The Seven by Sean Patrick Little Read Free Book Online Page A

be worried."
    "I'm worried about the wing structure," said Sebbins. "It doesn't look as if she will be able to utilize those wings for propulsion. The muscle structure looks too weak."
    "She will be able to propel with the wings," Cormair's voice was firm and sure. "She is not going to take off like a game bird or a finch, but she will fly. I imagine she will be much more like a condor or an albatross. Perhaps her human legs will give her an advantage for lift-off that condors do not possess. The wings will allow her to utilize thermals to glide for hours, maybe days if she can stay awake. They will also allow her to glide from high places, escape routes and the like. Surveillance. That will be her forte. Her eyes were genetically enhanced to be as powerful as a falcon's eyes, you know."
    "I know," said Sebbins, rolling her eyes. "I said I read her file."
    "The only thing I'm worried about is her vocal chords. I wonder if they will be able to stand up to the enhancements I tried to implant. That was my idea, you know---turning her voice box into a weapon."
    "'Shrike Scream' it's called in your files."
    "A voice box that's been mechanically enhanced and amplified to the point of being able to cause physical damage with a scream. Wonderful!" Cormair never smiled. His face only gave hints to his emotions, but he was happy. Ecstatic, even.
    A pneumatic door slid open at the back of the lab. Cormair and Sebbins both stood up. A slightly overweight man in a dress military uniform walked through the door. He was bald with a thick mustache. A dark gray service cap was tucked under his arm and he walked with a brisk, smart step.
    Cormair swallowed hard. He rubbed his palms on his lab coat and nervously straightened the lapels. He extended one hand genially. "General Tucker! I was not expecting you for some time, yet."
    "I received a message that you finally had a major development," Tucker said. He ignored Cormair's outstretched hand and kept his eyes on the tank. "What has happened? That looks like Subject Six in that tank."
    "Posey," said Sebbins. Cormair hushed her with a stern look.
    "Yes, General. That is Subject Six. We have had an extremely exciting development. The project has finally borne fruit. It has begun to sprout its wings."
    "' Its wings?" Sebbins hissed.
    "Why is it in that tank?"
    "Why is she in that tank," said Sebbins. This time, General Tucker turned and looked at her. He narrowed his eyes.
    "Why is it in that tank?" he reiterated.
    Cormair felt his chest tightening. "The subject is undergoing an accelerated mass transformation process. In the past few months, we have been administering a cocktail of gene development serums and pituitary stimulants to Subject Six. The subject has also been given bone growth enhancers in order to stimulate the scapulae growth that we hoped to achieve. Combined with the avian DNA splices and injections administered over the past ten years, it appears that Subject Six is precisely on schedule. The subject remains in the tank in order to facilitate fast, pain-free bone-and-muscle growth as well as to allow us constant monitoring to all chemical changes in the body. I expect the subject to be operational within fifty hours."
    "Excellent," said General Tucker. He approached the glass of the tank and examined the wing stubs on Posey's back. "Excellent," he said again. "And it will be able to fly?"
    "She--" Sebbins began, but Cormair cut her off quickly.
    "If everything works as I have planned it: Yes, the subject will fly. At the very least, the subject will be able to glide for extensive amounts of time."
"And the eyes?"
"I believe the eyes may already work. I have not confirmed this, but I have my suspicions."
"Such as?"
    Cormair cleared his throat. "This subject used to wear glasses, General. However, the subject has not worn glasses or contacts in almost a year, except when she knew she was going to be brought to the lab. I believe the subject's vision to be quite