The cell grew and split. The two new cells moved to inhabit another two dead cells. These cells soon began to grow and split, the resulting cells moving to revive even more dead cells.

The scientist marvelled at his results. He had discovered the ability to reanimate life.

The scientist wasted no time in injecting some living cells into the blood before returning to the microscope.

The reviving cells merely ignored the living cells. The scientist did notice, however, that the reanimated cells reproduced much faster than the normal ones. The scientist leapt for joy. Not only could he revive the dead, but he could prolong life itself.

The man locked the door, ensuring nobody would intrude on his experiment. He then walked over to a large pig, the subject of his research.

Pulling a large knife from a drawer, the scientist promptly slit the animal’s throat.

Several hours later, the dead pig began to twitch. “The subject has finally started to react,” the man spoke into a tape recorder. “The revived cells have now reproduced enough to replace the missing blood, and now the creature is predicted to return from the dead.”

The pig started convulsing. Upon completion of the seizure, the pig’s eyes flickered open, and it quickly rolled to its feet.

“No sign of mental trauma,” the scientist noted. “No sign of physical trauma. The subject is mobile and active. The experiment shall continue further, to determine side-effects and other strategies to implement.”

The scientist then removed the bandage, taking note that the wound had already begun healing. “You’re a gold mine,” the scientist whispered as he walked the pig to its pen. Releasing it with the other pigs, he promptly closed up the lab and headed for home.

The man whistled with glee. He had finally gotten the promotion he had spent ten years working for. After today, he was no longer an animal caregiver, but an animal researcher. Just one more feed, and he would have finally reached his life goal.

His whole family had been stoked by the news. His wife had insisted on eating out, his daughters had leapt for joy, and even his step-son had smiled in admiration. This was a big thing for him, as he had also spent life with his woman trying to act as a father figure for her child.

“Hey, George,” the man greeted the large pig as he entered the pen. “Ready for your dinner?” The man then proceeded to greet his four-legged friend.

Rubbing the pig across its ears, he offered more useless banter, and moved to scratch the pig beneath its neck. The pig squealed in pain and bit the man. The man fell back in surprise, and wrestled the pig from further attack.

The pig soon calmed down, and the man investigated the source of the outburst. He slowly raised the pig’s head, and gasped as he learned of a large gash across the animal’s throat.

“What happened to you, big fella? Those other pigs pickin’ on you again?”

His chores now finished, he moved to inspect his arm. He had a small gash; big enough to warrant disinfectant, but too small to be of any real concern.

Packing his things, the man moved on to feed the other animals at the Department of Animal Research, before finishing his paperwork and heading home.