Chapter 20

The Unnatural Science of Stone Flesh

This chapter delves deeper into the scientific and potentially occult explanations for Elias Abernathy’s unique preservation, moving beyond the narrative of Elias’s personal journey to explore the mechanics of his transformation. Alex, driven by his insatiable need for understanding, seeks out experts in fields that might shed light on such an extraordinary phenomenon. He consults with forensic anthropologists, chemists specializing in decomposition and preservation, and perhaps even historians of obscure scientific and alchemical practices. The goal is to provide a plausible, albeit speculative, framework for how a human body could transform into a wood-like substance. The narrative would detail Alex’s consultations, presenting the expert opinions with a mixture of scientific rigor and acknowledgment of the sheer improbability of the situation. Forensic experts would likely explain that natural mummification occurs under specific environmental conditions (extreme dryness, cold, or anaerobic environments) that inhibit bacterial decomposition. However, they would emphasize that this process results in desiccated tissue, not a transformation into a wood-like material. The idea of petrification, the process by which organic matter is gradually replaced by minerals, might be discussed, but typically this results in stone, not wood. Alex might learn about rare cases of natural lignification, where certain plant tissues can take on woody characteristics, but applying this to a human body is unprecedented. Alex then turns his attention to the chemical interventions employed by Silas Croft. He might present Silas’s potential ingredients (reconstructed from his research) to a chemist. The chemist would analyze the properties of such substances, explaining how they might accelerate desiccation, alter tissue composition, or even react with the body’s own organic compounds. The focus would be on the *unnatural* aspect of the process – the deliberate manipulation of biological and chemical processes to achieve an outcome that defies natural decay. The chapter would explore the possibility of extreme chemical reactions, perhaps involving heavy metals, potent dehydrating agents, or unique organic compounds that could fundamentally alter the protein structures of the body, leading to a hardening and darkening effect that mimics wood grain. Alex might also delve into the more esoteric side of Silas Croft’s practices, exploring historical accounts of alchemical experiments or folk remedies that claimed to achieve forms of preservation or transformation. He might uncover references to substances that were believed to imbue organic matter with mineral-like qualities or to mimic the resilience of natural materials. The narrative would emphasize the speculative nature of these explanations. Alex is not finding a textbook answer, but constructing a hypothesis based on limited evidence and expert conjecture. The chapter would highlight the boundary between science and the unknown, the point where natural processes are pushed to their extreme or manipulated by unconventional means. The transformation into ‘wood’ remains the central enigma. The narrative would offer potential explanations, such as a unique form of chemical tanning combined with extreme desiccation, or a rare biological anomaly triggered by specific chemical agents. The focus is on the *process* and the *science* (or pseudoscience) behind it, attempting to rationalize the seemingly impossible. The chapter concludes with Alex arriving at a comprehensive, albeit speculative, scientific or quasi-scientific explanation for Bartholomew’s transformation. He might find a single, crucial piece of evidence – a surviving sample of Silas Croft’s preservative mixture, a detailed chemical formula in a hidden document, or an analysis that reveals unusual elemental compositions within Bartholomew’s remains (if such analysis were somehow possible and accessible). The ending hook is Alex’s intellectual satisfaction at having constructed a plausible explanation for the unnatural science, but also his lingering awe and unease at the sheer audacity and dark ingenuity involved in Elias Abernathy’s petrification.