Amanita: Poison Shot

Chapter 70: A Wild Gang of Palaeoviruses

Sunday morning came with a stunningly clear, blue sky, and an ominous, loud ringing coming from my mobile phone.

At that moment, I was fixing a hand blender for Mrs Molina. I was intensely concentrated on the task at hand, alone in the kitchen, and so I got so startled by the ringtone so much so that I nearly dropped it.

"Daphne!" Eros exclaimed in a panic over the phone. He was speaking so fast that I could hardly make out the words he was saying. "Are you at home?! Can I come to fetch you?!"

"Sure, but..." He didn't let me finish.

"OK, be there in five!" The call ended before I could process anything, or ask him what was wrong. I was baffled. He sounded as if he had murdered someone and wanted to flee from the country with me or something.

I finished fixing the hand blender, but I wasn't fully concentrated on it anymore – I couldn't after listening to Eros' panic-stricken voice. Something was the matter.

Luckily, my father wasn't home. He was out with some friends and be back around noon to watch Apollo's press conference on the TV with me.

I was sure it would take Eros more than five minutes to get to my home. Traffic was usually mad in Thalis. However, when I finished conceiving that thought, the doorbell rang. My jaw dropped.

"No... It can't be him!" I whispered to myself in disbelief. Only four minutes had gone by.

I went to the front door and opened it in a hurry. Eros was standing before me with bags under his eyes. He was breathing hard and was extremely pale.

"What's wrong?" I asked, worried sick about him.

"Can we talk... in private? Are you alone? How thick are these walls?" He was obviously distressed.

"Why are you asking that? I mean, does it matter? Our nanochips are transmit-"

"I know, I know. I just..." he replied in a hurry. "I don't want anybody else overhearing us. I need to tell you something huge. I..."

"You look like you need some fresh air. I know the perfect place for that, and it's quite private too. We might need a ride to get there, though. Let's just take Frankie to..." I couldn't finish my last sentence, because when I noticed what was behind him, parked in front of my home, I gaped automatically.

It was a dazzling red sports car, a Mustahng GT 2139 series, with an eight-cylinder engine type, 460 horsepower at 7000 rpm, and the latest, most modern sync system and cruise control. The white leather seats were to die for. I couldn't stop staring at such beauty, all concentrated into one single object that should either be put in a museum or worshipped as a god.

"Wow..." I whispered in awe.

Eros opened the front passenger seat for me and motioned me to get in.

"Come on, get in. Give me the directions to go to this place you're talking about."

I locked the front door, and then I got in his car. It smelled amazing with that strong scent of brand-new leather and plastic materials. I loved it.

He rushed to get into the driver's seat. He turned the key while my eyes were heavily fixed on his hand on it. The sweet roar of the Mustahng's engine was music to my ears. My eyes didn't go white with pleasure, but I couldn't hold in a heartfelt sigh.

He chuckled.

"Can't help it, can you?"

"I'm sorry." I felt ashamed.

"Don't be. I get the same reaction with some flowers, like the narcissus. They're my favourite." He was the one to sigh then. A brief smile appeared on his lips, too. "You met me before seeing my car. I consider myself lucky. Otherwise, I'd wonder why you're my... friend, right?"