‘ ‘You know, I used to enjoy mythology until I met you,” Mildred said wearily.
Jamaisvous laughed in delight. “She’s right! Count on you, Dr. Tanner, to ruin all the fun. But, he’s correct in his words, Dr. Wyeth. The term ‘chi- meric’ does indeed come from mythological origins and, in this instance, refers to certain combinations of DNA. Take genetic material from one animal, and place it in another. Shake well, and see what surprise combo you’ve come up with this tune.”
“Playing God,” the woman said with a frown.
“I agree. I also postulate that if man has reached the heights of such creation and manipulation of life, then man has become godlike.”
“I don’t agree,” Mildred said. “I’ve always believed there are limits, and lines that should not be crossed.”
“This from an expert in the field of cryonics? What about the eternal body and soul debate? The morality of freezing the dead for eventual reanima-tion? Dr. Frankenstein would have heartily approved of your field, Mildred.”
“There’s a big difference between trying to preserve existing life and creating anew, Silas,” Mildred pointed out.
“Perhaps, but it doesn’t matter here. Like yourself, Dr. Wyeth, genetics aren’t my specialty, but I’m a fast learner and have spent quite a few nights going through the existing videotapes of the many processes that led to the creation of the mutants known as chupacabras. Here a protoplast, there a hybrid and boom-a single cell containing the chromosomes of both parent cells. I believe vectors were also used, a vector being an unsuspecting DNA molecule into which foreign DNA can be easily inserted.”
“There goes the neighborhood.”
“Yes. Once you’ve added the new element to the old, you then have an entirely different creation that is fully accepted and taken up by the confused host cell.”
“All you’re describing to me is pantropic science,” Mildred said. “I’ve seen it and experienced the horror of it firsthand. Why the government didn’t think a nuclear conflagration was sufficient punishment for the world is beyond me, but the artificial creations generated by the distortions of nature make me sick to even call myself a member of the human race.”
Jamaisvous laid a hand over his heart. “Spoken like a true patriot, my dear. Still, Dr. Tanner and I have an appointment to keep, right?”
“Yes,” Doc replied.
Then, Mildred surprised them all. She raised her pistol and fired a quick shot into the heart of one of the comps on the table next to Jamaisvous, followed by a bold lunge for Doc, which was doomed to failure by the equally quick reaction time of Garcia, who pulled a small black-and-silver handheld device from his belt and shoved the suddenly sparking gadget against Mildred’s body.
The last thing Mildred saw before being plunged into unconsciousness was the electric-blue strike of a compressed lightning blast.
“You COULDN’T BACK OFF, could you? I’m sorry, Dr. Wyeth. Sorry for both of us.” The leader of the El Morro Fortress glared down at his guest, all pretense of polite host long lost. The tazer Garcia had used to subdue Mildred emitted faint crackling sounds as Jamaisvous, who’d taken control of the woman’s target pistol, idly caressed the hammer of the firing mechanism. “I suppose I should kill you to insure my plans of succeeding, but I’m a fair man, so what I do depends on you.”
Mildred held her ground. “What a load. You live to brag and talk. Kill me and you’re back to expressing glee to your own reflection in the mirror. I’m sure the locals don’t exactly comprehend the full import of what you’ve got set up here.”
“A parry of ego, eh, Dr. Wyeth? I can handle being alone. I’ve been alone before. I kind of like it.”
Mildred got to her feet, realizing part of one breast was exposed by the low-cut blue dress. She lingered as she pushed herself up, allowing Jamaisvous a long look at her cleavage.
“There’s always room for discussion, Silas…and nobody likes being alone,” she said in her huskiest voice.
“Please, don’t come any closer. I hate heroes, especially misguided, oversexed ones. I daresay none of us wants any more shooting in here, what with such delicate and irreplaceable equipment lying about,” Jamaisvous said. He waved an impatient hand at Doc. “Go ahead, Theophilus! We can’t get started until you’re encased inside.”