In
this study we identified weresnails in human form on the basis of two
criteria: giant slime trails in their dwellings and nascent eye
stalks on the days preceding a full moon. We followed human-form
weresnails and used a modified tranquilizer gun to implant tracking
devices on their shells at the onset of gastrothropy.
*
Gordon
hurried home, dodging snow mounded where the plows had left it. He
did love Elaine, desperately, but he had sworn never to bring a child
into the world. He was afraid that his fear of what his curse would
do to any offspring must have looked a lot like rejection. She
didn't know, and how could he explain now, when it was too late?
Elaine
had cooked a wonderful meal: clam chowder, a green salad, and a spry
young California Merlot with an unexpected kick. Then she told him.
"I
felt sick this morning.".
"I'm
so sorry!" he replied, wondering at her odd expression. "You
certainly shouldn't have cooked for me when you didn't feel well.
You're feeling better?"
"For
now. I don't know what will happen in the morning."
She
finally had had to simply tell him. Then he gave her that look, and
he ran.
*
The
shell of the first subject shattered when struck by the tracking
device. The tranquilizer gun had to be further modified before
successful implantation was possible. Ultimately, time and location
data for three subjects were successfully collected for three lunar
cycles (fig. 1). Figure 2 shows movements of all three subjects,
superimposed on a high-resolution digital elevation model.
*
Gordon
could not sit still. He walked, trying to believe his son or
daughter would be normal. After all, the gastrothrope gene was
recessive, so unless Rachel had snail blood, their children would
look fully human. He pulled out his cell phone.
"Hello!"
"Rachel,
listen. I was just so shocked, but I want..." Then Gordon
paused, bathed in moonlight.
"Me
too, and.... This morning you looked...terrified. You don't feel
that way now, do you? Gordon? Gordon?"
His
cell phone shattered on the sidewalk as Gordon underwent a
transformation made excruciating by the salty meltwater covering the
ground.
*
Unfortunately,
aggressive salt distribution by county road crews resulted in
destruction of the three remaining experimental subjects. The study
will resume, with new subjects, after the last frost date in the
spring.
The
end
when
the city salted the streets he panicked.
At a rare October snowfall
At a rare October snowfall
October
snow
the
salted briny streets
weresnails
writhe
Publ. Daily Cabal, 2009
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