Page 40 (2/2)

Astrid didn’t answer Her silent staring went on and on At last she said, "Every ht out of your hands and never get burned Brianna runs at a hundred miles an hour but her knees don’t break The mutations haven’t harmed anyone yet In fact, the oal was to build a stronger,different"

"Okay What?"

She shrugged, pulled off her gloves, and tossed them onto the open wound "This is bits of huirl--and coyote Mix and match Like someone just randomly took parts from one and swapped thean

But Astrid was still talking, to herself more than to him "Like someone tossed two different DNAs into a hat and drew out this and that and tried to fit theether It’s … it’s stupid, really"

"Stupid?"

"Yeah Stupid" She looked at hi to hi that makes no sense It serves no purpose It’s obvious it wouldn’t work Only an idiot would think you could just rando pieces of hu like this is so it A person How do you know it isn’t just sohed, and added, "Or at least what passes for natural in the FAYZ"

Astrid shrugged "What’s happened so far? Coyotes evolved liressive and territorial Snakes greings and developed a new form of metamorphosis Soe, but not a lot of stupid This, though, this"--she aier at the carcass of the e?" Sa answer

Astrid held his gaze for a moment but her brain was somewhere else "Not stupid," she said

"You just said it was--"

"I rong It’s not about stupid It’s ignorant Clueless"

"Is there--" He wasn’t surprised when she interrupted hi

"Unbelievable power," Astrid said "And absolute ignorance"

"What does thatShe was slowly turning her head, eyes aiht so up on her