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tem and is throwing it off. Whatever it is, it's the culprit behind all the changes he's experienced, including his rage." |
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"Synthetic compounds? Where did it come from?" |
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Mitch shook his head. "My first thought was that Matty had gotten hold of some anabolic steroids, but the molecular structure of the stuff didn't match any of the synthetic steroids going around. And after talking to him, I was convinced he hadn't taken any. He also swore he'd never experimented with drugs, although he confessed sampling marijuana once and hating it. I have no reason to believe that he wasn't telling the truth. Besides," he added, "no drug I know of would have the effect this stuff has on his vision. As I said, he can see in the dark." |
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"I'm no chemist," Dr. Hagan said, "but the substance is bizarrely elusive. It's a lipophilic substance, which means it can cross the blood-brain barrier. What's strange is that it appears to do contrary things . . . drops the production of sexual hormones while at the same time activating them. I think its effect depends on the concentration. Whatever, it appears to be something that was purposefully manufactured." |
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"Over the last few days," Dr. Givens added, "we tried to establish a time-line. We talked to Matty to determine when he started noticing the changes in his bodythe hair growth, the headaches, his night-sensitivity, his rage. From what we can tell, it all started late last year, before Christmaswhich jibes with when you started noticing his mood swings. Does that seem about right to you?" |
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"Yes," said Calvin " . . . when we had the pool built." |
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"The pool?" Dr. Givens said. |
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"The backyard was all torn up." Calvin's voice was flat. |
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Givens looked at the others. "I'm afraid I'm not following you, Mr. Hazzard." |
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"Our backyard was once used as a dump for a biological research lab. It's possible, with all the digging and heavy equipment, that containers could have been ruptured," he said. "Our well water lies under our backyard." |
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Terry gave him a look, hearing this for the first time. |
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"I take it you've had EPA out to monitor it." |
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