Page 5 of Carmine

“You can’t do this by yourself,” Carmine stated as I packed up.

A louder snort escaped me. “Carmine, I’ve been doing this alone since I was laughed out of headquarters.”

“Let Rage help. Come and talk to my president, please Dr Balfour-Cherlyn. Dad can provide what you require.”

“And how will he do that?” I demanded.

“My mother is Phoenix Michaelson. Mom yells jump, people ask how high,” Carmine said.

I gazed at Carmine in puzzlement.

“Wow, you don’t know who my mother is? Shit, Mom’s going to love you. She hates being famous,” Carmine continued with a snicker. “Mom created The Trusts that help vulnerable individuals.”

“Oh, like the Phoenix Trust?”

“Yeah, Mom runs that alongside the Rebirth Trust and the Eternal Trust.”

“And she has power?” I asked, unsure how somebody who run a charity could command people.

“Yes. Mom has a lot, and she’ll use it to help,” Carmine insisted.

I bit my lip. Could I afford to take some time to meet his parents? Carmine did seem genuine, but I was still unsure. If this is another trap to mock me, how much time would be lost? It would be at least two hours before I returned.

“Okay, but you felt that tremor, and you saw that geyser. This isn’t a joke, regardless of what EROS claim.”

To my gratification, Carmine nodded, his eyes wide and focused on the pool. I sniffed the air and cursed.

“Can you smell that?” Carmine asked.

“That sharp, pungent smell? Yeah, that’s hydrochloric acid,” I stated.

“This is real, isn’t it?” Carmine whispered.

“Yes. Very.”

“Is lava going to run through my town?” Carmine questioned.

“I’m not sure. I do know there is volcanic activity,” I replied.

Carmine looked at the pond.

“If someone had been swimming?” he inquired.

“Then they’d have been badly burned. And this isn’t the only body of water I’m monitoring.”

“Doc, I think there’s a lot we need to know,” Carmine said worriedly.

“I’m parked down there,” I explained, pointing as I picked up my stuff.

“The jeep? I’m next to it. That’s what caught my attention,” Carmine replied.

To my surprise, Carmine tried tugging on my case, and I pulled it back. Carmine instead reached for my backpack.

“What are you doing?” I asked, exasperated.

“Trying to carry your shit. Doc, I was brought up with manners,” Carmine stated, looking slightly irate that I wouldn’t hand the bags over.

“Seriously, I can hold them. It’s fine. Plus, I don’t want the samples damaged. Couldn’t your people meet me at my home? I really need to get these tested?”

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