with her research. Over dinner that evening, they discussed the future of the Mortevida and Maggie’s hopes for the plants.
George’s heart fell when she said she was vehemently opposed to using the poison of the Mortevida. Her main interest was fostering the medicinal qualities of the plant, perhaps even propagating the plants to produce a larger purple edge while diminishing the poisonous green center. George politely agreed that that was the “right” thing to do, for the good of mankind and all that.
“What happens to the leaves after you remove the spores?” George asked Maggie.
“They wither and die. The cells turn into tiny little balls. After that they’re harmless,” she replied.
George tried to figure out how he could get her to part with the plants so he could use them in the creation of his ultimate weapon. He would have to lie and lie well. She was hundreds of miles away from civilization. She would never know how he had used her Mortevida plant. George had to win her confidence and trust. And he had to do it in five days.
For the next few days, George wooed Maggie. He complimented her for the least little thing she did. At dinner each evening, he would crank up the old Victrola she had in her hut and dance with her. Maggie wasn't used to so much male attention. In fact, she had always been shy around boys, and now even more so around men. George was very attractive, and Maggie was falling for him.
By the end of the week, Maggie believed George had feelings for her, too. She asked if he would return someday, and while George wouldn't commit to coming back to the rainforest, he never said he wouldn't. Maggie heard what she wanted to hear, and George took advantage of her.
George headed home with five Mortevida plants and instructions for their care. Maggie had agreed to give them to George in exchange for a steady stream of supplies to be sent to her on a monthly basis.
Maggie also extracted a promise in blood, literally, that George would use the plant only for the good of mankind. She had punctured his left pinkie and collected three drops of blood that she mixed with hers in a Petri dish. Maggie told him that this was his sacred promise and she would keep it with her. If he ever betrayed her, she would give it to the natives, who would put a curse on it that would destroy George.
As a scientist, George was amused. In fact, he was surprised that Maggie would believe such hogwash. But he solemnly shook her hand, and she gave him the plants. Maggie then hugged George and kissed him on the cheek.
"I look forward to seeing you again soon, George.” She smiled up at him. He’d made promises to Maggie in the acquisition of the plants, and now he felt a brief pang of guilt. Maggie was a lovely woman, but George kept his focus and gently removed her arms from around his neck.
"I‘ll do my best. I’ll miss you, Maggie.” George boarded the small boat that would take him back upriver. Maggie waited on the landing, watching George until he was out of sight.
George babied the plants all the way home. When he got to the lab, he had an area sequestered on the side wall to create a harmonious “garden” for his babies. He placed prominent signs reading “N Do Not Touch! N.” He then set about studying the mystical properties of the Mortevida plant. He gave the purple edges to Helmut who sniffed a little and walked away with a dish of purple spores.
In a room specifically created for testing biological weapons and wearing a hazmat suit, George tested and tweaked the green centers of the leaves. Every time he cut the leaves from the mother plant, the cells would die and the poison would be rendered harmless. George had to find a way to keep those cells alive.
Finally, after years of experimentation, he believed he’d found a way. By distilling the leaves and extracting the oils, George was able to create a
George’s heart fell when she said she was vehemently opposed to using the poison of the Mortevida. Her main interest was fostering the medicinal qualities of the plant, perhaps even propagating the plants to produce a larger purple edge while diminishing the poisonous green center. George politely agreed that that was the “right” thing to do, for the good of mankind and all that.
“What happens to the leaves after you remove the spores?” George asked Maggie.
“They wither and die. The cells turn into tiny little balls. After that they’re harmless,” she replied.
George tried to figure out how he could get her to part with the plants so he could use them in the creation of his ultimate weapon. He would have to lie and lie well. She was hundreds of miles away from civilization. She would never know how he had used her Mortevida plant. George had to win her confidence and trust. And he had to do it in five days.
For the next few days, George wooed Maggie. He complimented her for the least little thing she did. At dinner each evening, he would crank up the old Victrola she had in her hut and dance with her. Maggie wasn't used to so much male attention. In fact, she had always been shy around boys, and now even more so around men. George was very attractive, and Maggie was falling for him.
By the end of the week, Maggie believed George had feelings for her, too. She asked if he would return someday, and while George wouldn't commit to coming back to the rainforest, he never said he wouldn't. Maggie heard what she wanted to hear, and George took advantage of her.
George headed home with five Mortevida plants and instructions for their care. Maggie had agreed to give them to George in exchange for a steady stream of supplies to be sent to her on a monthly basis.
Maggie also extracted a promise in blood, literally, that George would use the plant only for the good of mankind. She had punctured his left pinkie and collected three drops of blood that she mixed with hers in a Petri dish. Maggie told him that this was his sacred promise and she would keep it with her. If he ever betrayed her, she would give it to the natives, who would put a curse on it that would destroy George.
As a scientist, George was amused. In fact, he was surprised that Maggie would believe such hogwash. But he solemnly shook her hand, and she gave him the plants. Maggie then hugged George and kissed him on the cheek.
"I look forward to seeing you again soon, George.” She smiled up at him. He’d made promises to Maggie in the acquisition of the plants, and now he felt a brief pang of guilt. Maggie was a lovely woman, but George kept his focus and gently removed her arms from around his neck.
"I‘ll do my best. I’ll miss you, Maggie.” George boarded the small boat that would take him back upriver. Maggie waited on the landing, watching George until he was out of sight.
George babied the plants all the way home. When he got to the lab, he had an area sequestered on the side wall to create a harmonious “garden” for his babies. He placed prominent signs reading “N Do Not Touch! N.” He then set about studying the mystical properties of the Mortevida plant. He gave the purple edges to Helmut who sniffed a little and walked away with a dish of purple spores.
In a room specifically created for testing biological weapons and wearing a hazmat suit, George tested and tweaked the green centers of the leaves. Every time he cut the leaves from the mother plant, the cells would die and the poison would be rendered harmless. George had to find a way to keep those cells alive.
Finally, after years of experimentation, he believed he’d found a way. By distilling the leaves and extracting the oils, George was able to create a
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