fructify
*********************************
Vic brought down his machete, cutting through more vines. He swore the more he got through, the denser the rest of them became. Maybe it was just the fact that he had been cutting through the jungle for over a week. The heat and humidity were not helping his mood.
“You know, doc.” He said as he cut through another plant that was blocking the vaguely defined path. “I know it’s not my job to ask questions, and I don’t get paid to know stuff, but after a week of this, I think I can bend the rules a little bit. Why the hell are we out here?”
His employer, Dr. Reeve, looked up from his map and compass. He regarded the larger man carefully before replying. “I suppose you’re right. And it’s not like we’re in any danger of being overheard out here. Very well. We are searching for a very rare plant. This plant has only one known specimen alive. This is for a very important reason. It only bears fruit once every century. Nobody knows why this is, but that is not important. What is important is that it will be fruiting soon. That’s what we’re after.
Vic paused mid swing. He turned to look at the small scholar. “Are you telling me that we came out here to the middle of the jungle for a piece of fruit?”
“A rather simplistic view, but essentially correct. It is a fruit nobody alive has ever seen. I plan on using this fruit to breed more of the plant, not only saving the species, but also gaining very valuable subjects to study.”
“It’s still a piece of god damned fruit!”
“The rarest in the world, Victor. Not something you can just pop down to the supermarket for. Now come on, let’s continue. It should not be too much farther away. I want to take a few measurements, photos and samples before the fruit forms and ripens.”
“Ripens? We’re going to be here until the damn fruit ripens?” Vic growled.
“Of course. Why did you think I specified a long term expedition in your contract? Don’t worry, all the records say it has a very short ripening time. Oddly, it does not specify how long it is, just that it is short.”
Vic was very close to turning around and leaving Dr. Reeve in the jungle. It was only his professional reputation that kept him from doing so. Even if he hated every moment of it and thought the goal was idiotic.
It was an hour later that they reached a small clearing. Although calling it a clearing was not quite right. The plant life was still quite dense, but it was all low growth flora. The only real tree there was in the center of it. A large tree with sprawling branches that formed a rough dome shape. Dr. Reeve became immediately animated and he began fawning over the tree.
“Seriously? This is it?” Vic asked.
“Yes, Victor, this is it. This is our destination.”
“Doesn’t look important enough to come all the way out here.”
“Looks are very often deceiving, Victor. But do not worry, it shall be all worth it once it starts fruiting.”
“And what do we do until then?”
“You do nothing. Well, unless some pressing danger arrives. I will be quite busy though.”
“So, I just sit and wait while you do whatever it is you do?”
“Just so.”
Vic did not need any further instructions. He plodded towards the tree, cleared out a space for himself, and sat down. He just hoped he would not be waiting for too long.
*******************************
Honestly, I would probably be more interested in eating the fruit than anything else. Probably a good thing I'm not part of any expedition like this.
No comments:
Post a Comment