Entrapment

Entrapment

“Good afternoon Professor Weybridge; I’m from Laboratory News. Can you tell the world and me what endangered plant species you and your team are currently trying to conserve In Kew Gardens?”Asked the grey-haired man in his smartly dressed, dark suit.

“Yes, the team and I are trying to cultivate different species of plants; one is Dionaea Muscipula, known as The Venus Flytrap. Venus’s habitat is In the wild, in North and South Carolina, but they are now becoming scarce!

“Hi, Professor, CNN, do you think there’s any chance of saving any of these endangered species before it’s too late?" Queried the young, blond lady reporter.

“All I can say is we are doing the best we can.” “Look, I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen, only one more question, please.”

“Yes,” the Professor pointed to the red-headed lady In the blue suit in the front row.

“Thank you, Sue Carter, from Science magazine.”

“Professor, is there any truth in the stories that some rogue scientists out there are so desperate to save certain plant species that they are doing Frankenstein-like experiments?

The professor paused, stared at the reporter.

“Absolute poppycock!” “No scientist out there would dare risk their reputation on worthless experiments!”

“How did the press conference go, Professor?” Asked Dr. Baxter, head botanist researcher at Kew Gardens.

“It could’ve gone better, doctor.” sighed Professor Weybridge.

The Professor and his team continued working on their research, trying different methods with only minor success in cultivating the Venus Flytrap.

“In this propagator, we managed to grow some seedlings using dusting pollination. This method seems only to work, one in a thousand times, and even then, they look straggly and poor specimens.” Said Dr. Baxter.

“What about the cuttings method?” Did you do it exactly as I asked?”

“Well, of course, Professor.”

“Are you alright? You seem agitated.” Asked the doctor.

“Oh,” “I’m sorry, Doctor. I don’t mean to doubt your work; it’s been a stressful time these past few days. What with the press conference and now this problem with government funding.”Said the Professor.

“Anyway, Doctor, time to go home; I will see you tomorrow morning.”

The following morning at Kew.

“What the heck is this report?” shouted the Professor as he threw the document on his desk.

“I said I want to be updated, but only with positive news. This report just tells me that the use of cuttings is no better than flower pollination.”

“ I’m sorry, professor, but Dr. Baxter told me to give this to you.” Said researcher and secretary Anthea, brushing her auburn hair back.

“Where is Dr. Baxter at the moment, Anthea?”

Said the Professor, lighting a cigarette.

“He isn’t in today; he had a dental appointment. Something major.” She said.

“He didn’t mention It to me yesterday!” Shouted the Professor.

“Okay, Anthea, I want all the research team in here tomorrow at nine o’clock for an urgent meeting, and make sure you inform Dr.Baxter too.”

The following day at the meeting, Professor Weybridge spoke to his research team, all seated apprehensively at the long table.

“Hello, everyone. I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news:

The government is cutting our funding by twenty-five percent, from next month. I’m sorry to say this; It will inevitably mean there will be redundancies!” Said the Professor.

“But how does the government expect us to do proper research If It reduces our money and our research staff?” Replied Dr. Baxter angrily, pulling out his pipe from his mouth.

“I know Dr. Baxter was angry yesterday at the meeting, but I didn’t expect a letter of resignation on my desk the very next day.” Said the Professor.

“Anthea, get me the Doctor’s number, please.”

“Dam it! He doesn’t seem to be in Anthea.” Said the Professor.”Maybe the doctor is out getting interviewed for another post at some university?”

But Doctor Baxter was at home In Kent, busy working in his specially built greenhouse, in his garden. He had been doing secret research months earlier, trying out various methods of his own to cultivate and prevent not only the Venus Flytrap from extinction but another endangered plant, too.

The Doctor went over to his secret, especially, adapted propagator, in his large greenhouse; Sliding open the roof, the Doctor checked for any progress in the plant’s growth. He placed on his glasses for a closer look at the hybrid plant, a mixture of the Venus Flytrap and another carnivorous plant, a Nepenthes Rajah species (the largest carnivorous plant in the world).

A grin formed on his face like a Cheshire cat as he saw the plant had sprouted another few inches.

Looking closer, he observed a couple of the Venus Flytrap’s distinguishing features, a few burgundy pigment traps had developed with their rows of teeth. He could also see, hanging farther down from the stem was a Nepenthes water pitcher structure, a few inches long.

For the next few weeks, Doctor Baxter continued his work for the next few weeks, nurturing the plant like a mother to her newborn baby.

As the Doctor smoked his pipe, he made his way to the greenhouse in the garden. Suddenly he heard the sound of smashing glass. Rushing to see what had happened, he Opened the greenhouse door, and there in all its splendor, was the hybrid plant, now some ten-foot-tall, with four VenusFly traps, two on either side of its stem, the size of dinner plates. Hanging lower down was a Nepenthes pitcher, some four feet in diameter and just as deep.

The Doctor wondered how it could have grown so big from when he last checked it. It was only a couple of feet tall a week ago!He thought. Gingerly walking up close to the plant, he examined it. As he touched one of the traps--

“What the …?

“Anthea, phone Dr. Baxter and make an appointment for us to see him today, please.”

“It’s on message, Professor. Shall I leave a message?”Said Anthea.

“No,” “It’s time we went and checked on Doctor Baxter. Let’s go and surprise him. If he is in, We’ll go in my car.” Said the Professor.

“Well, It seems he isn’t In; wait a minute.

“Oh, It’s you, Professor.”Said the Doctor’s housekeeper, Mrs. Cooper, as she opened the door.

“Is the doctor In?” Asked the Professor.

“I have only just arrived; he is usually In his garden at this time.”Replied the housekeeper, letting them in.

“What a beautiful garden!” Said Anthea.

“Yes, and big too, the Doctor is probably in his greenhouse over there.”The Professor said, pointing to the large structure in the corner by some rose trees.

“Look! someone has smashed it up, Professor?” Shouted Anthea. “ Where’s the doctor? “What’s that gurgling sound, Professor?”She asked.

“Look, there’s blood on that shard of glass on the floor! Shouted the Professor. “What the devil Is that? It can’t be!” In a corner of the greenhouse, there stood the monster hybrid, now even larger, just a few feet away from them.

“But, what Is It, professor?”

Screamed Anthea, grabbing the Professor’s arm.

“My god! the Doctor has achieved what no one else has done.” Said the professor, scanning the damaged greenhouse.

“We’ve got to find the doctor; where can he be?”

“What’s the doctor’s pipe and glasses doing In one of those plant traps?” Asked Anthea. The Professor’s face squirmed as he turned and stared at Anthea, both of them looked back up at the now twenty-foot tall beast as it gurgled, sliding menacingly, rapidly towards them!

The End