****************

It was eight o’clock when the alarm in my room went off. I lumbered lazily out of bed to turn it off. The moment I did, I could see Clark was already in my room. “Welcome to the halfway point.” He said.

“What?” I wiped my eyes in order have them wake up.

“Look at your stomach.” He said.

I could feel my belly had expanded more, and that I was growing more and more pregnant. “It’s the halfway point.” He said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Our pregnancies last seventy-two hours.” He said, “It’s been thirty-six hours as of now. We’re both at the halfway point.”

“My belly feels really weird.” I said, “Probably the change in shape.”

“I know.” Clark said. He lifted up his shirt and exposed his baby bump, “I’ve got it too.”

“Great.” I said, “What’s for breakfast?”

“Come down and I’ll show you.” Clark said, “Oh, but before I forget, remember to use your ObCam this morning. Dr. Kolenkhov is coming by later to check your measurements.

Indeed I did just that. I placed the ObCam on my arm. It poked me for a split second and then I looked at the screen. I saw my information. “Body temperature: 99.2°F.” That was high normal. But I did my reading. High body temperature was normal for pregnancy. Now if only I could put up with the god-awful sweating. “Blood pressure: 120 systolic, 69 diastolic” It was low-normal. Again, common for pregnancy. “Weight gain, 12 pounds” again, perfectly normal. I was now measured, and all set to have breakfast. I had one more quick peek at my belly in the mirror, and I marveled at it.

As I walked down the stairs I could feel a little breathlessness in me. I knew that I couldn’t rush, now that I was pregnant. So I did exactly as the pregnancy book I read the previous night said. Just bend down, and wait for the sensation to subside. I knelt down on the stairs and gripped the hand railing. I kept making deep breaths until I was caught up with myself. I promptly headed down the stairs afterwards.

I came down and Evelyn and Clark were both in the kitchen. They were both getting breakfast ready. I walked over to the breakfast counter. I sat down in the chair. Clark looked at me and frowned. “No, no.” he said walking over to me. “Sit up straight!” he said.

I did so just as he told me. “There.” He said, “You don’t want back problems later in life from this, do you?”

I smiled as I knew he was right.

*******************

T=Every one of us had a good breakfast that morning. I remember I had pancakes with fruit on them. Normally I hate fruit on pancakes, but with cravings, I couldn’t say no.  Suddenly we heard a knock at the door. Evelyn went over to it. She turned around before leaving the kitchen and said, “You boys stay right here!” she was very stern about it.

She opened the door, and a tall man with white hair stepped in. He was rather old, I would have guessed about sixty, he wore a tailored three-piece suit, and he didn’t look pleased at all. “May I come in, Evelyn?” he asked.

“Of course, Will.” He invited him in.

“Okay, now where is he? I need to talk to him.” Will said.

“Gabe!” Evelyn called out, “Someone’s here to see you!”

I walked very shyly into the front parlor. I was a little nervous to be seen in my state. “Don’t be nervous, son.” He said, “I won’t bite.”

That didn’t encourage me much at all. I walked slowly over to him and he eyed me very curiously. “So you’re our new agent.” He said, “If I may use that term.”

“With all due respect sir,” I said as politely as I could, “I was just hoping I’d make this a one-time thing.”

“Yes, well that’s quite alright.” He said, “You might as well test it before passing judgment, no?”

“I guess.” I mumbled.

“Now I was a little concerned that you didn’t fill out your A3I forms.” He said, “Am I mistaken?”

“No sir.” I said casually, “You’re not.”

“Of course.” He said, “Well I suppose your pink RY-5 forms will take care of-“

“I didn’t fill those out either.” I said.

“But surely you made a 6U-Beta request form, right?” he asked.

“I didn’t fill out anything.” I said, “I just showed up and got pregnant.”

He looked very frustrated. I could see his face turn a little red.  “Thank you.” He said, “You may go now.”

I went back into the kitchen but I could still hear what was being said. “Evelyn, I want to know where you got this boy from!” he said.

“He was one of Clark’s old friends.” Evelyn said, “We invited him to do this.”

“Just like that?” he asked, “You thought that was okay?”

“Isn’t it?” she asked back.

“No, it’s not!” Will was very upset, “There is a certain amount of bureaucratic procedure here! Do you expect to suddenly take a boy off the street and ask him to have a baby for the government?”

“We needed a replacement!” Evelyn said.

“I don’t care about replacements!” he said, “I know circumstances didn’t seem good, but we’re working to get Mr. Welch out of Libya as we speak. I have top men negotiating with the leaders right now. Couldn’t your little experiment have waited a few weeks?”

“Not at the rate we’re going.” Evelyn said.

“What’s going on?” I heard Dr. Kolenkhov’s voice as he came down the stairs. He went over to Will and Evelyn. “Will? What’re you doing here?” the doctor asked.

“I’m wondering why yesterday I got a phone call from one of your students saying that we have an unsolicited pregnant teenage boy at this household!” Will’s face was cherry-red now, “How do you justify this?”

“We needed an intermediate during our research.” The doctor said, “Gabriel knowingly volunteered as that intermediate.”

“I don’t care about volunteers!” he said, “This isn’t about altruism! We have a safety net we need to uphold! We have to make sure that everything done in our laboratories is done with top efficiency and quality. Frankly, I fear that not having information about this Gabriel hinders that.”

“He is a very good candidate.” The doctor said, “I trust him.”

“I don’t care what you think!” Will said, “You two are running on a short leash. If I hear anything bad, of even the slightest mishap happens, I’m ordering that sabithol into his belly before anything really bad happens.”

“Sir, we’ve had accidents before, but everything turned out alright in the end.” Evelyn said.

“If anyone gets wind of this, or if anything goes wrong, your little operation is finished!” Will was extremely harsh with them, “Understood?” he asked.

“Yes sir.” Evelyn and Kolenkhov said.

“Good.” He said as he stormed out. Evelyn and Kolenkhov both looked at each other rather depressed, and then they turned around. They saw that both myself and Clark were peering in through the doorway.

“What do you want?” she asked sort of rudely.

“Nothing mom.” Clark said.

“Then go find something else to do.” She ordered us. And just like that, with complete worry and regard for what we had just seen, we did just that.

*********************

“What was that all about?” I asked Clark while we were sitting in his room, “Who was that guy?”

“My mom’s boss.” Clark said, “He’s the one who gets the funding for their experiments.”

“He seemed real mad about my being here.” I said.

“Of course.” Clark said, “He’s a control freak. He needs to control all aspects of whatever my mom and Kolenkhov do.”

“He seemed mad that I hadn’t filled out forms or anything like that.” I said as I leaned back on his bed.

“Just typical government business.” Clark said, “He just wanted to know if you had any inherent diseases or conditions that would have been harmful to the pregnancy.”

“I don’t.” I said, “Don’t they take me at my word?”

“Not when he’s the boss.” Clark shook his head.

“Geez.” I said, “Well, I mean we only have a few hours left. What else is going to happen?”

“Don’t ask that.” Clark said, “I did once and it jinxed me badly.”

“Really?” I asked, “When did you say it?”

“During one pregnancy last year.” Clark said, “I mean, I had gone through so many already. This one was typical. I just stay at home, eat nutritiously, and pump out a unit, and then move on with my life. That’s how it had always been. So one time I just asked myself, ‘What could go wrong?’”

“Did something go wrong?” I asked beginning to smile.

“Oh yeah.” Clark smiled to as he was working on his computer.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Someone tried to kill me and my mother.” Clark said so casually.

“What?!” I sprang up from the bed, “Someone tried to kill you?!”

“Oh yeah.” Clark said without even looking from the computer. I was amazed how he thought it was no big deal. “Some guy hired a sniper to try and take me out. Fortunately, the guy couldn’t aim. He missed, and fell out a six-story window straight to the ground.”

“Holy Lord!” I was so surprised, “Just like that?!”

“Yeah, it’s nothing.” Clark said almost like he was trying to sound humble.

“It’s something!” I said in complete astonishment, “You could have died!”

“His scope was crooked.” Clark said, “We were okay.”

“But still!” I said, “If he had aimed a little better you could have been dead!”

“Hey.” Clark turned away from the computer and looked up at me, “Do you want to succeed in life?”

“Yes.” I said normally.

“Do you want to go far in life?” Clark was raising his tone.

“Yes.” I said bringing my volume up to match his.

“Do you want to actually move forward with your life, and be able to have a good future?” Clark was almost shouting.

“Yes!” I shouted back.

“Then stop thinking about what could have happened and start thinking about what did happen!” Clark was very serious with me. I could see his emotions pierced him for a moment. “Every minute you spend thinking about what could have happened is a moment where you’re living a fantasy. Concentrate on the real world, and save your efforts for the real world. You’ll work a lot more efficiently that way.”

“Fine.” I said quietly as I sat back down on his bed, “If it’s so important to you.”

“Just because some lazy, fat-ass excuse for a sharpshooter missed my mother and I by fifty feet and then tripped out a window, we don’t have a Federal case.” Clark said venomously, “So be rational, and just keep going forward.”

I sighed. “Okay.” Said quietly. I just rubbed my belly and watched Clark as he continued to work furiously on his computer.

******************

By 3:00 PM Clark and I had gotten hungry, and decided it was time for another pig-out on ice cream. We both went down to the kitchen and grabbed two small tubs of strawberry ice cream. We declared a toast to the events of the past few days, and then began to eat the ice cream. It was exactly what I needed at the moment. I could feel the coldness go down my throat as I shoveled more and more.

Suddenly, I felt my stomach move. At first I thought nausea had returned, but it was something different. I still felt hungry, but I could feel a motion in my stomach. Suddenly I realized I had felt the baby’s first kick. It felt like a fluttering inside me. I placed my hand on my abdomen to feel it further. “Hey Clark!” I said, “Feel this!”

He rushed over to me, but his tenseness went away when he saw what I did, “It’s kicking now, isn’t it?” Clark asked.

“Yes.” I said, “It feels so weird.”

“Yeah, I’ve felt it too.” Clark said, “I guess I’ve grown to not notice it.”

“Well, it’s special to me.” I said.

“I know.” Clark sat down, “It was special to me the first time too.”

“Was your first time any different from mine?” I asked.

“Very different.” Clark said, “I complained about everything. Backaches, stomachaches, shortness of breath, varicose veins, faintness, you name it. I just couldn’t take it.”

“When did you grown numb to it?” I asked.

“It was a process.” Clark said, “It took about six or seven pregnancies, but I got used to all of my previous complaints. But the birth a year before I got used to it.”

“Birth?” I asked. I realized at the moment I had no idea about how the baby came out.

“How does one like me give birth?” I asked, “I’m not biologically equipped.”

“The baby comes out the same way it goes in.” Clark said, “And considering it’s your first time, it’s going to hurt.”

“What?!” I asked, “I can’t give birth through my ass!”

“Calm down.” Clark said, “Physically you can’t do it alone. That’s why Kolenkhov is there to help you.”

“That’s not very comforting.” I said.

“He’s got the tools for the job.” Clark replied, “You know that tube that the embryo originally came in?”

I nodded in reply. “It doubles as a vacuum pump.” Clark said, “Kolenkhov will stick it in your rectum, turn it on, and glide the baby out smoothly.”

“Smoothly.” I said, “So it doesn’t hurt all that bad?”

“Not for me.” Clark said, “But my first time I was in excruciating pain.”

I could feel my stomach drop at those words, “And me?” I asked.

“Probably the same thing.” Clark said, “But listen, it only hurts for about a day. We’ve got pain meds available. All you need to do is say the word and we can put you out for the whole thing.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Clark said. He went back to eating and smiled, “But then again, where’s the fun if you’re out for it?”

I chuckled nervously. This was not helping my confidence. But casually I sat down and started eating again. I raised my head to ask Clark another question. However, I was nervous because this question was quite personal. “Clark?” I asked. He raised his head, “I need to ask you something, well, candid.”

“Okay.” Clark said not knowing what I meant, “Go ahead.”

“I’m not trying to pry or anything.” I said, “I just need to know if this is also happening to you.”

“Fine.” Clark said, “Ask anything.”

“Okay.” I took a deep breath, “Are you experiencing any changes in your… say personal area?”

“What?” Clark asked.

“Do you have any physical changes, in say…” I felt so awkward asking this, “Reproductive organs?”

“Huh?” Clark asked again.

“I mean, the predominate one that defines the male gender…” I hoped he would catch on.

“My penis.” Clark said.

“Yes.” I said glad that he got it, “Do you have any changes regarding its, um… consistency?”

“Do I have an erection right now?” Clark rephrased my question.

“Yes.” I said.

Clark smiled and nodded. “You too?” I asked, “Like, since yesterday?”

“It’s the hormones.” Clark said, “They change your libido around and they change your body with it. Pregnancy actually increases sex drive, and that makes our pregnancy one constant boner.”

“Seriously?” I asked, “I was hoping I wasn’t sick.”

“Not sick.” Clark said, “Pregnancy provides you with a constant erection so you can do it at any time. It blows ‘Viagara’ out of the sky.”

“And is the sex any better?” I asked, “You know, during pregnancy?”

“I don’t know.” Clark said, “But I bet it would be amazing.”

“Wow.” I said, “That is something.”

“That is something.” Clark said, “But don’t tell anyone we had this conversation. Dr. Kolenkhov likes to pretend that this doesn’t happen.”

“Sure.” I said as I got back to eating.

“Just control yourself.” Clark said, “And no tight pants.”

“Got it.” I replied.

*****************

I remember on that day it was 5:00 PM as the sun was setting. After all, it was December 29^th. The solstice was only a week ago. Nights came early in this part of the world. I remember that I was no the equivalent of 25 weeks pregnant. In a few hours, I would be in the third “trimester” as it were.

I was upstairs just calmly reading in bed when I heard the doorbell ring. I first just waited and ignored the bell. I thought someone else would go get it. I heard the doorbell ring again. I looked around. Nobody was moving. There was no hustle to get the door. I moved delicately out of bed and looked down the hall. Clark had decided to take a nap only a few hours ago, and I remembered that Kolenkhov and Evelyn were out on official business.

The doorbell rang again. I began to hustle downstairs (as fast as I could in my pregnant condition) and look at the door. I couldn’t see anyone through the door because it was made of solid mahogany. I walked over to it. I tried to look out the windows, but they were made of crystallized glass and the curvature made it difficult to see at the angle I wanted to. So very courageously, I opened the door.

On the other side I saw a young man. He must have been about twenty-five, to thirty years old. He had a light beard, and wore glasses. He was dressed very darkly, and had a hat on. At first I thought I had let in a burglar.

“Oh I’m sorry!” he said politely, “I thought Evelyn lived here! Goodbye!” he began to frantically walk away.

“Wait, wait!” I said, “She does live here I can deliver your message to her!”

“I’m sorry!” he continued to walk away, “It’s a very private work-related matter, it’s for her only!”

“I’m involved in her work!” I thought it would be best to tell the truth. Suddenly he came back to the door.

“My apologies.” He said, “I hear the cantaloupes are doing well this year.”

“Are they?” I was a little confused at what he was asking. He just stared at me expectantly.

“Yes?” he asked.

“What?” I asked back.

“Oh nothing!” he said, “I was just commenting on the weather! Well, I must be off!”

“Wait, don’t you have a message for Evelyn!” I asked.

“Only for people who work with her!” he said, “It’s no joke!”

“But I do!” I said, “Look!” I lifted up my shirt and exposed my visibly pregnant dome. The man saw it and his eyes grew wide. He rushed back to the door a second time.

“My apologies!” he said as he poked my pregnant belly, “I didn’t realize you were the replacement she was talking about in her, well, studies.”

“Yeah.” I asked, “Say, what was that whole cantaloupe bit?”

“Secret code.” He explained, “If anyone comes to the door and says, ‘I hear the cantaloupes are doing well this year’ you say, ‘Are they? I was going to pick them at low tide tonight.’ That way whoever’s talking will know that you’re involved with Evelyn.”

“Then what’s the message?” I asked.

He looked around on both sides, “I don’t have much time.” He said, “I came down from the bureau to inform Evelyn that we have reason to believe that there’s a traitor in our ranks.”

“A traitor?” I asked.

“Yes.” He said, “Someone tried to sell off one of our experimental results at a private auction. We don’t know who it is yet, but we’re informing everybody to stay on their toes.”

“Do you have any ideas?” I asked.

“We ruled out most of her staff.” He said, “I can’t give you specifics, but we know someone is trying to sabotage the operation.”

“Why?” I asked.

“One of two reasons.” He said, “Either someone wants to make a lot of money, or incite biological warfare.”

“Really?” I asked, “That serious?”

“Very serious.” He said, “Just be very wary of anyone who acts suspiciously. Report them to Evelyn and she’ll get to me, got it?”

“Yes sir.” I said.

“Good.” He said, “Goodbye.” He hurried away from the door, and was off in an instant.

******************

6:45 PM…

The next big event in this case was dinner. Dinner at first seemed absolutely ordinary. There were only the five of us. Dr. Kolekhov ate with Evelyn and Gerald, while even though we were at the same table, we were in our own world. Of course, that was until after the meal, when Kolenkhov brought up his “wonderful idea”.

“You know something?” Kolenkhov began to speak, “All these years I’ve hoped I could add to humanity’s understanding of science and nature, but I’ve spent the last few years doing research without benefits.”

“Definitely no benefits in what you’ve done.” Gerald said sarcastically.

“That’s enough, Gerald.” She said, “What do you mean, no benefits?”

“All this research,” Kolenkhov said, “We haven’t improved one life yet.”

“That takes time.” Evelyn commented.

“We have the capability to do it now.” Kolenkhov said, “And I could publish our work and we’ll have helped.”

“Some people aren’t ready for what we have to offer, Boris.” She said, “The world isn’t ready for it yet.”

“She’s actually correct, Boris.” Gerald said, “I don’t think the world is ready for pregnant teenage boys just yet.”

“We’ve done so much more!” Kolenkhov said, “The boys only provide the initial material we need. We’ve developed vaccines, helped cure thousands of strains, we’ve worked for the could of mankind.”

“But our methods will be called into question.” Evelyn said, “We can’t jeopardize everything we have by exploiting it.”

“But the people will see that in modern medicine the ends justify the means.” Kolenkhov said, “It doesn’t matter how many lab rats we go through, just as long as we have a cure at the end.”

“They’re teenage boys!” Gerald said, “Not lab rats!”

“And they’ve done a wonderful job.” Kolenkhov said. I hardly paid attention to what he was saying, “All I’m saying is that we let our research go.”

“What do you mean, Boris?” Evelyn asked.

“Maybe, if the public doesn’t want it, we can sell it to the highest bidder.” Kolenkhov suggested. Now my head perked up. I remembered the man at the door about two hours ago. He said that the traitor wanted to do just that.

“If pharmacies got a hold of our cures, we’d have helped mankind the world over!” Kolenkhov said. He was sounding suspiciously like the traitor. At the moment I gave him the benefit of a doubt, but I had an inkling he was up to no good.

“That still doesn’t mean the world is ready to hear about our research methods.” Evelyn said, “And besides, you heard Will today. He’s red with anger over the whole thing. There will be a time later, I promise.”

“Yes, when I’m dead and gone.” Gerald muttered.

“Okay.” Kolenkhov said, “If you think it’s that important, we can wait.” I had no intention of believing him.

******************

9:00 PM at night…

It was getting very late for me. I was already fatigued, and my feet were starting to get sore. I figured that a single three-day pregnancy wouldn’t give me varicose veins, but it seems I was getting them anyway. I was standing too much.

I knew it was time for me to head off to bed. So I made my way over to the bathroom to brush my teeth for the night. After only a few seconds of brushing, I saw I was bleeding from the gum. This distressed me at first, but again, this was normal. All of these bizarre symptoms were normal, given my case.

That’s of course when I heard Dr. Kolenkhov’s voice. I could hear him talking downstairs. The funny thing was there wasn’t anyone downstairs. Clark had already gone to sleep, and his parents were both upstairs in their room. What was he doing up?

I finished brushing my teeth and went over to the staircase. I crept down the first few steps, and then peered over the dark banister. In the darkness I could see Kolenkhov talking on the phone. He looked very frantic, “Well do you know what it is?” he asked, “It’s very valuable.”

I wondered why he was talking on the phone in the dark. I listened to hear what he said,

“Yes, it’s in good condition…pristine, actually…” he kept talking, “And we have buyers?”

Now I was very suspicious. He was selling something. “Good.” He continued, “Did they name an asking price yet?... Well, it’s worth waiting for… When they see it, it should sell for no less than a hundred and fifty thousand… Yes, yes. I have it all locked up.”

$550,000? I began to think. His unique data might have been worth that sum. “I don’t remember where it is… wait! Yes I do. You know in my office? …. Yes, on the side of the wall?... There’s a picture of Ernest Rutherford… There’s a safe behind the picture… Yes, it’s a combination lock… did you find it?... No?... It’s on the back wall. You found it?... The combination is 18… 7… 35… You have it?... Inside there should be a manila folder…You have it? Oh, thank heaven. Our buyer would have been very upset if it wasn’t there. Guard it with your life… Yes, it will reshape the world… Yes, of course… Just do me one favor. Don’t mention this to Evelyn when she comes in tomorrow. I’d like this to be my little, secret… Yes, thank you. Goodbye.”

There was no doubt in my mind anymore at that point. Kolenkhov was going to betray us all.

*******************

Next Morning, 8:00 AM…

I awoke after a long night, very worried about what I had seen. I was afraid that Kolenkhov really did mean what he said. Would he really sell out our data and expose us al of sudden? I knew I had to expose the traitor. It had to be sooner instead of later.

All those thoughts dissipated when my hand drifted down my midsection. I could feel the dome of my belly take its shape. Underneath my shirt I felt the curvature of pregnancy. I uncovered myself to take a look. I was right. I was huge. I tried to move, but I wasn’t awake enough to move the massive weight on me. Instead, I reached for the ObCam that was sitting on the table next to me. My arms could barely extend that far. I grabbed it, and placed it on my arm. I looked at the monitor as it analyzed me. “Weight Gain:” it read, “28 pounds”. Again I was doing just fine. I wasn’t overweight, nor was I underweight. I was doing okay. I kept reading, “Week Equivalent: 33 weeks, 2 days”. That was a little scary to me. I was almost nine months pregnant. I would be ready to have this baby soon.

I jostled myself out of bed and rubbed my eyes. I sat there at the edge of the bed cradling my belly. This was the moment I fell in love with pregnancy. I pressed on my belly, and could feel the fetus and the liquid shift around. It felt so magical the first time. It was a shame how I could never reproduce that same feeling later.

I hobbled downstairs with my hand pressed firmly against my back, which was aching for some reason. I could see Clark was already downstairs. He smiled when he saw me. His belly looked akin to mine. “Good morning.” He said.

“Morning.” I replied. “You had breakfast already?”

“I’m about to make it now.” Clark said, “How’s pancakes sound?”

“Delicious.” I sat down, “I feel like I could eat a whole army’s worth of food.”

“That’s normal.” Clark said, “The third day you’re always the hungriest.”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Well, your baby needs energy to go through such a frantic birth.” Clark said, “That way, it’s recommended that you have somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 calories in food.”

“That’s ridiculous!” I said, “That’s enough calories to last you Monday through Friday!”

“It requires effort.” Clark said, “They say you’re eating for two, but not if you’re developing as fast as this baby is. No, more like you’re eating for two thousand.”

“That’s insane.” I said, “My body won’t be able to process that many calories.”

“Oh don’t worry.” Clark said, “You’ll eat 8,000 calories and you won’t even notice it. It happens to me all the time.”

Clark finished cooking and handed me a stack of what looked like ten pancakes. I looked up to him almost looking disappointed. He smiled at me, “You’ll finish it.” Clark said, “I’d be surprised if you didn’t.”

I began eating. Strangely enough, I was finished in just fifteen minutes. I stared down at my plate, and looked back up looking guilty. Clark looked at me and laughed. He was making his own ten pancakes right there.

“Good morning, boys.” Dr. Kolekhov came down.

“Morning, Dr. K.” Clark said.

I just clenched my fists and stared at him. “Are we excited that your babies are coming today?”

“Just as thrilled as always.” Clark said.

“I mean for Gabriel.” Dr. Kolenkhov pointed at me, “It’s his first!”

“I know.” Clark looked at me and grinned, “He’ll enjoy it.”

I just looked away and pretended not to be there. “Well, I’ll be in the living room if you need me.” Kolenkhov said as he left.

Clark then proceeded to sit himself down next to me at the table, and eat his massive mound of pancakes. “Clark.” I said quietly, “Clark!” I was whispering.

“What?” Clark asked rather loudly.

“Sh!” I said, “I don’t ant Kolenkhov to hear us!”

“What, are you paranoid, or something?” Clark asked.

“Just be quiet alright!” I was using a loud whisper. Clark wasn’t fazed by this. He was just eating. “I have something secret to tell you.”

“What?” Clark asked like it didn’t matter.

“It’s about Kolenkhov.” I said.

“Mm-hm.” Clark still kept eating.

“I think he’s a traitor!” I whispered. Finally, this statement made Clark stop eating. He sat back up and looked at me.

“What on Earth makes you say that?” Clark asked.

“Some guy who worked with your mom came to the door yesterday. I knew he was secret because he said some sort of code phrase.”

“I hear the cantaloupes are doing well this year?” Clark recited.

“Yeah.” I said, “That one.”

“Okay.” Clark said, “He’s legit.”

“He told me your mom’s project had a traitor in the ranks.” I said, “I think it’s Kolekhov!”

“That’s a little presumptuous.” Clark said, “Do you know how many pregnancies he’s helped me through? Do you know how many illnesses he helped me overcome? Do you know how many deliveries he was there for me?”

“It’s not like that!” I said, “The man at the door yesterday said that traitor tried to sell your mom’s research to the highest bidder.”

“So because he talked about releasing his data at dinner, you think he’s the traitor?” Clark asked suspiciously.

“Not only that!” I said, “I heard him talking on the phone last night. He said he was trying to sell something for half a million dollars!”

“Like what?” Clark asked.

“He said it was in a safe in his office.” I said, “And he said not to tell your mom.”

“You’re full of it.” Clark said.

“I swear I’m telling the truth!” I said.

“I believe you.” Clark said, “There’s just millions of explanations for what you saw.”

“I tell you, he’s a liar!” I said.

“Just go upstairs and get some rest.” Clark said, “Your head needs working on.”

“Fine.” I mumbled. I knew deep down Kolenkhov was a traitor who had to be exposed. I just didn’t know how to prove it.

**************

At 12:40 PM, I could officially say I was full-term. This was the thirty-six week equivalent. At thirty-six weeks I could go into labor at any time, and say the baby came to term.

I remember, at this time I was examining myself with my shirt off in the bathroom. I was looking over my belly in the mirror. I hadn’t been there since Clark first showed me my curve two days ago. I had grown a lot since then. My belly was huge, and soccer ball-shaped. My navel had popped out since the pregnancy started and I was fully expectant.

My skin was so taut that it felt a little itchy. But I admire the belly. There was no stretch mark in sight. How could there have been? They didn’t have enough time to develop. My abdomen was still firm, despite being filled with a huge sac of amniotic fluid.

I could feel the baby move. I saw little bumps, and movements on the top where his feet were. I felt the kicks, and rubbed at each point. I then placed both hands on the front of my belly and rubbed up and down. This was the most soothing motion. This helped me relieve myself the most.

Suddenly the urge to urinate came at me again. After all, it was the third time in the past half-hour. I could tell my bladder didn’t like being squished by the shape of a uterus in me.

After I was finished, I could hear Kolenkhov’s voice again. I knew he was up to no good. I heard the doorbell ring, and he volunteered to go get it. I made my way over to the stairs as fast as I could, and peered over them, like I did the previous night. Kolenkhov opened the door, and there was some person he knew on the other side. I had never seen this person before, but I knew Kolenkhov knew him. “Here’s what you needed.” He said as he handed Kolenkhov a manila envelope. “I found it in your safe.”

“You’ve done well, Max.” he said as he peered inside, “Is that all of it?”

“It should be.” The man said, “It’s a full array of all the documents.”

“Did you call our buyer?” Kolenkhov asked, “Did you tell him I had the papers?”

“I did.” The man said, “He said he was very interested in learning all he could before making is purchase.”

“He better make it fast.” Kolenkhov said, “$350,000 is a lot of money, and it won’t be long before Evelyn notices these are gone.”

“What will you do if she finds out?” the man asked, “You know, that you’re selling all this?”

“She won’t like it at first.” Kolenkhov said, “But soon she’ll see this is for the good of us all.”

“I understand sir.” The man said, “Goodbye.”

Kolenkhov shut the door and I went upstairs. I knew it, Kolenkhov was endangering the whole project for money and power. Time was of the essence. I needed to stop him before he did something we all would regret.

********************

6:30 PM…

I entered the final hours of my pregnancy. This was very scary for me. Out of seventy-two hours, I had already experienced seventy-and-a-half of them. This frightened me. I was ready to go at any minute. I watched the clock as it ticked away towards my immediate, painful, and quick labor.

I also was keeping an eye on Kolenkhov. I knew he had hidden the manila envelope somewhere around the house. I just needed to find it. I looked in desks, drawers, on tables, under papers, in almost every room in the house. I couldn’t find the papers.

The baby twisted and turned in me throughout this whole time. It could feel it was ready to be born, and I knew it just as well. I kept trying t soothe it from the outside, but it was no use. It was getting ready to start contractions. I wondered if Clark felt the same way.

Suddenly, I was at the front door, when Kolenkhov and Evelyn came right through. “Just another day at the office.” Evelyn said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“There are rumors of a traitor.” She said turning to Kolenkhov, “Someone trying to sell our data.”

“I wonder who would do such a thing?” my eyes turned to Kolenkhov as I knew exactly who would.

“We need to keep you boys safe now.” Kolenkhov said, “That’s what I plan to do.” I didn’t believe a word he said.

“You boys should stay on the bottom floor.” Kolenkhov said. “That’s the best place to give birth, and once your water breaks, you will be almost-immobile.”

“You should do that.” Evelyn said, “I’ll get Clark too.” She went upstairs and I just stared down Kolenkhov. He tried to smile at me, but I knew his sinister motives. He just walked away, pretending to comport himself with an air of honesty. I knew deep down he was a cold-blooded traitor.

*****************

Ten minutes later Clark and I were seated both on the couches in the living room. I was passing the time stroking my belly and trying to get some sleep. Clark was doing the same thing reading his book. Suddenly I heard a rumbling come from the room. I looked as Clark put his book down and rubbed his belly. I could hear almost the sound of his stomach growling. He patted his belly and looked at me. “It’s time.” He said nonchalantly. “Call my mom.” He said sounding almost in pain.

“Evelyn!” I called out, “Clark’s getting contractions!”

Both Evelyn and Kolenkhov filed down the stairs. “Time already?” she asked. “Clark, are you okay?”

“Just dandy.” Clark said in between deep rehearsed breaths, “Get the tube and wait a while.”

“Kolenkhov, get his suitcase.” Evelyn said. Kolenkhov ran out of the room. I watched as Clark gripped his belly and breathed violently through each contraction. I didn’t know how I was going to do it later. Evelyn coached him, just like she’d practiced.

Thirty seconds after Kolenkhov left the room all the power went out. All the lights went down, and the room was dark. “The traitor!” Evelyn said, “He’s found us!”

“It’s Kolenkhov!” I said, “I know for a fact!”

“Gabe?” Clark grimaced as he rubbed his belly, which I assume was in searing pain, “Haven’t we gone over this before? Kolenkhov is good!”

“No1” I said, “I saw him exchange a secret manila envelope with one of his aides! I saw him have someone break into his safe for him! He’s trying to sell his data! I heard him say it!”

“When?” Evelyn asked, “When did you hear it?”

“Earlier today!” I said, “the data’s in a manila envelope around the house! I saw him have it!”

“That explains why the data at work was missing today.” Evelyn said, “Kolenkhov has betrayed us!”

“How could he do it?” Clark asked.

“I’ve returned!” Kolenkhov came back in, “Strange, how the power just went out. Luckily, I have what we need.”

“Traitor!” Evelyn shrieked as she tackled him to the ground, “You tried to sell us out!”

“What?!” Kolenkhov was furious, “Never!”

“I saw you with the envelope!” I said, “Don’t deny it!”

“You were a good friend, Kolenkhov!” Gabe aid in between contractions, “How could you do this to us?”

“I did nothing.” Kolenkhov said, “Let me go! I demand you stop!”

“Not until you tell us where the data is!” Evelyn screamed. In a fit of fighting, the envelope fell out of Kolenkhov’s coat pocket. I grabbed it and held it up!

“I have it!” I shouted, “I have the data!”

“No!” Kolenkhov shouted, “What are you doing?! That’s private!”

“I have it!” I shouted again. I tore open the top of the envelope and looked at the pages with what limited light I had. I could clearly read the words on the top of the pages.

My eyes changed from pride to embarrassment with just looking at the words at the top. For at the top of the first page, printed in large black bold letters, instead of “confidential laboratory work” were the words “Title Deed”.

“What is this?” I flipped through the pages, “This isn’t lab work.”

“It’s private!” Kolenkhov told me very sternly, “You should not be looking at this!”

“What’s going on, Gabe?” Evelyn released Kolenkhov.

I kept flipping through the papers. There were several large photographs of a large white house taken from different angles. I could see numerous forms, each one written in a language I did not understand. Kolenkhov got up and snatched them from my hand. “I’ll have you know that was private business!” Kolenkhov said “I’m selling my house in Belarus.”

“Wait, what?” I asked.

“I have a house in Belarus that I’m selling because I am never there anymore.” Kolenkhov said, “I needed my assistant Max to fetch the deed from my safe.”

“But why did you say not to tell Evelyn?” I asked, “What was that about?”

“Well, because I’m selling my house, the only place I can live now is here.” Kolenkhov said, “And I was not sure she approved of that.”

“It doesn’t matter, Boris.” Evelyn said, “As long as you’re with us, you can live anywhere you want.”

“But the power?” I asked, “Why’d it go out?”

“I don’t know.” Kolenkhov said, “I was on the third floor when it did.”

When he spoke, I saw a large black shadow enter the room from a dimly lit corner. “The traitor!” I screamed.

Kolenkhov and Evelyn jumped on top of him and restrained him. The lights flickered back on and I could see who it was. “It was Will, their boss who had come to yell at them the day before.”

“Will?” I asked, “You’re the traitor?”

“Of course.” He said, “What do you think this was all about?”

“Why did you do it?” I asked, “I thought you were with them!”

“I needed the money.” He said almost ashamed, “My wife has incurred an enormous gambling debt, and I needed a good fix while at the same time doing my job. I thought I could just sell the data and be done with it.”

“Where’s the data?” Evelyn asked, “Give us it.”

“Here.” Will reached into his jacket pocket and handed a folded set of papers. Kolenkhov took it and read it over, “This is it.” He said, “It’s over.”

“No it’s not!” Clark shouted as he was nearly in tears, “I’m ready to push now! I’m still in labor, remember?”

Kolenkhov and Evelyn rushed over to Clark. Both Evelyn and me gave Clark physical support, while Kolenkhov put the tube inside Clark’s rectum. Kolenkhov then pressed the tube, and Clark began to wail. He was really in pain. Kolenkhov Pulled the tube out, and found that the baby’s head was on the end of it. Kolenkhov b]pulled the rest of the body out.

While all the commotion was happening I didn’t notice that my water had broken too, and now I was feeling the effects of the first contractions. I was now incapacitated on the couch. Kolenkhov cut the umbilical cord very quickly off of Clark’s baby and then moved to help me. This time I had both Will and Evelyn’s support. I couldn’t hear anything around me. The event was so traumatic.

Clark was left to squeeze out the placenta while Kolenkhov positions himself to do the same thing he did to Clark with me. I could barely feel the tube go up my rectum, compared to the enormous pain I felt with every contraction. When the vacuum was engaged, that’s when the pain became unbearable. I was crying as the large mass moved straight out my backside. It felt like the most painful things I ever had to pass.

Only a few moments of this were necessary. After enough time, I felt the baby, and consequently the placenta slide right out of me. Feeling completely weak and frail, I flopped on the couch and breathed really heavily. Clark was already there too gasping his heart out. Kolenkhov proceeded through the cleanup procedures very quickly, as Clark and I passed out on that couch that night.

**************

Because the baby was needed for Kolenkhov’s research I never saw it. Kolenkhov had taken it to be raised by his assistants just like every other. Clark was used to this. He was normalized to this weirdness. I couldn’t take it though. It was that stressful.

The next day Evelyn drove me home, with all my belongings on hand. I remember s I walked through the door of the house. I was walking strangely, because my backside was still sore from the birth, and I could barely talk I had so little energy. My mother and father as well as my two younger sisters were very worried about what happened to me, but I assured them it was nothing. (Although I did wish I could have told them about the pregnancy). I just passed my time as normal, and just pretended as if nothing happened.

But I could feel something inside of me eating away at me. I knew I wouldn’t be the same after this. When I went back to school my friends all thought I had changed. I knew I did. It wasn’t as fun to hang out with them anymore. But I did see eye to eye with Clark more. I did end up talking to him. One by one, my old friends faded, and I made new ones, but nobody was as close to me as Clark was. That was just a very good relationship.

I didn’t go back, at first. I didn’t ant to. Something about the searing pain at the end made me not yearn to be pregnant again. But I knew that something was off. Something had changed inside of me. Something wasn’t whole as long as I wasn’t doing this. So in only three months, at the end of February that next year, I began doing the weekend pregnancies again. I had to. There was nothing else to fill the void of what I was missing.

It seemed that Evelyn’s department was perfectly willing to have me back after agreeing to leave. I guess they really needed a second person. After all, Doug Welch was still in Libya. And he would be in Libya for the next twenty years. When the government finally found him, he didn’t want to go back. So, in that time I became his permanent replacement.

We helped Kolenkhov expand the program to more and more males over time. At first the program included just Clark and I. Then we had a new guy join the group. And after a while it was just one after the other of pregnant men willing to join. I promised myself I would only be back until my High School graduation. That was a lie. I kept doing the pregnancies all through college, through my twenties, after I was married… in fact, I kept doing these pregnancies for thirty years. After I was forty seven years-old though, it just wasn’t safe anymore. But my belly had stretched so much over the years, I looked pregnant as-is.

Clark stayed in the program longer though. Maybe until he was about fifty-three? Gosh, I could barely remember. He was Kolenkhov’s right-hand man, though. He helped every man who entered the program get acclimated, and he helped Kolenkhov with all the data. When Kolenkhov retired, Clark was named chief researcher for over six hundred men in the program. Clark was he chief researcher for his entire life, when he died at fifty-six from pancreatic cancer.

Now I’m in charge of the program, which has since gone public. Even after all our disease research had gone through, our most popular discovery was male pregnancy. Once that became public, men around the globe got pregnant just the way we did, except it was now safe to go a full nine months. I’m the only person who was originally on the project who’s left. Evelyn died shortly after her son did. Kolenkhov died from Yellow Fever after doing some work in Colombia. Will disappeared one day almost forty-four years ago. We never heard from him again. So it’s definitely been a long time since the first day Clark asked me to join the program, but can still remember every detail. I suppose that’s the moment in life that really stuck with me. After all, who else could boast such an opportunity that was given to me?

The End