The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 54

Paul nearly collapsed, nervously panting and sweating, as he slouched in the back of the taxi. His desperate escape from the Ecopolitan laboratory left him panicked. They injected me with something. Paul's mind swirled, confused and unfocused.

"We're here Sir, that'll be seven fifty," the taxi driver said, waiting for the payment.

Paul checked the meter in the front of the taxi and dug into his pocket for the change. He squeezed himself out of the taxi surveying his surroundings. Where is this? I don't remember telling the driver where to go. Looking behind the taxi alongside the road he saw a sign indicating the Burkill Gate exit from the Botanical Garden.

Paul, still breathing hard, turned away from the exit to venture deeper into the Botanical Garden following signs pointing towards the National Orchid Garden. Those people are after me. I need to hide back in the jungle, off the path. I can hide in the bushes and trees. Paul looked ahead and behind before jumping over a low wire barrier and scurrying, pushing aside the giant leaves of tropical plants, into the forest. After fighting through the dense foliage a short distance, he squatted, leaning back against a large tree. Gasping for air he struggled to recover from the ordeal. The path was in full view through the dense foliage. This is good. If anyone comes, I can go deeper into the jungle.

Paul balanced awkwardly on the roots of the tree while inhaling the thick Singapore air. I should call VK. Inspector Nara had given him his personal number. "VK, this is Paul. Paul Jacobs," Paul panted into the phone.

"Paul, are you all right?" Nara said. "You sound out of breath."

"Something has happened. Something terrible."

"Where are you? I'll come right away."

"I went to the Ecopolitan laboratory, and I stupidly went inside."

"You shouldn't... the police."

"But with the criminals after me and the police..."

"Okay, it's already done and you're safe."

"No, I'm not. They found me hiding in their secret laboratory. I escaped, but they injected me with something. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to talk."

"Where are you? Tell me."

"Inside the laboratory there were four people. Three older ones and what I think might've been a bodyguard. He's the one that held me down while they injected me."

Nara now knew why Paul was acting peculiar. He tried to get Paul to tell him anything. "What about the other three? Who are they?"

"I don't know. I'd never seen them before. An older Chinese man, an Asian woman, and an Australian, I think."

"The inventors," Nara exclaimed.

Paul shocked by Nara's educated guess contemplated the revelation. "I've never seen them but now... You might be right."

"Paul, listen, I need you to tell me now. Where are you?"

"In the Botanical Garden. Hiding in the forest. I'm not sure exactly where. Somewhere along the path to the Orchid Garden."

"You stay there and I'll find you. One more thing, I've had to issue an arrest warrant for you. The getaway car used in the kidnapping was rented with your credit card."

"But I..." Paul stopped before saying he already knew about the arrest warrant.

"I know, it's a frame, but I have no choice."

Paul's mobile phone alerted him that his power was dangerously low. "I'm about to run out of power."

"Okay, stay there. Don't move."

Paul's phone went silent. Paul looked at his watch 6:45. I've got to go to the Shaw Amphitheater at 7 o'clock.

Running toward him a female jogger leading a barking dog on a leash struggled to stay on the path. As she got closer, the dog became extremely excited jumping, snarling, and pulling. He must smell me. I may need to go deeper into the forest? The jogger stopped to control the frenzied dog. Then a Ranger riding a bicycle in the opposite direction pulled over and dismounted next to her. He couldn't hear their conversation but they both glanced in Paul's direction. Did they see me?

The Ranger probably doesn't know I'm wanted, but I don't want to explain why I'm hiding here. Paul sat holding his breath again as he did only minutes earlier. After chatting for a few minutes the Ranger peddled off, and the jogger resumed her run down the path. The dog reluctantly followed barking and pulling disrupting her pace.

Paul looked at his watch again, 6:55. I must go to the amphitheater at 7 o'clock. Paul stood up next to the tree. VK told me to stay here but I must go to the amphitheater at 7 o'clock. Paul didn't see anyone now along the path so he tiptoed out of his forest hideout and rejoined the path. He walked more urgently onward toward the amphitheater.

It was only a five minute walk until Paul could see the entrance to the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage Amphitheater. Approaching, he strained to hear the amplified voices from loud speakers in the distance. As usual there were clouds around, but it didn't look like rain was imminent.

Paul paused behind one of the immense ancient trees found in the nature preserve to observe the scene. Many beautiful trees and flowers provided an exotic jungle backdrop for the amphitheater. A small reflection pond surrounded the front of the stage on three sides. The audience lounged on the manicured grass hillsides that tumbled down to the pond. Millions of nighttime creatures sang their eternal song serenading anyone who would listen and the musty odor of dampness filled the air. Twilight created elaborate silhouettes of the trees and clouds against the still softly illuminated evening sky. The setting couldn't have been more perfect.

"Join the Arcadia movement, become a citizen of our remarkable society," the amplified sound of someone speaking on the stage momentarily replacing the nature's symphony.