Amoeba (The Experiments) (71 page)

He sat alone in the control room. That’s the way he wanted it. No observers, no investors or workers. Just Greg. He had just finished watching the video display of the first cat experiment. And now Greg stared at the screen, the glass tank before him, only it was black, filled on the inside with multitudes of amoebas.

“There is no way to count
,” Jake said over the speaker. “We estimate about four hundred or so.”

Greg sipped his coffee trying to look emotionless. “They multiplied?”

“From within, yes,’ Jake explained. “They can get into you two ways. One, through any bodily opening - ears, nose, mouth, you name it. The other is through the skin surface where they dig in. This takes, and I’m estimating on when they go in, bone and muscle density, it takes anywhere from six to ten seconds to get inside. You can stop it mid drill, get a grip and pull it out. Saline solution, salt water won’t work. It only dissolves half and the amoeba goes on and in. Once it does, it’s over.”

“How long does that take?” Greg asked.

“It depends on how big. But no matter the size, it doesn’t take long until your dead, and then after that, not long before you’re gone. They get directly into the blood stream, multiply, and devour.”

“And there’s no way to stop them once they get inside.”

“Not from what I seen. No, wait, I’m wrong. You can halt them if you catch it early enough.”

Greg nodded. “Hence the legless mother cat.”

“Yes. I seized the opportunity when I saw the amoeba go into the front paw, but I had to be fast. It made it nearly to the shoulder by the time I amputated. And I was ready. She could have survived but, well, you know, saving her wasn’t a possibility.”

“You really learned a lot today.”

“Yes, I did,” Jake said. “And I also learned why none of us, you, me, anyone, ever saw it hit Judge.”

“Too fast.”

“No. All it took was one. Maybe it went in through his ear or mouth. But just one. What amazes me is how many derive from that one. I mean, if one amoeba turns into four hundred or so from one tiny kitten that barely fit in the palm of my . . .”

“Jake.” Greg winced. “Spare those details.”

“Sorry.” Jake cleared his throat. “I was saying. If you can get that many to multiply in a small test subject, imagine how many more one amoeba will make in the body of an average sized man.”

“Or worse
,” Greg stated with concern. “One very large stasis boar.”

“Exactly. Which brings me to my next point. If we are aware of how fast they multiply and how many are produced
, and we are also aware of how many these things have killed, then we have a problem. From what I’ve seen out there, we’re only skimming the surface.”

“And the big question would be . . . where the hell are the rest?”

Jake only nodded in agreement.

Jake had made it safely back and had a much easier time doing it wearing the biohazard suit that Caldwell provided. He returned for a bucket, retrieving ocean water, then showered himself with it before going inside.

They had just finished dinner and all of them sat in the floor together.
To keep Reed quiet, they sat by Rickie just so Rickie could feel a part of the discussion, cocoon or not.

Cal sat b
etween Jake’s legs as he leaned against the wall, her back to his chest, his arms around her. His hands rested on her stomach, something he did without thinking about anymore. Cal touched his fingers as she spoke to him. “You learned all this today?”

“Yes
,” Jake answered.

“How?” Cal asked.

“We ran tests.”

“So you must have had test subjects
,” Cal questioned. “Who?”

“Well . .. ‘what’ would be more the word to describe the test subjects.”

Cal was curious. “Guinea pigs. What were they?”

“Cats
,” Jake stated. “Eight of them.”

Billy gasped at the same time Reed did. “Jake, you killed eight cats
?”

“The amoebas killed eight cats. I observed.”

“Were they . . . big cats?” Billy asked.

“Two were
,” Jake answered. “Six, you could say . . .” He held out his hand. “Fit in my palm.”

“UH!” Billy winced and shuddered. “Oh shit
, Jake. You killed a kitten?”

“
Yes.”

“Oh my God. Oh my God.” Billy kept rambling. “How can you be so cruel
? A little innocent kitten.”

“Knock it off. You weren’t this bad when you watched the zombies eat Larry Kale.”

“He was an asshole, Jake. These were poor, helpless, defenseless . . .”

“Billy!” Jake yelled his name. “What the hell else was I supposed to do
, follow Stan’s suggestion and wait until Rickie woke up and amputate his arms?”

“Yes
,” Billy snapped out. “Rickie will come back. Those kittens won’t.”

Reed seemed to
shake his head in disappointment. “Oh ake. At es eel-ee ick.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “We learned today, didn’t we?”

Billy was just appalled. “And this doesn’t bother you in the least?”

Cal interjected. “It wouldn’t. Jake has a reputation of killing, not just cats. Kittens.”

Jake, after seeing Billy’s open-mouth look of disgust, looked to his wife “Cal, what the hell are you talking about?”

“You know.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes
, you do. Are you going to say that today is the first time you took the life of a feline friend?”

Jake paused and said nothing. He cringed at the moans from Reed and Billy. “No-no. What Cal is talking about was not on purpose. It was an accident.”

Lou had to ask. “What did you do? Hit it with a car?”

“Close
,” Cal answered for Jake. “A very large boot.”

Shuddering whines emanated from Billy and Reed.

“Oh, nice, Cal. Very nice.” Jake was perturbed. “Make it sound like I stepped on the kitten on purpose. How the hell was I supposed to know the neighbors’ kittens were on our porch? It was five o’clock in the morning, for Christ’s sake. I didn’t see it.”

“No
, you did not.” Cal said. “I did. When I went out an hour later to get the paper. Just laying there, so pitiful, all . . .”

“Cal.” Billy halted her. “Please.” He s
hook his head at Lou. “And look at you.”

“What?” Lou looked up. “I’m not saying anything.”

“Exactly,” Billy said. “You only asked how Jake killed the cat. Doesn’t it bother you at all?”

“Not in the least.” Lou shook his head. “In fact, I’m loving it. I hate cats.”

Lou was blunt and to the point, so matter of fact that he bred a snicker from Jake and immediate silence from a complaining Billy and Reed. Then Lou kind of regretted saying what he did, because after the quiet moment, the subject immediately changed which bothered him, because he truly believed, at such an intense moment with the killer creatures lingering all around, a good pick-me-up and some lighthearted conversation was needed.

For the first time since the first day, all eight of the investors were together at Caldwell, joined around the meeting table on the upper level, all of them wondering why they were summoned. Especially when half of them were out of the game. And they knew, soon enough, they would get their answer when Greg walked into the meeting section.

“Good morning.”
It was usually at about the point when Greg finished his simple introductions, that the questions from the ‘I’m better than you are’ investors would fly, but not this morning. They sat in silence, each of them knowing something was awry. “I guess . . . I guess all of you are wondering why the full team of investors are here. Never in the history of the Iso-Stasis Experiment has the institute asked for an investor to return. I have.” Greg paused to look at each of their faces. “You have invested not only in a game, but in a project that has a forty-year precedence, a reputation of being outstanding, scientifically worthy, and compelling. The last description is why you are here . . . compelling. In every single solitary instance, from experiment one to experiment twelve, the institute remained in control. There wasn’t a single occurrence that happened that we didn’t start, and didn’t have the means to end. Even in the last experiment when one of the investors pulled an option, we started something incredible, but . . . as Aldo knows, no matter how out of control that part of the experiment seemed, we . . . we stopped it. Our primary goals are to provide maximum entertainment to those who invest in our cause, and give maximum scientific results to extreme testing that no other institute dares to do. We are able to do this because of you, the investors. Private funding keeps us going, from you to other institutes. Now . . .” Greg let out a breath. “The reason I called you is because a situation has arisen. Aldo, Daniela, Douglass, and Caruso, along with Mr. Lancing, are aware of the situation. You other three are not. This situation is
not
one we started. This situation seems to be out of our control, and it could possibly get worse. For the past twenty four hours straight, we have been compiling our data. We have gathered the results of every physical and mental endurance experiment we endeavored. And after carefully sifting through this, with great thought, we have deducted that at this point in time, far more so than any previously completed Iso-Stasis Experiment, we have enough conclusive results to deem this a viable successful experiment. And knowing this, and knowing the situation out there, we here at Caldwell would like to pull an early end to Iso-Stasis thirteen, end the experiment now, submit our results to all those who need and await them, and stamp this experiment complete. According to participant agreements, if Caldwell for any reason cuts the experiment short, the remaining participants that emerge, early or not, will be compensated per their agreements as if they had stayed the entire time. Which now brings me to you, the investors.” Greg paced slowly. “We live and breathe off of what you give us, not only for the experiments, but the yearly donations. Like I said before, we provide maximum entertainment so you can enjoy the experiment, and, of course, want to come back. Caldwell feels that if our stopping this experiment early will in any way affect your decision to return, then we will not stop this experiment. We will let it ensue. More so to you, the four investors who are still in this race. The game part of this has a lot to do with why you are here. We will let this continue for your game or end it early, and you four can split the purse. It’s up to you. The decision is in your hands.” Greg moved to a stand that held a television on it. “You will make the final decision. But before you do, I would like you to watch a video tape of Lt. Col Graison. He will show a demonstration to you then explain what is going on. Watch it, talk about it, and let me know. Whatever you decide, we here at Caldwell will go along with that decision.” Greg turned on the television, pushed in the tape, and moved away. He paused in his exit by the door when he heard the cringing, unison moans from the investors.

“Tell me he’s not. No.” Watson slid in his chair.

“Oh my God, Jake!” Daniela commented.

“No not the kitten!” Another shrieked.

“Turn down the sound, I can’t take it,” Lancing requested.

“Uh! Ew.” Aldo cringed. “Jake, no. No. Fuck . . . Aw gees.”

Greg closed his mouth with a peaceful smile and walked out.

^^^^

Greg was summoned back, and he had a hard time when he returned to the meeting level determining the feel of the room. He asked no question. He stood before the head of the table and waited for the investors to tell him their decision.

Not surprising
ly, Aldo had been duly appointed the investors’ representative. He said, “After careful discussion among us, and . . .” He took a moment to shudder, “. . .watching that vulgar video, we hve decided, game or not, that it has gone on long enough. We’ll end it with you, and settle up once they step off the plane.”

Greg’s hand’s gripped the table and his head lowered in relief.

They huddled around the one window, all but Reed who sat on the floor reading a book to Rickie’s cocoon. Smashed together Cal, Jake, Lou, and Billy all stared out with the same baffled expression on their faces.

Jake shook his head. “What the hell is he doing?”

“Trying to make it to us,” Cal told him.

Lou snickered as he watched the super slow moving figure get bombard
ed with amoebas. “Bet me he falls on the ground before he makes it to the porch.”

“He might.” Jake nodded in agreement. “Those things get heavy.”

Billy shifted his eyes to Jake. “Aren’t you gonna help him?”

“No. Are you?” Jake asked.

“No.” Billy shook his head. “But you’re the hero.”

“No.” Jake held up his finger. “A definition of hero is someone who will risk their life in a dangerous situation to save another life regardless of who or what it is. Now . . . knowing that
, am I a hero?”

Billy blinked with seriousness. “Absolutely not.”

“Thank you.” Jake folded his arms and watched out the window.

“But you know . . .” Lou interjected. “That definition could fit me.”

“It could,” Billy said. “So are you going to save him?”

“No way.” Lou shook his head.

“Don’t have to.” Cal pointed. “He made it to the porch.” She walked to the door. “Everyone grab a bucket.”

Jake grunted with a twitch of his head and reached for one of the buckets of sea water. “You know what pisses me off don’t you? Now we save his ass and I have to suit up and go out and restock.”

“Jake.” Cal reached for the door bucket in hand. She listened for the footsteps on the porch. “He’s there. On three. One, two, three.” She opened the door, then all four of them at the same time, like delivering a bad birthday surprise, tossed their buckets of water out and onto the suited unidentifiable Caldwell controller.

After visually checking to make sure he was free and clear, Jake allowed him inside
, and they stood around him waiting in suspense for why this worker trudged all the way from the control center through the masses of amoebas to them.

Richard undid his head gear, lifting off the hood. “That was frightening.”

“Yes, very.” Jake hurried him along with the wave of a hand. “Now, what’s up?”

“The experiment is over
,” Richard explained. “Well, it’s officially over after you’re off the island. Caldwell is pulling it. And as soon as possible, they’re lifting you out.”

Cal quiet
ly backed up, shocked at the news she heard. It was the last thing she had expected. She moved to the window. “They’re pulling it early?” Cal peered at the amoebas.

Jake huffed and rolled his eyes.

Richard was confused by Jake. “We’re ending it, Jake. Didn’t you hear me?”

“O
kay.” Jake tossed his hands up. “For dramatic effect, I’ll go along.” He gasped loudly. “My God! They’re pulling it? How bad is it?”

Everyone, even Reed
, blasted his name. “Jake!”

“What?”

Cal shook her head. “Hello. They’re ending it. You mean to tell me you
still
believe it’s just another phase in the experiment?”

With Jake’s ‘Absolutely’ everyone moaned.