The eyes grew very tender as he looked at Meredith. “I won’t let them hurt you,” he promised.
Them?
But he grimaced and screamed in pain. The shapes of female breasts appeared beneath the clothing, and the visible skin became smooth and hairless again. The profile of the face changed, the eyes grew feral once more, and then the countenance was no longer Riggio’s, but was instead Tatsy Cosmo’s.
Another scream issued from the creature, a combined male and female intonation, in chilling disharmony. The face metamorphosed into a hideous amalgam with glowing, deformed eyes and sharp teeth. With one of its hands it gripped Meredith’s arm, but the hold was weak and she was able to knock it away. She saw uncertainty in the eyes, and confusion.
An opening? The grip came and went, and even at its strongest it was not as strong as before. With a sharp kick to the midsection, Meredith knocked the monster back and dislodged its hold on the cable.
The creature slipped down the curved surface of the sun, and landed on the walkway that encircled it. Then, in what looked like a bizarre struggle of internal forces, the thing vaulted onto the top of the railing, as if in an effort to jump off. But it hung on, flailing with one arm and its legs against something Meredith could not see.
“Take a shot!” someone yelled, and Meredith heard three shots, but they seemed to miss, as the strange struggle below her continued. She recognized Zack’s friend, police detective Nolan Hagel, on the ladder just above him, pointing a gun, trying to help.
Just then, Zack let go of the plazchain ladder and dropped. Landing on the sun with a jarring thump, he grabbed the base of the cable, where the attacker had been only moments before. Then he reached over and pulled Meredith close to him.
“What the hell is happening with that thing?” he asked.
Meredith didn’t answer. She couldn’t answer. The creature was remaining female now, in torn clothing. It... and she couldn’t call it male or female... continued to struggle with itself, as if two halves were battling.
Above them, Hagel said he was having trouble getting a good angle for a shot.
Meredith was comforted by Zack’s embrace, and was transfixed by what was going on. Below her and Zack, the creature climbed over the outside of the railing, and hung on by the fingertips of one hand. Then the body and face shapeshifted again, to a sweet-faced young girl having Mongoloid features.
“Please help me,” the girl said, in a meek, halting voice. She looked pitiful at first, but then a peculiar, menacing expression crept over her face.
Meredith had to fight off her own emotions to keep from trying to help her.
The face shifted again and became that of another, unfamiliar female. Moments later it transformed into yet another unfamiliar female, a narrow face with different hair, followed by a shift to Tatsy Cosmo, and finally to Riggio.
“I won’t let them hurt you,” he’d said to her. Them...
Rage, confusion and a range of other emotions had filled the female features of each face, but in the end Riggio smiled up at Meredith gently, with genuine affection for her. She remembered how he had saved her from the fire at the beehive, how gallant he had been, and the memory problems he’d said he had, and the way he’d kept to himself so much of the time. In a way, it was starting to make sense, if anything about this could make sense. She felt terrible for him, wished she could help in some way.
Meredith smiled back at him, and was about to say something when Riggio let go. He fell, amidst a screaming cacophony of female voices.
“Oh my God,” Meredith said. She looked away, while Zack held her even more tightly. They heard the impact of the body, far below. It made a small, sickening sound.
“It’s over now,” Zack said. “Whatever happened here, it’s over.”
“Not quite,” she said, looking up. “We can’t reach the ladder yet.”
He smiled, then kissed her tenderly. “That’s all right with me.”
“No, it makes me nervous staying here. It’s the second time I’ve been stranded here.” She told him what had happened earlier.
Zack shouted for them to hurry up with the ladder, then asked her, “Are you ever going to write about this?”
She looked up into his eyes, saw the love and deep concern, and hope for their shared future. “Probably not,” she said. “I just want this be over, really over. I don’t want to think about it any more than I have to.”
“On the way here,” Zack said while they waited for someone to figure the ladder out, “I rode with Dr. Yordanius, the man who caused all this trouble.” He pointed toward the hole above them, where people were looking down. “He’s up there now, so maybe you’ll meet him if the cops haven’t already taken him away. I have to say he’s an interesting, if misguided, man. He’s an albino with an unusual appearance, and is really old. His way of thinking is unusual, too, a criminal, the cops say.
“The guy is a research scientist—a mad scientist, according to an FBI agent who rode in the van with us. It seems that Riggio was a product of the doctor’s illegal laboratory, a dangerous genetic experiment that went out of control. And listen to this: Yordanius claims he was trying to create a new race of peaceful humans that would no longer engage in endless wars. He said thousands of years of warfare have been the fault of quarrelsome, aggressive men, and he was trying to eliminate their dangerous temperaments, and create a human being that could find ways to negotiate his way out of troubles, instead of constantly going to war.”
“Obviously, something went terribly wrong with this experiment,” Meredith said.
“That’s for sure.”
“It is interesting what he has to say about men, though,” Meredith said. “In my novel I was trying to write about a headstrong young woman in Victorian times who didn’t kowtow to men.”
“I know. I thought of you immediately when I heard him talking. You’d have to interview him in federal prison, because that’s where he’s going, for the rest of his life.”
“Well, maybe I’ll get around to writing about this experience one day after all. It’s just that right now it’s too fresh in my mind, and I need to get over it.”
“I understand completely, after your narrow escape from death.”
“And yours, Zack. I was worried about you, too.”
From above a man shouted Zack’s name, and said, “The plazchain is hopelessly snarled.” It was Detective Hagel.
She’d already told Zack about the rope ladder that had been used before, and he shouted this information up to Hagel, asking him to go find it.
~~~
Above, while the Seattle Police detective went in search of help, Agent Jantz asked Dr. Yordanius, “What sort of a monster did you create with Riggio? Both male and female DNA, shapeshifting back and forth?”
The old man looked more sad and remorseful than anyone Jantz had ever met. “I should have done something different,” he said, “that’s for sure. But at least he’s dead.”
“This just shows that you shouldn’t be messing with human genetics in the first place.”
“No, it just shows that I missed important genetic indicators with Riggio, pointing toward the certainty of violence. If I had been working with more assistants, with better qualifications, such details would have not have been missed.”
Jantz looked down through the hole, saw many people gathered around Riggio’s body far below, on the cavern floor. “You’re sure that thing can’t come back to life?”
“I’m sure,” the scientist said. But to Jantz he didn’t look all that certain.
Dr. Yordanius asked, “Do you remember our conversation about my failures, the lab-children I put in cryogenic storage?”
“I do.” Jantz was pacing back and forth, casting the orange light of her exosuit on the floor. Her steps were herky-jerk, which happened sometimes when she was upset.
“Did you tell anyone what I asked for? That I don’t want them destroyed?”
“I informed Director Gilmore of your conc
erns.”
“And what did he say?”
“He just listened, no more.”
“Attentively? Does he seem to care, does he seem to understand?”
“Yes, he was attentive, but he didn’t say how he felt about it one way or the other.”
“Well, I hope he realizes how vitally important it is. Riggio Demónt’s body must be preserved, too, along with the others. Will you tell him that, too, please? I’ve tried to help with the Riggio matter. The composite drawing was perfect, and you saw me trying to communicate with him here.”
“I know, and I’ll tell him.”
~~~
Detective Hagel shouted down to Zack. “The custodian informs me that the rope ladder belongs to one of the subcontractors, and he took it with him. It is no longer on the premises.”
Zack cursed. “There’s supposed to be a permanent ramp installed, too. When is that scheduled?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
Touching Zack’s arm, Meredith said to him, “I suppose we should go inside Sunny and sit down. Maybe they could lower some food and drink to us.”
“I have a better idea.” He looked up and shouted, “Nolan, secure a strong rope up there, and drop it down to me. I’ll climb out of here with Meredith on my back.”
The detective didn’t like the idea. “Are you kidding? Even with your skills, that would be dangerous.”
Zack laughed. “I was in the Army Special Forces with you, remember? Besides, after what we’ve already been through—especially Meredith—it will seem like child’s play.” In a low tone, he said to her, “I’ll tie a harness around you for safety.” Meredith knew what that meant, from rock-climbing trips with him.
When the detective finally secured and lowered the rope, Meredith was not worried, because Zack had taken him rock climbing, too, and both men were experts at tying knots. The rope was strong but not that thick. It was plenty long enough for Zack to wrap it twice around her chest and under her arms, and then secure it front and back with bowline knots.
This would not be the most comfortable arrangement if she fell because it would put some pressure on her breasts, but short of an emergency she didn’t think it was too bad. Zack made sure she was comfortable now, and years ago on their first climbing trip, he’d told her any discomfort she experienced when arresting a fall would be worth it to save her life.
Zack grabbed the rope above them and said, “Hold onto my back.”
She did so, as tightly as she could, and he climbed the taut line, carrying her steadily upward. He moved powerfully, with the sureness and strength of a young Marine on an obstacle course.
At the top, when they were safe on the floor of the dome, Meredith saw Sam Howe, in a black raincoat. His hair was unkempt, from him being roused in the middle of the night and not combing it. “Thank God you’re safe,” he said.
Meredith nodded, breathing a big sigh of relief. Then she shared a lingering kiss with Zack, and melted into the safety of his powerful arms.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Herbert has published more than 40 books, including science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels, with many of his works appearing on the New York Times and international bestseller lists. He won the Science Fiction Book of the Year Award and the New York Times Notable Book Award for his DUNE-series novels, reached the preliminary Nebula Award ballot for his novel THE RACE FOR GOD, and made the final Hugo Award ballot for DREAMER OF DUNE, the moving biography of his famous father Frank Herbert, a work Brian spent five years writing.
Brian and his wife, Jan, live in the Seattle area, and have three daughters. In 1967, the young couple eloped to Reno and were married in a small chapel. Little did they know what a life of adventure they would experience together. In 2017 Brian and Jan took a 3-month overseas trip to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary. It was one of perhaps 20 “trips of a lifetime” they’ve enjoyed. Years ago, Jan told Brian that “this life is not a dress rehearsal,” and she convinced him to travel extensively, so that they could experience other cultures and enjoy their lives to the fullest. Jan Herbert is a remarkable woman, and Brian considers himself fortunate to have met her at such a young age.
Brian and Jan have visited most of the countries in the world, where they’ve seen fascinating cultural, political, religious, historical, and environmental situations first-hand-providing plenty of data for writing. On one of their world cruises, Brian met a US Merchant Marine veteran, and learned that these civilian seamen had been treated unfairly after World War II, not receiving any medical or other benefits, even after serving in dangerous war zones and performing tasks critical to the Allied war effort. Seeking to remedy this massive injustice, Brian wrote THE FORGOTTEN HEROES, a carefully-researched non-fiction work that has received praise from the Merchant Marine community. He also submitted written testimony to the US Congress, in an effort to obtain benefits for heroic merchant seamen and their families.
Brian’s acclaimed novels include the Timeweb trilogy (TIMEWEB, THE WEB & THE STARS, and WEBDANCERS); THE STOLEN GOSPELS; THE LOST APOSTLES; THE RACE FOR GOD; SIDNEY’S COMET; SUDANNA, SUDANNA; and MAN OF TWO WORLDS (written with Frank Herbert).
Brian also wrote the Hellhole Trilogy (HELLHOLE, HELLHOLE AWAKENING, and HELLHOLE INFERNO) and many international-bestselling DUNE-series novels with Kevin J. Anderson.
Brian’s novels are highly original, and deal with environmental issues, as well as politics, religion, women’s rights and the history of human civilization. One of Brian’s recent publications is OCEAN, an epic fantasy novel about environmental issues, written with his wife, Jan. The premise of OCEAN is highly original and revolutionary-the ocean and its dangerous sea creatures declare war against human civilization, in retaliation for pollution and other abuses to those waters. Like many of Brian’s novels, it exposes an important social issue in a thought-provoking way.
Brian’s highly original science fiction novel, THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK OF CHAIRMAN RAHMA, is the imaginative story of a green utopia that becomes a nightmare for people living in it-the ecologically obsessed government enforces its edicts with deadly police state methods in which environmental violators are “recycled.” Publishers Weekly praised the novel as depicting “a fresh and forbidding near-future world.” That was just one of many excellent reviews that Brian’s works have received, going all the way back to his first science fiction novel, SIDNEY’S COMET, which Publishers Weekly described as “unusually inventive and original.”
In Brian’s childhood, he, his younger brother Bruce, and their parents had very little money. Impulsively, Frank Herbert moved the family of four from place to place. He was a newspaperman and science fiction writer in the days before becoming famous for DUNE, while Brian’s mother [Beverly Herbert] worked for large department stores, writing ads. She was the breadwinner much of the time, allowing her husband the time to develop his writing talent, even though he generated very little income. The family moved 23 times before Brian was out of high school.
Brian went to 1st grade in Ciudad Guzman, Mexico, in the state of Jalisco. In 1953, they traveled to Mexico with the fantasy writer Jack Vance and his wife, Norma. Brian spoke Spanish in school, and still has his Spanish-language arithmetic book from that class. The “school bus” was a smoke-belching old station wagon, and Brian - as the new kid / gringo - had to sit in the rear by a broken back window, inhaling exhaust fumes. He was even told to ride on the tailgate on occasion, with his feet dangling over the edge, holding on as best as he could. The Herberts returned to the United States after a few months. But two years later they were back in Mexico, living in the village of Tlalpujahua, in the mountains of Michoacán. There they lived among Tarascan Indians, a tough and hardy group of mountain people whose ancestors were among the few who were never conquered by the Aztecs. Today the town is well known for the Christmas ornaments it produces, but in the 1950s it was a sleepy village with cobblestone streets. Brian was home-schooled there by his parents.
; In 1960, the Herbert family moved to San Francisco. For the first time in Brian’s life, they stayed in one area for an extended period. He attended Everett Junior High School and Lowell High School in the city. Lowell is the oldest high school west of St. Louis, long known for high academic standards. Living in a tough neighborhood in the Mission district, Brian took streetcars and buses across the city to a nicer part of town, out in the Avenues where Lowell was. Having skipped grades in junior high, he graduated from high school when he was only 16.
Afterward, Brian enrolled at the nearby University of California at Berkeley, attending classes during the political turmoil of the free-speech movement and the anti-war movement. He graduated with a BA degree in Sociology, a degree he was to use later in his writing, having learned in school about the psychology and intricate workings of large-scale social movements. During college, he and Jan had their first child. Brian also worked full time as a waiter and in other jobs, mostly in food service, while carrying a full-time schedule of classes.
Today, in addition to writing more novels, Brian co-manages the business of his late father’s fantastic DUNE legacy, sharing those responsibilities with one of his daughters and a nephew. In that capacity Brian and his fellow officers signed a major film deal with Legendary Pictures, and he will serve as an Executive Producer and Creative Adviser on future motion picture and television projects.
For more about Brian and his work, as well as the latest news about the Dune motion picture project, please see:
Twitter: @DuneAuthor
Facebook: brianherbertnovels
Website: www.brianherbertnovels.com
More books from Brian Herbert are available at: www.ReAnimus.com/store/?author=Brian%20Herbert
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