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Maybe the fact that I was actually feeling vulnerable behind h, because Dr Thomas said, "I understand You htened, disoriented, and a little bit trying to convince ain, not to drink, but to feel it in s I really wanted--un, Shaun--but it would have to do

"You have to understand that this is an experimental procedure There was no e could predict success, or even be sure that you would be yourself when you woke up" Dr Tho the truth, or at least the truth as he understood it "To be honest with you, we’re still not sure how stable you are"

"I guess that explains theabout it, and decided against putting the can back down I deserved a little comfort Resurrection turns out to be really hard on a person "So you’re waiting foris a coenerations are infected with the Kellis-A the infection, coreement with it, if you will Adult infections have been rare since the Rising"

"But cloned tissue is grown under clean-room conditions," I said "How did you introduce the infection?"

"Aerosol exposure when the…" He stuttered to a stop, obviously unsure how to proceed Their reports probably referred to e of the process Using a proper pronoun would involve giving tooas a lab experiment

The temptation to point that out was there I let it pass I needed an ally, even one who thought he was getting me to cooperate, more than I needed to score a few points just to rowth cycle was the tissue?" I asked

"Halfway," he said, visibly relieved "We used techniques developed for organ cloning to accelerate the growth of the entire body The immune and nervous systems were fully mature We even used a blood sample on file at the Memphis installation, to be sure the exposure involved the strain of Kellis-Ainally infected It seemed the most likely to be compatible with your systes like this, well, they aren’t precisely an exact science…"

Things like this absolutely are an exact science They’re exactly what the Fictionals tell us to expect onceelse that didn’t need to be pointed out Instead, I seized on the thing he was doing his best to avoid saying "Theto spontaneously aenuinely sorry as he continued "It will take a few days to be sure your system has properly adjusted to the infection Until then, I’m afraid your movements will be carefully monitored You can use the intercom to request food or drinks, and there will always be an escort ready if you need to visit the sanitary facilities Shoill be available to you on a regular basis"

"Can I ask for an Internet connection?" I asked

He looked away as he answered "That isn’t a good idea yet We’re still running tests, and we don’t want to stress youmaterial can be provided, if there are specific subjects you’re interested in"

"Carefully censored, so as not to ‘stress’ race to look embarrassed That didn’tto avoid stress, you should know that isolation stressesto have to live with it for a little while longer I’ about the way he said that ht in the dangerous seconds following the gunshot that killeddrink of Coke to steady myself, and asked, "Is Shaun okay? Did he make it out of Sacramento? Please Just tell me if he made it out of Sacrahtboth awake and aware of your surroundings," said Dr Thomas He delivered this apparent non sequitur in a hurried alet what he was about to say out of the way as quickly as possible "A great deal has changed during that time"

"You didn’t answerive you the answers you’re asking me for But I aaped at hi when he stepped out of the roo behind him I didn’t move Not until my Coke hit the floor with abeing dropped My knees eak, and I sank into a kneeling position, my eyes fixed on the blank white door

My cheeks et I reached up with one hand, touching ?" I said numbly Retinal Kellis-Amberlee robs its victims of the ability to cry Somehow, the idea that I could cry noas even more unbelievable than the idea that I was a CDC science project