Author’s note: In very early drafts, before the first draft was completed, Pate’s character (the protagonist) was quite different from the final version (at one point in the outlining, he was even a antagonist!) One of the things he did was completely change his look through surgery, diet, and exercise. This was after the failed operation in Istanbul. Here, he tests his new persona while living in Paris.
I walked into the outdoor section of the café. I took my usual table at the usual time. Sylvie approached, as I expected.
“Pardon, monsieur, mais cette table est reserve.”
I looked up into her brown French eyes. “Sylvie.” I kept looking, boring into her brain.
Not even a glimmer of recognition. She was confused, and a bit irritated.
“Please, monsieur—”
“Sylvie, c’est moi.” I leaned forward. I held up my hand and showed her the ring.
Confusion turned to embarrassment. Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Oh, pardon, monsieur, pardon! I did not recognize you. You…you…”
I smiled without humor. “Don’t look very attractive?”
She squirmed. I reveled.
“Oh, no, monsieur, no…I mean…”
“Oui, oui, mademoiselle. Say it.” I stood and leaned closer. “Say it.” I almost growled it. She flinched. I was being mean.
“Ah, ah, oui, monsieur. You…you do not look yourself. So…common.” I nodded, encouraging her. “Unattractive, sir, with my apology.” It pained her to be so impolite. I sat back down and smiled.
“Merci, Sylvie. Espresso, s’ll vous plait. And…a man will come here asking for me. Tell him you do not know me, but he is welcome to look.”
“Oui, monsieur. Toute de suite.” She hurried off.
After a couple of sips, I saw him enter the plaza. He looked around. His eyes scanned over me, past me. There was no recognition. I was a stranger to him. He started towards me, frowning. Then he stopped and looked at his watch. He frowned again.
Sylvie approached the man and he asked a question. She shook her head. He nodded, and an expression of irritation crossed his face. Exquisite. He looked around the cafe again, his eyes resting on me for only a brief moment.
Nothing.
Perfect. I smiled, dropped six euros on the table, drained my espresso, and left.
I walked right by the man and caught his glance. He gave a polite but meaningless nod.
I smiled as I walked down Rue de St. George.
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.
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