Acceptable Risk (A Medical Thriller) - Softcover

Cook, Robin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0425151867 ISBN 13: 9780425151860

Verlag: Penguin, 1997

Inhaltsangabe

The bestselling “master of the medical thriller” (The New York Times) confronts one of the most compelling issues of our time: personality-altering drugs and the complex moral questions they raise.

When neuroscientist Edward Armstrong begins dating Kimberly Stewart, a descendant of a woman who was hanged as a witch at the time of the Salem witch trials, he takes advantage of the opportunity to delve into a pet theory: that the “devil” in Salem in 1692 had been a hallucinogenic drug inadvertently consumed with mold-tainted grain. In an attempt to prove his theory, Edward grows the mold he believes responsible with samples from the Stewart estate. In a brilliant designer-drug transformation, the poison becomes Ultra, the next generation of antidepressants with truly startling therapeutic capabilties.

But who can be sure the drug is safe for consumers? Who defines the boundaries of “normal” human behavior? And if the drug’s side effects are proven to be dangerous—even terrifying—how far will the medical community go to alter their standards of acceptable risk?

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Robin Cook, M.D., is the author of more than thirty books and is credited with popularizing the medical thriller with his wildly successful first novel, Coma. He divides his time among Florida, New Hampshire, and Boston. His most recent novels include Host, Cell, and Nano.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Tuesday,

July 12, 1994

Kimberly Stewart glanced at her watch as she went through the turnstile and exited the MBTA subway at Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was a few minutes before seven p.m. She knew she would be on time or only minutes late, but still she hurried. Pushing through the crowd milling about the news kiosk in the middle of the square, she half ran and half walked the short distance on Massachusetts Avenue before turning right on Holyoke Street.

Pausing to catch her breath in front of the Hasty Pudding Club building, Kimberly glanced up at the structure. She knew about the Harvard social club only in reference to the annual award it gave to an actor and an actress. The building was brick with white trim like most buildings at Harvard. She'd never been inside although it housed a public restaurant called Upstairs at the Pudding. This was to be her first visit.

With her breathing restored to near normal, Kim opened the door and entered only to be confronted by several sizable flights of stairs. By the time she got to the maitre d's podium she was again mildly winded. She asked for the ladies' room.

While Kim wrestled with her thick, raven hair which refused to do what she wanted it to do, she told herself there was no need to be nervous. After all, Stanton Lewis was family. The problem was that he had never before called at the last minute to say that he "needed'' her to come to dinner and that it was an "emergency.''

Giving up on her hair and feeling totally thrown together, Kim again presented herself at the maitre d's podium. This time she announced she was to meet Mr. and Mrs. Stanton Lewis.

"Most of your party is here,'' the hostess said.

As Kim followed the hostess through the main part of the restaurant, her anxiety went up a notch. She didn't like the sound of "party.'' She wondered who else would be at the dinner.

The hostess led Kim out onto a trellised terrace that was crowded with diners. Stanton and his wife, Candice, were sitting at a four-top in the corner.

"I'm sorry I'm late,'' Kim said as she arrived at the table.

"You're not late in the slightest,'' Stanton said.

He leaped to his feet and enveloped Kim in an extended and demonstrative hug that bent her backwards. It also turned her face a bright red. She had the uncomfortable feeling that everyone on the crowded terrace was watching. Once she was able to break free from Stanton's bear hug she retreated to the chair held out by the hostess and tried to melt into her seat.

Kim always felt uncomfortably obvious around Stanton. Although they were cousins, Kim thought they were the social antithesis of each other. While she considered herself moderately shy, occasionally even awkward, he was a paragon of confidence: an urbane and aggressively assertive sophisticate. He was built like a ski racer and stood straight and tall, overpowering people as the consummate entrepreneur. Even his wife, Candice, despite her demure smile, made Kim feel socially inept.

Kim hazarded a quick glance around her, and as she did so she inadvertently bumped the hostess, who was attempting to lay Kim's napkin across her lap. Both apologized simultaneously.

"Relax, cousin,'' Stanton said after the hostess had departed. He reached across the table and poured Kim a glass of white wine. "As usual you're wound up like a banjo wire.''

"Telling me to relax only makes me more nervous,'' Kim said. She took a drink of the wine.

"You are a strange one,'' Stanton said playfully. "I can never understand why you're so damn self-conscious, especially sitting here with family in a room full of people you'll never see again. Let your hair down.''

"I have no control over what my hair chooses to do,'' Kim joked. In spite of herself she was beginning to calm down. "As for your inability to understand my unease, it's entirely understandable. You're so totally self-assured that it's impossible for you to imagine what it's like not to be so.''

"Why not give me a chance to understand?'' Stanton said. "I challenge you to explain to me why you are feeling uncomfortable right at this moment. My God, woman, your hand is shaking.''

Kim put down her glass and put her hands in her lap. "I'm nervous mainly because I feel thrown together,'' she said. "After your call this evening, I barely had time to take a shower, much less find something to wear. And, if you must know, my bangs are driving me crazy.'' Kim blindly tried to adjust the hair over her forehead.

"I think your dress is smashing,'' Candice said.

"No doubt about it,'' Stanton said. "Kimberly, you look gorgeous.''

Kim laughed. "I'm smart enough to know that provoked compliments are invariably false.''

"Balderdash,'' Stanton said. "The irony of this discussion is that you are a sexy, beautiful woman even though you always act as if you haven't a clue, which, I suppose, is somewhat endearing. How old are you now, twenty-
five?''

"Twenty-seven,'' Kim said. She tried more of her wine.

"Twenty-seven and improving with each year,'' Stanton said. He smiled impishly. "You've got cheekbones other women would die for, skin like a baby's bottom, and a ballerina's figure, not to mention those emerald eyes that could mesmerize a Greek statue.''

"The truth of the matter is somewhat different,'' Kim said. "My facial-bone structure is certainly not exceptional ~although okay. My skin barely tans if at all, and `ballerina's figure' sounds like a nice way of saying I'm not stacked.''

"You're being unfair to yourself,'' Candice said.

"I think we should change the subject,'' Kim said. "This conversation is not going to get me to relax. In fact it just makes me more uncomfortable.''

"My apologies for being so truthfully complimentary,'' Stanton said, his impish smile returning. "What would you prefer we discuss?''

"How about explaining why my presence here at dinner was such an emergency,'' Kim said.

"I need your help.'' Stanton leaned toward her.

"Me?'' Kim questioned. She had to laugh. "The great financier needs my help? Is this a joke?''

"Quite the contrary,'' Stanton said. "In a few months I'll be launching an initial public offering for one of my biotech companies called Genetrix.''

"I'm not investing,'' Kim said. "You've got the wrong relative.''

It was Stanton's turn to laugh. "I'm not looking for money,'' he said. "No, it's something quite different. I happened to be talking with Aunt Joyce today and--''

"Oh, no!'' Kim interrupted nervously. "What did my mother say now?''

"She just happened to mention that you'd recently broken up with your boyfriend,'' Stanton said.

Kim blanched. The unease she'd felt when she'd arrived at the restaurant returned in a rush. "I wish my mother wouldn't open her big mouth,'' she said irritably.

"Joyce didn't give any gory details,'' Stanton said.

"That doesn't matter,'' Kim said. "She's been giving out personal information about Brian and me since we were teenagers.''

"All she said was that Kinnard wasn't right for you,'' Stanton said. "Which I happen to agree with if he's forever traipsing off with his friends for ski trips and fishing forays.''

"That sounds like details to me,'' Kim moaned. "It's also an exaggeration. The fishing is something new. The skiing is once a year.''

"To tell you the truth I was hardly listening,'' Stanton said. "At least until she asked me if I could find someone more appropriate for you.''

"Good Lord!'' Kim said with mounting irritation. "I can't believe this. She actually asked you to fix me up...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Penguin
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1997
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0425151867
• ISBN 13: 9780425151860
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 400
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar