![]() Then he slid the fibers into a Ziploc bag. Kawakita scooped up a small handful of fibers and weighed them, removing several, then dropping a few back on. The table was covered with drying fibers. There, a long table had been set up under dull infrared lamps. They walked to the far end of the warehouse. Proof, rather, that the monster was Whittlesey. And the desperate creature would, if at all possible, find a substitute for the plant-the human hypothalamus being by far the most satisfactory. Of course, death would intervene before that happened. Otherwise, intense pain, even madness, would result as the body tried to revert. But it was critical that the dose be maintained. Initially, large quantities of the plant would be needed to ensure sufficient reovirus to effect the bodily change.Once the transformation was complete, the plant need be consumed only in small quantities, supplemented of course by other proteins. The climax of their ceremonials was undoubtedly the induction of a new creature-the force-feeding of the plant to the unwilling human victim. The cult would have centered around the plant itself, its cultivation and harvesting. Chances are, the Kothoga only kept one of the creatures around at a time-more than that would be too dangerous. The creatures kept the enemies of the Kothoga at bay-yet they themselves were a constant threat to their masters. The plants were a curse that was simultaneously hated and needed. Kawakita could now visualize parts of the Kothoga's secret religion. Mbwun-the word the Kothoga used for the wonderful, terrible plant, and for the creatures those who ate it became. He moved toward the door as quickly as the dim light would allow. The man grabbed it eagerly, and began to tear open the seam. The man dug his hand into his pants pocket and extended a wad of crumpled bills. ![]()
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