by S. R. Booth
“They were starting to do some real damage to our crops so I asked Daniel, ever so sweetly, if he thought maybe we should try just a little bit of an organic pesticide.” She held up her hand with her thumb and first finger about a quarter of an inch apart and shot a smile back at him.
“Of course, since that was his original suggestion he thought we should. But as you might already know if you’ve worked with organic pesticides, some of them tend to be a little slow to work.
“Oh, and I’m sure it didn’t help that I started out using just a very minimal amount of the spray, still not totally convinced that I needed to use any at all. Well, long story short, those bugs almost took over our garden. There wasn’t a leaf in the whole place that didn’t have at least one hole chewed through it.
“I finally broke down, drove to the store as fast as I could, and came back with a case of a very common commercial pesticide, whose name I will not mention,” she added with another wink, “and I doused the whole garden with the stuff.” She shook her head at the memory and glanced at Farmer Dan, who was now smiling at her sympathetically.
“The stuff worked, however we ended up losing the whole garden that year and the next, because I used way more than the recommended amount of spray. I had poured containers over some plants that were covered with vermin, and we decided that there was no sense taking a chance on trying to eat anything we grew that year. We didn’t grow anything there the next year because I had doused the soil so thoroughly that not much was able to grow.”
She looked around soberly at her enrapt audience. “I lost a lot that year in the way of time and money and pride, but that was the start of what got us to where we are now. We still have plenty to learn, but we’ve finally reached the point that we feel confident teaching others what we do know so far. Our hope is that we can all continue to grow and learn from each other.” The crowd clapped as she returned to her seat, and Farmer Dan resumed his place.
“Linda is a little hard on herself in her telling of that story. I was as naïve as her as far as how to take care of the problems we were having. But, as she said, we have learned a lot and are so excited that you are interested in learning what we can offer.
“So now we will break up into groups for a tour. For all of you who pre-registered,” he emphasized, “you’ll come with me. Linda will lead everyone else.” Linda stood by his side with a warm smile on her face while Farmer Dan read through his list of expected guests. “Abbot, Johnson, Lieberman, Roth and White.” He looked up. “Okay, if you will all follow me, we’ll start in the greenhouses.”
Billy gave Sarah a questioning look, wondering if she had pre-registered them, but she just shrugged and they joined the six other people following Farmer Dan through the kitchen and out a side door. Billy glanced back and counted about sixteen people left behind. Not too evenly divided, he noticed.
They entered the first greenhouse, and everyone was overwhelmed by the lush plants growing inside. People started to spread out, fingering leaves and visiting quietly. Farmer Dan closed the door they had come through, punched some numbers on what looked like an alarm system and called them all back together, his relaxed expression now deadly serious.
“We really only have about fifteen minutes,” he started briskly, his slow country drawl much more crisp and precise. The easy-going farmer was gone, and the man who took his place held everyone’s full attention. “I’ll tell you as much as I can in the time we have.
“This building is safe so far as no one can see us or hear anything we say. They think it’s just the magnetic interference from some of our equipment that keeps their listening devices from working in here. It is in part, but that has been intentionally beefed up to the point that it’s as impenetrable as possible. I never say completely impossible because, as Linda’s pride story proves, it’s better to be humble and safe than proud and risk everything. But it would take some heavy-duty equipment to spy on us while this system is engaged.
“Some of you know more than others, so please bear with me as I get everyone up to speed.” He leaned against a growing bench and crossed his arms over his overalls. “First, this really is a class on ‘Back to Eden’. Linda and I are not alone in our efforts, but it is imperative that we teach as many people as possible how to grow healthy food, then you must pass that knowledge on.
“The food system is quite susceptible to tampering. All it will take is a word before commercially grown food no longer nourishes or even sustains human life. As some of you are aware, we believe that plan might be in the works already.”
Billy noticed that all eyes were riveted on Farmer Dan. Everyone seemed very interested but not unduly shocked by what he was saying. We aren’t the only outsiders who know that something’s going on, he realized with a jolt of surprise. The relief he felt was overwhelming. He thought that he and Sarah, maybe Bob, and Farmer Dan and his wife were the only ones who knew anything troubling was even occurring in the world, and that they somehow had to stop it all alone.
Farmer Dan was still speaking. “The people who are still inside with Linda really did just show up to learn about gardening. They will learn all we can teach them tonight and be done. We ask that all of you come back as often as possible. We’ll have ‘class’ Monday, Wednesday and Friday, six until nine. I know that sounds like a lot, but our time is limited and we want to do all we can to prepare you.”
He glanced at his watch with a frown. “This is the only secure place to talk on our property, but we can never stay here too long, we don’t want to arouse suspicion.
“Real quick then. Linda and I worked for Scinegue way back when it seemed to have a different purpose. They were ‘trying to save the world’ even then, but I think their ideas at that time were humane. They were trying to produce healthy plants and animals that would provide healthy and healing food for all of humanity.
“They also had some divisions dedicated to public education and health services. They had seen generation after generation of people becoming sick and producing ill children. They also saw a lack of desire to learn or to contribute to making the world a better place, and they wanted to do what they could to change those things.
“Maybe eugenics has always been part of their plan and Linda and I just weren’t aware of it.” He shrugged. “We believe what’s more likely is somewhere along the way someone convinced the leaders of the company that eugenics wasn’t just a theory; convinced them it was the only way to ensure survival of the human race.” He checked his watch again and shook his head.
“Not enough time. Not nearly enough time.” He glanced at the frosted plastic walls of the greenhouse and could see a blurred outline of Linda and her group slowly walking their way. He spoke briskly. “Please try to make it often. We will cover much, much more.
“If you don’t already know, yes, your houses and cars are probably bugged.” He held up a hand, raising a finger with each point. “Your computers and phone calls are being monitored. If you’ve seen cameras on the streets around your houses, those are just for you.
“Scinegue wants you to work for them, nevertheless they’re smart and play things as safe as they can.” That got heads turning as they checked each other out, each as surprised as the next that all of them had been approached with job offers from Scinegue.
“They do not trust you,” he continued, “but you each have something they want. We need you on the inside if at all possible. Their plans are moving forward so fast now that without insiders in the right positions, we won’t be able to stop them.”
The door handle started rattling, and they could hear Linda’s sweet voice speaking loudly. “Oh, this silly door won’t open again. Sometimes it gets stuck or something.”
Farmer Dan punched in his code on the panel by the door and the door flew open with a surprised Linda behind it.
“Whew! We need to work on that door, Daniel.” She gave him a discreet smile and patted his arm affectionately as she walked by, then she started right in describing the
different plants and the types of growing mediums and fertilizer they used on each.
“If you’ll follow me to the next greenhouse, we’ll get out of their way,” Farmer Dan said, and led his somber group to another greenhouse next door where the “Back to Eden” portion of the class began. Dan spent the remainder of the class explaining the plants and why they were chosen, along with an overview of what they were experimenting with and the desired results.
Billy’s head was still swimming with the information that he and Sarah weren’t alone in this. He wasn’t able to take much in, but Sarah seemed very interested and even asked a few questions. He kept sneaking peeks at the others.
There was a tall, young, well-dressed couple, both trim and intelligent looking. Another couple, again tall and trim, a little younger than the first. He wasn’t sure if the last two were a couple or not. He hadn’t noticed them talking, and most of the time they didn’t stand together. The man was tall with dark skin and black hair. The woman also had dark skin, however she differed from the rest of the group in that she was very overweight and even shorter than his own petite Sarah. He wondered if she was a spouse of someone Scinegue had approached, or if she had been approached herself?
Farmer Dan concluded the tour and solemnly shook hands with everyone in his group before rejoining Linda and her group back in the house to officially end the meeting. He wrapped his arm around Linda’s waist. “We hope we’ve given you an overview of what we are trying to achieve,” his eyes met Billy’s, “and you’re going home with some new ideas for your own gardens.”
“We’re glad you all came tonight,” Linda added. “Be safe driving home.”
“Let’s stop at the park for a while, okay?” Sarah asked as Billy drove toward home.
“Sure, it’s always relaxing there,” Billy answered, remembering that their car might be bugged.
They walked hand in hand to the swings, both discreetly looking around for cameras or anything else that seemed suspicious. It appeared the park was deserted, and they each claimed a swing and swung in silence for a few minutes, mentally replaying the information they’d just learned.
“What did you think about the Browns?” Billy broke the silence.
“I think they seem like very sweet, down to earth people. What about you?”
“Pretty much the same. I feel like we learned so much tonight, but we really only learned that we are not the only ones who know something strange is going on.”
“It’s a relief though, right? It is to me at least. I felt like we had to figure out what’s going on all by ourselves, and then stop it by ourselves.
“Just hearing that people already know what’s going on, and apparently have a plan in motion to stop it, just feels like such a weight off our shoulders.”
Sarah sighed and tilted her head back with her eyes closed, her blond hair flowing loosely behind her as she enjoyed the cool evening air.
“I was thinking the same thing. I wish they would have told us more tonight. I feel like we should be doing something, and we just keep getting these little trickles of information.”
Sarah slowed her swing until she was barely swaying and looked at Billy intently. “You know you have to accept that job offer, right?”
“I know,” he answered with a nod. “I’m just trying to figure out a way to keep you with me. We are not getting a divorce, even if it is just for show. It wouldn’t be right.” He turned towards her and grabbed her hands. “I need you with me, and I need to know you’ll be safe.” A breeze brushed across the leaves overhead and Billy looked up towards the dark sky.
“I keep thinking about Ben and Jerald. If I knew they had just changed jobs or something that would be one thing, but the way they both vanished...” He cringed and looked back at Sarah. “I don’t like to even say it out loud, but I can’t help wondering if they were killed.”
“I’ve wondered the same thing,” she added quietly, “but don’t you think someone would question their disappearances? I don’t know about Jerald, but Ben has a family. If he disappeared they would’ve contacted the police. It would have been all over the news in this small town,” she asserted.
“I agree with you for the most part, but I can’t help thinking that the family could’ve been bought off, or threatened, to keep things quiet. Scinegue is a huge company, and I think we’re just beginning to learn how powerful they are. I won’t take a chance with your safety.”
Sarah smiled at the resolve in Billy’s voice. She liked to think she was pretty self-sufficient, but it was reassuring to know that Billy would always be there for her. What he didn’t know was that she would be doing all she could to look out for him too, including trying to get more information about what they were dealing with.
“I did some more research on eugenics on the computer today. I used the adapter Linda gave me and erased all my search history when I was done. As long as no one looks too close I don’t think it will cause a problem.”
“Did you learn anything new?”
“I had to dig through a ton of stuff about demonic possession and black magic.” She looked at Billy. “It’s not that I don’t believe evil in general is the root of most, or maybe even all, bad things. The stuff I keep running into takes it much further, though. The authors make it sound like some people open themselves up to evil and are actually used by it. It just sounds a little over the top.”
Billy nodded his agreement. As far as he was concerned, that stuff made for good scary movies and not much more.
“Once I got past all that,” Sarah continued, “I did learn some stuff that was new to me. Like, sterilization was the main action taken in the U.S. as far as I can tell. The worst part is that many of the people were coerced into it. Sometimes mothers who were on welfare were threatened that their welfare checks would be discontinued if they didn’t agree to be sterilized.”
She shook her head and hot tears burned her eyes. “Just because those people were poor at the time didn’t give anyone the right to take away their ability to have more children.”
Billy knew how much Sarah wanted to have a baby, and could imagine how painful it was for her to read about other women being forced to give up the ability to have children. He searched for words of comfort, but before he came up with anything she continued angrily, “They could have given those families jobs or a better education, something to help them pull themselves out of the poverty they were in.”
Her voice trembled with emotion, “Just giving them enough food to survive didn’t help anyone. Instead of wasting so much time and money experimenting and making lists of what supposedly makes a perfect person, someone should have been helping those people, not trying to come up with ways to eliminate them!”
“You know, that kind of sounds like what the Browns are trying to do. They’re trying to teach people how to raise their own healthy food to provide for themselves, and I’m sure there is money to be made selling produce like that.” He looked over at Sarah. “That sounds like what the original Scinegue was trying to do, too. Did you find what the exact criteria are for the ‘perfect race’?”
“Not really. There are many opinions about eugenics and they seem to differ from one group to another.” She reached up to tuck the stray strands of hair blowing across her face behind her ear.
“What I read today focused on a person’s financial status. If someone could make money they were acceptable. Other stuff I read was about the tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed stereotypical perfect individual. Surprisingly, that was more in the minority. Most of what I read seemed to keep coming back to finances and put the ability to earn money above other characteristics.”
She gave a small shrug. “I’m sure if you have a very wealthy person looking into this who has brown hair and brown eyes, and a short, heavy-set wife who he loves dearly, he probably isn’t interested in upholding the blond-haired, blue-eyed stuff. And being wealthy, he probably doesn’t want to pay taxes that help support the poor, no matter what color their skin.
He sees them as lazy or incapable, and he wants them gone so they don’t deplete his wealth.”
“That makes sense. Everyone will have a different opinion on what defines the ‘perfect’ person.” He pictured the people he had seen at work. “Scinegue must not be using the blond-hair/blue-eye standards because the employees I saw in the office building had a wide variety of hair colors and skin tones.” He hadn’t been paying attention to eye color, but he knew for a fact neither Mr. Bryant nor the receptionist had blue eyes.
“I did notice that everyone I’ve seen there is pretty tall though,” Billy said thoughtfully, picturing how physically similar everyone was, “and I haven’t seen anyone who is obviously overweight or handicapped.”
“So, they seem to be looking for a certain body type.” Sarah twisted her swing to face him. “And we know they’re looking at intelligence based on what Mr. Bryant told you.”
“I guess they think they’ve found what makes a perfect, productive person.” Billy kicked the ground, giving his swing a boost. “The question is, what are they planning for the people who don’t meet those standards?”
Chapter 11
“Mr. Roth, please come with me.” The beautiful redheaded receptionist who hadn’t given him the time of day before had apparently been watching for him. She stood at the front door and called him into the office building before he could walk past on his way to the trucks.
“Ma’am? I really need to get to my truck. I’m sure you know that being late is not acceptable around here,” Billy called to her retreating form as she slipped back into the building, leaving him no choice but to follow.
The receptionist—Mary Sinclair according to her name plate—was a very attractive, tall, slender woman with an upsweep of deep red hair and a porcelain complexion. She was dressed impeccably, as she was each time Billy saw her. She was gathering up a stack of papers and a clipboard from her desk as Billy walked in.
