Bio Tech and it was a great position she put you in. Shit, when I first read it I almost flipped. I’m sure the jury saw it the same as she did. She wrote that you were intentionally manipulated and put into a position of abuse. At any rate, I am sure that’s what made the judge include 1st or 2nd degree manslaughter. Man, you might just get off,” his attorney said happily. “All rise,” the deputy said as the judge entered the courtroom. “In the matter regarding Rodney Danville vs the State of California, court will come to order. Will the bailiff escort the jury in to be seated … will the foreman of the jury read the verdict?” “To the charges of murder in the first degree of Sandy Singleton and Solomon Berkeley, we the jury unanimously find the defendant, Rodney Danville … not guilty.” “How say you on the remaining charge?” “We find the defendant guilty of 2nd manslaughter, on both counts.” “Thank you jury, you’ve done an excellent job and you’re excused. I have heard the findings of the jury and I’ve also read the recommendations of Dr. Billingsley, and I concur. Rodney Danville was a young man of nineteen when he was hired and used as a pawn by the Bio Tech labs. They knew the dangers of the drug and did not inform Mr. Danville of the potential peril he would face researching it. It is in this court’s opinion that the charges against Mr. Danville shall be reduced to involuntary manslaughter in the 2nd degree, and it is further found that counseling and therapy in a controlled environment would be more beneficial to the defendant and less expensive to the state than long term imprisonment. Therefore, it is the court’s order that Mr. Danville will meet for therapy sessions three times a week for three months and a progress report hearing in ninety days will be in order. The prisoner will remain in custody, but is to be removed from solitary confinement, unless otherwise warranted for the remainder of his incarceration. This court is adjourned,” he said as he stood to leave. “Am I free?” Rodney asked his attorney. “Not free, but you are so close you ought to be able to feel it. There are papers and a petition I have to file to see if I can get you released. Shit, if you’re not guilty of any murders, you should be given bail at the least. And at best, if everything goes right, we should be able to get you released on your own reconnaissance. Rodney go back to your cell and relax; I have work to do,” he said rushing off. “Rodney, Rodney, you see-I told you to think positive. I’ll get an emergency counseling request in and will see you in your cell,” Karen whispered as she rushed off. Rodney’s head was swirling with these new thoughts. On the one hand, he couldn’t believe he would soon be returning to freedom and on the other hand, he was nervous that he would be with Karen. Outside of Sandy, he had never had a real interaction with a woman. As the guards escorted him to his cell he thought about what the future held for him. He had been incarcerated for almost 32 months, but for some reason Rodney felt as if it had only been yesterday, that he was arrested. No sooner than he got comfortable in his cell, a guard and Karen appeared at his cell door. Rodney raced to the door and looked at the guard and asked was it true. “Is it true? Can I believe what was said in the court?” he asked in quick succession. “Danville, I’ll tell you something-and I ain’t the only one who thinks this. Son, you were given a raw deal. Them damn companies don’t care what they do to people’s lives. They used you, son and I for one, am tickled pink to see that you just might be getting out of this mess. Just don’t let it mess up your future. Listen, we’re black and if you ain’t careful, it’ll be with you for the rest of your life. Parole’s a bitch and they only let you get it so they can arrest you at a later date with the added charge of parole violation,” the guard suggested, turning to walk away. “Officer Smith…” Rodney yelled. The guard turned and Rodney said, “Thanks man. You know you’re right about being careful-and that’s why I have the good ole doctor Billingsley-to keep this brain on the right track. I want to leave everything from...