me, or my parents, to land. Not if they knew. Can you promise me that wouldn’t happen? I’ve seen the holodiscs, I know all about the genetic purity laws.”
“If they tested you … ”
“But why would they? Unless someone alerts the authorities, we’re in the clear. My family has the proper documentation, passed down by my grandparents. Certified one-hundred-percent human. And since my parents were born of those humans, they can claim all human rights, as can I.”
Dace sucks in a deep breath. “I want to study the creatures some more.”
“And you can. I’ll escort you back here every day. Hell, you can gather six billion terabytes of data for all I care. Just don’t squeal to anyone about me. Not until my family and I are living on Earth.”
Dace examines me—dispassionately, as if calculating my mass. “But once they know, they’ll deport you.”
Damn his logic. “I’ll worry about that when the time comes.” I hold out my hand. “Promise me you’ll stay quiet about this, just for now, and I swear you’ll have access to the caverns every day you’re on Eco.”
“But Ann, don’t you want to know what this means? I could run tests … ”
Do I want to know? This tiny change that turns my entire world upside down—do I want to know what it means, how it might affect me in the future?
“No.” I thrust out my hand again. “Promise.”
Dace wraps his fingers around mine. “Okay. I promise. For now. Until I can write up the full report.”
“Until my family and I are living on Earth.” I squeeze his fingers.
Dace gives a curt nod. “Until then.”
I drop his hand and step back with a smile. “Let’s grab the bikes and get a move on. It’s late. Your uncle will think I’ve already lost you.”
“Ann,” says Dace, as we stroll toward the bikes, “it isn’t a curse, you know. It’s more like a miracle.”
I grab my helmet by its strap. Allowing it to swing from my fingers I face Dace over the backs of the bikes. “Let me set you straight, Dacian Keeling. No one on Eco would agree with you. No one. In fact … ” a new strategy flashes into my mind, “there are quite a few colonists who’d kill you to keep something like that quiet. We’re proud to be human, you know. It’s one of our only sources of pride. Not something most colonists want smashed to hell.”
Dace pops on his helmet, flipping up the visor so he can speak. “Is that a threat?”
“Not from me. Others … ” I shrug before donning my own helmet.
Slamming down his visor, Dace throws the bike into gear. He speeds off before I can even mount my bike.
I doubt he’ll get lost, as the windmills’ blades are clearly visible on the horizon. But I don’t want him to arrive back at the compound too long before me. Despite his promise, I plan to keep a close eye on Dacian Keeling.
In the small mirror that hangs above our bathroom sink, I examine my face. I look perfectly human of course. There’s nothing in my appearance that betrays the fact I may harbor a snippet of alien DNA.
“May” being the operative word. I’m still not convinced Dace’s theory is sound. I stick out my tongue. My mirror image mimics me, down to the blemish that reddens the side of my distinctive nose. Yeah, beautiful, that’s me.
I wrinkle my nose at my reflection and turn away. It’s time to track down Dace and make him run that data again. I just don’t believe simply being conceived and born on this planet is enough to alter anyone’s genetic code. It’s not like we eat produce grown in its dirt.
The water. We drink the water.
I mutter obscenities as I yank a brush through my loose hair. I fling a light jacket over my T-shirt and spare the mirror one more glance.
Alien. Not entirely human. No—that isn’t me. That can’t be me.
My dad’s camped out in our living area, hunched over the dining table, examining some digital plans.
I take hold of his arm as I peer over his shoulder. “Terraforming
“If they tested you … ”
“But why would they? Unless someone alerts the authorities, we’re in the clear. My family has the proper documentation, passed down by my grandparents. Certified one-hundred-percent human. And since my parents were born of those humans, they can claim all human rights, as can I.”
Dace sucks in a deep breath. “I want to study the creatures some more.”
“And you can. I’ll escort you back here every day. Hell, you can gather six billion terabytes of data for all I care. Just don’t squeal to anyone about me. Not until my family and I are living on Earth.”
Dace examines me—dispassionately, as if calculating my mass. “But once they know, they’ll deport you.”
Damn his logic. “I’ll worry about that when the time comes.” I hold out my hand. “Promise me you’ll stay quiet about this, just for now, and I swear you’ll have access to the caverns every day you’re on Eco.”
“But Ann, don’t you want to know what this means? I could run tests … ”
Do I want to know? This tiny change that turns my entire world upside down—do I want to know what it means, how it might affect me in the future?
“No.” I thrust out my hand again. “Promise.”
Dace wraps his fingers around mine. “Okay. I promise. For now. Until I can write up the full report.”
“Until my family and I are living on Earth.” I squeeze his fingers.
Dace gives a curt nod. “Until then.”
I drop his hand and step back with a smile. “Let’s grab the bikes and get a move on. It’s late. Your uncle will think I’ve already lost you.”
“Ann,” says Dace, as we stroll toward the bikes, “it isn’t a curse, you know. It’s more like a miracle.”
I grab my helmet by its strap. Allowing it to swing from my fingers I face Dace over the backs of the bikes. “Let me set you straight, Dacian Keeling. No one on Eco would agree with you. No one. In fact … ” a new strategy flashes into my mind, “there are quite a few colonists who’d kill you to keep something like that quiet. We’re proud to be human, you know. It’s one of our only sources of pride. Not something most colonists want smashed to hell.”
Dace pops on his helmet, flipping up the visor so he can speak. “Is that a threat?”
“Not from me. Others … ” I shrug before donning my own helmet.
Slamming down his visor, Dace throws the bike into gear. He speeds off before I can even mount my bike.
I doubt he’ll get lost, as the windmills’ blades are clearly visible on the horizon. But I don’t want him to arrive back at the compound too long before me. Despite his promise, I plan to keep a close eye on Dacian Keeling.
In the small mirror that hangs above our bathroom sink, I examine my face. I look perfectly human of course. There’s nothing in my appearance that betrays the fact I may harbor a snippet of alien DNA.
“May” being the operative word. I’m still not convinced Dace’s theory is sound. I stick out my tongue. My mirror image mimics me, down to the blemish that reddens the side of my distinctive nose. Yeah, beautiful, that’s me.
I wrinkle my nose at my reflection and turn away. It’s time to track down Dace and make him run that data again. I just don’t believe simply being conceived and born on this planet is enough to alter anyone’s genetic code. It’s not like we eat produce grown in its dirt.
The water. We drink the water.
I mutter obscenities as I yank a brush through my loose hair. I fling a light jacket over my T-shirt and spare the mirror one more glance.
Alien. Not entirely human. No—that isn’t me. That can’t be me.
My dad’s camped out in our living area, hunched over the dining table, examining some digital plans.
I take hold of his arm as I peer over his shoulder. “Terraforming
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