Tsal Nam's Story

This is the story of the last few months of the life of Tsal Nam. It starts when Tsal Nam, his wife and their 3-month-old child were stranded in the Eruc Suriv research facility. Tsal had been there for the last half year researching the cure for an epidemic that has reached catastrophic proportions. But just as they were about to finally work out the cure, a terrible natural calamity struck back on Earth. They were not able to get regular re-supply of food and fresh water.

Tsal knew that he had to remain at the research facility to finish his work. He did the logical thing, sending everyone else back. His wife would hear nothing of that and so she and their child stayed behind.

A month after the evacuation, Tsal had a major breakthrough. He was so close! He could feel it. Give him 2 more months and he would solve the puzzle. But they were fast running out of food. Earthcom had told them that they could only get a craft to them in 6 weeks. They had only enough food to last all three of them for one week.

“There is a way. Tsal, the child and I are inconsequential. You alone hold the key to the cure. You alone must survive,” said Tsal’s wife. Her Head had always ruled over her Heart.

Tsal knew what she meant. But could he really bring himself to do what his wife is suggesting? His child was only 3-month-old! His Heart screamed out against what his Head knew he had to do. The continued survival of the human species depended on him living.

“Dr Tsal! You can’t imagine how glad we are to bring you back!” President Lacitilop exclaimed as Tsal stepped off the craft. There was no mention of Tsal’s wife nor his 3-month-old child. It had to be done. He gave up his humanity in exchange for the hope that Humanity would survive.

“Look, it’s the survival of the entire human species we're talking about. Billions of lives! It’s got to be done. Everyone, every single one, old, young, even the babies, everyone… has to be injected with this for it to be effective,” Tsal said, his voice straining with exasperation, “Telling them that there is a one third chance that they will die from the injection will only complicate matters.”

“Dr Tsal, you cannot calculate it that way. You cannot measure human rights or freedom of choice. I am not a tyrant. We are a democratic society. The people have a right to know and to make their choice based on their knowledge,” President Lacitilop explained.

Indeed Aipotu, the amalgamation of the anachronistic ‘nations’ into a single global society, was a truly democratic society. It was a society where the individual’s human rights were defended above all else. And what greater human rights than that of life and choice?

And so choose the people did. Some injected themselves with the cure, some did not. Consequently, just as Tsal warned, the cure was ineffective. The virus mutated, spreading even faster. There was no way of stopping it now. Homo Sapiens would be wiped out in a manner of days. Tsal’s efforts and sacrifices counted for nothing.

Tsal stared at his computer. He knew that no one would survive this final catastrophe. There was nothing left to do but to wait for his turn. His thoughts turned to the 2 people he had cared for most and their pointless sacrifice. Anger at the stupidity of his fellow human beings seethed and bubbled, desperately seeking an outlet. He started typing, “This is the story of the last few months of the life of Tsal Nam…

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“You have won,” Head said, matter of factly.

“Yes. But it feels like I have lost,” Heart replied, Her voice trembling with grief.

“Best 2 of 3?” Head asked, His voice without a single trace of emotions.