ZACA (Zack Tolliver FBI)
Page 23
Susan held up a hand. "Let me try to explain. As an anthropologist, I've known that Homo sapiens is not the only member of our species. There have been many others in the past, but most became extinct. We scientists think we have it all worked out, and then we discover new bones that tell a different story. Until recently, we thought Neanderthals were similar but not connected to Homo sapiens. We now know that they probably lived and bred together." Susan looked at Paula. "Still with me?"
"Yes, yes, go on."
"Okay. Now consider Homo floresiensis. Although discourse continues, there is no doubt in my mind that this was a member of the genus Homo, shared a common ancestor with modern humans, but split from the modern human lineage and followed a distinct evolutionary path. Floresiensis lived from 100,000 up to 12,000 years ago, almost yesterday in anthropological terms. But these people were just one meter in height with a brain volume smaller than a Chimpanzee. Because they lived on islands, separated from other humans, they evolved differently."
Susan paused, sipped her drink. "I...we have become aware of another mutation of Homo sapiens, one that is not only recent, but current. This species of human evolved differently yet parallel to Homo sapiens. My theory is they were outnumbered by our ancestors; chased out of the light into the deep woods where they hid away. Without fire, they necessarily evolved with different skills. They are fiercely predatory. They are bipedal yet have maintained prehensile feet and a tail, which allows them to travel like our ape ancestors through the trees. They have tremendous strength and agility, as one might expect. They have demonstrated another intriguing mutation: the ability to change their form to that of other creatures, including humans."
"Shapeshifters," Eagle Feather said.
"Yes. You see, that capability would have become necessary when the deep woodlands, their habitat, diminished, and contact with humans became more frequent. It is that capability that has allowed them to hide in plain sight."
"Their predatory instincts remain," Zack said.
"Exactly. They do not coexist peacefully with us."
Paula gazed intently at Susan. "You think this Protector, or Hunter, is one of these."
"Yes."
Paula glanced at the others. Eagle Feather and Zack nodded in agreement.
"I saw his metamorphosis," Zack said.
Susan and Eagle Feather peered at him in surprise.
"You didn't tell us that," Susan said.
Zack shrugged. "Thought I'd wait until the time was right."
"Wait a minute, now." Paula rose to her feet, surveyed her three guests. "What will be done about this creature? We can't leave him to roam the woods hunting people."
"It does seem a moral dilemma," Zack said.
Eagle Feather shook his head. "Paula, just as everyone here in this room is different yet similar, so it is with these creatures. This particular one seems to have bought into the legend. He's taken on a Protector role. He appears to attack only those who kill people out there. We don't know how long these creatures live, this one may have been in those mountains a very long time."
"He seems to have a relationship with Tommy...or rather the Indian maiden," Zack said. "He responds to her. She herself remarked that together they maintain a balance."
Paula slumped into her chair. "That's a relief...I guess. I honestly don't know what to think about all of this yet."
Susan took a sip of tea, jingled ice cubes in her glass. "Come to one of my lectures, I'll tell you all about it." She pulled her glasses down on her nose to look professorial.
The others laughed.
Paula surveyed them one by one. "Only the three of you know of the existence of these creatures?"
"Four of us," Zack said. "My wife Libby knows."
"Have you told your FBI buddies about them?"
Zack laughed. "That's a good way to get assigned to the North Pole."
Paula turned to Eagle Feather. "Do your people know of them?"
"The Old Ones do. We have the legends; we know the shamans talk of seeing them. But the young modern Navajo have other things on their minds. They are less inclined to believe."
Paula looked at Susan. "You actually lecture about them."
Susan smiled. "Not specifically. As a university professor, I need to maintain credibility––if I want to keep my job, anyway." She looked at Zack. "No, what I do is preach the possibility that a parallel race could exist. Zack, here, adds reality from time to time."
"What happens if you learn of one of those creatures running amuck?"
Zack nodded toward Eagle Feather. "I call my friend here and we go deal with it. It's not a frequent thing, nor readily identifiable. It's difficult to determine whether you've got a serial killer or one of these creatures." Zack gave a wry grin. "Humans are a predatory species too, you know."
* * * * *
They met Malden at Zaca Mesa Winery. He had been out at Zaca Lake with Sergeant Montana. The winery was a convenient location for both parties to meet.
They brought their wine glasses to a picnic table out on the veranda. Toker curled up in the sun next to the table. Malden looked at the three of them, shook his head, spread his hands wide, and said, "Jesus."
They laughed.
"That about sums it up," Zack said.
"I think its pronounced Jesus," Eagle Feather said with a grin.
"Poor guy. Whatever happened to him?"
"He finally got to go home, thanks to Rufus," Zack said.
Susan put her hand over Malden's on the table. "How are you dealing with all this? Your friends working with the cartels and all that?"
"I'll manage just fine. I haven't been kidnapped, anyway." Malden looked at Zack. "I do feel bad you couldn't trust me."
Zack started to say something, Malden held up a hand. "I know, I know. I'd have done the same thing. You couldn't take the risk of telling me. I get it."
Zack nodded.
"Montana says we still got a killer loose in those mountains. We haven't found this guy who preys on the cartel assassins." He peered at Zack. "Are you involved in that?"
"Oh, no. As soon as Montana gives me the OK, I'm going home. My boss is getting tired of doing my job. Plus, I've got a wife and kid I haven't seen in a long time."
Malden twirled his glass. "I keep feeling there's something you aren't telling me."
Eagle Feather eyed Malden. "I'll tell you now. You know those spirits the Chumash say are in those mountains? The ones whose presence you feel once in a while when you're out there alone? They're real."
Malden gazed at Zack and then at Eagle Feather. "I'll take that under advisement."
Fini
Other Zack Tolliver FBI Novels by
R Lawson Gamble
THE OTHER
"The hunters noticed the circling birds against the rose-tinted sky above the rim rock and saw where the flat rays of the early morning sun glinted on something that didn't belong there and the three of them walked that way."
What they find sends FBI Agent Zack Tolliver and his friend Eagle Feather in pursuit of a dangerous and powerful killer.
MESTACLOCAN
Dawn in San Francisco finds the body of a young woman crumpled against a concrete bunker like yesterday’s newspaper, her throat slashed. She is the third female victim, each with the same injury, all nine days apart. With a serial killer in the city, Homicide Detective Marty O’Bannon is in over his head; he calls on old friend FBI Agent Zack Tolliver.