By Cornealius

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So, what are you, some kind of exterminator?

In a manner of speaking. Even though Ghoo and Ghoo Ghuns are rather plentiful and easy to obtain, not everyone is up to fighting the Ghouls they encounter. Some are afraid, some are too old, some are physically incapable. They call professional hunters like me and we come and take care of the problem.

But certainly they can't call you after the Ghouls have already appeared.

Of course not. But often they'll realize that they are near a malectoplasmic infestation. They'll call a professional hunter to come and stimulate the 'plasm and kill the resulting Ghoul.

"Stimulate the 'plasm"?

Serve as the living catalyst to cause the Ghoul to form. In the years since the Infestation, humans have become very aware of just how close they can get to malectoplasm before it activates into a Ghoul. Someone sees that they have 'plasm in their home or yard and they call for help.

So, what's the best way to kill a Ghoul?

I carry two Ghoo Ghuns. That way, I can fire at two spots on the Ghoul at once. The best time to shoot is immediately after the Ghoul has formed. That way you stand a better chance of seeing where the Ghoul's weak spot is. But it's tricky: Ghouls move very fast; in many cases, they're coming after you before they've even finished forming, so you can't always spot the completion point, the most likely spot for the weak spot.

What was your toughest Ghoul-fighting situation?

I was in the basement of a house during a lightning storm. The lights suddenly went out and I had neglected to bring my nightvision goggles. I was suddenly surrounded by three Ghouls. One almost ripped my right arm off; destroyed one of my Ghuns.

What happened?

Fortunately lightning struck nearby. The flash came through the tiny windows of the basement and allowed me to get my bearings. That's when I first used the maneuver I call "The Slide:" I dove between the legs of one Ghoul, slid through and came up blasting. I found the weak spot on the third shot, and the flash caused by the Ghoul exploding let me see where the other two were. The flash of the second gave me the bearings on the third.

Can Ghouls see in the dark?

There's no conclusive evidence that they can see at all. Ghouls ... well, all malectoplasm for that matter, reacts to movement and living matter. They're just coming after the nearest living creature.

Why don't you wear any armor, like those guys who hunt Ghouls for sport?

One, armor isn't absolute protection against Ghouls; I've seen them -- Ghouls -- rip the sides off of cars, or topple a concrete pillar. Two, when you wear armor, you're trading speed for protection. I feel I'm in a better position to protect myself by retaining the mobility of not wearing armor. I could never do something like "The Slide" while wearing gear.

Why hasn't someone designed a Ghoo Ghun that can fire at several different parts of a Ghoul at once, to increase the chances of hitting the weak spot?

Actually, they have, but such guns are big and bulky and hard to aim and shoot quickly. And again, Ghouls just move too fast. Ironically, in the long run it's better to use a Ghun that just fires one shot at a time.

Are there any other weapons you use besides a Ghoo Ghun?

I have a couple of last-resort or special-situation weapons. One is a penetration grenade. It's shaped like a stake and is meant to be shoved through a Ghoul's thick hide. Once inside the Ghoul, the grenade explodes, sending Ghoo "shrapnel" in all directions. It's very tricky and dangerous to use, however, and there's no guarantee that the shrapnel will find the weak spot. The other weapon I use is a robot. It's like a small tank mounted with a self-firing Ghoo Ghun. I take it with me into situations where I'm anticipating multiple formations. The robot itself can't activate the 'plasm, but once I do, the robot begins firing rapidly at different parts of the Ghoul. It helps free me up to fight other Ghouls. The problem with the robot is, again, the Ghouls' speed. The robot often can't keep up with the Ghoul.

Do you think Ghouls are living creatures?

The scientists, and basic physical evidence, tells me that they are not. But there's something about the way that they scream just before they explode ...

(Note: Click here for Dr. Lake's explanation of the scream.)

Why did you leave ADEF and become a freelancer? Was it for the money?

I'd prefer not to answer that question.

More questions and answers to come.