The God Gene by F. Paul Wilson

Author:F. Paul Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

2

MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

By the time she and Rick set down at Maputo International Airport, Laura was tired enough to cry. They’d left JFK late Monday morning and arrived in Mozambique shortly after noon—but the next day. Nineteen hours travel time, counting the layover in Johannesburg, and one whole day extracted from their calendars.

Bad enough that she hadn’t slept on the planes—or at least not enough to matter—she’d barely slept the night before as well.

After recovering from the shock of seeing Keith in that photo, Rick had blown off Cape Town and was hell-bent for Mozambique. If Keith had been spotted in Maputo, that was where Rick was headed.

The arguments against Laura coming along had vanished. Rick was no longer going out to confront a potentially dangerous, even murderous criminal. He was going after his brother. He now seemed to welcome her company. To head off any second thoughts on his part, Laura volunteered to adjust the travel arrangements and sent Rick home to pack. She kept the JFK-to-Johannesburg flight but switched the short leg from Cape Town to Maputo.

On Monday morning, Laura and Rick had met at JFK’s Terminal 4 to begin their African odyssey.

She found the Maputo airport surprisingly modern. As they exited the jetway they were funneled to the customs and immigration area. Everyone entering Mozambique—except citizens of a few neighboring countries—needed a visa. Rick and Laura were ahead of the game because they’d put their layover time in Johannesburg to use purchasing single-entry visas. While Laura had filled out the tedious forms, Rick purchased a supply of Mozambique meticais at the cambio booth. So they hit the Mozambican ground running.

Once they were through the bureaucratic mill, they headed for the baggage area. Rick had brought a simple carry-on but, not knowing how long she’d be traveling, Laura had packed for every contingency.

Rick had been flinty-eyed and withdrawn the entire trip. Despite her best efforts to draw him out, all he’d offered were monosyllables.

And now, out of the blue, he said, “Do we check in to the hotel first and then find this Lieutenant Mugabe, or go straight to the police department?”

“That might be the longest sentence you’ve spoken since Sunday.”

“Really?” His mouth twisted. “I guess you’re right. Sorry. It’s kind of a lot to process.”

“Your brother dropping out of sight for almost two months and then reappearing with another identity as a person of interest in a suspicious death? Yeah, it’s a huge amount to process. I’ll admit planes and airport waiting areas and immigration lines might not be the best places to discuss something like this, but it’s just the two of us now. So give. How do you feel?”

He shrugged, looked uncomfortable. Feelings weren’t his forte.

“Numb … I guess that’s the best word. Numb with shock at first. The shock’s pretty much worn off, but the numbness remains. Confused too. The things he’s done … those aren’t the actions of the nerdy guy I grew up with. If I believed in demonic possession, I’d say that’s what happened: Keith’s been possessed by a demon who’s forcing him to do these things.

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