6. Carmody Farm

Lenny opens the main door of the garage to find an old delivery truck and a model T that sits with the hood up. Surrounding the two vehicles are benches with various tools and bits for repairing automobiles.

Mickey begins to make his way across the yard as a yell emits from the farmhouse. ABIGAIL!!! I’m… I’m coming for you darling…. A man shambles out of the farmhouse into the new morning light. Chains and ropes seem to be trailing behind him. He is wearing a ragged cotton shirt that might have once been white, but now is stained with mud, grass stains and black splotches. His walk is disjointed as something appears to be wrong with his left leg. His hair is long, gray and wispy and seems to be caked at parts with something. The man looks up at Mickey and you all see that one of his bright blue eyes focuses sharply while the other appears to be milky white and dead. Part of his cheek appears to be eaten away, pock marks deeply penetrating his dirty face.

Even with all the dirt and deformity, Lenny recognizes the man. Professor Henry Rhoades.

Professor Rhoades blinks several times, shaking his head. He looks at Lenny and his brow furrows. I suppose its because people thought it more important? Lenny? What are you... The professor turns abruptly, looking to the west and listening.

Presently, the man turns and regards the body of Brendan Carmody laying on the ground as Jimmy begins to move up to it. Professor Rhoades snarls and the ropes that seemed to be trailing behind the man come alive, appearing to be roots or tentacles. They wave frantically in a fury and lash out to grab Brendan's corpse. Abruptly, the man's body is torn limb from limb in a bloody spray of gore and violence.

Professor Rhoades' face is partly covered in gore as he returns his gaze to Lenny. Some things deserve to stay buried, Lenny... Oh, Abigail... The man slumps to his knees and weeps.

Professor Rhoades furrows his brow and shakes his head. What do I want? What do I want? I want my wife. I want Abigail as she's meant to be... We should have never come here. We should have let the past die. The roots of this country... they're rotten. There's only one thing left to do... The professor turns to look west again and nods to himself. The professor walks over to one of the killed Carmody gang and picks up a pistol.

The professor casts his gaze to the ground. In the building morning light, you can see that the back portion of his head and back have thick roots and mushrooms that seem to be undulating and swaying of their own impulse. The man's eyes droop with an exhaustion before he blinks and looks back up at Jimmy. I... I tried... They took me... Rhoades' eyes take on a lucidity as he says in a rush. At my camp. Dynamite... A whole box of it. I was going to blow it all to hell... But... I... can't. The roots and mushrooms begin to flail violently like a rattlesnake shaking its warning sign. Rhoades raises his hands to his head squeezing the side of the pistol into his temple and furrowing his brow. He bares his teeth in anguish and determination as he snaps his eyes open and says in a rush to Lenny, his voice losing the two toned effect. Lenny, please... Kill her. Do what I couldn't. Rhoades repositions the pistol to his temple and fires. The echo of the gunshot rings out over the farm and all retreats into an eerie silence.