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eBook Category: Science Fiction/Horror
eBook Description: Richard is a genetic botanist who has a strange ability to understand the emotions of plants. When he brings his son to his mountain home, they discover a plant with emotions unlike any other Richard has ever come across, and finds himself in a race against time to survive.

eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Challenging Destiny, 2001
Fictionwise Release Date: September 2001

159 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [95 KB], eReader (PDB) [37 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [24 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [23 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [78 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [95 KB], hiebook (KML) [85 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [50 KB], iSilo (PDB) [20 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [25 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [53 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [37 KB]
Words: 7391
Reading time: 21-29 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

In "Weed", by Peter S. Drang, Richard, a genetic botanist, possesses an uncanny affinity with plants, so much so that they actually speak to him in a language he is able to interpret into words. But then he and his son Tommy encounter a strange new plant near Richard's isolated mountain cabin, a plant which, of course, is not what it seems. Richard and Tommy are well-developed and reached a realistic 'roundness'. I had a slight quibble with an event at the very end, but not enough to overshadow the rest of the story. A good read.--David L. Felts, Tangent Online (Learn more about Tangent Online, the Internet's leading SF&F short fiction review website)

The trees felt dry even though it had rained only two days ago. One blue spruce in my ex's front yard was fairly screaming dry, but they can be sissies sometimes. Sure, they stay green all winter, but I don't ascribe any particular grit of will to that because they're dormant and don't feel the piercing mountain cold.

As I got out of my SUV and sauntered down the sidewalk, the sturdy red oak next to the driveway suffered in silence, exuding only the feeling I am strong and I have deep roots. Oaks liked to be thought of that way, especially a large, mature specimen like this.

I reached the front door and hesitated only a moment before knocking. The door swished open with an implosion of suctioning air, revealing Karrie's sneer. She had cut her hair shorter; it was quite becoming.

"I'm here for Tommy," I said.

Her jaw muscles tensed, winding up like a pitcher about to deliver a fastball. "Well, Richard, you can have him."

I hadn't expected this angle. "You've never taken anything out on Tommy before. Is there something I should know about?"

"You've never stolen him for a whole month." Eddy currents of hatred swirled in the wake of each word. She turned towards the stairs and screamed, "Tommy! Richard's here."

"Oh, I see the problem," I said, fighting to keep cool and just get the hell out of there. "You're not angry about me taking Tommy, you're angry because he wants to go with me."

"You know everything, don't you?"

Just then, Tommy stomped down the stairs, carrying a large duffel bag and suitcase. He avoided eye contact with Karrie. As if to prove me wrong, she grabbed him at the foot of the stairs and gave him a tight hug. "Now, be careful baby." She strained up to reach his cheek with her lips, making the appellation "baby" seem almost comical. Her brow furrowed in a genuinely worried expression as he broke from her grasp.

Tommy just grunted, "Okay, Mom," and shouldered past me with his gear in hand. They must have fought, perhaps even this morning.

As I turned to walk away she said, "Take care of my boy." Her voice nearly cracked. She must feel guilty. Good. I nodded and walked away.

A clump of grass that benefited by being near a leaky section of hose had the communal feeling, happy wet. Their child-like joy made me smile. This is about as sophisticated as it gets for sod.