Chapter 28 - Tryffyd
"It's a conspiracy, Lionel! Khoohk!!"
"Ha...? Khoohk."
"A secret black ops project! Khoohk! An evil experiment! Khoohk!!"
"O - Kay ... Khoohk."
And I thought I was weird.
"You think they're not real but THEY ARE REAL! Khoohk!! Why do you think you've never heard of them before? Khoohk! Because they hid the truth! Khoohk!!"
"O - Kay... Khoohk."
This is getting really weird.
"They did it in the dark! Khoohk! They destroyed all the evidence! Khoohk! They did everything to keep it unknown! Khoohk! HA!!! They do not know that truth will always prevail!!! Khoooohk!!"
She's getting carried away.
"The author of the story discovered everything about the Tryffyds! Khoohk! So he wrote a novel about it. Khoohk! Yes, he changed a lot of details and exaggerated a little bit, but Khoohk! It worked! Khoohk!"
Ha...?
"Uhmm... Khoohk. If the Tryffyds are real, Khoohk, couldn't he just tell the police? Khoohk."
"He can't. Khoohk! The police and the authorities will never believe him! Khoohk! They would think he's a nutcase! Khoohk! So, to protect the world and his name, Khoohk, he wrote a novel to tell everyone and start an awareness! Khoohk! The details are just so specific and so real! It's a superb book! You should read it too! Khoohk!"
"O - Kay..."
I... Really don't get it...
"The point is this, Khoohk! When the scientists heard about the novel, Khoohk, they destroyed their Tryffyd Project Khoohk, to avoid speculations and imprisonment if an investigation was made. Khoohk! They burned everything! Khoohk!"
"O - Kay... Khoohk. Let me get this straight before you go on. Khoohk. Because I'm a little bit confused..."
I'm super confused!
"Tryffyds are plant monsters that you've read from a story book. Khoohk."
"Yes. Khoohk."
"And you say they're real. Khoohk."
"Yes. Khoohk."
"I don't know that they were real and Khoohk, I guess a lot of people don't know it too. Khoohk."
"Yes, go on. Khoohk."
"Because it's a 'secret black ops project' of 'USER Scientists'."
"Yes. Khoohk. By the way, it's 'U.S.S.R.' not 'USER'."
"Right... Khoohk. So, Khoohk, in order to protect the world Khoohk, a writer wrote a novel about it. Khoohk."
"Correct. Khoohk."
"The scientists heard about it, Khoohk."
"Yes, continue. Khoohk."
"And that stopped their secret Tryffyd Project, Khoohk."
"They completely destroyed every specimen. Khoohk. Or so they think. Khoohk!"
"O - Kay... Khoohk. Before telling that another part of story, Khoohk, I want to ask some questions. Khoohk."
A lot of hard questions.
"Go ahead. Khoohk."
"Uhmm... Khoohk. Why would the U.S.S.R. scientists create a plant monster in the first place? Khoohk."
"It was crazy, those times... Khoohk."
"Ha...?"
Silence...
"I... Really don't get what you mean... Khoohk."
"Sigh... Khoohk. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, you should read more history, Lionel. Khoohk."
I can't read at all, you know.
"The novel said that the Tryffyds produces valuable oil. Khoohk. They can also be made as feeds for livestock so, Khoohk, we can say that they are created for money and profit. Khoohk. But I know better, Khoohk. They are created for a much more sinister purpose! Khoohk!!"
"O - Kay... Khoohk. What is it...?"
"An endless army of plant monsters for world domination!!! Khoohk!!!"
"Ha...?"
"Visualize it! Khoohk! Just plant some seeds in a large farm, water it, put some fertilizer, take good care of it, let it grow for three weeks, and boom!!! Khooohk!! You got an instant army of your own! Khoohk! And you can control them using echolocation! Khoohk!!"
Silence...
WHAT IS THIS?!! PLANTS VERSUS HUMANS?!!!
"And why would the scientists want to conquer the world? Khoohk."
"Because... Khoohk.'
Elisa made a dramatic pause for effect.
"Because those scientists are evil!!! Khoohk!!!"
"O - Kay..."
(Lionel's thoughts: Great! That explains everything! Everything's clear now, I guess...)
"Uhmm... Another question, Khoohk, how did you know these things? Khoohk. Are you sure about it?"
"One must read between the lines to know such things, Lionel, if you know what I mean. Khoohk,"
I do not know what you mean at all.
"That's why I know them, and I'm definitely sure about it! Khoohk!"
"Uhmm... Khoohk. This is really hard to believe... Khoohk."
(Lionel's thoughts: I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!)
"I know, I know. Khoohk. It's really hard for our innocent minds to understand but, Khoohk, we need to accept the truth. Khoohk."
(Lionel's thoughts: ARGH!!! YOU DON'T GET IT, DO YOU?! EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID IS LIKE, IT CAME FROM A CARTOON OR SOMETHING!! HOW CAN I ACCEPT IT?!!)
"TING!!!"
"Good, Khoohk, we're on the ground floor. Khoohk."
The sliding doors opened...
"This is the other reason why I'm so sure about it. Khoohk."
"KHOOHK!!!"
WHAT ON EARTH?!!!
"W-Why are those people lying on the ground?!! Khoohk!! Are they dead?! Khoohk!! I - I don't get it?! Khoohk?!! I don't understand!! Khoohk!! Shouldn't there be Tryffyds in here, eating people, as crazy and as yucky as it sounds?!! Khoohk!!!"
"That's where my second part of the story comes in. Khoohk."
We slowly walked out of the elevator.
"The scientists burned their entire Tryffyd project. Khoohk. But unbeknownst to them, some Tryffyd pollens escaped from their secret underground lair. Khooohk."
Unbeknownst?! What is the meaning of that word?!!
"The winds carried them far away, Khoohk, and they landed here, somewhere in this city. Khoohk. For a very long time, they secretly grew and increased in numbers, Khoohk, in a very secluded place. Khoohk."
"I - I still don't get it! And wait a minute! Please! Just a minute! First of all, are they dead?! Because if they are, I'm gonna run and hide for my life!! And are you sure it's safe to walk around in here?! If everything you said is true, there should be giant plant monsters hanging around!! Khoohk!! Khoohk!! Khoohk!! Khoohk!!"
"Calm down, Lionel. Stop hyperventilating. Khoohk. Do you see me panicking? No. Khoohk. They're not dead, okay? They're in a trance state. Khoohk."
"HA?!! What does that mean?! KHOOHK!!"
"Sigh... Khoohk. They're just sleeping and dreaming. Khoohk. They're still alive. Khoohk. For now... Khoohk."
"Oh, that's very good to hear... Khoohk. Wait, did you just said 'for now'?!! What about the Tryffyds?! Khoohk!!"
"Yes. I just said 'for now.' Khoohk. And about the Tryffyds, Khoohk, They're here."
I drew my pipe-sword!
"OH MAN!!! Where are they?!! How many are them?! I - I can't see them!! I don't know if you're brave or just plain crazy but how can you be so calm in this kind of situation?!! Khoohk! Khoohk! Khoohk! Khoohk! Khoohk!"
"Oh Lionel, for a boy, you're quite easy to scare. Khoohk."
"Ha...?"
Silence...
"This is no time to joke around, Elis! This is serious! Khoohk! Khoohk! Khoohk!"
"What? I'm not joking. Khoohk! I'm telling the truth. The Tryffyds are here. They're everywhere, to be exact. Khoohk. You can't see them because they're minute particles floating in the air. Khooohk."
"HA?!?!"
Silence...
"You know, you are SO hard to understand! I don't get you! What do you mean?!!"
"Sigh... Let me finish the story first so you could understand, okay? Khoohk. Chill Khoohk."
"Okay... Khoohk."
(Lionel's thoughts: How could I possibly "chill" in this kind of place and situation?!!)
"Where was I? Khoohk. Hmmm... Yes. Khoohk. So, as you've heard, the Tryffyds had secretly grown and increased in numbers. Khoohk. But that's not the only thing that happened to them. Khoohk. They evolved. Khoohk."
"They WHAT?!! Khoohk!!"
"They evolved, Lionel. Khoohk! You see, if they remained in their original form, a gigantic plant monster, Khoohk, they're easier to spot and kill. Khoohk. As I have said before, Khoohk, Tryffyds are intelligent creatures. Khoohk. So, In order to prevent total annihilation, they changed their appearance, size, ways, and form. Khoohk."
"..."
After all that explanation, I still don't get it.
"Ahhh... Khoohk. So what's the connection between those things and us...? Khoohk."
"You still don't get it? Khoohk."
I just stared at her.
(Lionel's thoughts: I sure don't.)
"The Tryffyds have evolved into a small flower. They're attacking us humans in pollen form. Khooohk."
"?!!!"