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She nodded, and then from out of the blue: "Yesterday I saw a male raccoon rape and kill his mate." |
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Terry told him the details. "It was anything but natural or normal. She didn't present as animals do. He just jumped her, dug his claws in her back to pin her down. Then he drove her like . . . like a machine, and when he finished, he tore her insides out with his teeth and claws . . ." |
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"She thinks there's a connection," Calvin said, shrugging. |
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"I know it sounds weird," Terry continued, "but I'm wondering if maybe there's something in the chemicals we've put on the lawn, something that could have caused Matty's endocrine system to go haywire, like the raccoons." |
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"For God's sake," Calvin said, "it's not like I've sprayed the place with Agent Orange." |
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"I know I'm paranoid about pollution, but you've dumped hundreds of pounds of that stuff on the lawn over the years. Who knows what effect . . .?" |
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"It's a legitimate concern," Mitch said. "But the kinds of lawn chemicalsfertilizers, lime, insecticide, what have youthey wouldn't affect the endocrine system in such gross ways either in Matty or the animals." |
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She nodded. "It's just that our water's discolored and smells. On some days our backyard has a funny odor. And half the flower garden is dead or dying." |
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"It's just the rain," Calvin said with a defensive edge in his voice. |
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"You have well water, I take it," Tojian said. |
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"Yes, and I brought a sample in for testing." |
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"Good idea," Tojian said. "And you think it's all connected somehowthe strange odors, discolored water, dead flowers, and Matty's condition?" |
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"It's just a gut instinct, but I feel as if the devil himself is coming out of the ground." |
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"Aren't we getting a little dramatic?" Calvin said. |
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"We'll know in a day or two." Then she said, "God, our life seems to be on hold for test resultswater, rabies, Matty's blood." |
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Nobody said anything for a moment. |
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