Page 37 - Tales Apocalyptic and Dystopian

Desynthesis

The court reporter waved his arms. “Slow down! I can’t write all
those big words with a dull pencil in this light!”
“You’re out of order!” The judge banged his tire iron. “Mr. Finch,
in the interests of brevity—and justice, of course— what exactly are
you getting at?”
“Your Honor, it is my professional opinion that a mutation
occurred, probably the result of accidental or random exposure to
radiation, cosmic or man-made. That mutation eliminated the ‘suicide
gene’ and whatever mechanism limited the bacterium’s appetite to a
single type of polymer. This organism somehow escaped from the lab
and global desynthesis ensued.”
“Exactly!” barked the judge. Sounds of scuffling outside reached
the ears of those nearest the single exit from the structure. “Is that
your case, Mr. Prosecutor?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Then this court finds the defendant guilty as charged. Sentencing
is reserved for, ah, later. Court adjourned.”
The defendant fought off a number of restraining hands.
“No, no, no! It is true, yes, Your Honor, I did work at that place.
But I was only the janitor!”
“Court adjourned!”
The judge and prosecutor, both of whom were too well-known to
pass through the mob unrecognized, proceeded to the barn door,
their prize for the mob firmly grasped by the two Secret Service
agents acting as bailiffs.

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