Maria V. Snyder by Protect the Children

Author:Protect the Children
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-01-25T14:06:30+00:00

“I paid to ask questions, not answer them.”

He coughed out a laugh. “My guess would be twenty, maybe twenty-one.” My face must have confirmed his conjecture because he choked some more. Taking a swallow of his drink, he backed away and sat in his chair. “Your protection is about to run out. That’s why you’re so interested in the project. You’ll soon be a normal girl, subjected to every cold and flu virus floating around.”

“This isn’t about me.” I tried to remain reasonable despite the feather of fear brushing my stomach.

Not only would I be hosting every virus, but my body’s rapid healing would also be gone. Contemplating that a broken bone could take months to heal was like considering torture. Scientists had tried to extend the protection, but so far, they had failed. Once the body stopped growing, the extraordinary physical defenses ceased to work.

“I’m collecting information for an article.” A comment aimed at Dr. Silver, but also a reminder to myself.

“Do me a favor?” he asked.

I stared; unsure in which direction he was headed. I had no desire to help this man.

“Don’t whine,” he said anyway. “Just because you get the sniffles for the first time in your life is no reason to act like you’re dying. Do some research on the genetic diseases I’ve made extinct. Look at the symptoms and life spans of those horrid abnormalities while you’re blowing your nose. That should make you feel better.”

I sat down with as much dignity as I could muster. The urge to wrap my hands around his throat would have to wait until he had answered all my questions. “Dr. Silver, can we get back to the interview?”

“I didn’t know we had strayed.”

Ignoring his comment, I asked, “How long did it take for you to go from Nobel Prize winner to wanted criminal?”

“About thirteen years. Once the first generation of protected children reached adolescence all hell broke loose.” He smiled at the memory. “Teenagers setting up a youth government, bullying the adults.

Not appreciating the priceless gift of the protection until after it wore off.” He laughed. “They were right on schedule. Enough time for me to set up this elaborate underground network. I disappeared six months before society could roast me as their scapegoat.”

“On schedule? You planned it?” I clutched the armrests. Maybe I could use the chair to knock him unconscious. This monster deserved to be arrested.

“Predicted it. Big difference.”

Dr. Silver stared at his empty glass for a moment. Then he shifted his gaze to me, examining. My level of discomfort grew until I felt like I was sitting naked in front of him.

“Ms. Darren, some of this information is available in the newspaper’s database. What do you really want to know?”

I leaned forward. “I want to know how you sleep at night?”

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