Lizard Part 3: Exhibits During the next few days, Tim had spent a lot of time with his neighbor Milly. She introduced him to many people on his block. Yontsville was small enough for everybody to know each other. And, they always welcomed new people. Tim knew he would like it here. But, he still hadn't remembered anything before waking up that one morning a few days ago. He wanted to know who he was. He hadn't seen Frank, Cindy, or James since that first morning. They lived on the other side of the island. With it being a forty minute drive, Tim understood why they don't stop by that often. One day, Tim decided to take Milly out to lunch during her lunch hour. He was still looking for a job. It is pretty hard if you don't know your own past work experience. Milly worked at the town museum. She is responsible for the alternating exhibit room. Tim walked to the museum and was amazed. He didn't know his own history, but this building contained everybody's history. He looked at everything he passed going to Milly's office. "Tim?" came Milly's voice behind him. "Tim, I'm over here." Tim turned and saw Milly leaning out of one of the exhibit rooms waving at him. "Milly," he said walking toward her. "This place is amazing. I can honestly say I don't remember being in a museum like this before." Milly giggled. "It's that good. Huh? So, what brings you here?" She stuffed a notepad into her pouch. "I wasn't doing anything, so I thought, 'Why don't I take Milly to lunch?' So, now I'm here." "I'll be honored," Milly said. "Where were you planning?" "Anywhere you want to go," Tim said. "I don't know if I have a preference or not." "How about Big Mamma Hippo's?" she suggested. "They have a great buffet." "Sounds good to me," he said. "When do you get off?" "Any time I want," she said. "We can go now if you like." "Ok," he responded. "Let's go." "First, I need to tell someone I'm going. I'll be back in a second." Milly headed toward the main offices. Tim took the opportunity to look more closely at the exhibits. He wandered into one of the exhibit rooms and was shocked. It was a display of old bones. Many of them belonged to huge reptiles. "I wonder if I'm related to them?" he asked himself. One set of bones stood out from the others. He walked over to the display and read the information plaques. "Homo Sapiens," it read. "This species has been extinct for three thousand years. Like us, they had developed a language, technology, and civilization. The cause of their extinction is unknown." "Interesting. Isn't it?" asked Milly behind Tim. Startled he turned around. "Don't sneak up on my like that. I'm not sure if I have a temper or not." "Come on, I'm ready to go," Milly said laughing. They both left the museum for lunch. ---------------------------------- Dr. Robert Giberson sat in his office waiting. He hated waiting. The head scientist from the research lab was supposed to bring him an update on the new project ten minutes ago. He read his memo to remember the scientists name. "Dr. Casada," he said to himself, "where are you?" It shouldn't be taking Dr. Casada this long to drive from the "back end." He dreaded hearing Dr. Casada's update. He always speaks with a monotone voice. If he was teaching at a college, he would put everybody in the class asleep. That's why he was available for the job. If it was Dr. Giberson's project to begin with, he wouldn't have hired Dr. Casada. But, now it is his project, and he has to use the people that were already here one way or another. There was a knock at the door. "Come in," said Dr. Giberson. The door slowly opened, and Dr. Casada peaked his head around. "Ah, Dr. Casada," Giberson said. "I've been expecting you." He looked at his watch. "I'm sorry I'm late," said Casada. "I was held up at my office." "You have an update?" Giberson asked. "Yes, sir," Casada said handing a folder to Giberson. "It's all in here." "Good," Giberson took the folder and laid it on his desk. "Anything you want to add?" "No, sir," Casada replied. Giberson was relieved. He didn't have to listen to Casada's update. "Very well. I'll expect to hear from you again." "Yes, sir," Casada said backing up toward the door. "I'll keep you posted on the research." "Bye, Dr. Casada," Giberson said as Casada closed the door. He picked up his phone and dialed security. ------------------------------- Dr. Casada hurriedly walked to his car. He didn't like visiting the Doctor. He always tries to intimidate everyone. He knew the Doctor hated it when people were late. Lucky he didn't get fired. Even better he didn't have the same fate as other employees do. The human employees that is. He didn't want to know what happened to the others. It was easier before Dr. Giberson was in charge. Casada didn't know why Dr. Yonts left for the USA right when the project was getting interesting. He reached his car and started it up. His door suddenly opened, and he was pulled out. Two security guards were standing there. One pinning him against the car. The other reached in his pocked and pulled out his ID card. "He's Dr. Casada," the guard said. "What's going on?" asked Casada. The guard with his ID revealed a syringe and injected the fluid into Casada's arm. "You're going to take a little nap," said the guard holding him said. Everything went black. Dr. Casada woke up in one of the lab rooms. He was laying on the white bed in the completely white room. The bed was the only piece of furniture there. The two way mirror was on the other side of the room. He had sent numerous people to rooms like this. People that were willing to work in that part of the project. Never has he put someone in these rooms against their will. Why was he in here? Then he remembered the guards and the meeting with Dr. Giberson. "Oh, no!" he said out loud and examined his body. Coarse reddish-brown fur was starting to cover his skin. He got off the bed and stumbled over to the mirror. He saw that the reason he was stumbling was that his legs were now digitigrade. His feet were black cloven hooves . He looked at himself in the mirror. His worst fear was staring at him. His own reflection. His human face melted into that of a boar. "No!" he squealed. He stood there staring at the anthropomorphic boar in the mirror. The door to his room opened. Dr. Giberson walked in. "Ah, Dr. Casada. Your new body looks good on you. You were always such a bore," Giberson laughed. Casada stood speechless. He hated the Doctor more than ever now. But he didn't want to risk any further transformation. "I still want you to lead the research like you were," Giberson said. "You were doing a wonderful job. I know you will be punctual from now on." "I'm sure I will," Casada said. The coarseness of his voice surprised him. "Good," Giberson said opening the door. "You are free to go back to work now." Giberson left leaving the door open. Casada stood there for a few seconds and then slowly walked out of the room. The sound of his hooves echoing in the empty room and in his head.