The Plant. Part 6

Something from the mysterious "Roberta Solrac" actually came today! I didn't know whether to be amused or disgusted by my own reaction' didn't know whether to be amused or disgusted by my own reaction' which was staring'elemental gut-terror followed by an almost insane urge which was staring'elemental gut-terror followed by an almost insane urge to put the thing down the incinerator' exactly as Kenton's note had to put the thing down the incinerator' exactly as Kenton's note had instructed. The instructed. The physicality physicality of my reaction as soon as my eye fell on the of my reaction as soon as my eye fell on the return address and connected the name there with Kenton's memo was return address and connected the name there with Kenton's memo was striking. I had a sudden spasm of shudders. Gooseb.u.mps raced up my striking. I had a sudden spasm of shudders. Gooseb.u.mps raced up my back.I heard a clear' ringing tone in my ears' and I could feel the hair stiffening on my head. back.I heard a clear' ringing tone in my ears' and I could feel the hair stiffening on my head.

This symphony of physiological atavism lasted no more than five seconds and then it subsided-but it left me as shaken as a sudden deep lance of pain in the area of the heart. Floyd would sneer and call it "a n.i.g.g.e.r of pain in the area of the heart. Floyd would sneer and call it "a n.i.g.g.e.r reaction'" but it was no such thing. It was a reaction'" but it was no such thing. It was a human human reaction. Not to the reaction. Not to the thing itself-the contents of the package were something of an anticlimax thing itself-the contents of the package were something of an anticlimax after all the sound and fury-but' I am convinced' to the hands which after all the sound and fury-but' I am convinced' to the hands which placed the lid on the small white cardboard box in which the plant came; placed the lid on the small white cardboard box in which the plant came; the hands which tied twine around that box and then cut a brown paper the hands which tied twine around that box and then cut a brown paper shopping bag in which to wrap the box for mailing' the hands which shopping bag in which to wrap the box for mailing' the hands which taped and labelled and carried. Detweiller's hands. taped and labelled and carried. Detweiller's hands.

Am I speaking of telepathy? Yes...and no. It might be fairer to say that I am speaking of a kind of pa.s.sive psychokinesis.Dogs shy away from that I am speaking of a kind of pa.s.sive psychokinesis.Dogs shy away from people with cancer; they smell it on them. So' at least' claims my dear old people with cancer; they smell it on them. So' at least' claims my dear old Aunt Olympia.In the same way I smelled Detweiller all over that box'and Aunt Olympia.In the same way I smelled Detweiller all over that box'and now I understand Kenton's upset better and have a good deal more sympathy for him. I think Carlos Detweiller must be dangerously insane...but now I understand Kenton's upset better and have a good deal more sympathy for him. I think Carlos Detweiller must be dangerously insane...but the plant itself is no deadly nightshade or belladonna or Adder Toadstool the plant itself is no deadly nightshade or belladonna or Adder Toadstool (although it may have been any or all of those things in Detweiller's feverish mind' I suppose). It's only a very small and very tired-looking common ivy in a red clay pot. (although it may have been any or all of those things in Detweiller's feverish mind' I suppose). It's only a very small and very tired-looking common ivy in a red clay pot.

If not for the "n.i.g.g.e.r reaction" (Floyd Walker)-or the "human reaction" (his brother Riddley)-I might really have dumped the thing...but after that fit of the shakes'it seemed to me I had to go through with opening the package or deem myself less a man. I did so' in spite of any number of gruesome images-high explosive rigged to special pressure-tapes' after that fit of the shakes'it seemed to me I had to go through with opening the package or deem myself less a man. I did so' in spite of any number of gruesome images-high explosive rigged to special pressure-tapes' noxious floods of black widow spiders' a litter of baby copperheads. And noxious floods of black widow spiders' a litter of baby copperheads. And there it was' just a small ivy-plant with yellow-edged leaves (four of them) there it was' just a small ivy-plant with yellow-edged leaves (four of them) nodding from one tired' sagging stem. The soil itself is waxy brown. It nodding from one tired' sagging stem. The soil itself is waxy brown. It smells swampy and unpleasant. smells swampy and unpleasant.

There was a little plastic sign stuck in the earth which read:

H I !.

M Y N A M E I S Z E N I T H.

I A M A G I F T T O J O H N.

F R O M R O B E R T A.

It was that flash of fear which drove me to open the package. Similarly' it's that same flash which has decided me against making sure Similarly' it's that same flash which has decided me against making sure that Kenton gets it after all' which would have been easy enough to do that Kenton gets it after all' which would have been easy enough to do (" ("Dat plant' Mist Kenton? Oh' plant' Mist Kenton? Oh' drat! drat! I g'iss I fo'got whatchoo said. I am I g'iss I fo'got whatchoo said. I am de mos f de mos f 'gitten'est 'gitten'est man!"). Let the ripples end; let him forget Detweiller' man!"). Let the ripples end; let him forget Detweiller' if that's what he wants. I've put Zenith the Common Ivy on a shelf in my if that's what he wants. I've put Zenith the Common Ivy on a shelf in my janitorial-c.u.m-mailroom cubicle-a shelf well above Kenton's eye-level janitorial-c.u.m-mailroom cubicle-a shelf well above Kenton's eye-level (not that he stops in much anyway' unlike Gelb with his dice fixation). I'll (not that he stops in much anyway' unlike Gelb with his dice fixation). I'll keep it until it dies' and then I really keep it until it dies' and then I really will will dump it down the incinerator dump it down the incinerator chute. That will be the end of Detweiller f chute. That will be the end of Detweiller fo sho.

Got fifty pages done on the novel over the weekend.

Gelb now owes me $75.40.

From The New York Post, The New York Post, page 1, March 4, 1981: page 1, March 4, 1981:

INSANE GENERAL ESCAPES OAK COVE ASYLUM,.

KILLS THREE!!.

(Special to the Post Post) Major General (ret.) Anthony R. Hecksler, known to the commandos and partisans who followed him across France during World War II as "Iron-Guts" Hecksler, escaped from Oak Cove Asylum late last night, stabbing two orderlies and a nurse to death in his bid for freedom. General Hecksler was remanded to Oak Cove in the small upstate town of Cutlersville twenty-seven months ago, following his acquittal, by reason of insanity, on charges of a.s.sault with a deadly weapon and a.s.sault with intent to kill. His victim was Albany bus driver Herman T. Schneur, whom Hecksler claimed in a signed statement to be "one of the twelve North American foremen of the antichrist."

The Oak Cove dead have been identified as Norman Ableson, twenty-six; John Piet, forty; and Alicia Penbroke, thirty-four. State Police Lieutenant Arthur P. Ford was surprisingly gloomy when asked if he expected to recapture General Hecksler quickly. "We hope for a quick arrest, naturally," he said, "but this is a man who trained guerilla units in World War II and in Korea, and who was consulted on more than one occasion by General Westmoreland in Viet Nam. He's seventy-two now, but still strong and amazingly agile, as his escape from Oak Cove shows." Ford indicated he was referring to Hecksler's probable method of escape-a leap from a second floor window in the Oak Cove Administration Wing to the garden below (see photographs on pages 2, 3, and Center Section). Ford went on to caution everyone within the immediate area to be on the lookout for the mad General, whom he described as "extremely clever, extremely dangerous, and extremely paranoid."

In a brief press interview, Ellen K. Moors, the doctor in charge of Hecksler's case, agreed. "He had a great many enemies," she said, "or so he imagined. His paranoid delusions were extremely complex, but he never lost track of the score. He was, in his way, a model inmate...but he never lost track of the score."

A source close to the investigation says Hecksler may have stabbed Ableson, Piet, and Pembroke to death with a pair of barber's shears. The source told the Post Post that there was no outcry; all three were stabbed in the throat, commando-style. that there was no outcry; all three were stabbed in the throat, commando-style.

(Related story p. 12)

PART IV.

From the journals of Riddley Walker

3/25/81.

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday Herb Porter was his usual self-fat' slovenly' smoking a cigar as he stood by the water-cooler' explaining to Kenton and Gelb how cigar as he stood by the water-cooler' explaining to Kenton and Gelb how the great train of the world would run if he' Herbert Porter' were the engineer. The man is a walking the great train of the world would run if he' Herbert Porter' were the engineer. The man is a walking Reader's Digest Reader's Digest of rabbit-punch solutions' a of rabbit-punch solutions' a compendium of declarative answers which are delivered amid the effluvium of cigar smoke and exquisitely bad breath. Close the borders and compendium of declarative answers which are delivered amid the effluvium of cigar smoke and exquisitely bad breath. Close the borders and keep out the spies and wetbacks! End abortion on demand! Build more keep out the spies and wetbacks! End abortion on demand! Build more prisons! Upgrade possession of marijuana to a felony once again! Sell biochemical stocks! Buy cable-TV issues! prisons! Upgrade possession of marijuana to a felony once again! Sell biochemical stocks! Buy cable-TV issues!

He is' in his way-or was' until today-a wonderful man: rounded and perfect in his a.s.surances' plated with prejudices' caprisoned about and perfect in his a.s.surances' plated with prejudices' caprisoned about with cant' and possessed of just enough native wit to hold a job in a place with cant' and possessed of just enough native wit to hold a job in a place like this' Porter is an evocation of the Great American Median. Even his like this' Porter is an evocation of the Great American Median. Even his occasional surrept.i.tious expeditions into Sandra Jackson's office to sniff occasional surrept.i.tious expeditions into Sandra Jackson's office to sniff the seat of her chair please me-an endearing little loophole in the walking castle of complacency that is Ma.s.sa Po'tuh. the seat of her chair please me-an endearing little loophole in the walking castle of complacency that is Ma.s.sa Po'tuh.

Oh' but today! What a different Herbert Porter crept into my janitorial cubbyhole today! The complacent'ruddy face had become pallid and trembling. The blue eyes s.h.i.+fted so regularly from side to side that Porter trembling. The blue eyes s.h.i.+fted so regularly from side to side that Porter looked like a man watching a tennis match even when he was trying to looked like a man watching a tennis match even when he was trying to stare right at me. His lips were so s.h.i.+ny with spittle that they looked stare right at me. His lips were so s.h.i.+ny with spittle that they looked almost varnished. And while he was of course still fat' he also looked as if almost varnished. And while he was of course still fat' he also looked as if he had somehow lost his surface tension-as if the essential Herb Porter he had somehow lost his surface tension-as if the essential Herb Porter had shrunk away from the borders of his skin' leaving that skin to sag in had shrunk away from the borders of his skin' leaving that skin to sag in places where it had been previously stretched smooth. places where it had been previously stretched smooth.

"He's out'" Porter whispered.

"Who's dat' Mist Po'tuh?" I asked. I was genuinely curious; I could not imagine what mighty sling or engine could have breached such a gap not imagine what mighty sling or engine could have breached such a gap in Castle Herbert. Although I suppose I should have guessed. in Castle Herbert. Although I suppose I should have guessed.

He proffered me the paper-the Post, of course. He's the only one of course. He's the only one around here who reads it. Kenton and Wade read the T around here who reads it. Kenton and Wade read the Times, Gelb and Gelb and Jackson Jackson bring bring the T the Times but secretly read the but secretly read the Daily News Daily News (the hand that (the hand that rocks the cradle may rule the world' but de han which empty de white rocks the cradle may rule the world' but de han which empty de white folks' wastebaskets know de folks' wastebaskets know de secrets secrets of de worl)' but the P of de worl)' but the Post was made for fellows such as Herb Porter. He plays Wingo religiously and says if he fellows such as Herb Porter. He plays Wingo religiously and says if he ever wins a bundle he is going to buy a Winnebago' paint the word ever wins a bundle he is going to buy a Winnebago' paint the word

W I N G O B A G O on the side' and tour the country. on the side' and tour the country. I took it' opened it' and read the headline. I took it' opened it' and read the headline. "The General's escaped'" he whispered. His eyes stopped bouncing "The General's escaped'" he whispered. His eyes stopped bouncing back and forth for a moment and he stared at me in dismay and utter horror. "It's as if that d.a.m.ned Detweiller cursed us. The General's escaped back and forth for a moment and he stared at me in dismay and utter horror. "It's as if that d.a.m.ned Detweiller cursed us. The General's escaped and I rejected his book and I rejected his book!"

"Now' now' Mist Po'tuh'" I said. "Ain't no need to take on so. Man lak dis prob'ly got fo-five dozen scores to settle befo he git to you." dis prob'ly got fo-five dozen scores to settle befo he git to you."

"But I could be number one'" he whispered. "After all' I rejected his G.o.ddam G.o.ddam book." book."

It was true'and it is ironic how two such fundamentally different men as Kenton and Porter have managed to get themselves into exactly the as Kenton and Porter have managed to get themselves into exactly the same situation this late winter-each the target of a rejected author same situation this late winter-each the target of a rejected author (Detweiller's rejection a bit more dramatic than that of the Major-General' (Detweiller's rejection a bit more dramatic than that of the Major-General' granted' but that was indubitably Detweiller's own fault) who just happens to be insane.The difference-I know it'even if no one else does (and granted' but that was indubitably Detweiller's own fault) who just happens to be insane.The difference-I know it'even if no one else does (and I believe Roger Wade might)-is that' while Kenton thought there might I believe Roger Wade might)-is that' while Kenton thought there might actually be the germ of a book in Detweiller's obsession'Porter knew better concerning the General's.But Porter is one of those men who has read actually be the germ of a book in Detweiller's obsession'Porter knew better concerning the General's.But Porter is one of those men who has read o m n ivo ro u s ly-and vicariously-about Wo rld War II' that Picke t t ' s o m n ivo ro u s ly-and vicariously-about Wo rld War II' that Picke t t ' s Charge of western man (western Charge of western man (western white white man) in the 20th century' and he man) in the 20th century' and he knew who Hecksler was...in a war filled with military celebrities Hecksler knew who Hecksler was...in a war filled with military celebrities Hecksler was' granted' of the Hollywood Squares type (if you see what I mean)'but was' granted' of the Hollywood Squares type (if you see what I mean)'but to Porter he was to Porter he was somebody. somebody. So he asked to see the completed ma.n.u.script So he asked to see the completed ma.n.u.script of Tw of Twenty Psychic Garden Flowers in spite of the abysmal outline' thereby in spite of the abysmal outline' thereby encouraging a man who was' by the quality and content of his own written words' a palpable psychotic. I felt that the result and his present terror' although unforeseen' were partly his own fault. encouraging a man who was' by the quality and content of his own written words' a palpable psychotic. I felt that the result and his present terror' although unforeseen' were partly his own fault.

I allowed as how it was true that he could be number one on the General's. .h.i.t list (if indeed the poor madman is doing anything other than General's. .h.i.t list (if indeed the poor madman is doing anything other than cowering in drainage ditches or scouring alley garbage cans for offal at this cowering in drainage ditches or scouring alley garbage cans for offal at this point)' but reiterated that I thought it unlikely. I added that he might well point)' but reiterated that I thought it unlikely. I added that he might well be caught before he could get within fifty miles of New York City even if be caught before he could get within fifty miles of New York City even if he had decided to come after Porter' and finished by telling him that many he had decided to come after Porter' and finished by telling him that many psychotics released suddenly into an uncontrolled environment took psychotics released suddenly into an uncontrolled environment took their own lives...although I did not say so in exactly those words. their own lives...although I did not say so in exactly those words.

Po r ter re ga rded me suspiciously for a moment and then said' "Riddley-don't take offense at this-" "Riddley-don't take offense at this-"

"Nawsah!"

"Have you really been to college?" been to college?"

"Ya.s.sah!"

"And you took psychology courses?"

"Ya.s.sah' I sho did."

"Abnormal psychology?" psychology?"

"Ya.s.sah' and I'se pow'ful familier wid de suicidial syndrome a.s.sociated wid de paranoid-psychotic personality! Why' dat Gen'l Hecksler could be slittin' his wrists or garglin' wid a lightbulb even while we's heah could be slittin' his wrists or garglin' wid a lightbulb even while we's heah talkin' Mist Po'tuh!" talkin' Mist Po'tuh!"

He looked at me for a long time and then said'"If you've been to college' Riddley' why do you talk that way?"

"What way is dat' Mist Po-tuh?"

He regarded me for a moment longer and then said' "Never mind."

He leaned close-close enough so I could smell cheap cigars' hair tonic' and the graywater stench of fear. "Can you get me a gun?" and the graywater stench of fear. "Can you get me a gun?"

For a moment I was literally without a response-which is like saying (Floyd would' anyway) that China was for a moment without manpower. (Floyd would' anyway) that China was for a moment without manpower. I had an idea that he had changed the subject completely' and that what I I had an idea that he had changed the subject completely' and that what I had heard as had heard as Can you get me a gun? Can you get me a gun? had actually been had actually been Can you get me some Can you get me some fun, fun, as in ho. Definition of a ho: dahk-skin woman who do it fo money on as in ho. Definition of a ho: dahk-skin woman who do it fo money on account of de food-stamps is gone and de las fix be cookin in de spoon. account of de food-stamps is gone and de las fix be cookin in de spoon. My response was to either fall down' shrieking wildly with laughter' or to My response was to either fall down' shrieking wildly with laughter' or to throttle him until his face was as purple as his tie. Then' belatedly' I began throttle him until his face was as purple as his tie. Then' belatedly' I began to understand he really to understand he really had had said gun...but in the meantime he had taken said gun...but in the meantime he had taken the overload in my mental switchboard for refusal. His face fell. the overload in my mental switchboard for refusal. His face fell.

"You're sure?" he asked. "I thought that up there in Harlem-"