Specimen

            “Keep in mind that this is a very rare species,” Dr. Allen said to the group. “It was discovered in the wilds of the Brazilian rain forest. In fact, we’re still not entirely sure what it is.”

            He pointed to the large cage in which the beast sat, glaring. It was vaguely humanoid, covered in thick, brownish fur and its eyes had the sparkle of a mad intelligence. The hands were large, as if they were made for digging and the feet were more like pads.

            “That’s what you’re here for. You’re all the best in your fields. Biology, anthropology, zoology. We need to know what this is and Washington wants to know NOW! You have a week to render a full report.” Allen left the room and the scientists began to work. The cage was flooded with a odorless gas and the creature slowly fell asleep. As soon as it was safe, Dr. Tobias entered the cage and removed the samples. Hair, blood, some nails clippings, and saliva. It would be the beginning of the tests.

            The lab became a hub of activity as the samples were spread around. Only Dr. Sandra Levine stayed near the cage and watched the creature as it awoke. It was male, that much anyone could see, and it looked just enough like a human to be disturbing. It’s eyes locked onto hers and looked inside her. For a brief instant, she could feel something slithering in her mind, burrowing through her thoughts as if it were looking for something. She shook her head and went back to work but, every once in a while, her eyes strayed back to the cage.

            Slowly, the tests were completed.

            It wasn’t completely human, nor was it anything else. It was a cross between man and ape with aspects of both but belonging to neither classification completely. It was, in fact, the missing link and it had finally been found.

            Dr. Allen brought several high ranking officials to see the creature. There were representatives from the branches of the Armed Forces as well as members of organized religions and they all sat and listened very quietly to the briefing. “Thank you, Dr. Tobias,” Allen finally said, “that will be all for now. Please take your team outside.”

            The other scientists looked at Tobias but followed him out of the conference room. “What’s happening?” Sandra asked.

            “They’re deciding.” Tobias answered. When Sandra looked confused, he explained further. “They’re deciding whether to let it live, Sandra.”

            Stunned, Sandra didn’t know how to reply. “Well, what did you think, Sandra? Do you think that they would really let this creature live? It’s very existence denies the religions and, without their support, the government will fall. That’s the true secret of the world. There are no governments. We’re all just members of religions, nothing more.”

            Sandra ran off back to the lab and stared at the creature. There was no one else in the lab now, they were all outside the conference room waiting for the final decree which they knew was coming. She could feel his eyes upon her and the pull of his mind on hers. Slowly, she opened the cage and went inside.

            When Dr. Allen finally came out of the conference room, his face told the story. “Termination,” he said. “Immediately.” Dr. Tobias nodded and led the team back to the lab. As he opened the door, the creature hurled itself at him. Brutally, it slammed Tobias’ head onto the floor over and over again until it was holding a bloody mass in its hands. Horrified, the rest of the team scattered as the creature ran down the hall and disappeared from view.

            Shots were heard ringing out in the distance as the team tentatively opened the door and looked into the lab. The scene was one of utter chaos. Everything was broken and smashed. All the equipment was thrown onto the floor and Dr. Sandra Levine was nowhere to be seen.

            Months later, a woman arrived at one of the small villages outside the Brazilian rain forest. She was looking for a guide but even the most jaded among them was hesitant to take a pregnant woman into the forest. It took some time but eventually she found a guide and disappeared into the forest, never to be seen again. Later, everyone agreed that the one thing they had all noticed about her was her eyes and the way they bored their way into your mind.