“But before announcing it to the scientific community, we decided to put the elixir to the ultimate test, and took it ourselves. And when we saw that we survived without any noticeable side effects, we decided to expand the trial group to our entire circle. All survived without incident, besides, of course, going through what you know as the death-sleep.
“Thus began a discussion on whether or not it was a moral obligation to reveal our discovery to the world. Some, including me, were for—how could you not share such a groundbreaking discovery with humanity?—but the majority were against. The reasoning was that we should consider the life of the planet—Gaia—over the well-being of its animal species. If Amrit became available to all, it would lead to global overpopulation, and eventually to the destruction of Gaia. That was their hypothesis, at least.
“Around then your father noticed that some of the test animals weren’t aging. And then Emily gave birth to Penelope, who was born with the ocular starburst mutation. We decided to go into hiding—at least until we learned what long-term effects the drug would have. And you know the rest of the story.”
“So you gave up on your goal to solve the endangered species problem?” I ask.
“Your huskies’ mother, Austen?” he says, lifting an eyebrow. I nod, wondering what he’s getting at. “She was actually their great-great-grandmother. If we hadn’t neutered most of the dogs, we would have had hundreds. Thousands, even.”
My thoughts are reeling. The elders never stopped their research. We weren’t the only test studies—our dogs had been treated and monitored for three decades.
Whit pauses to let this sink in, and then continues. “I never lost my conviction that Amrit should be made available to the outside world. I believe that its distribution could be made selective enough that population growth could be controlled. And the money that we could make would guarantee the clan financial stability. If the secret were out, we wouldn’t have to hide anymore. But, if members did prefer their isolationist secession from society, they could buy themselves their own island and equip it with modern conveniences. The ancient elixir of life would be made available to those who could buy it, and our beloved in the clan would be safe and comfortable.”
“The clan was safe and comfortable,” I say. “Now they’re imprisoned, thanks to you.”
Whit holds up a hand. “Let me finish my story, Juneau. I shopped the elixir to two institutions with which I had old contacts and felt I could trust: Blackwell Pharmaceutical, which based its business decades ago on a search for life-extenders. And Hunt Avery, who, since I met him in the sixties, has spent a fortune on cryogenics and disease eradication. Both, I knew, could provide the financial motivation I was hoping to present to the clan. But I wanted to dig further to establish if either would follow through with my plan for an ethical distribution of the elixir, not only making it available to the richest clients, but also ensuring that a quantity of the elixir went to countries with no money and rampant disease.”
There is something not right in his face when he says this last part, but he’s not telling me an outright lie. And then I realize: He’s lying to himself. He used this humanitarian idea as self-justification.
“You see, Juneau,” he continues. “I’m not evil. I care for the clan. I would never have sold them out.”
“Then why are they living behind an electric fence?” I ask.
Whit clears his throat. “Yes, well, it seems that when Hunt Avery discovered that he was not the only interested party, he made a rather desperate move. He did something he felt would persuade me to give the elixir only to him.”
“Kidnapping your clan,” Miles says.
“He calls it courting the clan,” Whit clarifies. “Winning them over to his point of view.”
I shake my head. “He’s holding them hostage, Whit. But for what? He’s got you. He’s got the clan. I’m guessing you must have given him the formula. So why hunt me down?”
“I made your capture a condition of my cooperation,” Whit says. “I couldn’t just leave you behind, alone in Alaska. Avery sent his guards with me to find you and bring you back to be with your father. Your clan.”
I watch him for a moment. His face gives nothing away. “Why didn’t you explain this to me before?” I ask finally. “In the first note you sent via bird?”
“Because I suspected you wouldn’t believe me. I figured you had Read me and would find it questionable that I was traveling alone with two guards when the rest of the clan was imprisoned.”
“You were damned right about that.”
“It’s why I gave you the map. I knew you wouldn’t come willingly with us. But I also knew you were looking for your clan and I wanted to help you find them. I needed us all to be here together in order to ensure everyone’s safety as we finalize the deal with Avery.”
“You mean he’s kidnapped our clan and you’re still doing business with him?” I ask.
Whit just watches me.