Epilogue

A month later Sarah was sitting at her desk, in her spartan office. Only a picture of meercats to soften the walls. When there was a knock on her door. Most of her staff just barged in.

“Come in” An older gentleman with a somehow familiar face tentatively entered.

“Sarah Herrington? The name plate just says ‘Supervisor’”

“Yes, I’m Sarah, who are, oh my god, you’re James Harwood! CEO of Adhesive Products Incorporated. Your picture’s in the lobby.” She stood up. “Sir, take my seat, it belongs to you anyway.”

“Nonsense Sarah. May I call you Sarah?”

“Of course, sir”

“Drop the sir, please. We’re not in the military. My name is Jim”

“Ok, Jim, sir, sorry, Jim. What can I do for you?”

“Well, you and your team are being credited with discovering a whole new family of adhesives. Something very different. So different that we are forming an entirely new company just to deal with it. And what an unexpected additive. It took us over two weeks to duplicate the process. The Gecko Glue has to be the right temperature and pressure, and then it has to be churned. With a plunger. Then the special additive is injected. No company in their right mind will be able to duplicate it. Ever. The chances of this happening by accident, were just totally astronomical. You know, I assume, that the seven-to-ten day rule went out the window with this?”

“Yes sir, I mean Jim. John and Jessica are still stuck. The Gecko Glue started breaking down after about five days, but Adhesive X is still holding as strong as ever after a month.”

“Yes, well, the new glue has some kind of stasis effect on human tissue. The skin cells are never replaced so the glue never releases its grip. It may be permanent! It also explains why John is still erect. It's beginning to look like that may be permanent as well.”

“They’re stuck permanently? Like that?”

“We don’t know its permanent yet. But it’s been a month. And the batches we have been able to make and test, seem to be indestructible. Nothing seems to affect this glue.”

“Anyway” he continued. “We want you to head up the new research division and eventual production. You’ll be answering to the board of API. It comes with a considerable raise and perks, we can negotiate that later, if you’re interested.”

Sarah thought for a few then answered “This Adhesive X is dangerous. And not in a toxic sense.”

“We realize that. That’s why we want someone with firsthand experience in dealing with this. By the way the marketing guys got wind of this and changed the name. They wanted something friendlier sounding, no more Adhesive X. Sounds too German. It’s now going to be called Maxim Glue!”