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    Bait
    Bait
    Bait
    Ebook54 pages41 minutes

    Bait

    By Laura VanArendonk Baugh

    3/5

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    About this ebook

    They eat us to live. We eat them to live forever.

    When Tomás Torres arrives at a remote research facility to consult on an unsuccessful breeding program for a rare species, he finds his new patients are fish with oddly humanoid face and torso -- merfolk.

    The legend that eating a mermaid will grant immortality seems to be based loosely in fact, and early trials suggest their meat is a powerful curative with incredible potential. A company with a successful fish farm will command nutrition and pharmaceutical markets. But many of the fish are not reproducing.

    Before they can even begin to evaluate the breeding program, Tomás and fellow consultant Dr. Alyssa Cooper learn staff at the facility are dying, devoured after falling into tanks they had no reason to approach. Tomás and Alyssa set out to discover the abilities of the carnivorous mermaids -- but Nature will not wait for research.

    A novelette of 12,000 words.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherÆclipse Press
    Release dateSep 20, 2016
    ISBN9780985934996
    Bait
    Author

    Laura VanArendonk Baugh

    Laura was born at a very early age and never looked back. She overcame childhood deficiencies of having been born without teeth or developed motor skills, and by the time she matured into a recognizable adult she had become a behavior analyst, an internationally-recognized and award-winning animal trainer, a popular costumer/cosplayer, a chocolate addict, and of course a writer. Find her at www.LauraVanArendonkBaugh.com  

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      Book preview

      Bait - Laura VanArendonk Baugh

      Bait

      Laura VanArendonk Baugh

      image-placeholder

      Æclipse Press

      Copyright 2016 Laura VanArendonk Baugh

      Cover design by Laura VanArendonk Baugh

      All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations as in a book review.

      Contents

      Dedication

      Bait

      Did you enjoy this book?

      About the author

      To my colleagues and friends who work tirelessly in animal welfare,behavior, and science.

      Bait

      I t’s the privilege of the rich, always has been. The suited man adjusted his hipster glasses. Trying to cheat death is an expensive hobby.

      I can’t argue with that, Tomás said, but I’m afraid it still doesn’t tell me much about my purpose here.

      About Canton Enterprises’s purpose for him here, anyway. Tomás had his own purpose, though he was uncertain about that as well.

      The suited hipster—an aide, had he called himself? An assistant? What was the word, now that receptionist was outdated and secretary was sexist and yes-man was too honest?—straightened his jacket. You were asked to come in confidence, Mr. Torres. Security is of the utmost importance to Mr. Canton and Canton Enterprises.

      Security, I understand. Canton’s security was a part of Tomás’s own purpose. That’s why I signed your NDA—both of them. That’s why I didn’t quibble about the shades over the windows on the flight. But at some point I’m going to need to know the problem, or I can’t offer a solution.

      The man tugged at his suit jacket again and pushed at his ridiculous glasses once more, and for the first time it occurred to Tomás that the self-grooming might actually be nervous fidgeting. And I’ll be happy to explain the situation to you, Mr. Torres. But first I’ve been asked to impress upon you once more the imperative nature of the…that is, the sensitive data…

      Tomás resisted rolling his eyes. "Two non-disclosure agreements. I can’t agree to stay quiet on anything illegal; if you’ve got orcas in sea lion tanks or endangered species without permits, I have an obligation to report it. But if you’re worried about industrial espionage for whatever new fish-farming tech you’re developing, we’re already covered."

      Pending Tomás’s decision on the worth of his signature.

      There are no species here on the endangered list, I can tell you that. The aide swallowed and glanced toward the solid steel door. In that case, if we’re agreed, let’s go on, and I’ll show you the facility and why you’re here.

      The man typed an access code into the keypad beside the door—fully ten digits, they weren’t kidding about security even on this tiny strip of land in the middle of oceanic nowhere.

      Tomás tried to remember the suited hipster’s name. The young man had met Tomás at the helipad, and Tomás had been too busy looking around to retain the name more than a moment or two, and then he’d been too embarrassed to ask again. The suit was slick and expensive, like everything about Canton Enterprises.

      The keypad beeped approvingly and the suited man swung back the door. This way, Mr. Torres.

      They went down an industrial grey corridor, and already Tomás recognized the scale of the facility they were entering. The hum of the equipment, the smell of the air told him how many gallons of seawater he would find. You mentioned cheating death, he said over the quiet hum of the unseen pumps. Cosmetics or nutrition research?

      The hipster glasses were adjusted again. "Nutrition,

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