The Gang of Four

‘No, not that side!’ Ceres ushered the group around to the “safe” side of the tree. ‘You don’t want to be standing anywhere near its line-of-sight, just in case.’

  ‘You think it could possess me?’ asked Russell, somewhat breathlessly.

  ‘Who knows?’ replied Ceres, examining the base of the trunk of the poplar. ‘Take a look at this!’

  The others stepped forwards and observed the fine hyphal filaments as they snaked up the tree, like a creeper, to join with the “tulip” up above.

  ‘Don’t touch those, whatever you do,’ ordered Ceres, ‘the Victorians reported that hypha directly linked to fruiting bodies packed a sizable electric charge, but I’m more concerned that we’ll alert this thing if we short out any of them. Thoughts, Michael?’

  ‘Agreed, ma’am. I can bypass the electrocytes with inert material to grant you access to its tissue.’

  Ceres nodded.

  ‘You are going to hack it!’ said Russell.

  ‘Yeah, we could communicate with it via the fruiting body, but that would probably induce a panicked reaction, or we can get into its innards and just take control.’

  ‘A channel to its chromosomal tissue has been established, ma’am. Before you interface may I suggest I take a closer look at that fruiting body, it may be booby trapped,’ replied Michael.

  ‘Go on then, but avoid being noticed.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am. Excuse me a moment.’

  Michael lumbered up the tree, careful to avoid contact with the hyphal filaments. He stopped and extended a paw to within a few inches of the tulip before retreating back down again.

  ‘Yes, it is booby trapped. The fruiting body is composed exclusively of spore clusters. When it is touched it will explode causing the spores to adhere to any attacker. Probably not deadly, as that would attract further scrutiny, but liable to ruin anyone’s day. I suggest Russell stands back.’

  ‘Not a problem,’ said Russell standing back, ‘is Chelsea far enough?’ he asked.

  ‘Just move away from the tree, Mr. Tebb,’ advised Ceres, as she prepared to interface with the creature’s genetic tissue. Mr. Waterstone and Michael decided to stand back with Russell.

  Whatever it was that Ceres was doing did not take long. After just a few seconds she joined the others.

  ‘Well?’ asked Russell.

  ‘Well what?’ replied Ceres.

  ‘Well.., are we ready to commence “negotiations”?’

  ‘In a manner of speaking. But you can stand down, Mr. Tebb, your negotiating skills will not be required after all.’ Ceres placed the “Majestic” report at the base of the poplar tree and turned to Michael: ‘Find the nearest surveillance camera presented with a clear view of both the fruiting body and that report. Zoom in on the fruiting body, but do not reactivate the camera just yet.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘Hack the laptop currently being viewed by the Prime Minister and send it the feed from the camera when I say so.’

  Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘We should all get back to the Bentley now. This place is going to get hot very shortly,’ advised Ceres.

  The group returned to the nearby car and stopped to view the fruiting body, that, even from this relatively close distance, was almost impossible to see.

  ‘Keep your eyes on it. Okay, Michael, knock out all of London’s cameras but reactivate the one you have trained on that!’

  ‘Yes, ma’am… done.’

  ‘Send the feed to the laptop… now!’

  The group watched the fruiting body intensely. After about ten seconds it exploded with a just-audible bang.

  ‘Ha! That will have spooked it!’ exclaimed Ceres. ‘And finally: lower the camera to view the report.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘Good. Mr. Tebb, drive us out of here, please.’

 

  ***