#Chapter 133: Shutdown

Ava “You’re lucky; all of you. This could have been ten times worse.” The lead scientist pulled his latex gloves off with a snap, shaking his head. I bit my lip and let my gaze wander behind him—toward the group of other scientists in hazmat suits who were probing the patch of glossy black fungus with instruments I couldn’t even begin to recognize. Chris, who we had called along with the science team the instant we had found the blight on Leonard’s farm, huffed out a deep breath and passed a hand over his weary face. “How bad is it, exactly?” he asked. The lead scientist sighed and glanced over at Leonard’s ashen expression. “From what I’ve observed, this patch here contains a catalyst.” “A catalyst?” I echoed softly. The scientist nodded. “Sometimes, but not always, infestations of the fungus contain one; essentially a ‘mother plant’ that can create spores.” “So the blight can spread,” Leonard breathed, all but dropping to his knees. “Ye