Lemuria, Burt Clinchandhill [adventure books to read .TXT] 📗

planet, and for the first time setting foot in the dust. One small step for tribesman, one big step....” He stopped his impression.

“A crazy thought, isn’t it?” Bishop stated.

“It sure is,” Lindsey confirmed. “But what I still don’t understand completely is why Mulder abducted you.”

“Yes, indeed,” Ignatowski added. “And what was he planning on doing with you?”

“Good questions,” Jennifer answered. “Somehow, I believe he was sincere with his original intentions. In the beginning, he explained that his company sponsored the highly experimental treatment that activated the G2 quiescent stem cells to regrow part of my brain that was damaged by the Naegleria Fowleri amoeba.”

“Eaten, if I recall correctly?” Monroe wrinkled his nose.

Jennifer nodded. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that he saved my life, and after that, when he asked for my help in following him around the world visiting the tribes, at first I didn’t want to, but I was also intrigued and felt obliged. Of course, I didn’t know what he was actually doing to those poor people. And when I found out, I also figured that he purposefully had me injected with something he took from the tribes. Something that developed my Jacobson’s organ and heightened my sense of emotions.”

“Ah, yes,” Lindsey remarked. “How is it going with that now?”

“Actually, I’m kind of used to it now, and I must admit it has its advantages. I can now sort of feel how people truly think about me. Sometimes when a lie comes with strong emotions, I can even sense dishonesty. My new physician says he can’t be sure where this development will end, but for now, it seems doable. By the way, did any of you ever hear back from the treating physician at Mass General?”

“The one you met before in Israel a few years ago, you mean?” Ignatowski asked.

“Yes, that one,” Jennifer confirmed.

“Nothing,” Lindsey answered. “We looked into it at the Agency, but he completely disappeared.”

“Was he even a real doctor?” Jennifer asked.

“He was,” Lindsey replied. “There’s a complete record right up to the moment when you left the hospital. From there nothing, we suspect he was paid to remove your hospital records before disappearing.”

“By Mulder?” Monroe asked.

“Who knows,” Lindsey answered.

De Cremonese looked at Jennifer. “Did Mulder ever tell you what his plans for you were, with this whole rocket to Mars thing?”

“Not really,” Jennifer responded. “He was always saying that eventually, he would let me make my own choices, whether I wanted to stay with him or decide to go. But that was it.”

“We’ll probably never know for sure,” Bishop concluded.

“What happened to Fawcett? And where’s Amie?” Lindsey asked.

“Well,” Bishop replied. “Fawcett was supposed to call me once he landed in the UK, but when I didn’t hear from him, I phoned the number on the business card he gave us, but the number was disconnected. So, I called the UK Embassy, and guess what?”

“They never heard of him?” Ignatowski answered.

Bishop nodded, smiling. “According to the friendly lady at the embassy, she sends out a request to all known agencies, and no one has ever heard of a Nigel Small Fawcett.”

“Sounds like a made-up name anyway,” Jennifer added.

“You should look it up some time.” De Cremonese said, grinning. “And Amie? Did anyone speak to her?”

“I just spoke to her on the phone this morning,” Bishop answered. “She told me it took her some time to adjust after Mulder locked her up in that hotel, and she regretted not taking action against him sooner.”

“What could she have done?” De Cremonese asked. “Look what happened to her when she did.”

The group nodded in agreement.

“Anyway,” Bishop continued. ”She’d been back to visit Oliver Lancaster. Lancaster received an unmarked letter with a copy of Mulder’s will in it. As it appears, he left all his stock in the Logynous enterprises to Lancaster. As I understand it now, Lancaster is considering a return to the company, but only if Amie accepts a position as CEO. And yes”—Bishop eyed Monroe—“I asked about the cabin at the lake, and we’re free to use it any time we want, so that means we can finish our fishing trip.”

“Oh goody,” the Brit replied in his throaty English voice. “And I was already so very impressed with our first trip.”

Bishop smiled. “You know what I think was impressive?” he asked. “Jennifer’s drawing in the cavern in Peru. That was impressive.”

“You think so? That’s very kind,” she smiled. “I’ve no idea how it came to me, but at the time, I was afraid that someone would find my message and realize I was trying to leave messages—”

“Breadcrumbs,” Monroe interrupted. “Like your father once did.”

Jennifer gave a broad smile and a tiny nod. “Yes, breadcrumbs. But the first crumb that came to me was Ernst Haeckel’s tree of life with the two species below the top in reverse.”

“Great one,” Bishop replied. “When I saw it, it immediately reminded me of our discussions on Haeckel’s work. You always said he had it backward, and I tried to convince you that it was just about the only thing that Haeckel was ever right about.”

“I did remember, and I still think you’re wrong.” Jennifer reached over the table and punched Bishop in the shoulder.

“Ouch.” Bishop made a sad face. “You know what I still don’t understand?” he said, addressing Lindsey. ”In Peru, how did you connect Haeckel’s ‘Stammbaum der Primaten’ to Jennifer?”

Lindsey smiled. “Well, I figured that was kind of a wild guess. We searched ‘Stammbaum der Primaten’ and the sixth result—”

“Seventh,” Ignatowski interrupted.

“Excuse me, seventh,” Lindsey corrected. “The seventh result was a link to an Instagram post by Miss Porter here picturing the Stammbaum. The picture was accompanied by a text from the fresh doctor saying she would ‘get back at her professor’ for doubting her. From there, it wasn’t too difficult to find out who that professor was.”

Jennifer giggled. “In my defense, I might have had a drink or two when I posted that.”

“So there you have it,” De Cremonese concluded. “A social media post can