Seedling: Evil Hybrid

By J. N. Sadler

An American scientist conducts experiments fusing plant DNA
with human memory cells. He tries to sell the Chinese a bogus
formula and is kidnapped. Mutant man-fl owers terrorize his
family. Chinese operatives break in to find the real formula. The plants attack, trying to save the notes on the experiment. A fi re breaks out during the skirmish, and only the chosen fl ower survives to fuse with its creator.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479718337

J. N. Sadler

Janet Sadler is a resident of Havertown, Pennsylvania. She has published two volumes of poetry with her illustrations: Headwinds and Full Sail and has been published in many small literary magazines. Once member of the Mad Poets Society in Media, PA, and also the Overbrook Poets in Philadelphia, she reads her poetry at local venues. She was the former poetry director at Tyme Gallery in Havertown, PA and at Baldwin’s Book Barn in West Chester, PA. She has authored thirty flash fictions novels. Twenty-seven titles have been published through Xlibris and can be found at Xlibris.com, under J. N. Sadler Author’s email address: [e-mail]

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SEEDLING

Evil Hybrid

J.N. Sadler

Copyright © 2012 by J. N. Sadler.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/27/2021

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 1

Other Published Books By J. N. Sadler

CHAPTER 1

At the bottom of the main street in a valley town, sat an old-fashioned shiny tin diner. Its huge sign stunted the size of it. It was breakfast time.

A black PT Cruiser pulled into the lot and parked in a space close to the glass door. Gerhardt Klemmer, a tall, angular German scientist, mid-fifties, plastered down his loose combed-over hair and entered.

A juke-box played songs of the day, providing background for the din of conversations between customers and the clinking of silverware and plates from the kitchen.

Maisey Carlisle, a plump waitress in her forties with a brunette bob, leaned down to take an order at one of the tables. She wore a tight, pink uniform with a frilly white apron. She straightened and looked out the window. Sticking a pencil behind her ear, she walked to the counter.

Leontine Krauss (nicknamed Len) was waiting for an order to come through the window from the kitchen. She was mid-thirties and attractive. Maisey approached her.

Here comes Doctor Klemmer. He’s got the hots for you, you know.

Len finished writing up her order and looked past Maisey to see Dr. Klemmer push open the glass door and take a seat in a small booth near the window. He carefully laid his folded newspaper on the space next to him. Taking his watch out of his pocket, he looked around, and fumbled for his rimless glasses in his breast pocket. He put them on and watched Len bend down to pick up a menu that she had dropped. When she straightened, he signaled her over to his table, smiling. She poised her pen to write.

He began in a soft German accent. Would you be so kind, dear, as to get me some sausages and eggs and a cup of strong, black coffee; perhaps a bagel to go with this? He slightly bowed his head, and stroked his gray mustache. The other hand slowly folded his napkin. His eyes were icy-blue, almost transparent. He winked.

Of, course, Doctor Klemmer. She smiled and walked away.

Clinton, Len’s ten-year-old boy, came through the door and walked up to the counter. He waved at Len. She handed over Gerd’s order to the cook and took out a glazed doughnut for Clinton from under a covered dish.

Hi, Mom. Thanks. He took it from her, and chomped down on it.

Aren’t you late for school? Len asked.

A little, but my teacher understands because of Gram being blind and all. He licked chocolate from his mouth.

She wiped his face with a napkin. He pushed her hand away. Is everything all right?

She fell and hurt her leg this morning. It was nothing really, just a bruise. I put some ice on it and helped her to the couch. So, I was a little late. I called the school to explain, then came here on the way.

Are you sure she’s okay? She stood back looking at her son.

Yeah, but I wanted to tell you about it, anyway.

And get a doughnut on the way, right?

He laughed and jumped off the stool, finishing the last bite, wiping his hands on a napkin that he swiped from the table next to Gerd’s. I can’t be any later for school. Bye!

As Clinton paused by the exit door to toss out the used napkin, Gerd reached out and patted him on the head. My, my, what a fine young man you are! Gerd cocked his head, and his mouth formed crooked smile. Clinton pushed out the door, running up the street towards the school, ignoring him. Gerd shook his head from side to side, and laughed, heartily.

When Len took the check to Gerd’s table, he cleared his throat and held onto her hand as he took it from her. She tilted her head.

Leontine, you look exceptionally beautiful today. Would you like to take a walk with me this evening in this beautiful spring air? She lowered her eyes for a moment, and he let go of her hand.

Yes, I would like that, Dr. Klemmer.

Please, call me Gerd. I will meet you outside your house around seven. He bowed his head, and got up to pay the cashier. She walked ahead of him, smiling.

Magda (nicknamed Mag) Krauss, Len’s eighty-five year old blind mother, sat on the couch. Clinton sat on the floor in front of her, doing his homework. Len put on a light sweater and paused in the hallway, looking into the living room.

Mag sensed that her daughter was going out. Where are you going, Len?

I’m just going for a walk with Dr. Klemmer. You know, that nice German man from the diner. I think he’s a scientist or something. She primped in front of the hall mirror.

Yes. I remember him. He was in the diner one morning when you and Clint and I were having breakfast. I believe you introduced me to him. He had cold hands and smelled of Eucalyptus.

That sounds right. Well . . . She turned on the porch light. I’ll see you later. Here he is.

Gerd pulled up to the curb. He got out of the car and met Len on her front walk. They turned down the street. The street lamps went on.

He walked faster than Len. She took his arm and slowed him down. He looked down at her.

I am sorry. I forget that your legs are shorter than mine, he said.

She hugged his arm, tighter.

He cleared his throat. The girls at the diner say that you are very good with plants, he ventured.

It’s a hobby of mine. I studied Horticulture in college for a while, but then I had to drop out to raise Clinton.

Perhaps, you could assist me with my work. I need your input, your organizational skills, and your expertise in the nature of heliotropes, my sun-seeking flora.

She raised her eyebrows. He gave her a side-long glance. The girls and I wondered what you do on the hill. I guessed that you were a scientist.

He stopped and turned to her. Her arm loosened from his. His ice blue eyes looked at her, romantically. He kissed the top of her head, then her brow, then her cheek; and then, he held out his arm, and she took it. They continued around the corner. It began to rain. They walked faster, as the rain intensified. They laughed as they began to run.

They came back to the house after their chatty stroll around the block and headed up the walk to the porch. They were both dampened by the rain and slightly out of breath. Once up under the porch roof, away from the drizzle, Gerd pulled out a small black box holding a small diamond engagement ring.

He looked into her eyes and held it out it to her. She lifted out the ring and