There’s no incredulity in my voice. People come for work or vacation, and they decide to stay. Not in the wilderness, but in Whitehorse or one of the smaller towns. As someone who’s been seduced by this place myself, I understand their choice.
It’s Dalton who says, “They didn’t choose to stay, did they? Not really. They became hostiles.”
“What?” I say.
No one chooses that life. Well, no, I’m sure a few have, but I cannot imagine scientists coming to work here, seeing wild and savage people in the forest, and saying, “That looks cool.”
Except there hadn’t been savage people in the forest before they arrived.
“They started the hostiles,” I murmur. “They were the first.”
“It was part of the study,” she says. “That’s what I uncovered. The European firm wasn’t looking to create life-enhancing medication. They were making bioweapons for foreign powers. Their interest was in how the tea might subdue protesters and rebels, an exaggerated variation on my own goal. At some point, their interest shifted to the hallucinogenic tea. What if it caused more than euphoria?”
“Enhancing violence,” I say. “Reducing inhibitions. Like what we see with the hostiles. They tinker with the tea and take a few people into the forest for further experimentation. At some point, it becomes Frankenstein’s monster. Their crea
tion turns on them.”
“That’s my theory,” Émilie says. “I can’t prove it. I know only that they went into the forest to change the formulation, and they never returned.”
“So the hostiles are a science experiment?” I say.
“They were. Past tense. A brief foray into behavioral control that might benefit some of the shadier world powers of the day. The results weren’t what the firm wanted, so they ended the study and recalled their researchers, who ignored their summons.”
“The firm didn’t send a search party?”
“They claim they did, but as you know, this is a very big forest.”
“So the hostiles were a failed experiment, one the council knew nothing about?”
“I believe the majority of the council knows nothing about it. But someone does. That firm didn’t walk away from Rockton as cleanly as we hoped. They have at least one influential person on the council, someone who has been keeping them abreast of recent developments.”
I nod. “And that element is exerting pressure on the rest of the council to abandon ship. The European firm wants us out of here so they can…”
I trail off.
European firm.
I remember what Émilie said shortly after she arrived.
While I’m not fluent in Danish, I did spend a year in Copenhagen.
“Where exactly is this firm?” I ask.
Once again, her gaze meets mine. “I think you already know.”
Denmark.
THIRTY-TWO
Émilie has gone back to Petra’s place. At this point I no longer really care whether she flees. I have what I need. Besides, Dalton has made sure her plane isn’t going anywhere. Right now, I just need to think.
“You can go home to bed if you like,” I say to Dalton.
His brows shoot up. “You really think I’d sleep after that?”
“I—”
“You need time alone before you’re ready to discuss it. I’ll walk Storm home—no reason for her to stay up all night.”