“Like I said, this is really not a good time for me to talk.”
“Okay, okay. I remember what you said in the note about not being able to answer any questions, so I'll just give you a summary of what I have found so far, because I know you are a man of science, and I think it was your curiosity that had you send the package to me."
“Go on,” Allan replied.
“As I recall, genetics was not your strongest subject in college.”
That’s an understatement, Allan thought. It had been one of the subjects that had almost kept him out of vet school.
“Even so, you’ll probably remember that the basic structure of a DNA molecule is made up of four nucleotide bases: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.”
“Yes, that sounds familiar, and I seem to remember that those bases pair up together, although for the life of me I never could remember which ones paired with each other.”
“That's not all that important for this discussion," Lionel said, "but this is. The sample you sent me didn't just have those for nucleotide bases. It also had two additional bases, and as if that wasn't strange enough, those two additional bases were silicon-based, not carbon-based. I took the liberty of naming them solanine and liconene. I figured I should get something out of all the late nights I've spent in the lab. Do you have any idea how revolutionary this discovery is? Just for example, by expanding the number of these base pairs, it increases the number of amino acids that can be encoded by DNA from the existing twenty amino acids to a theoretically possible 172. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. It's been my theory for some time that genetics could be the key to tapping into the 90 to 95% of the human brain that isn't currently being used. I've been working with recombinant DNA to tap our full potential. I believe what you sent me could be the missing link or at least a significant piece of the puzzle. Even though the sample you sent me was no longer alive, my findings would suggest that it had amazing adaptive power."
After a second long pause, Allan said, “Well yes, that is quite interesting.”
“Quite interesting? That might just be the greatest understatement in the history of science!” Lionel replied. “That would be like people telling Copernicus when he postulated that the sun was the center of our solar system, ‘That’s quite interesting’, or when Einstein explained the theory of relativity, the rest of the world saying, ‘That’s interesting’.”
“Well, it is interesting. Hell, what do you want me to say?”
“I want you to tell me where the specimen came from,” Lionel replied.
“I can’t do that,” Allan said.
There was another long pause on the other end of the line.
“Then just answer me this one question. There was a rumor floating around among some of my fellow researchers a while back. I don’t remember the details exactly since I try to ignore rumors, but I do recall something about some scientist making available what he was calling the modeling clay of life. The story goes that the feds found out about it and shut it all down. I was just wondering if you knew anything about that?”
“Just sounds like another one of those crazy conspiracy theories,” Allan replied. “I wouldn’t give it any credence.”
“That’s what I thought as well,” Lionel agreed, “until I received your package. You know, someone told me once that not all conspiracy theories are false. What if this one were true?”
“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” Allan lied. “Listen, I really need to go.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. You don’t want to talk. Just answer one other question; yes or no. Is it from this planet?”
Do I dare answer that question? Allan thought. After all, it wasn't like he was talking to a total stranger. He and Lionel went back decades. That's why he had finally decided to send the larva to him. If he couldn't trust an old friend like Lionel with the truth, who could he trust?
“No,” Adam finally replied. “It’s not of this Earth, and that’s all I’ll say about it. Do with it as you will, but be very careful with it, and please, don’t ever tell anyone where you got it. Promise me that.”
“Sure, if that’s what you want,” Lionel replied.
“That's what I want," Allan said. "And while I have appreciated you calling me and giving me this update, I'd really like us to consider the subject closed."
“Are you sure? I’ll be happy to…”
“Yes, I’m sure. Thanks for calling.” Allan hung up the phone but continued to sit at this desk for several minutes staring at the phone mulling over the conversation. Amazing adaptive powers. My old friend doesn’t know the half of it.
Val's New Home
1
Aeo studied the outfit he'd fabricated from the skin of the bear. It would only fit Val for a couple of weeks at best, but that would be enough time for him to become established in the human's society where he could acquire more appropriate clothes.
He’d gotten the idea while surfing the internet and stumbled upon the cultural phenomenon of Teddy bears which epitomized the cuteness and innocence of young humans. He calculated that it would increase Val’s chances of finding a suitable first home if he looked as cute and cuddly as possible.
He had Val try on the outfit then studied the boy. Perhaps the bear ears was a little much he thought but finally decided to keep them. After all, humans, particularly female humans seemed to eat up such displays of cuteness.
“Tomorrow will be the day you leave the security of the cave to resume your mission, so let’s review the relevant data one last time.”
Val nodded. “Can I take this off first? It’s hot and itchy.”
“Yes,” Aeo replied. “But tomorrow you will need to wear it until you’ve made contact with the appropriate humans who will see how hot and itchy it is and will provide you with more appropriate clothing. At least that’s the plan, Aeo thought.
“Now, what is the name you are to tell humans?”
“Val.”
“And what is your real name that you must not reveal but also never forget?”
“Sluneg,” the boy replied.
2
The winding mountain road was not well traveled. Aeo had intentionally selected it for that very reason. On its excursions around the area and from his research, he deducted that larger roads with more traffic also increased the risk of Val being picked up by a dangerous human, of which there were plenty. But this road was traveled mostly by the local mountain folks. Val had been instructed to look for a middle-aged or older couple, ideally a husband and wife, or if a couple didn't come along, two older females, but the vehicle must have at least one woman, Aeo stressed since it would greatly increase his chances of integrating into a hospitable environment.
It didn't take long before the perfect subjects arrived driving a rust-colored sedan. The man behind the wheel had gray, almost white hair, as did the woman who sat in the seat beside him. They were driving well under the speed limit which gave Val an extra few seconds to make his decision. As the car slowed even further to round the sharp curve in the road, Val stepped out of his hiding place and waved. Remember, cute and cuddly…cute and cuddly.
3
Harold and Maude Johnson traveled this way at least twice a month to visit their daughter and two grandkids that lived in Foster Flat three mountains over. Maude glanced over at her husband of forty years, his two hands firmly gripping the wheel at ten and two staring straight ahead. While she appreciated how safe a driver her husband was, which allowed him to keep his driver’s license well into his seventies, she did wish at times he would drive faster than thirty miles an hour. After all, he knew this road as well as he knew the winding veins that coursed along the back of his hand, but whenever she tried to gently nudge him to increase his speed, the reply was always the same.
“You never know what unexpected thing might pop up on these roads. Might be a downed tree from a recent thunderstorm, or a wreck from someone less careful.” If she persisted, his last reply would always win.
“I’d be happy to turn the driving over to you if you don’t care for my safety ways.”
She sometimes wondered if she took him up on the offer whether he’d actually pull over and let her take the wheel. She suspected not, but no matter. One didn’t stay more or less happily married for four-plus decades by picking such senseless fights. “Choose your battles if you want to win the war,” her mom had told her the night before she married Harold. It had been the only advice she’d given the young bride, but it had served her well over the years. This was one battle not worth fighting. She glanced out the window as Harold slowed even further to make the hairpin turn in the road.
What was that on the side of the road? A bear cub? Couldn’t be. Bear cubs didn’t wave as you drove by.
“What in the world was that?” Harold asked, at the same moment slowing even further.
“Can you pull over?” Maude asked reaching out and clutching Harold’s arm.
“Not safe to pull over on these mountain roads…” Harold began.
“Please,” Maude insisted, craning her neck to look behind her.
“Oh, okay, I guess. What was that thing, anyway?”
“I’m not sure,” Maude replied, “but I think it might have been a little boy dressed up like a bear.”
“Out here? There’s not a house within five miles!”
“I know.”
“You stay in the car, and I'll check it out," Harold said as he unclipped his seatbelt and looked behind him to be sure the road was clear.
“Not on your life,” Maude replied, releasing her own seatbelt and opening her car door before he had time to stop her. And then there were battles worth fighting.
4
Val watched as the automobile slowed to pull off the road. Had Aeo’s plan worked on his first try? Apparently so. Cute and cuddly, he reminded himself one last time then smiled and waved again as the two elderly humans exited their vehicle and started walking towards them, the old man frowning while the woman smiled warmly. So it was true what Aeo had told him. The females were more susceptible to cute and cuddly than the males.
The woman reached him first. When she approached within a few yards, Val let out a soft whimper and forced a tear from both eyes. Aeo had pointed out to him that cute and cuddly could take on many different forms, and that tears and crying could be particularly effective under the right conditions.
“Help me,” Val said, his lower lip quivering.
“Oh, you poor thing,” the woman replied walking over to him and bending down to his level. “What in the world are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere? Where are your parents?” Val remembered Aeo had instructed him not to answer questions if he didn't know the answer, or if he preferred not to respond.
The first question didn’t make sense to him. He wasn’t in the middle of nowhere. He knew exactly where he was. He could have told the woman his exact location, even the exact distance from the cave that had been his home for the past months. As to the second question, Aeo had warned him about any reference to parents, or mothers, or fathers.
“Help me…please.” He whimpered again, louder this time. He held out his arms, inviting the woman to approach, which she did, scooping him up in her arms and hugging him.
Could manipulating humans be so easy? Evidently so.
Hunting Wolf
It started off innocently enough. Late one Thursday, Mimi, Kendra, and TJ were sitting around Allan’s office, which doubled as TJ’s homeschool room, after a lengthy study session. Kendra had called for a short break when Mimi spoke up.
“Did you hear about the wolf on old man Elbertson’s land?”
“What? No,” Kendra replied. “Really? I thought wolves were extinct in these parts.”
“Yeah, that’s what makes it so interesting,” Mimi replied. “My Uncle Bo told me about it this morning at breakfast. He did say that Elbertson sometimes gets into the moonshine a bit too heavily, so he wasn't sure how true it was. Still, Elbertson claims he’s been on the wagon for months and that he saw a red wolf with his own eyes on his land. That’s not far from here.”
“On the wagon?” TJ asked, his interest suddenly piqued.
“It means he’s not been drinking any moonshine or other alcohol,” Mimi explained. “Every few years someone reports seeing a red wolf in the area, but it never amounts to anything. They used to be fairly common around these parts many years ago, but not anymore.”
“Where is Elbertson’s?” TJ asked.
“Just to the north of Dr. Pritchard’s land. I’d say it’s only a mile or two away,” Kendra replied. “But you stay away from there. Allan would freak out if he knew you’d gone over there.”
“Oh, sure,” TJ replied, but then again, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, he thought. If there really was a wolf on Elbertson's land, he wanted to see it. TJ could hardly wait until the weekend when he'd have a chance to slip away and investigate the rumor. Over the next two days he continued to think about how to go about meeting a wolf, and by Saturday he had his plan laid out.
TJ had continued to think about being able to shapeshift into different animal forms. His research on the internet had revealed that wolves and dogs were closely akin to each other. It made sense that since he already knew how to shift into a dog form, it shouldn’t be all that difficult to become a wolf. His research had also uncovered that one of the best ways to attract a predator was to mimic the sound of an injured rabbit. The website even had a recording of the sound, which TJ had practiced until he had it down perfectly, but would he be able to replicate it in his canine form?
The first several times he tried to produce the high pitch squealing noise it had come out sounding more like a wounded moose than a rabbit. His vocal chords had definitely changed along with the rest of him. He continued to work on it until the sound slowly came around. He recalled the warning that had been on the website:
“The rabbit squeal is a call that works anywhere in the world, and has the potential to bring in anything from a bobcat to a grizzly bear, but be fair warned: you're ringing the dinner bell and whatever comes in is hungry and looking for a quick meal.”
I think it would be far better to be in the form of a large dog than a human if my plan actually does work, he thought, as he started trotting in the direction of Elbertson's farm. He reached the border between the two lands in less than twenty minutes. He stood gazing at the old fence that was in need of repair that separated Allan's property from Elbertson's. He had wandered out this far a few times before but had always stopped upon reaching the border. It felt strange knowing that today he'd go beyond. He glanced around, half expecting to see someone spying on him just waiting for him to break his promise, but he saw no one. He was alone in the middle of the woods, as he'd been countless times before. Besides it being a neat idea to be able to become a wolf, there were some advantages to the shape. Wolves' chests and hips were proportionately narrower than dogs. This, coupled with the fact that wolves' legs were longer with larger paws, allowed them to run long distances at very high speeds. They were also known to be good hunters and able to survive in the wild either in packs or alone.
Slipping away had been easy. Everyone was accustomed to him spending several hours hiking through the woods surrounding his home. This time he’d just have to roam a little further. He also had found a spot to stash his clothes that was easy to find again. He went there now, undressed, and as quickly as possible shifted into his canine form.
He took a running start and easily cleared the fence where the top board had broken down from age and was surprised by the adrenalin rush he felt at breaking free. He trotted off into the new woods, which looked and felt just like the ones he'd just left. He continued on until he reached the crest of a hill that overlooked Elbertson's homestead; a log home much like the one he lived in and two outbuildings: a barn and henhouse. According to the paper, Elbertson had claimed the wolf had been attracted to the homestead because of the hens, and it had been the hens' squawking that
had drawn Elbertson outside to investigate. That's when he'd seen the wolf. It seemed to be the best place to start his search, but what if Elbertson saw him and thought he was the wolf returning? According to Mimi, old man Elbertson not only enjoyed his share of moonshine but over the years his eyesight had grown worse. The last thing he needed was for an old drunkard to mistake him for a wolf and end up shooting him.
TJ stood on the edge of the forest, uncertain whether to proceed. The breeze shifted, and suddenly he detected a new smell; one that he'd never smelled before but instantly identified very much like his own odor. It must be that of the wolf, he thought. Maybe he didn’t need to go any further. He’d just follow the scent and see where it took him. He lifted his nose in the air and took another whiff. Yes, there it was again. It seemed to be coming from his left, so he headed off in that direction, staying just inside the perimeter of the forest for cover. The scent led him to travel more deeply in the woods. Now he kept his nose close to the ground where the scent was strongest. He had the wolf’s trail. It won’t be long now, he thought just before he reached the creek where the trail ended.
He traveled up and down the creek bed, trying to pick up the scent again, but without any luck. Now, what was he to do? He was in the middle of nowhere without a clue which direction to go. That's when he remembered the rabbit squeal. What did he have to lose? He might as well try it, but what if it ended up attracting some other predator? He figured he could handle himself if the squeal attracted a bobcat, but what about a bear? He wasn't so sure. Still, he had come all this way to find and meet a wolf. He wasn't about to go home without trying everything he could think of to fulfill his mission.
He trotted along the creek bed until he found a good place where he could burrow down behind a fallen tree. As he hid as best he could, he recalled the other bit of information from the website: "When out in the field trying it out, don't call too often. Less is more in these situations. The more you call, the more likely you are to be busted. Animals like coyotes, for instance, are opportunistic hunters, meaning they will be easily drawn into such a sound, but calling too often will turn their curiosity into caution."
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