The Tree That Knew Too Much

Dr. Brice and the geneticist had expected the governor to react to the news of an important scientific find with at least some interest. Instead, he instantly threw up a barrier to keep out any new ideas and expressed no curiosity at all.

You scientists get real excited when you find something you cant figure out and make a big deal out of it. Ive been following the news, and you have yourselves panting like dogs running around a tree that isnt going anywhere. A couple tragic accidents happened on that farm and the press and the police jumped on them. Now youre making things worse by trying to turn the tree into a science project.

For gods sake, the governor continued, the tree just stood there and got run into, and a grieving son went a little berserk. I dont care how old it is. Its still just a tree. The kind of press you are stirring up makes Ohio look bad. One newspaper even said the tree drank blood like a vampire.

Im directing the Ohio CDC to remove the cover, and I would appreciate it if you and the other science guys would clam up and go home.