Schizogenesis [chapter 23]

Minton drove Ed’s dually back to the barn and climbed into the hayloft. He didn’t think Haswell or the sheriff would look for him here, and his team members were unaware of the barn’s existence.

After a few hours sleep, he awoke and thought about the machine. So no one could steal it back, it should be hidden again.

He’d watched Ed pull it from the barn floor, so all that should be necessary was to reverse the process. He left the barn and drove up to the back of what remained of the old farmhouse, pulled out the machine and lowered it to the ground. Now that he knew what he was doing, its weight felt little more than that of an empty briefcase.

The machine on its own sank halfway down, and Minton pushed on its top until it was flush with the ground.

As he made contact with the machine, his strength grew. His skin glowed. By the time he finished and returned to the truck, something occurred to him.

Why am I hiding?

What could anyone do to him now? Nothing.

Still, it was probably wise that he got far away. He could return in a few weeks for his prize. He smiled at the bags in the floorboard. At least he had plenty of dough.

For any chance of slipping the quarantine’s noose, he needed another vehicle. Ed’s pickup would be…