Generation Gap

"Billy, there's something else that's been bothering me. How is it that you and Harry are even tribal elders? You're both barely even 40 years old, if that. Where are your parents? Where are his parents, Sue's parents? Where are all the people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s? Even Old Quil, revered for his years, is only in his 60s. Most CEOs of major companies, military generals, and those serving as President or as members of Congress are between 50 and 80. People don't even bother to retire from their jobs until they're in their mid-60s. Human life expectancy is around age 89 these days. I personally know lots of people in their 80s who are still healthy, independent people living in their own homes and contributing to society. Many people aren't even needing to be admitted into nursing homes until they're in their 90s. Where are all the people in their 90s, the ones who would still remember when the Cullens were here before? It's only been 70 years since they were last here. Even some of those in their 80s should remember Carlisle.

What about Ephraim? Gauging by the current wolves, Ephraim was only about 20 when he met Carlisle, and he likely continued to shift and thus not age for years afterward, so why isn't he still around? For that matter, where are Charlie's and Renee's parents? They would only be in their late 50s or early 60s, so why are they dead? There's two whole generations missing from this entire area! Why do they die so young? Just look at Harry - do you have any idea how unusual it is for a 40 year old man to die of a heart attack? It's nearly unheard of with modern medicine! Where are all the real elders - the ones over age seventy? Why doesn't there seem to be anyone over the age of fifty? It's positively creepy!"

Billy frowned at me thoughtfully. "You're right. I suppose I never really thought about it. I had no idea people in other areas normally lived so long. It does seem that the life expectancy of La Push and Forks is roughly half that of the rest of the country!"

"I can't believe Carlisle hasn't noticed," I mused. "I wonder if he's done any testing. There must be some kind of contaminants in the water, soil, or air around here. Why isn't there an outcry from the local population? Who would want to live in a place that practically guarantees an early death?"

"I'll bring it up at the next tribal meeting," Billy decided, appearing deeply disturbed. "Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I don't know why it never occurred to me before."

I nodded, vowing to discuss it with Carlisle at my earliest opportunity.

xxxxxxx

"Carlisle, why is the life expectancy of the Forks and La Push half that of the rest of the nation?" I confronted him.

He raised his eyebrows and responded, "What do you mean?"

I rolled my eyes. "It can't have escaped your notice that there are only a handful of people over sixty and nobody over eighty in this area. Why else would you feel safe returning after a mere 70 years when there ought to be people who would recognize you and talk about the Dr. Carlisle Cullen that worked here and his children they went to high school with in the past. Your kids would be more memorable than you, since I'm sure there were boys and girls obsessed with them throughout the high school years."

Carlisle frowned. "I did notice that everyone we had interacted with in the past was dead, which was why I felt comfortable allowing my family to return. Normally, I wouldn't return to such a small town in less than a hundred years. Even though human memories do fade, sometimes people have mementos of which we are unaware - journals, sketches, paintings, photos, that sort of thing. It's getting harder and harder as technology advances for us to hide our tracks."

"I figured as much," I agreed. "However, that doesn't explain the real issue, which is why everyone dies so young here. There must be some kind of contaminant in the water, soil, or air that is slowly killing them."

Carlisle furrowed his brow and nodded. "You're right. I don't know why I didn't think about it before. I think perhaps it's because everyone just takes it in stride. The townspeople and my coworkers think of it as normal for people to pass away in their 50s and 60s, so it never triggered any kind of alarm bells. Most of them pass away quietly in their sleep too, so they never even come into the hospital."

"Well, there has to be a reason," I insisted. "It's not normal!"

xxxxxxx

Two days later, I had my answer.

"You were right, Speck!" Carlisle announced, waving a sheaf of papers. "There's a significant amount of arsenic and lead naturally occurring in the ground water. I wasn't able to test in La Push, of course, but I wouldn't be surprised to find elevated levels there as well."

"That makes sense," I mused. "The build-up of the poisons in their systems slowly kills them. It explains why the people around here are so stupid and unobservant too. The lead lowers their IQ. That explains why Bella was so intelligent and independent in Phoenix, taking advanced classes, paying bills and running an entire household, but then becomes idiotic and subservient here. Her brain functions well when she first arrives, immediately recognizing the differences in your family and accurately judging the character of the people around her, but as time passes, she starts making foolish choices, is oblivious to the feelings and motives of others, and lets others control her and her life. She needs to start drinking bottled water right away! It also explains how a Police Chief can be so utterly and completely oblivious to things he should easily discern. Poor Charlie. He probably would've been a brilliant man if he'd lived elsewhere."

Carlisle can bring his findings to the attention of the Forks Town Council to alert the local citizens. I need to go warn the Quileutes, so they can get their water tested, I decided. Smirking to myself, I thought, I bet the well near the Blacks' house is particularly bad. Actually the wells for most of them really. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd been dug some time in the past 70 years too. It would explain so much!