5

You pass an old mining village, abandoned since cowboy times, and stop to mark its location on the map. A few buildings might offer you cover from the sun if things go badly.

There are no signs, and the fence looks just like all the others, but you know you're close when the road gets better. When you spot a headlight in the distance, you instinctively kill your Mitsubishi's lights and pull over. Two Kawasaki ATVs rumble down a side road. Men with rifles and helmets ride the ATVs. They look like Border Patrol, but you know they're private security. Good ones, too, if those bolt-action BadRock rifles are anything to go by. Those are guns for people who don't miss. One shot will drop a buffalo, or a vampire.

You're just wondering whether to turn your lights back on and introduce yourself, since you have all your paperwork in order, when the guards take off, followed by a low-flying quadcopter drone. Another mile down the road, you spot the sheep.

They look like regular sheep, except they wear tracking collars and they have four-digit numbers painted on one flank. These must be Dr. Caul's xenogenetic specimens. You remember Julian's text. He'd like a sample. He's been courteous so far, but you haven't really impressed him—maybe this is an opportunity.

Dr. Caul's facility consists of several structures. You see a long, low building of green glass and white concrete, trailers for the long-term personnel, and a parking lot.

There's also a little outdoor coffee shop with a patio. Behind the main building is a refurbished ranch, a garage for the ATVs, and a landing strip for light aircraft. A high chain-link fence dotted with security cameras surrounds most of the facility. Quadcopter drones drift overhead as you stop at the main gate. The woman guarding the yellow gate takes one look at your laminated introductory letter and immediately buzzes you through.

"You go on ahead to the intersection," she says, "and turn right. There's a trailer waiting for you. Number 23."

The trailer is clean and blandly furnished, except for the thick maroon drapes, which look like they were borrowed from a castle. They completely blot out the sun, though it still feels safer to sleep in the made-up storage space under the table than on the bed. Dr. Caul knows you're here, but you don't have time to worry just yet—the moment the sun crosses the horizon, you're asleep.

Next

Once you're dressed and cleaned up, you walk around before you head inside. The main facility's security right now is just one guy with a holstered pistol next to a metal detector. He's watching his laptop in a big atrium with shiny faux-marble walls and lots of glass. It's probably busy during the day, but right now it's quiet—though not deserted.

Outside the main facility is a detached security office and a little café. There's a gap between them where the fence doesn't cover, though there are cameras everywhere in that direction. No one seems to pay much attention to you, though the quadcopter drones keep you company. No threats—at least not yet. You pass through security.

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