Quantum Moon by Denise Vitola

Author:Denise Vitola [Vitola, Denise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781438249001
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 1996-07-31T22:00:00+00:00

She nodded. "It says: 'The family units unaffected by the isotope have within them a survival gene that cannot be provoked. This genetic quality can be found in all races of the world, but I have discovered that it is especially common in obese, white females.

"'I maintain to this day that the government enacted a secret program to study these individuals to see why no changes were encountered after the use of the hormone. Their findings have remained classified, and all requests for information have been denied me. I have taken it upon myself to open a new scientific examination using private funds and various volunteers. These subjects will supply the necessary genetic material necessary for this investigation. While I have a timetable for success, I will in no way compromise the results by rushing the study.'" Tilly squinted over the next line, momentarily fumbling for the words. " 'It is vitally important to destroy the isotope and expose a corrupt government before it's too late. Resistance, Reclamation, and Survival. Dr. Philip Ligotti.'"

35

When I got home that night, Baba was in the bathroom cursing.

I glanced into the closet to see her leaning over the toilet, brandishing a bloody butcher knife. "What's going on?" I asked, and after doing so, I realized how stupid the question sounded.

"There's a goddamned snake in the commode!" she answered. "Now, you tell me how a creature like this could travel up five stories." A silence. Then she addressed the serpent. "Why don't you go back into the sewer where you belong?" Another pause. Then, "Ty, dear, I think it's a mutant. I just cut off its head and the bastard is still swimming around. Do you know where the plunger is? I'm going to send him back to Hades."

I took her knife to the sink and returned with the appropriate tool. She accepted it with a gentle smile and turned to viciously slam the plunger into the hole. As she worked, she began to hum her favorite hymn, "St. Ophelia's Madness."

I left her to her chore to change into a clean uniform. Each district marshal is required by contract to serve two nights a month patrolling a specified portion of the locality and I could no longer put off my extra duties.

I'm supposed to wear a kevlar vest when I do my patrols, but I never do. The thing makes me hot and restricts my movement. LaRue always yells about it to me, but I ignore him, and so the thing is sitting in my clothes closet, buried under a stack of trash blankets.

The standard issue running shoes always squish my toes

141

142 Denise Vitola after I grow, so I had to invest in a pair a half size bigger to accommodate the splay in my feet. I buckled up the boots, pinned on my ID, and checked the charge on my flashlight and the bullets in my service revolver.

I finished stuffing my utility pouch and collected my gloves, leaving the apartment to the sound of Baba's muttering as she complained about having to clean up serpent blood.

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