Seed of Evil by Greig Beck (smart books to read TXT) 📗

“Yeah, sure, a couple of good people I know very well. They’re still in there. What is it?” Greg asked.

“That’s great. Look, I need you to find out something for me. Back in 1977, the previous doctor here reported an outbreak of something here in Eldon, and the CDC came and transferred all of the infected people to some medical facility. I can’t find any record of them ever returning. Or where they ever ended up.”

“That’s really weird,” Greg replied. “You want me to see if I can find them?”

“Yeah, find them, and find out what happened to them.” Mitch suddenly felt he had some forward motion. “It might help me understand what I’m dealing with now.”

“I’m on it, buddy, leave it with me,” Greg replied.

Mitch hung up and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. He blinked a moment and then his eyes slid to the notes he had written. Wainright had hypothesized that the source of the contamination was the mine. He’d check that out with the sheriff first thing tomorrow.

He then picked up the list he had written and saw the Native American’s name again: Johnson Nightbird.

He remembered what Greg had told him, that it looked like the mammalian DNA, Alfie’s, was transitioning into something else, something that was part plant and part human. And it looked like petrified wood.

The last line he had on his list was an ancient word: Adotte Sakima.

“The tree god,” he whispered.

CHAPTER 21

“What is it, Mitch?” Sheriff Kehoe’s voice was strained with exasperation.

Mitch drove with one hand and held the phone to his ear. He always planned to get a hands-free answering in the car but, well, it’ll never happen. “Hi, Dan, we need to check something out, right now.”

Kehoe sighed. “Little snowed under here, Doc, is it…?”

“Yeah, it is important,” Mitch cut in. “Ben Wainright said he believed a lot of the problems they had back in 1977 came from the mine. We need to check it out.”

Kehoe sighed. “Now?”

“Yes please. This could be important in understanding what happened to Hank. And Alfie.” Mitch waited. And waited.

And then.

“Okay, I’m not far from you. But do not go into that mine until I get there. You got that, Doc?” Kehoe warned.

“Sure, sure,” Mitch said distractedly.

Mitch arrived at the mine turnoff and powered up the rutted track until he got to the fencing and pulled over. He sat in the car for several minutes, and then decided to take a quick look. After all, he promised not to go into the mine, but not to just stand outside and check things out.

He retraced his steps to get to the main shaft area and as he breached the hilltop was stopped in his tracks.

“Holy crap.” He scoffed. “Oasis is right.”

“Hey.”

Mitch cringed at the stern voice. He turned slowly to see the sheriff striding up the track.

“You don’t take advice easily, do you, Doc?” Kehoe shook his head. “Remember what killed the cat.”

“Furballs?” Mitch grinned. “You said do not go into the mine, right?” He turned back to the mine and pointed as he walked slowly up to the large, green-tinged pond. “Look at this. This wasn’t here when I checked it out only a few weeks back. And there’s even more trees.”

“Don’t get too close,” Kehoe said. He sniffed. “Smells like the ocean at low tide.”

Mitch agreed. “Could be some methane residue that was in with the limestone, I guess. Looks fairly clear though. But that’s exactly what Ben…” He stopped, remembering what else Wainright had included in his notes. “Let’s take a look.”

He walked closer to the pond edge and fished in his pocket for the small plastic sample jar he had brought with him. He crouched, unscrewed the lid and dipped it in, half filling it.

Mitch held it up toward the sun and then shook it. “No obvious particular matter, except for a slight green color. But could be chemical residue, plant staining, maybe even bacterial, fungal, or even viral.” He sniffed it. “Yep, something a little unpleasant in there.” He screwed the cap on.

Kehoe looked around. “Amazing what a little water will do. Last I saw this place a few years back, it was just a dusty, dry nothing. Now it looks like somewhere I’d like to bring the family on a picnic.”

“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t do that right now.” Mitch stood. “I’m going to look at this under a microscope. See if there’s anything toxic hiding in it.”

Kehoe’s radio squawked.

“Sheriff?”

He lifted the handset. “What is it, Anderson?”

“Sheriff, I’m down at Harlen Bimford’s shop. Something you might want to see,” Deputy Pete Anderson replied.

“Pete, I’m kinda busy right now. What is it?” Kehoe turned away.

“Best if you come take a look. It’s not good,” Anderson replied.

Kehoe sighed. “Okay, Pete, on my way.” He turned. “We done here, Doc?”

“Yeah.” Mitch turned about. “Just might be best to get some new signs made up to keep people out of the water.”

“Good idea, you do it. Public health order. And send the bill to the council.” Kehoe turned back to the track and headed down. He spoke over his shoulder. “And let me know if you find anything interesting in the water.”

Mitch watched him go for a moment until he disappeared behind some of the trees further down. He turned back to the mine mouth. The sun beat down on the shimmering, cool water, and he knew it would have been irresistible to him if he was a kid. Heck, as an adult, he felt like diving in right now.

He lifted his gaze from the water. Beyond the pond, the mine mouth where the water had obviously welled up from was as dark and ominous as ever. He stared into its mysterious blackness, and after a moment, his eyes started to play tricks and see movement and the twin dot glow of nocturnal eyes staring back at him. The hair rose on the back of his neck.

“And that’s it for me.”

Mitch headed back to his car.

*****

Kehoe