Chapter 8: The Shield of the Public
Maya did not flinch. She picked up a small blue USB drive from the conference table and pushed it toward Sterling.
""You're too late, Mr. Sterling,"" Maya said.
Sterling frowned. ""What is this?""
""Twelve minutes ago, our team published the complete open-source molecular sequencing, manufacturing blueprints, and chemical synthesis methodology of the membrane directly into the World Health Organization’s Global Public Commons,"" Maya explained, her voice steady and immovable.
Sterling’s lead attorney turned pale, frantically pulling out his tablet to check the WHO open database.
""She’s telling the truth, Julian,"" the attorney whispered, his hands trembling. ""It’s licensed under the international humanitarian open-access charter. It cannot be patented, owned, or monopolized by any private corporation.""
Sterling stood up, his face flushed red with furious disbelief. ""You just gave away forty million dollars! You gave away an entire industry!""
""No, Mr. Sterling,"" Maya replied, standing up to meet his furious gaze. ""I gave clean water to five hundred million children. Now, please leave my laboratory.""
Sterling grabbed his briefcase and stormed out of the room, his lawyers scurrying behind him like frightened rodents.
Dr. Samuel Vance, who had been listening quietly from the doorway, walked in with a steaming mug of black coffee, a wide, proud grin across his face.
""Your mother would have loved that, Maya,"" Samuel said.
May you like
""She would have told me I was twelve minutes too slow,"" Maya smiled.
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