Page 39 - HEF Pen & Ink 2020

ly have access to stronger equipment, he would just have to wander around with his scanner and see if he could find anything worth noting. The shock of find- ing living plants was finally wearing off and he was reverting to the mind of a scientist once again; take good samples, do as much research as possible with the current resources, and report any findings back to the superior. Marcel took out his phone and called Tyler and waited for the younger man to pick up, not caring that the sun was setting and any reasonable person would be asleep by now.
HEALTH NUT
by Danielle Prouty
“This had better be good,” Tyler’s sleepy voice grumbled through the phone, Marcel smirked for a moment, any reason to make his superior’s life diffi- cult was a good one.
“I found something that might interest you,” Marcel snarks back, smug dripping from his tone like water from a leaky faucet.
“Believe it or not I managed to find some living plants.” Silence, absolute dead silence on the other end of the phone. Marcel almost checks the connection when Tyler speaks again.
“You’re certain it’s not some sort of trick?” Ah, there was the skepticism he was expecting. Marcel snorted, not bothering to hide the annoyed contempt it contained.
“Why would I lie about something this im- portant? I even went as far as to test it myself.” Mar- cel paused, he could almost see the younger man on the other side of the conversation, drawing himself up to either wait out the customary rant that Marcel let lose or interrupt him and list every reason he was wrong. Marcel sighed, running a hand through untidy auburn hair.
HIDDEN BRIDGE
by Nate Schellhardt
“Tyler.” He listened to the slightly confused quiet on the other end of the call. “You would have to see it for yourself, so find my location and come out here. Whether it’s now or tomorrow doesn’t matter, just get out here,” he hesitated before adding, so soft- ly he almost didn’t hear it himself, “Please.”
“All right, I’ll meet you tomorrow.” And with that
Tyler ended the call.
———
Marcel didn’t waste any time setting up camp
after the call had ended, he needed all the rest he could get for tomorrow.
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