by Lee Sau Woon
Vanessa thought that if she saw one more cow, she would puke, and the sight of so many of them in a shopping mall turned her stomach.
"What's wrong?" Jordan, noticing her paleness, asked.
"Nothing. I think that I am going to refrain from beef and milk after this mission though."
Jordan gave her a smile. "I was just thinking about the same thing," he said.
Just then, the other rented Suzuki Swift appeared and stopped beside them.
>"What ya got Chief?" Leo asked as they clambered out of the Swift.
>"More cows," Jordan replied with a wry grin.
>"Have you noticed them?" Zenya asked pointing to the kids in the store.
>Jordan nodded, "We did. Can you and Agent Jones check it out?"
>"Sure," Leo replied for the two of them.
Vanessa looked at the two retreating figures for a while until she felt a pair of eyes on her. She turned around and saw Martin, curiousity in his eyes.
"What's up? Did I grow horns or something?"
Martin gave a embarassed cough, walked towards her, and then pulled her to a distance from the Jim and Jordan.
"Well, actually I was thinking about something in the car. A question actually. I know that this would be intruding into your personal life, but I would appreciate it if you answer. It might help in the case."
"What is it?" Vanessa asked, her curiousity aroused by his secretive actions.
"Have you ever played any role playing games before? Especially highly sophiscated ones?"
"Role playing games? Why such a question?"
Martin told her about the connections between the few kids.
"Seems that you are the only person who is affected by the cows but did not take part in this RPG Universe."
"Well, I did take part in some role playing games last time when I was in University in Singapore, but I had stopped for at least one year. And I had not touch on any role playing games since I came back to USA. You don't think that that is the reason why I - "
"I guess not," Martin said quickly to reassure her. The two of them then walked back to where the cars were, just in time to see Leo and Zenya walking out of the store.
>"The clerk had nothing new to say," Zenya reported when the team had >regrouped in the parking lot of the mall.
>"Neither did any of the others," Leo said. "They all know Jessie Colquitt >and the others. At least they know of them. They're all familiar with RPG >Universe."
>Jordan nodded. "They all go to the same high school, have the same history >teacher and hang out in the same places, too. Not many choices around >here. The sheriff called in the local vet to take a look at the cows. >Maybe that'll get us somewhere."
>"What I'd like to know," Jim said, "is how are the cows getting out? >Aren't most cattle ranches enclosed in barbed wire or something."
>"Usually."
>"So the cows are just breaking through it? Or someone's letting them out?"
>"Worth looking at. We know the cows yesterday came from the Laughton >place. We ought to go out there and see what we can find."
>"I'd like to talk to the administration at the high school," Zenya said. >"I'm still suspicious of this computer program."
>"No point narrowing down our options until we have more answers," Leo >agreed. "And if the DOD's involved.."
>Martin nodded. "Be nice to know who approved the program. And how it >works."
>"I agree," Jordan said. "The connection to the cows is obvious, but the >whole thing with this RPG Universe is too strange to ignore."
"Did anyone take note of who are the kids that are herding the cows just now? Shouldn't we just take a look at them just in case something might happen later?" Vanessa asked.
"Maybe, but beside taking down the names, there is nothing much we can do. We cannot follow them day in day out. " Jim pointed out.
"To save you time, I recognise one of the kids. His name is Mike Pruitt. Perhaps he can supply you with the names of all the kids helping out just now." Zenya told him.
"Great." Jordan told them. "Now lets get going."
The group divided into two group of three each, with Jordan, Zenya and Vanessa into one car heading for the school, and Jim, Leo and Martin heading for the Laughton's farm. Just as they were about to driver out of the mall, a police car drove up, and Prentice came out with a white-haired man who had extreme difficulty moving.
"That must be Doc Morton," Jordan said as he turned out of the mall. Vanessa and Zenya looked out of the back window of the car to look at the vet.
"God, he must be a thousand years old," the Chinese girl commented.
"Don't be ridiculous, Vanessa. How can a man be so old? I'd say about 900 years old." Zenya told her.
Jordan smiled at the 2 girls through the rear view mirror. They did have a point though. That Doc Morton certainly looked too old to be practising. Perhaps he ought to speak to Sheriff Dolan regarding Morton's credibility. He wondered if that is another channel of investigation.