Mycophoria by Tom G.H. Adams

Author:Tom G.H. Adams [Adams, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781983204241
Publisher: Tom G.H. Adams
Published: 2018-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

16

Deep and dark are the woods

Alburton had just enough time to call by at his house and pick up Smiffy before heading out to Netherwood with Bellingham. The dog had indeed defecated in the kitchen, but he looked suitably embarrassed about it and Alburton couldn’t get angry with him. The coroner had packed their Hazmat suits in the boot of the car and informed Wilkinson they were carrying out a preliminary reconnoitre. He hoped it would help speed up the process of identifying sites for the EA team to follow up later. Wilkinson was initially reluctant, but as he was pre-occupied by dealing with the media and setting up communication channels for the growing number of team members, he gave them leave to investigate, charging them to check in every hour.

“Stay together at all times,” he said, “and make sure you’re back here for ten o’clock. I want you in on the conference with Sundstrom.”

Now he was back on the road and charged with another coffee, Alburton felt energised — until Bellingham started his probing again.

“You’re a bit of a loner, Tosh tells me,” he said.

Alburton smiled but kept his eyes on the road.

Undeterred by his silence, Bellingham pressed further. “You don’t like sharing information either, do you?”

“Depends who it’s with,” Alburton replied, allowing Bellingham an inroad.

“But you have a perceptive mind.”

“Have you been reading my psychological profile?”

“Do you have one?”

“I did an online analysis once.”

“Don’t tell me, you’re an INTJ.”

“So are most people who take those tests. It attracts them. Most of the other personality types aren’t interested in their personality type.”

Bellingham was referring to the sixteen Myers-Briggs personality categories described by Carl Jung. Alburton knew where this was going.

A wry smile played over Bellingham’s face. “A tendency to believe that given the right application of intelligence and effort, nothing is impossible.”

“I suppose I’m somewhat idealistic, yes.”

“While at the same time perceiving that people are too lazy, short-sighted or self-serving to contribute to the achievement of those aims.”

“People can be dicks,” Alburton said.

“True — but becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy if that’s how you paint them in the first place.”

“Is this leading somewhere, Charles?”

“Look, I’ll level with you. I think you’re on to something with this fungus theory; and I recognise the need for haste. I’ve seen the bodies of all the infected now — from the inside out. This thing could be devastating. It doesn’t help that we’re hampered by lack of expertise and typical Cumbrian lethargy.”

“But?”

“The but is: there comes a time when co-operation is essential. I pressed for you to be on the team because of your insights and scientific acumen, but I have to tell you you’re this close to getting dropped.” Bellingham held his forefinger and thumb up in a measuring gesture.

“Wilkinson?”

“He’s the official chair of the team, but it’s the Police Commissioner and Ryecroft who pull the power levers.”

“Ryecroft? I didn’t notice anyone by that name.”

“That’s because he likes to stay unnoticed. He watches and observes. He was the guy with the comb-over sitting next to Veronica Lee.

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