
Charles Dennison is a solitary researcher whose life has been built on careful experiments in plant biology. After years of quiet study, a fortunate accident yields a serum that can halt the aging process, promising true longevity. Torn between the allure of fame and the weight of ethical responsibility, he packs his discovery and heads for the Patent Office, hoping to control a power that could change humanity.
His journey takes a sudden, dangerous turn when, on a crowded subway, two men recognize the value of what he carries and demand it outright. The cramped car becomes a battleground of nerves, as a concealed weapon inches closer to his ribcage and a hypodermic needle glints in the dim light. Listeners will feel the pulse‑quickening tension as Dennison’s brilliance confronts greed and survival in a race that could decide the fate of his breakthrough.
Language
en
Duration
~20 minutes (19K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2009-07-22
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1928–2005
Best known for sharp, funny science fiction that could turn absurd in a heartbeat, this American writer made a specialty of stories that feel playful on the surface and unsettling underneath. His work helped define the satirical side of mid-20th-century SF.
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