Kail says, “Delete the others.”
“I have done that. There were about three million in there.” He winces then looks at my still-raised finger.
“Here goes.” I huff then select the draft folder. None of the headers make much sense to me or ring any bells of familiarity. However, would he hide this? No. If some enemy made it this far, they’d find it. The first date is… “Damn.” I put my finger in my mouth and gnaw on it. “This must be it. It’s dated the day before he died.”
I click it, scan the text.
Dearest Hailey, my wonderful daughter. If you’re reading this, I am so sorry. I know you must be grieving. I’m sending you hugs and more hugs and a father’s love to, hopefully, help you through this.
I was likely murdered by the institute. I’m guessing you found the note I left and that is why you are here now, with me, reading this.
With me. I swallow, choking up, tears welling. I futilely cover my eyes with my splayed hand then pull it away. Kail is staring and looking concerned. “I’m okay. Just…this is it, and reading his words is hard.” I tilt the screen so Kail can read it too. Rasmus has sat back into the upholstery and is clearly giving me space. He nods, kindly.
I clear my throat and continue reading all the way to the end then check the attachment, that seems to have chemicals listed, before I look up again. How much do I tell Rasmus? How much do I even understand of this?
I wave at the screen, vaguely.
“I don’t understand all of this. My father says the research to create a frankenstruct began after a Large Hadron Collider switchover when they were probably feeding it more protons? And he walked past the Egyptian mummy in the foyer of the institute and noticed it had…”
I stare at the text again, still not believing this.
“It had moved.”
“Oh.” Eyes wide, Rasmus nods slowly. “Oh, fuck me dead.”
I almost laugh at his expression and end up contorting myface instead. I’m sure he sees my amusement. “Sorry. Not like in a horror movie. Notwalked,but it shifted, I gather from this.” I tap the screen. “That triggered an investigation. Observations proved the LHC energy was doing something odd that only affected the dead tissue of the mummy. So, they developed a chemical cocktail that mimicked what was in the mummy.
“Months later, they found what worked on human flesh that had been recently cryo preserved. And it all came about from this mummy. They are still researching how to control any people newly created. Discovered the flesh could heal if stitched together. Like Kail’s finger. And Dad says they chose then to try to use this technique on soldiers who had been dismembered. Because legally they had more wriggle room for that. But they hadn’t succeeded when he wrote this. He says another year and they might succeed.” Kail’s expression is grim, and he is silent when we lock gazes. This cannot be easy for him either. “And that is when he decided to spill all of this to someone higher up in government.
“He was afraid he might be killed before he could do that. Thought he was being surveilled. And…” I inhale. “He was. He must have been.”
“Same as I am sure they’re trying to trace you two. Maybe even all the Weirdos, by now? It’s why I brought this to you on notepaper.” Again, Rasmus nods. “There’s your proof then? And ours. The LHC is the main cause of the weird happenings in Revenant.”
“It’s a start. I’m not sure this is enough by itself. Whether you want the LHC shut down or what the institute is doing.”
Kail grunts. “I agree. This would be easily ignored. Your institute has not made any of me yet, as far as we know. If you have honest and moral officials, it might be enough, but toreally nail this, you need better evidence. Images. Copies of the death certificates. Photos of a frankenstruct would be best but…” He stares at the back of his hand. “For reasons, I’m not that candidate.”
“Because,” Rasmus drawls, “You weren’t made by our institute? So where are you from? That puzzles me.”
And me. I wait to see what he will say, though he’s always dodged this.
Kail opens his hands on the table and takes a few slow breaths. “I can’t say. I’m sorry. I will help you nail Clay to a wall, if necessary, but I can’t reveal that.”
Rasmus folds his arms and leans back. I don’t think that answer pleased him.
Does it matter to me? It does, but I will lay aside that desire to know his origins, for now.
I close my laptop. “You have my permission to make copies of this, Rasmus. Give every Weirdo a copy. I don’t use the email anymore, and it’s compromised, so I will just trust you. Spread this info. They cannot kill or silence all of us.”
“Sure.” He scratches his chin and the cogwheel tattoo on the side of his neck shifts with the muscles. “Melody said you might go to the lake next? If you do, be aware she might have you wade out to get samples of dead things. Lately, there’s always a few floaters.” He grins.
Ick.What am I getting myself and Kail into?
A two or three-thousand-year-old mummy that moved by itself is bad enough.
“Any luck figuring out how the bodies are transported to the institute?” Kail asks.
“Not yet. I’ll let you know if anything seems likely to be that.”
