Secrets of the Forest

“I should have known better.” Keeps echoing in my head as I continue my way through the dark forest behind my cabin. Early autumn which means the rain is steadily falling. The few drops that are able to make it through the thick canopy manage to leave their print on my flannel shirt.

“I should have known better.” My mind echoes once again.

There is terror. There is uncertainty. And I’m to blame. I have my journal in my backpack as I nearly twist my ankle on an unseen root protruding from the damp ground. There are worse things out here where shadows create their own reality, for I have created mine. Perhaps I should tell you so you can beware of the secrets of the deep forest.

My name is Dr. Sherwood Kazine. I was once considered a brilliant scientist from U. C. Berkley. I read a colleague’s article published in a scientific journal and was intrigued. Usually I scan over these with all the blah-blah-blah like junior high students bragging about what they had found and why they think it will matter. But Dr. Baldeen proposed a simple genetic procedure that could change the inhabitants of the forest, yielding some dramatic changes in the biosphere of this place. About this, he was correct, but the changes were, as I put it, catastrophic.

So, follow me, if you dare, and you shall see exactly what I am talking about. You may wonder why up ahead in the clearing, there is a blackness of the once thriving trees. Careful, watch your step. If you see any movement at all, you must notify me immediately.

“Dr. Kazine, good of you to drop by.” Dr. Baldeen had his eyes peering into a microscope.

“I read your article in the Journal.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. Brian Baldeen was a fastidious man, and protocol was important in any professional relationship.

“It is part of my research that delves into genetic protypes.” He straightened up and replaced his glasses at the end of his beak-like nose. “It theorizes there is a thin line between what is exhibited in the protype and what is coded in the genotype.”

“I found it fascinating.” I flattered him which was one of the weakness of his sterling character. “I have explored some of the research myself.”

“You have?” He seemed surprised which somewhat surprised me since I had also published results of my own genetic research. Apparently he had not taken the time to review it.

“Most certainly.” I nodded smiling, “I have looked at the expression in the prototype-“

“That research is still on-going.” He folded his hands under his chin.

“I am aware.” I gave partial shrug. It struck me that he had no idea anyone else was involved in this research. He felt that he had been divinely chosen to march forward in this.

“My advise is that you should be careful since this cane lead to results that hint at a Pandora’s Box. Biological organisms created through genetic research can be catastrophic if not resulting in tilting the delicate balance that exists in Nature.” His eyes became darkened beneath the lenses of this thick glasses. He spoke in a deliberate monotone almost like one of the robotic creations of the department across the hall.

I should have listened to him. But the first thing you want to do when you get a train set for Christmas is put it together without reading the instructions or safety warnings. I had my own instructions where I presupposed some of the combinations of the four nucleotides of the DNA molecule: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). These are nitrogen-based nucleotides form the double helix molecule of the chromosomes that compose all living organisms on the planet. Tamper with some of these four nucleotides and you could create an entirely different organism. Tamper with just some of these and you will change that genotype.

I knew that Dr. Baldeen had created some organisms into pollution-eating single-celled organisms that would save billions on toxic cleans ups. I had heard that there were companies willing to invest millions into his ground-breaking research. Envy could not adequately describe my feelings toward his work.

I owned a cabin just north of the university. Located in the Redwoods, I would use my cabin as a retreat when the pressure at Berkley became overwhelming. I kept my research private, locked in a wall safe with my other most cherished secrets. My sanctuary was a prefabricated log cabin with all the amenities and luxuries that included a wine cabinet cooled by refrigeration at just the right temperature.

I was after all a connoisseur. I understood how to live the life I desired and was not shy about taking from life the things I felt I had earned. Some of the awards I had received in my career hung on the wall near the safe.

In a shed in back of the cabin was a laboratory where I worked on my experiments in complete privacy. Mr. Cummings was my neighbor who like to poke around to see what I was up to. His bothersome meddling was the only obstacle I had in the privacy of my laboratory. But he did not have a doctorate in genetic biology. And even if I told him what I was doing, he wouldn’t have a clue anyway. He’d just ask me if I wanted to go fishing. When I said, “No,” he would just shrug and leave me alone.

One night when I worked into the wee hours of the morning, I saw a reaction that caught my eye. I did not expect it, but there it was.

I heard that little voice in my head, “What would happen if you injected this into a living animal?”

If I had read the genetic code correctly, I figured it would reconfigure the animal’s behavior. In recent days I had seen some wolves hovering around the farm in the higher country. The dairy farm also raised chickens. The wolves were interested in the chickens but could not get through the electric fence.

The next day I had loaded my dart gun with a dose of my serum. Finding a concealment in a natural foxhole, I set up and waited for the predators to appear. As the sun began its descent, two shadows appeared eying the fence. One was a large male followed by less substantial female. Both were colored in dark brown fur with emerald eyes and ears that were at attention as they perused just beyond the fence where a group of chickens were scratching in the dirt.

Standing now, I put the male in the crosshairs of my scope and pulled the trigger. The male yelped as the syringe struck him. The female became alarmed when she saw her mate yelp and fall to the ground. Before she could start her run, I pulled my trigger again and she was inoculated as well. Since neither of them would be harmed by their injections, I had decided to keep a record of their results.

As soon as they discovered that they were both alright, they ran into the deep forest for shelter.

When I came out the next night about the same time, I could not believe what I saw. The electric fence which had prevented them from entering the chicken roost had been ripped apart. A gaping hole was now evident along with a lot of blood staining the once peaceful area as pieces of chicken told the horrible story of what happened here.

While I was concealed in my hiding place, I saw two farm hands appear.

“So, what you suppose happened?” One of them asked the other.

“Beats me.” The other taller one dressed in overalls shrugged as he began to rake.

“Sure is bloody here.” The first one shook his head as he began to rake joining the other hand.

I walked out of my hiding place.

“Hey there.” I waved.

‘Hey.” Said the first hand without looking up at me.

“It’s been a terrible day.” The second leaned on his rake.

“I can see that.” I shook my head.

“A pair of wolves got through this fence.” The first hand continued to rake.

“How so? Isn’t this fence electric?” I asked tilting my head.

“Was. Not anymore.” The second hand shook his head, “My name is Jed Murdock by the way.”

“Good to meet you.” I shook his hand, “I’m Sherwood Kazine.”

“Ain’t you one who lives over yonder?” The first hand asked. “I’m Toby Shelton, by the way.”

“Yeah, you’re that professor.” Jed squinted.

“Yes sir, that’s me.” I nodded.

“Strange thing is someone who see’d them varmints said they walked on two legs when they attacked.” Toby scratched his head, “I ain’t never heard no wolves walking on two legs, have you Jed?”

“No sir, only seen ‘em runnin’ on all four." He held up for fingers for emphasis.

“I didn’t see ‘em. Jake done claimed he did.” Toby shook his head. “If they did they done run through this fence.”

“And kilt every last one of them chickens.” Jed sighed.

It was eerie to think that these creatures had become bipeds like human had over the long process of evolution. Even when you thought you had it all figured out, something happens that you hadn’t counted on. I wondered what else would take me by surprise. I didn’t have long to wait for the answer.

In twilight, I took the trail that led up the hill. I wanted to see the sun splash into the ocean which is a breathtaking display of colors never imagined.

“Good evening.” I heard someone say, but I did not see anyone standing there.

“Hello?” I put my hand along my brow so I could see who had said that. Stepping out of the shadows was something that took my breath away. My mouth was agape when I saw them. Both of them were, to say the least, quite striking.

“Are you the doctor I have to thank for my present appearance?” He was the wolf I had encountered that night, but now he was standing on his back legs. His voice was deep and guttural. “Impressed I can see.”

“Yes, I am surprised if that’s what you mean.” I saw that a second wolf trailed him also walking on the two back legs.

“As well you should be.” He laughed or perhaps it was a low growl, “My name is Damian Cutrose and behind me is my companion Nina Barthomew.”

Nina nodded, remaining expressionless.

“Would you like to go hunting with us tonight?” He stroked his fur with his claw-like hand. Despite being able to speak and stand, Damian still biologically resembled Canis lupus in physical form. This applied to Nina as well. Both of them appeared as wolves with the exception of being able to speak and walking on their back legs. As I tried to imagine the advantage they both had in being able to hunt, I now understood how they were able to access the chickens.

“I will have to decline your invitation.” I shook my head.

“Are you sure?” His green eyes sparkled with doubt, “Nina is a very gifted hunter.”

As if on cue, Nina latched onto one of the nearby redwood trees and before I could blink, she scaled the tree to the top, all three hundred feet. She hung from one of the top branches.

Amazing.

What had I done? With their present form, they were invincible. This was not the result I had been searching for.

“You see, professor, you have given us superior abilities.” He smiled as if he had come straight out of hell. “And one more thing.”

He paused and waved to her to descend from her lofty perch.

“She is pregnant.” He put his paw around her as she stepped away from the tree.

Offspring from genetically altered wolf, it was becoming a nightmare.

“What have you done?” Brain stood in front of me with his arms folded across his chest.

“I wanted to see if your theory was correct.” I turned away, because I could no longer tolerate being talked to as a child. But the truth was that was exactly what had done. I took this new toy I did not fully understand and produced a result that had not had turned out the way I thought it would.

“And what did you find?” He asked following me as I walked away from him. I remained silent as I did not wish to voice my guilt and quickly found that my silence was just as accusatory as admitting what I had done.

“I see.” He picked up a newspaper from his desk about the slaughter of a couple of fam hands named Jed Murdock and Toby Shelton. According to the article both had partially eaten. “You could have put my project in jeopardy.”

“I’m sorry.” I hung my head in shame.

“We have unfinished business to take care of.” He said somberly as he shook his head.

“Like what?”

“Euthanize them.” From a locked drawer, Dr. Baldeen removed a high-powered rifle. “What you have created in your exuberance was an evolutionary habitation that does not exist yet. It’s as if we were able to bring the dinosaurs back into our modern times and we would become their snacks.”

I drove Brian up to my cabin the following weekend, dreading what was about to take place. But the fact was that Damian and Nina had caused a lot of problems for the local farmers both for their livestock and for their own well-being. Damian and Nina had found a taste for humans as well as livestock.

“I find that these two are frequently active in this area.” He put his finger on the map south Mendicino which was close to where we were currently located. “Tomorrow will start searching here.”

“You want to begin our search in one of the most densely wooded areas in the entire country?” I shook my head. The roads were not paved and some of the terrain was quite rugged. If we remained on foot, they would have a distinct advantage. Brain obviously had no idea what we were up against.

We began at sunrise despite my observation that they were nocturnal. Brian told me better if we catch them asleep. I just shook my head and drove north without saying much else. As the woods got denser, the sunlight became just shadows leaking through the canopy. I did not think Damian and Nina would migrate this far north, but then the food source was more promising there.

“These redwoods are quite majestic, aren’t they.” He nodded.

“Yeah, majestic.” I echoed. At that moment I slammed on the brakes. Standing in the middle of the road was Damian, hands on his hips, peering at us with his emerald eyes. There was a smile that ran the entire length of his muzzle. I knew Nina was somewhere in the shadows.

“What on earth is that?” He pointed at the menacing figure in the road.

“Dr. Baldeen, say hello to Damian.” I sniffed, “Get your rifle out.”

Damian reached down and ripped the door off my Range Rover. Brian gasped as the wolf ripped him from his seatbelt.

“Damian, don’t!”

It was too late as I watched him lift Brain from inside the vehicle. In horror I watched as this would be the last time I would see Dr. Baldeen in one piece. The screaming did not last very long. My windshield was splattered with his blood. Slowly I got out of the Range Rover. Before I had time to turn around, Nina had her claw around my throat.

“It’s a shame about your companion.” Damian jerked his head toward the bloody mess in front of my vehicle. “What did you think would happen when you came here?”

“I tried to warn him.” I felt Nina loosen her grip around my neck and I shuddered when she removed it entirely.

“All my life I’ve been nothing but a lowly scavenger. The lone wolf howling into the empty moonlight.” He snarled, “And then Dr. Kazine gave us hope. Look at us now. Creatures to be respectfully feared. I owe you for that. Otherwise you would have joined your friend here as a bloody spot in the road.”

Nina chuckled.

“I will say one thing before you leave.” He took a deep breath and once again I became the focus of his evanescent gaze, “Do not return here searching for us. We will find you.”

I nodded since this would be the only time.

“It amused me to hear people talk of Sasquatch when we are here prowling this deep forest.” He glanced over at Nina who was smiling with amusement. “We will become the secret of these deep woods.” \

From the shadows, three small wolf children ran to Nina’s side. She hugged each of them.

“I am a proud papa.” He grinned as his emerald eyes showed as the sunlight was caught in the trees.

I slowly backed into my Range Rover as I watched them come together as a family on the side of the road. Before I started my vehicle, all of them were swallowed by the dark shadows of the deep forest.

Source:

DNA and Proteins - Genetics Generation Genetic Generation