“What’s Ryan up to?” Frank asked.
“I don’t know. The Willys is gone, so I’m assuming he and Celeste went off somewhere.”
“When did they leave?”
“I have no idea,” Wanda said. “I hope he hasn’t gone and got himself lost. I don’t know if I can take much more of this; first Ally, now him. What if they don’t come back by nightfall?”
“Well, you did say that Ryan and Celeste went together. I doubt if they would get lost. Celeste can navigate her way back using the stars.”
Wanda let out a forced laugh. “Yeah, I forgot. Silly me.”
“If it will make you feel any better, I’ll go look for him. Let me go grab a quick bite and a cool drink.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound like...” but then Wanda paused when she heard the approaching engine as the Willys Jeep raced into the compound.
Ryan slammed on the brakes, kicking up a cloud of dust.
“Hey, slow down,” Frank said, waving his hand in front of his face.
“We found one!” Celeste shouted excitedly.
“Found what? Wanda asked.
“A meteorite!”
“Great! Let’s get it inside,” Frank said.
49
Dr. Tomie suggested that it was important they take certain precautions while examining the meteorite. The first was limiting access. It was decided that only the veterinarian, Frank, and Celeste would be allowed in the room. The three wore surgical masks and gloves, along with plastic protective clothing that Dr. Tomie kept on hand whenever it was necessary to form a team to evaluate contagious outbreaks in the savanna.
“How do you think we should proceed?” Dr. Tomie said, gazing down at the meteorite lying on the table. Her right foot was slightly raised off the floor as she shifted some of her weight on the single crutch tucked under her armpit.
“Why don’t we give Celeste the lead on this,” Frank said.
“Very well. Celeste?”
The young woman was studying the solid piece of space debris with a magnifying glass. “Well, when we first found it, I thought it was just ordinary chondrite, which is the composite of eighty percent of all meteorites found, ” she said and looked up. “But now that I’m able to get a closer look at this one, I’m not so sure.”
“What do you think it is?” Frank asked. He put his hand out and Celeste passed him the magnifying glass so he could take a look.
“Well, there are several types of meteorites. Achondrites have stony crusts. This one is porous, almost like hardened magma. I don’t see any gem-like crystals, so we can rule out it being a pallasite. It’s too bad we don’t have a mass spectrometer. I’d love to know how old it is.”
“What if you were to guess?” Dr. Tomie said.
“It could be a million years old, maybe a billion, who knows.”
“A lot could happen in that amount of time. Hell, this thing could have traveled the entire galaxy,” Frank said. “And back.”
“Possibly. I believe it originated from the asteroid belt that Earth has been passing through for the past three years,” Celeste said. “I’d like to get a sample and examine it under a microscope.”
“You mean break off a piece?” Frank said.
“Do we really want to do that?” Dr. Tomie said, voicing her concern along with Frank’s.
“The spot where Ryan and I found this meteorite, there were also gigantic termites.”
“Isoba and I encountered an emperor scorpion the size of an SUV at the village,” Frank said. “Abnormally large insects are popping up everywhere.”
“Yeah, well, those stupid termites were actually blowing themselves up.”
“You two were lucky you didn’t get sprayed by the toxin. It’s known as autothysis or suicidal altruism. They’re able to rupture an organ and explode at will. Pretty amazing stuff.”
“I believe these meteorites are the direct cause of the mutations.”
Frank looked at Dr. Tomie. “What do you say?”
“If Celeste is right, then we have no choice but to see what’s inside this thing.”
Using her crutch, Dr. Tomie hobbled across the room. She stopped, reached in a drawer, and took out a small surgical chisel and a light ball-peen hammer. “Anywhere in particular?” she asked Celeste.
“Yes, try here.” Celeste pointed to a small bump on the rock and stepped back to make room for the veterinarian.
“Would you like me to do that?” Frank asked.
“Frank, if I can remove a lion’s canines, I think I can chip off a little piece of rock.”
“Be my guest.”
Dr. Tomie leaned on her crutch. She put the tip of the chisel at the base of the protrusion, tapped the end with the head of the hammer, and chipped off a tiny sliver, which fell on the tabletop.
“Very nice,” Frank replied. “May I?”
Dr. Tomie nodded. She pointed to the microscope on the counter next to the sink.
Frank picked up the rock chip, walked over, and placed the sample on a glass slide under the revolving three-lens nosepiece. After turning on the illuminator, he bent over and stared into the eyepiece.
A few seconds later, he reached down, repositioned the fragment and twisted the lens to the next magnification. “This is incredible.”
“What do you see?” Celeste asked, stepping over as Dr. Tomie limped to stand behind Frank.
“One sec,” Frank said. He flipped to the 200x magnification setting and adjusted the focus knob.
The porous rock looked like giant craters on the moon. Bizarre-looking, microscopic creatures resided in the deep depressions.
They must have ducked out of sight when he had made his sweep with the magnifying glass. The microorganisms were so small they blended with the rock and were practically undetectable by the naked eye unless someone knew what to look for.
Their gray translucent bodies were thin and elliptic. Each one had a single pulsing orifice in the center of its domed head. Frank couldn’t tell if they were mouths or sex organs.
The oviform organisms had weird squid-like tentacles that looked like short Chinese glass noodles with tiny barbs on the ends for clutching the rock.
They didn’t appear at all threatening; on the contrary, they looked more like something a fisherman might bait on a hook.
Frank stood up straight and took a step back. “You’re not going to believe this.”
Celeste peered through the eyepiece. “Oh my God! They’re alive!”
“Let me see,” Dr. Tomie said and took her turn. She studied the slide for almost a minute before raising her head. She turned around and leaned up against the counter.
“Well, what do you think?” Frank asked.
“Definitely a microorganism,” Dr. Tomie said.
“True, but nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
“Me neither.”
“So we’re definitely looking at an alien life form,” Celeste said.
“That would be my guess,” Frank said. “You may be right, Celeste. They might be what’s been triggering these strange insect anomalies.”
“But why does it only affect some and not the others?” Dr. Tomie said.
“I think there’s only one way to find out,” Frank said.
“And how’s that?”
“We’ll need to run an experiment.”
50
Frank returned to the examining room, carrying a small, clear plastic Petri dish with a perforated lid.
“What did you find?” Dr. Tomie asked. She had grown tired trying to stand on one foot and was sitting on a stool with casters.
“Well, I walked the compound and came across a few straggler safari ants and a couple scorpions,” Frank said, “but after our past run-ins decided they weren’t our ideal test subjects. I did come across a Scytodes thoracica hiding under one of the railings.”
“A what?” Celeste asked.
“A spitting spider. They don’t bite so they’re relatively harmless.”
“You said relatively harmless,” Dr. Tomie said.
“Well, they do have the ability to spit out a sticky venomous web and actually lasso their prey.”
“You couldn’t find anything else?” Dr. Tomie asked.
“I could go back out and look.”
Celeste stared at the diminutive spider trapped inside the Petri dish. The round head and the orb body were brown with tiny black markings. Its legs had the same coloring and were long and extremely thin. “I think it should be all right. It doesn’t look that tough.”
“Okay, let’s see what happens,” Frank said. He walked over to the microscope and removed the sample of the meteorite from the slide. He twisted off the cap on the Petri dish and carefully slipped the sliver of rock inside. He quickly replaced the lid before the spider could escape.
Frank placed the shallow, cylindrical dish on top of the slide. He leaned down and peered through the eyepiece.
Dr. Tomie and Celeste gathered round anxiously, waiting their turn.
A minute had passed, then two before Frank announced, “The spider is about to...whoa!”
“What happened?” Celeste said.
“One of those organisms was squeezing out of the rock and the spitting spider immobilized it with its web.”
“Let me take a look.” Celeste waited for Frank to move aside then gazed into the eyepiece.
Dr. Tomie hopped over and braced against the counter as she took her turn at the microscope. “The other organisms seem to be retreating.”
“May I?” Frank asked. He held onto Dr. Tomie’s elbow and helped her back to the stool. He turned and peered into the eyepiece. “You’re right, they’re scurrying back into their holes.”
“Seems they’d rather stay put in their natural habitat than venture into our world,” Dr. Tomie said.
“Maybe they’re just shy,” Celeste said and smiled.
“More like part of their defense mechanism,” Frank said, still looking through the eyepiece. “Wait a minute... oh my gosh, the spider is eating the one it caught in its web.”
“Frank, could it be that those insects that mutated, ate one of these organisms?”
“Might explain why only a few have been affected. Let’s pray these little space pests stay homebound.”
“Wait a minute, you two,” Celeste interjected. “What about the spider? Isn’t it going to turn into one of those giant bugs?”
“Damn!” Frank said as he took another look through the lens piece.
“What’s wrong?” Dr. Tomie asked.
“The spider isn’t moving. I think it’s dead.” Frank lifted the Petri dish off of the stage and placed it on the counter. He removed the lid slowly and everyone gazed at the motionless spider. “I don’t get it.”
“How strange,” Celeste said.
Frank took a pen out of his shirt pocket and prodded the limp spider with the ballpoint tip, but the arachnid remained wilted and didn’t move.
“Looks like our little experiment just went kaput,” Dr. Tomie said.
Frank replaced the lid. “Is it all right if I put our recently deceased little friend in your supply frig? I’d like to take another look at it a little later.”
“Sure, it’s over there,” Dr. Tomie said and pointed to a small, single-door commercial refrigerator in the corner of the room. She waited until Frank had put the Petri dish on a metal rack and closed the door before saying, “You know, I’d feel better if we got this outside,” gesturing to the meteorite. “Especially now that we know what’s crawling around inside.”
“You’re right.”
“Wait a minute,” Celeste protested. “I was hoping to study it a bit more.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s too dangerous to keep in here,” Dr. Tomie said. “How do we know these things aren’t a threat to us? I mean, if our theory is right, and these things can drastically alter a creature’s metabolism...”
“I agree,” Frank said. “We’ll take it somewhere not too far away. You can conduct your study there.”
“Sounds fair enough. As Ryan and I brought it here, I’d like him to drive me.”
“I don’t know,” Frank replied, concerned for their safety.
“Nothing happened before. I’m sure we’ll be okay. As soon as we drop it off, we’ll come right back. I promise.”
“Okay, then.”
“Great! I’ll go get Ryan,” Celeste said and rushed off.
“You know, Frank,” Dr. Tomie said. “Something’s been bothering me.”
“What’s that, Gayle?”
“All these meteor showers we’ve been having. Are these things in all of them?”
“What are you suggesting?” Frank said.
“Could this be an invasion?”
51
Frank helped Ryan carry the meteorite out to the Willys Jeep. As an added precaution, Frank had bundled the space rock up in a canvas tarp and sealed the edges with a heavy-duty stapler Dr. Tomie kept in her office. Celeste had gone inside the clinic to use the restroom.
“You know, I shouldn’t let you do this,” Frank said. “Your mother was worried sick the last time you took off.”
“I know, I’m sorry. Trust me, we won’t go far.” Ryan had a worried look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” Frank asked. “Oh, I guess Celeste told you about what’s in that rock.”
“About those things? Yeah, but that’s not it.”
“What then?”
“When we were coming back we crossed paths with some poachers. They were trying to burn out the animals.”
“Why didn’t you mention this before?”
“Like you said, I didn’t want to worry Mom.”
“Then it’s settled,” Frank said. “I’m going with you.”
“Good. They were pretty scary.”
“You can fill me in on the details while we drive. Hang tight while I go grab a gun.” Frank dashed inside the building and saw Wanda and Isoba walking down the corridor. “Isoba!”
Isoba turned and faced Frank. “Yes, Mr. Travis.”
“I need one of your rifles.”
“What for?’ Wanda asked.
“I’m accompanying Ryan and Celeste while we dispose of that meteorite.”
“What, you suspect trouble?”
“Ryan said the last time they were out, they saw poachers.”
“Did he say how many?” Isoba asked.
“No.”
“It has to be Abrafo. He is coming for his brother.”
“Then I suggest you guys get everyone armed and ready,” Frank said.
Wanda grabbed Frank’s arm. “You really have to go out there?”
“We won’t be long.”
“Be careful.”
“We will.” Frank kissed Wanda and looked at Isoba. “I’ll need that weapon.”
They rushed down the hall to the gunroom. Isoba unlocked the door and the cage, and handed Frank a 30-06 Weatherby Mark V bolt-action rifle—a firearm that Frank was familiar with—and a box of shells.
Wanda and Isoba were already discussing how they were going to fortify the clinic when Frank dashed down the passageway and out the door. Ryan and Celeste were already in the Willys Jeep, waiting with the engine running. Celeste was squished behind the passenger seat and the covered meteorite.
Frank jumped into the Jeep. He stood the rifle between his legs and held the ammo box on his lap. “We better make this fast. Isoba thinks those poachers you guys saw are coming for Duna.”
Ryan stepped on the gas and they raced out of the compound.
52
Wanda and Isoba stood on the observation deck overlooking the savanna and could see two trucks parked on the opposite shore of the small lake.
“I count seven, but there could be more,” Wanda said and passed the binoculars over to Isoba. He took a quick look and lowered the binoculars. “The tall one in the yellow shirt...”
“Yes, standing by the driver’s door of the blue truck.”
“That is Abrafo.”
“So he’s their leader,” Wanda said. “Chances are, we take him out first, the others won’t bother to attack.”
“Some of them are Duna’s men. They won’t stop until they have freed their boss.”
“So what can we expect?” Wanda asked.
“They will have automatic rifles and maybe pistols. Some will carry hatchets and machetes. They will kill everyone here.”
“This goes against my credo, but maybe we should just hand over Duna. I don’t like putting my family in danger.”
Isoba shook his head. “It would do no good. They would just come back later and finish the job.”
“Well, looks like they’re not giving us much of a choice,” Wanda said. “Let’s go inside and round everyone up. We better be ready when they come.”
53
“There’s a good spot,” Celeste said, directing Ryan’s attention to a small stand of trees. Ryan cut the wheel sharply, causing Frank to spill the entire box of shells onto the floor mat. Frank cursed, reaching down to grab a few bullets just as Ryan straightened the wheel, sending the cartridges rolling under his seat. He’d only managed to load a couple bullets into the hunting rifle’s magazine before popping in the clip.
Ryan slammed on the brakes. Frank saw a few cartridges roll out from under the seat just as he grabbed the dashboard so he wouldn’t catapult over the folded down windshield and land face first on the hood. Celeste didn’t fare any better as the meteorite shifted due to the abrupt stop, pressing her against the side of the Jeep.
“Could you guys please get this off of me,” she pleaded.
Ryan jumped out first and came around to the rear of the Jeep. Frank got out and leaned the rifle against the back fender. They lifted the rock off the rear seat and shuffled under the shade of the nearest tree.
As they were stooping to put the rock down, Frank caught a glimpse of a truck parked behind the trees. A man came out of nowhere and smashed Frank on the side of the head with the butt stock of his AK-47.
Frank immediately dropped to his knees.
The Next World Page 11
