The Ag-Cat
Chapter 1 - The Infection The first one he saw was working its way across a flowering bud with a hungry naivety, caring not that a giant’s eyes watched. Despite the ninety degree temperature the little crawlie sent a shiver up his spine. Seen alone it was not a fearsome thing, but it is never alone, and it is the multitudes that are fearsome. Linus had heard all the warnings, but had not heeded them. Cotton prices were up, so Linus rolled the dice, and cast the die. Up to now the gamble appeared to be a good one. The cotton was budding nicely, but then he saw another one, and then still another. Linus knew the stories, but had never seen it happen. If the stories were true, and he had no reason to believe otherwise, he was in real trouble. Without this crop he was done. There was too much owed. Linus stated the dreaded words to himself and to an uncaring field, needing to hear them spoken for the affirmation. They rol