Rain flipped through the pages of the book and pulled out a photograph. She studied it closely then studied the face of the man unconscious on the bed.
“Not possible. It’s just not possible.”
There were footsteps and then Clara stood beside her. “Rain? What’s wrong? You’re white as a sheet.”
“Here,” she thrust the photo at Clara, “tell me what you see.”
Clara smiled. “Why this is Micah Caine. Everybody who was alive during the Dragon Wars knows about Micah Caine. How did you get his picture?”
Rain shook her head. “Not important. Now look at the man lying on that bed.”
A frown puckered the fine lines between Clara’s brows. “Goodness. I hadn’t noticed. He certainly looks a lot like Caine, doesn’t he?”
“He doesn’t just look like him, Clara. That man is Micah Caine.”
"I HAVE TO AGREE WITH Clara. What you’re saying sounds ... unbelievable.” Padre Pedro stroked his goatee thoughtfully. “However, he does look a great deal like the pictures I’ve seen of Lieutenant Caine.”
“Perhaps this is his son,” Clara suggested. “Or a nephew.”
“Please,” Rain snapped. “He doesn’t just look like Caine. He’s identical.”
“Not exactly.” Padre Pedro’s tone was at once both placating and disagreeing. “He’s much bigger than Caine. Taller, more muscular. Even you admit that.”
Which was true. She’d seen Caine’s files as well as his photos. He’d been tall and muscular, but nothing like the physique of the man now lying in their medical ward.
“What about the birthmark? Caine’s records describe a heart shaped birth mark on his left ... uh,” she glanced at Padre Pedro, “... butt cheek.”
“My patient has the same mark, but it’s not usual to have similar birthmarks in families.” Clara wasn’t budging an inch. Not that Rain could blame her. Even to herself she sounded like a lunatic. A man did not grow six inches in height. Not to mention the fact he looked exactly the same age as the day he died. Twenty-five years ago.
And, oh yeah. The dead thing. Still.
“Fine, then how about this? According to Caine’s records he had a crescent shaped scar on his right hip. He got it during the war in Afghanistan. Something definitely not genetic.” She flipped open his file so the two of them could see Caine’s chart.
Then Rain marched over to the patient and flipped back the sheet covering the poor man’s modesty. There, across his right hip, was a crescent shaped scar.
“Clara. Padre Pedro. Meet Lieutenant Micah Caine. United States Army.”
Chapter 12
“HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?” Clara was the first to snap out of the shock.
“My guess? Some kind of genetic alteration.” Padre Pedro frowned as he studied the prone man. “Before the Wars I heard rumors of the military experimenting with DNA manipulation to produce super soldiers. Maybe this man is a result of that.”
Rain crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at the man who’d haunted her dreams for years. “When I was at the compound there was this scientist. Dr. Barnes. I didn’t understand half of what he was talking about, but he tested my blood to see if I was “suitable.” And he kept talking about DNA and his research. I think maybe he’s responsible for making Dragon Warriors.”
“You think Micah Caine survived that last battle and they’ve been monkeying around with his DNA?” It was clear Clara was appalled by the thought.
“No. I think they’re taking dead men and altering their DNA somehow to ... I don’t know. Bring the dead back to life. Or maybe make a clone of the original person. But better than before. Stronger. Faster. I mean, look at him. The man should be in his sixties, but he looks just the same as his picture. I’m sure that’s why they took Sutter’s body, too. To see if they could turn him into a Warrior.”
Padre Pedro crossed himself. “Abomination.”
“What?” Rain felt shock course through her. Padre Pedro had always been the most accepting and loving person. To have him call Micah ... Lieutenant Caine an abomination. She couldn’t have heard him right.
“What they’ve done to this poor man. It’s an abomination.” The Padre shook his head.
“It’s disgusting, is what it is,” Clara snapped. “These scientists and their damn experiments. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand times, it’s scientists did this to us in the first place. They brought the dragons. Destroyed the planet. No doubt in my mind.”
Rain and Padre Pedro exchanged a look. It wasn’t that Clara was a conspiracy nut. Exactly. It was just that she had strong opinions, very strong opinions, about the way things were and the way they ought to be. And she wasn’t afraid to share them with anyone and everyone. It was probably a good thing she spent most of her time alone with her medical books. Otherwise she’d probably have the entire compound in an uproar.
“Well, now we know who he is and what was done to him, more or less, what should be our next course of action? Perhaps we should have a word with Elan,” Padre Pedro suggested.
Clara let out a snort. “That drunken excuse for a man?”
“He’s still our leader, Clara.” The Padre’s voice was firm.
Clara just sniffed and stomped back to her desk and her books. Rain shook her head as she watched the woman go. “That mouth is going to get her into trouble one of these days.” She turned back to Padre Pedro. “It doesn’t sound like El is in any fit state to make a decision right now.”
The Padre sighed. “Possibly not. He’s been drinking non-stop since Sutter died.” He shook his head wearily.
Rain wasn’t surprised. Whatever their differences, Elan and Sutter were still brothers. Twins. She couldn’t even imagine a loss like that.
She turned back to their patient. Micah. Micah Caine. Whatever he was, he definitely wasn’t some kind of copy. The scar
