The Soulkeepers

Chapter 18: No One Said Anything About Shots

Chapter 18
No One Said Anything About Shots

Jacob’s theory that Dr. Silva would take it easy on him because he knew about Oswald proved false, and he found himself sweating over some disgusting horticultural task every Saturday morning. It was just such a day, when he was weeding the seedling tomato plants in the raised beds, that Dr. Silva approached him with a smile that showed a few too many teeth.

“June tenth is just around the corner.”

“Yes, I know. I’m excited to go.”

“Yes, yes, I’m sure. But there are preparations to be made.” She was standing with her hands behind her back.

He stopped digging and dusted the dirt from his pants. “What kind of preparations?”

“Roll up your sleeve.”

“Why?”

“Oh for Pete’s sake, just do it. Would it kill you to trust me just this once?”

Since she put it that way, he rolled up his sleeve. No sooner had he pulled his hand away than hers shot out and grabbed his bare shoulder. Jacob barely saw the glint of the needle before she thrust it into his muscle like a dart and pressed the plunger. It was over before he could say, “Owww.”

“We are traveling to the Amazon. Immunizations—just in case.” She held up the empty syringe.

“You could have just asked me,” he said, rubbing his arm.

“It hurts more if you can see it coming, or so I am told.”

“You’ve never had a shot, have you?” he asked.

“Don’t need them,” she said.

“I don’t suppose you are going to tell me why?”

“It’s not important. What is important is that we make all of the preparations for our trip.”

“Okay. What else do I need to do?”

“Get a passport.”

“I don’t remember Oswald asking for a passport when he sent me to Africa.”

“Jacob, this isn’t like climbing on an airplane. It isn’t a tested form of transportation for humans. If something happens to me, or we find ourselves in a place with no trees, you have to have a way to get back into the country.”

“As luck would have it, I already have a passport. My mom always said it was important, just in case. What else?”

“We will have to stay overnight.”

“Huh? Why?”

“We need the medicine woman to dream. There is a ceremony that has to be performed. This can only happen at night. The Achuar people are a culture steeped in tradition.”

“So, what do I tell the Laudners?”

“I will tell John you are helping me do some research on a new species of plant and the procedure needs to be performed over twenty-four hours. I think he will allow you to stay. I can be very persuasive.” She lowered her chin and looked at him through her lashes.

Jacob’s heart skipped a beat and he internally slapped himself.

He thought about the ruse. It was a good story but not true. Over the last couple of weeks he’d gotten to know his Uncle John and lying to him suddenly felt wrong. He knew he couldn’t tell him the truth but he wished he didn’t have to lie. He wouldn’t have had a problem lying to Aunt Carolyn or Katrina. They still treated him like an unwanted pet.