Read Online Mutation: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction by Norman Christof - Free Book Online Page A

clenched and unclenched his fist. “Will they put her in one of those tanks like patient zero?”
    “I don’t know … probably not. That was a one time thing. Things went badly years ago with her. I wasn’t here when they brought her in, but I know more than a few people died over it. It was the only reliable way they could find to control her. It wouldn’t be necessary for Christa … I don’t think. I don’t think even Montgomery knows what they’re going to do with her. The kid keeps changing so much every day, I think it's too early to decide.”
    “Hell, do you people know anything? No wonder it’s taken you so long to come up with a solution to this mess.”
    “Yea, and you military thugs haven’t exactly been doing a bang up job these days. What the hell happened in Washington, with all those attacks? Great job protecting the president.”
    Chaz contemplated another punch to the face, but figured that would only add weight to his comments about soldiers being thugs. Chaz dropped back down into the elevator.
    The researcher called back. “Hey, your not going to leave me here again are you?”
    “Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like you’ve been a treasure chest of information.”
    “C’mon … I told you what I know.”
    “Fine look, I’ll leave the panel here open. There’ll be a bunch of people getting on the next ride up. Someone will get you out of here.”
    “Wow, thanks … you're a real pal.”
    Chaz looked back up at the open access panel, and yelled up. “What do you know about those freak huggers, the religious nut cases that worship the freaks?”
    “Freak huggers? Never heard of them. Who are they?”
     
    Chaz never answered. That’s a whole other issue. What possible influence could they have over the vice president. That makes no sense whatsoever. Unless, they had something to do with those attacks in Washington. It doesn’t really sound like their sort of thing though. Maybe I'm imagining the whole thing.  They’re generally just a bunch of misguided pacifists. If the vice presidents still alive, then maybe the president is as well. But, why no word from him? No word from either of them until now, and today wasn’t exactly a public forum. Nobody even really knows about this place.
     
    Chaz released the emergency stop button on the elevator, and it resumed its ascent. He ignored the whimpering coming for the access panel above. Eventually the doors opened, and Chaz stepped onto the upper medical level. Retracing his steps back to Alex’s room, Chaz’s thoughts were muddled and confused. We went through so much to get here … all of us, and for what? The whole point, was to rid the planet of these damn freaks, but now it doesn’t seem like even that will happen. All those sacrifices, and for what? And what about the sacrifices yet to come? God knows what they’re going to do with Christa in the name of this ill conceived compromise. I didn’t come this far, to settle. I’m done with settling.
     
    Standing outside Alex’s room brought back memories of their battle to get where they were today. Chaz remembered rescuing Alex from that farmers field, which felt like a lifetime ago. He remembered first coming across Christa and that school bus of kids. How many of them were innocents, and how many were freaks? He’d never know that. After everything we’ve been through, I’ll be damned if I hand it all over to those religious fanatics. I need to find out who’s really behind all this. This fight is far from over. Looking through the window at Alex, Chaz wondered how the kid would take all this. Would it be too much for him? He’s too attached to Christa. It would be too much. How knows what kind of condition he’ll be in when he wakes up. If he wakes up. Either way, I need to keep this to myself, for as long as I can. He won’t be ready for this for a while. The more I think about it though, the less it makes sense for Christa to stay under their control. Whoever