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r； thicker plug dislodged from her throat。
The blockage fell away then； Gary watched； stunned； as her airways opened up and she took her first breath。
Then returned it； with a raw cry of life。
〃YES！〃 Gary wailed； sobbing now； cradling his little girl in his arms。 〃YES！〃 as he swaddled her； using one of the quilts from under Gwen's legs to wipe away the blood and afterbirth； expose her clean pink infant skin。
Her skin； which instantly speckled with a billion dots of red。
Her skin； through which the viscid poison oozed from every single pore 。。。
And Gary Taylor wiped her down。 Then he did it again。 Then he did it again。 He wiped and he wiped to keep up with the flow； scrubbing a slate that would never be clean。 Long after his mind was gone。 His purpose forgotten。 His life turned to ashes。
Cleaning up after the sins of the fathers； too late。
While the baby screamed into the night。
Sixty
The Wolf's Head Nuclear Generating Station melted down at three fifty…four； eastern standard time。 It was the final straw。 When the core breached the reactor and hit upwards of three thousand degrees Fahrenheit； it slagged a hole through the ten…foot…thick concrete…and…rebar lining of the containment vessel and kept right on going。
Burning its way to the center of the earth。
Two hundred feet down； the core hit an underground spring。 The water was waiting for it。 Molten day and liquid night met with a kiss； deep in the folds of the earth。 The plume born of their joining rocketed back to the surface； blew the lid off the containment building。 A lethal radioactive cloud rose five hundred feet into the sky； annihilating the ones who had fought to contain it。
Then it spread its wings and rode the prevailing winds。
The winds blew around and around the world。
So； too； was the underground spring inextricably bound to the bloodstream of Earth： an unseen and unbroken flow； feeding springs and creeks and rivers and oceans for hundreds of thousands of miles around。
As above； so below。
And on the New World's surface； so neatly in between； the exodus began。 One hundred and eighty…eight thousand souls； saying good…bye to Paradise as they fanned out across the hardened concrete arteries of the old world。 Each one carrying the seeds of the future within it； and nothing to stand in their way。
On I…83； en route to the nation's capital； Austin Deitz and Lydia Vickers led the way。 Deitz remained at the fore； so that the screaming； eternally…suffering heads of industry would be sure to miss nothing of what they had wrought。
Inside the truck； Deitz drove in silence。 A strange peace had settled over his soul。 The jagged lips； unfeeling still； had evolved into a smile。 He could feel Jennie's everywhere presence； within and without。 Tiny； delicate mushrooms sprang forth by the thousands。 Covering his body。
Keeping him warm。
The Scuzzbag； too； had flourished； bee a radiant flagship for the new regime。 Its fuzz…covered surface was livid； alive。 Vile； organic banners and sentient streamers flapped behind it； extensions of its cold metal flesh。
Inside sat Lydia； intensely mad and grinning from ear to ear to ear： the original Overmind majorette； cheerleading the boisterous procession。 There was a future； after all； and it was here。 Her dozen limbs were living proof。 They kicked out through the windows with pep rally abandon； waving slick gray pom poms of rippling skin that waggled at one hundred miles per hour。
To the halls of justice； to the seat of government； to the highest office in the land； the victorious malformed hordes of Overmind descended。 They had e to show their appreciation。 It was payback time。 For a job well done。
From there； it all went down in a matter of days。
And that； as they say； was the end of that。
Parable
Once upon a time； there was a beautiful blue world； dancing and spinning at the heart of all creation。
Her name was Gaia； which meant 〃Goddess of the Earth。〃
Of all the planets in the dance； Gaia was the most abundant； the most vibrant with life。 So many colors adorned her surface； so many hopes and dreams played across her face； so many forms sprang up from her imagination that it seemed as though surely her light would never fade。 And the dance would never end。
Then one morning； she woke up crawling with cancer。
It was a whole new ball game。
The envelope； please。
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