Mahabbah

“I know this might sound kind of wild, but I’ve got a plan to save the world,” Jacqueline said to Aziz, gazing at him with her vivid blue eyes. They were out to lunch at Al Jyr, sitting beside a window. Their table sported a vase filled with azure hyacinths and the window overlooked a dusty street several floors below. “You see, I made a new type of virus that… well, it changes people for the better.” Jacqueline continued, “The virus edits a few genes, rewires some neurons, and changes the levels of some hormones. It turns us humans from nasty tribalists into far more compassionate people.”

“You’re kidding.” Aziz smiled.

“No, really!” Jacqueline insisted. “There’s been a lot of hatred, cruelty, and pain all over the world. I think this virus is gonna fix things. I call it Mahabbah and its name means love.”

“Okay… really?” Aziz’s playful smile faded. “I mean, really?”

“Yes. I built a virus in the lab that increases people’s empathy. I’ve tested it on the monkeys. Had to pretend that I was doing something else to keep folks from finding out though. That’s the other thing… I’m planning on releasing Mahabbah myself. You know how conservative people are about this stuff. I mean, I realize Fakhoury is a lot better about women’s rights and freedom of religion and all that than the rest of the Middle East and even the rest of the world for that matter. But still, something as radical as Mahabbah would never get off the ground if I told people about it.”

“So why are you telling me?” Aziz asked, sitting back in his chair and trying to absorb what he was hearing. “I mean… aren’t you worried I’ll report you?”

“Well, I feel like I can trust you.” Aziz thought about it for a few moments. He looked at Jacqueline and felt a rush of warmth. He had known her since his first year as a graduate student at Fakhoury University. He recalled a time when they had sat on the edge of a fountain after their seminars had finished. Jacqueline had taken off her shoes and swung her feet into the water. She had invited him to do the same. He had protested at first, but her bright enthusiasm had soon induced him to laugh and follow suit.

“Okay, so you can trust me,” he admitted. “But I do have some questions. First of all, if you’ve only tested it on marmosets, how do you know it’s safe for humans?”

“I thought you might say that. I’ve got a version that can’t spread between people… and I have actually tested it on one human being. I infected myself two weeks ago.”

“Oh my gosh, are you… are you okay?”

“So far so good,” Jacqueline