REGENERATION #5
This is the opening chapter of #5 THE KILLER, ISBN: 0-425-17864-1.
It will be out January 2001.
REGENERATION #5: THE KILLER by L.J. Singleton
Chapter One
"Chase, where ya heading?" Titus Terwilliger called as he
walked out
of the supply shack. He scratched his bushy brown beard and gave me one
his eagle-eyed looks.
"North end." I stepped around a large rock, my Redwing boots
crunching down on brittle weeds. Slinging a shovel across my shoulder, I
balanced it there as I turned toward Titus. "Some fencing needs fixing. I
figured I'd do it before dark."
"No rush, son. It can wait till morning." Titus eased his
ample
six-foot-three body into one of the two folding chairs underneath a shady
cluster of majestic pine and oak trees. His weathered, tanned face
stretched into a grin and he pointed to the other chair. "Come over and
kick back awhile with me. You've been working hard since sun-up and I can
see you're beat. Did you skip lunch again?"
"I wasn't hungry." I tightened my sweaty fingers around the
shovel,
and tensed with resentment. Titus was my boss, but that didn't give him
the right to fuss over me. I could take care of myself, and he damn well
knew it.
"When my son was your age, he was always hungry. Never knew a
young
man who'd rather fix fencing than eat." Titus pulled out a knife and a
small slab of wood from his pocket and began whittling. His gaze shifted
over to me. "Why don't you call it a day and come back to the house with
me for a hot dinner? The wife promised roast beef and mashed potatoes
tonight."
"No, thanks." I shook my head, bristling at his meddling. He
didn't
know anything about me. And if he did, you can bet he wouldn't be inviting
me to his home. Definitely not to have dinner with him and his wife.
Hell, he probably would have run me off with his shotgun when I showed up
looking for a job.
Titus's fingers moved like lightening, wood chips flying around his
faded corduroy pants and landing on the rough, uneven ground like dirty
snowflakes. He lifted his head. His brows narrowed and his mouth set in a
thoughtful line. "Why do I get the feeling you're running from something?"
he asked.
"I don't know."
"Anything you want to tell me?"
"Nope."
"You sure?"
I raked my hand through my short bristly hair. "I'm just here to
do a
job."
"An eight hour shift, not eighteen hours." Titus paused from
his
whittling to frown at me. "In the two weeks you been here, I've never seen
such a hard worker. Which makes me wonder . . . .."
I shifted uneasily. The shovel which was still propped across my
shoulders rubbed rough against my neck. I was anxious to get on with my
job, away from questions. My tool bag slipped around my waist. Something
sharp, probably a nail or screw driver, jabbed me in the side. But the
pain wasn't a concern. I didn't feel pain much anymore, no matter how hard
I pushed myself.
"I better go fix that fence," I said hastily, glancing up at
the
sinking sun. Then I caught Titus studying me, and I quickly lowered my
head to avoid his sharp eyes.
"Suppose I knew you wouldn't tell me anything." Titus sighed.
"Of
course, that's your business. But I'm here if you need a friend."
I nodded, not knowing what to say. So I said nothing. Turning
abruptly, I strode into the dense woods, where there were only a few humans
and houses for vast mountainous miles.
As I moved away, I heard Titus mumble something under his breath. A
normal person wouldn't have been able to hear what Titus said.
But I was far from normal.
So I was able to clearly hear Titus mutter, "If that boy doesn't take
better care, he's gonna kill himself."
Titus had a point. Maybe I was trying to kill myself.
At least that way I couldn't kill anyone else.
Ever again.
**********************************************************************
Linda Joy Singleton - E-mail: ljscheer@inreach.com
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/4815/
Five teens discover they are cloned with unusual powers.
(Excerpts & covers on website!)
#1. REGENERATION/REGENERATION (#0-425-17302-X)
#2. REGENERATION/THE SEARCH (#0-425-17368-2)
#3. REGENERATION/THE TRUTH (#0-425-17415-8)
#4. REGENERATION/THE IMPOSTER (#0-425-17635-5) NEW RELEASE!
#5. REGENERATION/THE KILLER (#0-425-17864-1) Jan/2001
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