for the continuation of your species.”
“Perhaps extinction is the best course for a species that has lost everything. Existing as guinea pigs in your prison is not any kind of existence.”
“What is a guinea pig?” Mara 36 asked.
“A small, furry rodent,” the girl spoke for the first time. Rick looked at her, surprised by the change in her demeanor. She sat up straighter on the table, cloaked in the sheet, holding it around herself with white-knuckled hands. “I had one as a pet once, but my father said they used to be used in experiments.”
“Your dad was right,” Rick said softly, not wanting to scare the girl.
“He was a biologist in the old world. He taught me a lot about plants and animals,” she said with a hint of shyness.
Rick stayed where he was, not wanting to frighten her. “He sounds like a good man. Do you know where he is now?”
“Probably still in the cell with my mother and little sister. They took me away last week.” She nudged her chin toward the soldiers by the door.
Rick stepped closer, projecting calm as best he could. “Did they hurt you?”
She shook her head. “They hurt Daddy when he tried to stop them. I hope he’s all right.” Tears threatened and Rick knew he had to help her in whatever small way he could. Perhaps he could find some angle that would appeal to the scientist. He looked at the alien with shrewd eyes.
“Do you know the condition of her father?”
“He is well, though the soldiers did have to restrain him with some force. I believe they broke one of his Page 30
arms, but it is healing well.”
“And your plans for this girl? I have to tell you right now, putting her in with a group of hungry males is a very bad idea. Gang rape will do nothing but traumatize a youngster like this. She is not mature enough physically or emotionally to endure that kind of treatment.”
“How do you know this?” Mara 36 asked.
Rick wanted to pound his fist against the wall in frustration, but restrained himself. “If you’ll find my handheld device, I have a number of medical texts on human development. If you had familiarized yourself with the subject before beginning your experimentation, you could have avoided re-inventing the wheel.”
The scientist pursed his lips, almost smiling in amusement, but Rick couldn’t see a damned thing that was funny about this situation. “A quaint expression, but one I understand. I will give this matter some thought.”
“In the meantime, will you allow this girl to go back to her parents? I can assure you, she’s way too young for what you had in mind. Subjecting her to the kind of experiment you intended could bring on despondency, thoughts of suicide and major psychosis.” Rick pulled a few big words out of his ass, hoping to convince the alien to return this poor little girl to her mom and dad. It was the least he could do.
Mara 36 sighed. “Perhaps you’re right. I can delay this study for now and dispatch a team to find your device. If you agree to help me study your people’s old texts, I will wait. Otherwise, the study will proceed as planned. Do I have your agreement?”
Rick saw no way out that would not harm the girl. He had no choice but to help his enemy. He’d have to make a deal with the devil.
“I agree.”
Callie turned sweet sixteen a few weeks after Davin left and the family had a party for her. They’d had a celebration of Harry’s sixteenth birthday just days before and he’d stayed with them at the ranch for the occasion. Harry spent a lot of his time in the alien city, getting an education and surreptitiously looking after his Papa Caleb, but he didn’t want to miss Callie’s special day.
The party lasted for hours with music and jokes, all her favorite dishes and a big cake. Jane had also managed to make some new clothes to surprise her daughter with and the girls of the house had oohed and aahed at an impromptu fashion show.
Harry found Callie alone by the
“Perhaps extinction is the best course for a species that has lost everything. Existing as guinea pigs in your prison is not any kind of existence.”
“What is a guinea pig?” Mara 36 asked.
“A small, furry rodent,” the girl spoke for the first time. Rick looked at her, surprised by the change in her demeanor. She sat up straighter on the table, cloaked in the sheet, holding it around herself with white-knuckled hands. “I had one as a pet once, but my father said they used to be used in experiments.”
“Your dad was right,” Rick said softly, not wanting to scare the girl.
“He was a biologist in the old world. He taught me a lot about plants and animals,” she said with a hint of shyness.
Rick stayed where he was, not wanting to frighten her. “He sounds like a good man. Do you know where he is now?”
“Probably still in the cell with my mother and little sister. They took me away last week.” She nudged her chin toward the soldiers by the door.
Rick stepped closer, projecting calm as best he could. “Did they hurt you?”
She shook her head. “They hurt Daddy when he tried to stop them. I hope he’s all right.” Tears threatened and Rick knew he had to help her in whatever small way he could. Perhaps he could find some angle that would appeal to the scientist. He looked at the alien with shrewd eyes.
“Do you know the condition of her father?”
“He is well, though the soldiers did have to restrain him with some force. I believe they broke one of his Page 30
arms, but it is healing well.”
“And your plans for this girl? I have to tell you right now, putting her in with a group of hungry males is a very bad idea. Gang rape will do nothing but traumatize a youngster like this. She is not mature enough physically or emotionally to endure that kind of treatment.”
“How do you know this?” Mara 36 asked.
Rick wanted to pound his fist against the wall in frustration, but restrained himself. “If you’ll find my handheld device, I have a number of medical texts on human development. If you had familiarized yourself with the subject before beginning your experimentation, you could have avoided re-inventing the wheel.”
The scientist pursed his lips, almost smiling in amusement, but Rick couldn’t see a damned thing that was funny about this situation. “A quaint expression, but one I understand. I will give this matter some thought.”
“In the meantime, will you allow this girl to go back to her parents? I can assure you, she’s way too young for what you had in mind. Subjecting her to the kind of experiment you intended could bring on despondency, thoughts of suicide and major psychosis.” Rick pulled a few big words out of his ass, hoping to convince the alien to return this poor little girl to her mom and dad. It was the least he could do.
Mara 36 sighed. “Perhaps you’re right. I can delay this study for now and dispatch a team to find your device. If you agree to help me study your people’s old texts, I will wait. Otherwise, the study will proceed as planned. Do I have your agreement?”
Rick saw no way out that would not harm the girl. He had no choice but to help his enemy. He’d have to make a deal with the devil.
“I agree.”
Callie turned sweet sixteen a few weeks after Davin left and the family had a party for her. They’d had a celebration of Harry’s sixteenth birthday just days before and he’d stayed with them at the ranch for the occasion. Harry spent a lot of his time in the alien city, getting an education and surreptitiously looking after his Papa Caleb, but he didn’t want to miss Callie’s special day.
The party lasted for hours with music and jokes, all her favorite dishes and a big cake. Jane had also managed to make some new clothes to surprise her daughter with and the girls of the house had oohed and aahed at an impromptu fashion show.
Harry found Callie alone by the
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