Amoeba (The Experiments) (50 page)

Lou watched as Jake squatted by what looked like a burned out campfire in the very early morning. Tiny pieces of paper scattered about, along with a napkin and a sardine can. “So, uh, Jake, I guess there goes your theory that they’re staying close to the bungalows.”

“We’re really not that far.” Jake rested his elbows on his knees staring around. “But how long can their supplies hold up
? They killed for money. They aren’t going to kill their dinner. Trust me.”

“So they’ll use up what they have and come after us.”

“If they have anything, they’ll never use up what they have. I won’t allow them that time.”

“Jake, if you’re so sure . . .” Lou saw Jake glare at him. “Not that I’m questioning your means
, mind you. But if you’re so sure they’ll come back to camp, why don’t you wait for them there?”

“They’re animals. I wanna take them out. I don’t want them anywhere near my wife.” Just as Jake stood, he stopped. Stepping over the burned out fire
, Jake reached down to the ground to a dried bloody cloth.

“What is it?” Lou asked.

“One of their bandages.” Jake examined it.

“Jake
, should you be touching that?”

Jake brought the cloth to his nose and sniffed. Lou cringed with a sideways toss of his head. “Gangrene.” Jake tossed the bandage. “At least one of them will be slowing up soon. They’ll have to stop sooner or later.” Jake began to walk. “Let’s go.”

Lou followed. He looked back at the bandage Jake had thrown. “You know, that was really gross.”

“I take it you put everything in order?” Greg asked as he spoke to the speaker phone while slicing his French toast.

“Yeah
,” Stan answered. “I spent all night learning that stupid machine.”

“How difficult can it be
, Stan. You’re a scientist.” Greg reached across the small table in his office for the syrup.

“Not too. But I still haven’t a clue what I’m looking at. I did some wonderful shots of Ollie’s pancreas. Did you get them?”

“Over dinner, yes.” Greg took a bite of his food. “What about the medication and instructions?”

“We sent it down with Rickie
,” Stan told him. “Hopefully it helped. We’ll be checking on her here real soon.”

“We?” Greg questioned.

“Ollie and I. Porter will be left in charge. Not much should happen while we’re gone.”

“Make sure you charge the fences
,” Greg instructed while reaching for his coffee. “With those four animals running about, we can’t take a chance with you guys.”

“Three
,” Stan corrected.

“Three?”

“Rickie went, well, monster on one.”

Greg smiled. “Excellent. O
kay, let me know when your examination results about Cal are complete. Don’t send me anything half ass, okay? And, um, then get started on that other project I sent you.”

“And what was up with that?” Stan asked with attitude

“Part of the next phase,” Greg said.

“Did we need them?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“Don’t you think . . .” Stan snickered in disbelief. “We have enough.”

“No,” Greg said in a short tone of voice. “Start the procedures.”

“Can I ask a question without you pressing that little hang up button on me?”

Greg rolled his eyes. He knew it was going to be good. “Go on. But no guarantees.”

“Where . . . where do you get these people from?” Stan asked.

“Ads in the paper. It is amazing what people will do, what products or pharmaceuticals they will test, for money. It’s been happening with many companies for years.”

“Won’t they be missed?”

“Nah.” Greg shook his head while eating. “They’re homeless.”

Stan’s gasp rang over the speaker phone. “Isn’t that a little inhumane
? You are very inhumane.”

“Stan.”

“Yeah.”

Greg set down his fork and folded his hands. “How long have you worked for Caldwell.”

“Eleven years.”

“Wanna see twelve?” With a point of his finger and a press of a button the clicking sound signified Greg’s disconnecting of the call and he returned to enjoying his breakfast.

It was quiet, no noise, nor did there sound like there was any movement in the shower. Perhaps it hadn’t been as long as Billy thought, but it was long enough that he became paranoid. “Cal?” He called out to her as he stood with his back facing the shower doors. “You all right?”

“Yeah
,” she answered softly “Almost done. Do you have my robe there?”

“Yes.” Billy looked at the white robe hanging on the bathroom door. He heard the squeak of the water shutting off, and he grabbed the towel. Still gentleman-like
, he opened the shower door without looking and handed her the towel.

“Thank you.” There was a pause and then Cal spoke again. “I can’t bend over to put the towel on my head. I’m too dizzy still.”

“I’ll help you. Come on out.” Billy grabbed her robe and held it open at the shower door for when Cal slid it open. She slipped into it, bringing it closed and tying it. Billy took hold of her arm and helped her step from the tub.

“Thanks. I’m sorry.”

“This is not a problem, Cal. Quit apologizing.” He grabbed the towel placing it over her head, and he began to gently blot her hair dry.

“Not much left
, huh?” Cal asked with some sadness.

“What are you talking about?”

“My hair.”

“I like it shorter. It’s kind of . . .” Billy leaned his head over her shoulder adding a feminine lisp to his voice. “Sassy.”

Cal smiled. “I love when you act that way for me.” She turned around and faced him. “It makes me laugh.”

“Your laughter almost got us busted when you helped me do that investigative piece.”

“I couldn’t help it. I did play a great boyfriend to you, though.”

“To me . . .” Billy reached for the door. “You were still too pretty to pull it off.”

Cal shook her head moving slowly. “I should have looked like I do now.”

“What? Are you kidding
?” Billy opened the door helping her out. “You’re still too pretty to pull it off, bruises or no bruises.”

Just as Cal was about to say something, she stopped walking when she was surprised to see Rickie standing there.

“Cal-babe, you’re looking good this morning.” Rickie kissed her on the cheek. “And does, like, the Sarge know you guys are showering together?”

“No.” Cal tightened her robe. “But I’m sure you’ll tell him.” She shifted her eyes to see Stan and Ollie in the room. “Rickie?”

“Oh, yeah. You got company.” Rickie pointed to them. “They’re, like, here to check you out.”

Ollie stepped forward. “How are you feeling Cal?”

“Sore.” Cal sat on the bed. “Sick to my stomach.”

“That’s the concussion. And that concussion probably explains why you told Rickie you don’t remember too much.”

“I don’t. Bits and pieces. Is that normal?”

“Very. And so is the nausea. Have you eaten anything today?” Ollie asked.

“No. Not yet.” Cal shook her head.

Ollie looked to Billy. “Why don’t you go and get her something. Stan and I would like to check out Cal.”

Billy glanced at Cal. “Will you be all right?”

“I’ll be fine.” Cal nodded then peered up
at Ollie. “But really. You don’t have to check me out.”

“It’s your choice
,” Ollie said. “But . . . Rickie explained to us that you’ve had some complications with the pregnancy. It’s best we make sure there are no problems that could arise. That, as you know, can easily happen when you’re body spontaneously aborts.”

Cal’s head dropped
at about the same time Billy’s heart sunk when he heard those words. Their generated feelings swarmed around the room causing an immediate sadness.

Ollie closed his mouth tight
ly, turning his head to Stan and nodding. Stan carried a small machine that looked as if it was a struggle for him to lift. He placed it on the night stand.

“Dude.” Rickie reached out pulling a
t a staring Billy. “Let’s, uh, let’s let them do their thing.”

Billy slowly nodded his head, gave a sad smile to Cal, lifted his hand in a wave
, and walked out hearing as he did Ollie explaining to Cal about the ultrasound.

“Guy, like
, you want to wait here and I’ll go fix Cal babe something, or do you want to come?” Rickie asked as they stood on the porch.

Billy heard what Rickie said, but being so deep in thought, there was a delay before the words registered. “Um . . . huh . . .” Billy squinted at Rickie. “I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “Would you mind running to get her something
?”

“No, not at all.” Rickie stepped off the porch. “B
e right back.”

“Something easy. Tea and toast.”

“Got it.”

Billy thought he heard Rickie call him an asshole as he lowered down in his daze to sit
, but since he couldn’t figure out why Rickie would do that, Billy again chalked it up to his half listening until he saw Larry approaching.

“How’s Cal?” Larry asked.

Billy raised his head. “Why do you care?”

“I’m deeply concerned.” Larry looked nervous. Edgy.

“Talk a walk,” Billy said as he folded his hands. “You haven’t even a right to be here.”

“Look.” Larry took on an edge. “I don’t know what she said to you, but I had nothing to do with this. Nothing.” His hand cut through the air as he spoke.

Billy curled his lip. “I think we know that, asshole. I’m saying that you’ve caused enough problems for her and she doesn’t need to even know you’re out here.”

“Yeah.” Larry backed up. “Um . . . you’re right. You’re right. I’ll go.” He turned to walk away, took one more look at Cal’s bungalow
, then continued to walk.

Billy never claimed to be a rocket scientist
, but he knew at that moment he didn’t have to be one to know that something more was up with Larry other than the ‘deep concern’ he claimed to have. And Billy knew if his own mind wasn’t so slow and fogged with what was going on, he probably would have further investigated that gut feeling he picked up from Larry’s behavior. And he would. But at that moment, all Billy could do and all he wanted to do was think about Cal and what was going on in the bungalow.

^^^^

“Still on the right track?” Lou yelled in question to Jake.

“Yeah. I’m starting to believe they’re hiding out
, or searching for a good place to hide out.”

“I would
, especially after what happened. Judge said they patterned their attacks a few days apart.” Lou gave a slight shudder then jolt as he pulled up his zipper. He bent down, grabbing his rifle and small sack and lifted them. Seeing Jake off about ten yards to the right, Lou raised his head in a call to him. “Find something?”

Jake tossed the long stick he had been poking at the ground
and looked back at Lou. “Yep, they were here. One of them was. Momentarily.”

“Oh
, yeah? You’re the man, Jake. You know this for sure?” Lou tossed his things over his shoulder.

“Yep.” Jake flashed a quick smile. “Let’s head down toward the canyon again.”

“Any particular reason?”

“Fresh water. They may try to find some. And that’s about the only place close.” Jake began walking.

“Sounds good to me.” Lou trotted to catch up to him. “So what did you find that let you know . . .” Lou’s pace slowed down as he looked at what Jake was poking a stick at. “God, Jake, that’s gross. You peered at that for that long? First the puss, then the phlegm on the tree, now this.” Lou started walking again. “Is it all body excretions in general, or do you enjoy all disgusting things? Jake, wait up.” Lou hurried. “Just tell me one thing.” His voice echoed down the hillside. “You didn’t touch that, too, did you?”

Billy somehow regretted two things as he set bedside next to Cal. Using the words, ‘feel free’ and giving Cal a red pen, he vowed as he looked at all the red circles and marks that he wouldn’t get upset. He couldn’t have possibly made that many errors, it had to be Cal’s head injury causing her to see wrong.

“Billy?” Cal called him softy
, noticing his wide eyed glare on his paper. “Something wrong?”

“Um . . . no. What did you think?”

“I love it. I love your writing.”

Billy tilted his head still staring at the paper mumbling
, “Certainly looks it.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing I . . .” Billy lowered the papers when he heard the thump and felt the vibration on the soles of his feet. He looked to the floor. “Rickie.”

“Guy.” Rickie pointed then walked around to Cal’s bed. He laid across the foot of it. “So
, like, is there not going to be any interesting conversation tonight?”

“I would think you’d find this interesting
,” Billy said. “This has to do with the first . . .” He cringed at the loud thump. “Experiment.”

Rickie walked around Cal’s bed and laid back down across the foot again. “Cal-babe
, good thing we’re sure Sarge is coming back after rangerizing then dudes, cause, like, I’d hate to see you end up with this guy.” Rickie shuddered.

Billy was not amused. “What is so wrong with . . .” Billy’s eyes closed tightly in a wince at the even louder bang. “Me?”

“Dude.” Rickie chuckled out the word. “I think you know.”

“Dude.” Billy tried. “No, I don’t.”

“See, right there.” Rickie walked around Cal’s bed again and laid down at the foot of the bed. “For example, the word dude. Some people aren’t meant to say it. You, for one, Sarge is another. Its sounds unnatural, you know? But, like, the Sarge, he leads an exciting life. You guy . . .” Rickie slid some off the bed, dangling his head to the floor and did what he had repeatedly done for the past half hour. He brought his legs up over his head and flipped with a ‘Bang’ to the floor. “You, guy, are like, Darren Stevens. I can, like, see you thinking a big exciting night is sitting in front of the TV watching Seinfeld Episodes.” Rickie made his way around Cal’s bed laying down again.

“That is really not fair
,” Billy argued. “I lead an exciting life. I’m a reporter.”

Rickie laughed. “Guy
, like, was it real exciting and life threatening when you did that pumpkin patch story last year? No.” Rickie flipped again, stood up from the floor, and walked around the bed.

“I don’t pick my stories
, Rickie. I’m here, right? And I did some of those survival camps.”

“Failed them
,” Rickie said.

“I still did them. And besides
,” Billy explained, “Jake has his replacement all picked out for Cal.”

Cal
, who was silently reading and relaxing, lifted her head. “Jake picked a replacement for himself? In case of what?”

“In
case, well, in case . . .” Billy shrugged. “You know, he doesn’t make it.”

Cal rolled her eyes and fluttered her lips. “Yeah right. But who did he pick?”

“Chuck,” Billy answered.

“Chuck?” Cal weakly laughed.

“Chuck?” Rickie laughed. “Cool choice. Cal-babe, if you think the Sarge gets you rockin a lot, wait until Chuck gets hold of you.”

“Rickie
,” Billy gasped.

“Rickie.” Cal shook her head at Rickie who began to flip again.

“Rickie!” Billy snapped at the thump.

“What!” Rickie stood up. “Scared my roll wrong guy.”

“Did you exercise at all today?” Billy asked him.

“No, like
, the Sarge isn’t here to run me like a dog.” Rickie moved to lay down.

“Stop.” Billy stood up laying down his pen and standing. “Go run a mile or something
, or I’ll tell Jake you blew off what he wanted to do.”

“Guy.” Rickie pointed to the door. “Like
, it’s dark out. If I go, can I have a gun?”

Billy’s head flung back in laughter. “You of all people don’t need a gun
, Rickie.”

“Cal-babe?” Rickie looked at her with pleading eyes.

Cal’s eyes stayed on the paper she had started to read again. “Take the one in my second drawer.”

“Thanks.” Rickie hurried over
, opened the drawer and pulled out the revolver. “I’ll run it off.” He walked to the door. “Oh!” His excited call caused Cal to look up and Billy to pause in his sitting. “I’ll go get Paul. I’ll see if he’s up to playing a little cowboys and Indians. What do you think?” Rickie slanted his stand and limped to the door. His words had a drawn out effect. “If you’re looking for me, partner-dude, I’ll be out, like, fetchin up some Indians.” Rickie lifted his hand and tipped his head as if he tipped a hat he wasn’t wearing. He turned, opened the door, and limped out.

Billy sat down pointing, looking so baffled. “He really doesn’t interact with normal people too often, does he?”

“He’s always around me and Jake,” Cal responded.

“Point proven.”