I awake to the smell of coffee. Light through my eyelids. I open them and see sunlight streaming through a large plate glass window. Clear and bright. Almost white. Next to the window is a door. A knock sounds, and before I can answer, the door opens to admit a femme de chambre carrying a tray. I am lying on a bed. I can’t move. I watch her with one eye. She is tiny and delicate, with dark hair and a small mouth. Pretty. Round, white eyes, with a dollop of chocolate for pupils.
“Crème, monsieur?” Her voice is a well-tuned instrument, smooth and soft.
I try to say, “Oui, et sucre, s’il vous plait,” but my throat will not open and only a squeak escapes. My mouth is dry. My tongue is stuck.
*
Turkish men yell. Europeans shout short, single words. Asians squeak. Americans are silent until they explode.
Exitus acta probat.
“Where did you get the idea that fairness is readily available in the world?”
“Because we strive for it, as humans.”“No, we don’t. We strive for control of our lives and the world around us.”
“Tasta?! Tasta?!” I wonder if he got him. Jouer le rôle, mon ami.
“I thought you were the one who believes there is something more than just the scientifically verifiable?”
“I do believe that. But I don’t have control over much. And neither do you.”
Auchentoshan 18 year. Finest in the land. Only 227 bottles this year. My favorite.
Excerpt From
Mortals As They Walk
Markus McDowell
This material is protected by copyright.
Mortals As They Walk is a riveting sci-fi thriller that delves into the ethical quagmire of genetic engineering.
Pate Williamson, a once-promising tech innovator now living on the streets, is recruited for a secretive project promising riches—but at a cost. Eris, a woman grappling with the loss of her family and child, joins the same experiment, seeking answers to her past. Meanwhile, Salim, a teenager raised in a carefully curated lie, discovers his true identity as a product of this very project, making him a target in a dangerous game.
Spanning from 2006 to 2038, their stories intertwine across continents, from the cobblestone streets of Heidelberg, Germany to the windswept cliffs of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. As they uncover a conspiracy involving nanobiots, in vitro modifications, and corporate greed, they’re hunted by black market forces desperate to exploit their unique DNA. With the fate of humanity’s future in their hands, Pate, Eris, and Salim must decide whether to end the experiment that created them or risk its misuse.
Blending high-stakes suspense with profound ethical questions, McDowell crafts a narrative that echoes Gattaca and The Island. This thought-provoking tale explores free will, identity, and the cost of perfection in a world where science can rewrite destiny.
Available from select retailers in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.
Discover more from Markus McDowell, author
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You must be logged in to post a comment.