Laboratory - Red

Chapter 22 Maria Aggy

"Famous scientist, honorable, noble of European origin who a while ago shocked the world. You know who he is, Agg?"

I was silent for a while while continuing to heat up my brain. Suddenly the name Marcues appeared. A scientist, of European origin, famous and respected. Even though I was just guessing.

"Edward Marcues?" I asked the origin. I don't know why I hope my answer is right either.

"Fright, Maria Aggy".

I turn away in disbelief. My throat was choked and as much as I could breathe regularly and then sipped my coffee which was still warm. Marcues? He who is interpreted is my biological father has a lot to do with some people on this earth including Mark.

"You know Marcues? You know that much?"

"I have this" I'm showing Gladis' philosophy book. The book is still good because I haven't read it all.

"He was very famous at the time. Until there is a book of philosophy. Actually I only found out Marcues a few weeks ago" I continued.

"You know a little bit, you're certainly no stranger to the news of his death, aren't you?" He looked at me with a smile. I replied with a nod.

"History is written by the winner. What if all you know is a lie?" He's back to make me heat my brain.

"Max you?"

"Look. What if his death was a lie? What if Marcues is still alive? Is it true that his intention to contribute technology and intelligence is able to bring this nation forward? Do you believe all the words a Marcues spoke?"

My hair stands. My whole body shook when the name Marcues was mentioned. A mystery that requires me to solve everything. Likewise with Neny's statement a few weeks ago about the DNA cells expressed by him in my body.

"That's impossible". Although it was difficult for me to stay evasive, I was more careful about believing things. Anyway, Mark Steffano is a poet, a story writer who is loved by many people. An author who should have been accustomed to writing.

"A few years ago I traced the death of Marcues that shocked the world. The plant was told whether it was eating it and the whole family. You know about the plant?" Ask. I nodded later.

"The news made headlines in any media. Newspapers, books, or even television and radio were thrown in with the death of a scientist as ingenious as Marcues.

"And gradually, his death was no longer discussed as if a Marcues had never existed. Many eminent scientists succeeded the position of a Marcues. His discoveries were much updated by others as well.

"And I still deny he's not dead. A lot of awkwardness happened. He may have fled at the expense of his wife's son. Besides if he stays at the scene, the police will arrest him because yes, he's the creator of the strange plant". Mark sipped his coffee again. Half the cup had already disappeared, and he started to continue.

"I can't just assume with my stupid statement that can't be trusted by many people. I need proof.

"I am a very curious person. Whatever I'm looking for, I have the ambition to find it. It's a childhood habit. For example, when my eraser went missing in class, and I interrogated all my classmates. The wiper was under my bag. Ahahaha.and some time ago, I came to the scene of a crime. Precisely the Marcues residence. High and luxurious house left by its inhabitants". He stopped as he continued sipping coffee until the toilet.

"You're so brave" I appreciate.

"So brave is good. So I slowly approached the courtyard of his mansion. It looks beautiful when viewed up close. But I certainly didn't enter that house. Too long in stay become effectively haunted.

"But, Agg. I felt like there was life in that house. Either true or not, but I felt that there was a sound deep inside the room inside the house. I can't be sure if it's a ghost or a human".

I kept listening to my coffee occasionally. The cafe becomes empty of customers. It's just me, Mark Steffano, and two cool lovebirds enjoying their teenage years with dating.

"Do you understand?" He switched with the question.

I'm shaking. "sorry. I just have a hard time believing it, sir".

"What's wrong. I gave you the rejected manuscript. You must be curious about Jean Martin's continuation" he offered a script. Real script! Directly from the author. It's not printed as a novel, but because I can't wait to learn about Jean Martin's journey, so I'm very, very, very, very happy.

"I wrote a lot of stories related to the descendants of the 169th Marcues. There are so many mysteries" he added.

"And.." he exhaled, probably because of the fatigue of long speech. "The reason my manuscript was rejected and denounced was because I denied many secrets about Marcues and assumed that Marcues had ambitions to destroy the world. I also argued that he wanted to be over-flattered. And my script has criticism about governments, officials, and everything that covers politics. Obviously my novel was rejected. Moreover, people just think that season-3 Dead in my room is too sadistic".

I observed his sour face. Laughter might have enveloped his heart. Yes, I can understand, making a novel with words as beautiful as this is not as easy as flicking a finger. Moreover, this poet is very famous, and being ostracized like this is very painful.

"Thank you for listening to me, Maria Aggy. I can only give you a gift of a script".

Uhh...Mr. Mark Steffano, you gave me the best gift I really needed.

"This is my phone number. Call if you need. I'm not as busy as I used to be at the event explaining my works in public" she gave me a small paper and at the same time I received it politely.

***

I keep a copy of Mark Steffano's manuscript in my drawer. I sometimes wonder if it should be laminated because this script is so important to me? But I cut my own mind off. Overharvesting.

I started reading it. The early chapters only tell of the continuation of Jean Martin's journey. I was stunned when the scene of the murder of his own family. So cruel was he and the revenge on Jean that was finally avenged. Everyone who had something bad to do with him died.

And I was more surprised when the next chapters told me who Marcues was. It's a fictional story, but I really feel the truth. Whatever secrets Marcues relate to in this manuscript.

I picked up one of the thick notebooks with a plain black cover, and a ballpoint pen. I began to write, summarizing all the arguments Mark Steffano makes in this book about Marcues and his laboratory.