Eljara:
“You noticed how they talked in there?”

Sean:
“In the diner?”

Eljara:
“Yeah.”

Sean:
“Farmers talk about three things: weather, money, and rumors.”

Eljara:
“They weren’t talking about cattle.”

Sean:
“No.”

Eljara:
“They were talking about that place again.”

Sean:
“People always talk about that place.”

Eljara:
“They never say its name.”

Sean:
“Names make things real.”

Eljara:
“So they say ‘that place up the road.’”

Sean:
“Exactly.”

Sean taps a slow rhythm on the guitar body resting on his knee.

Eljara:
“One of them said his cousin worked there in the seventies.”

Sean:
“Someone always has a cousin.”

Eljara:
“He said they were running experiments.”

Sean:
“That word again.”

Eljara:
“Experiment.”

Sean:
“People love that word.”

Eljara:
“Why?”

Sean:
“Because it explains things they don’t understand.”

Wind moves through the quiet street outside the diner.

Eljara:
“He said they were trying to change people.”

Sean:
“Change how?”

Eljara:
“Stronger.”

Sean:
“Ah.”

Eljara:
“Smarter.”

Sean:
“Of course.”

Eljara:
“Faster.”

Sean:
“That one always shows up.”

Eljara:
“You don’t sound surprised.”

Sean:
“I’m not.”

Eljara:
“Why?”

Sean:
“Because humans have been thinking about that idea for a long time.”

Eljara:
“Improving people?”

Sean:
“Exactly.”

Eljara:
“Making them better.”

Sean:
“According to someone.”

Eljara:
“That’s the problem, isn’t it?”

Sean:
“Which part?”

Eljara:
“Who decides what ‘better’ means.”

Sean smiles faintly.

Sean:
“That question has started more trouble than most wars.”

Eljara:
“You ever hear the name Mabuse?”

Sean:
“Doctor Mabuse.”

Eljara:
“So you know.”

Sean:
“Old stories about scientists who thought they could reshape people.”

Eljara:
“Mind and body.”

Sean:
“Control and improvement.”

Eljara:
“Some people say those ideas never really disappeared.”

Sean:
“Some people say a lot of things.”

Eljara:
“You think they’re wrong?”

Sean looks down the road that leads out of town.

Sean:
“That’s not the interesting question.”

Eljara:
“Then what is?”

Sean:
“Why people believe it could be true.”

Eljara:
“Because science is moving faster every year.”

Sean:
“And because once knowledge exists…”

Eljara:
“…someone will eventually use it.”

Sean:
“Exactly.”

Sean strums a quiet chord on the guitar.

Eljara:
“You think anyone ever crossed that line?”

Sean:
“Maybe.”

Eljara:
“And if they did?”

Sean:
“Then the real question isn’t what they created.”

Eljara:
“What is it?”

Sean:
“Whether anyone would admit it.”

---

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