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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: "This story began as a standard what-if scenario," writes author Kurt R. A. Giambastiani, "borne of news items about methods of choosing the sex of a child and the ramifications of this technology in areas of the world where female children are discarded, literally, in favor of baby boys. There is a general uproar in the Western world over such treatment of baby girls, but would these middle-class folks react as strongly, I wondered, if we were talking about influencing a baby's intellect or personality with a little RNA retro-virus?"

eBook Publisher: Rosetta Solutions, Inc., Published: 1991
Fictionwise Release Date: December 2001

26 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [62 KB], eReader (PDB) [36 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [9 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [9 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [89 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [80 KB], hiebook (KML) [64 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [78 KB], iSilo (PDB) [7 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [10 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [56 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [16 KB]
Words: 2800
Reading time: 8-11 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

Autumn had finally come to the Berkeley Highlands, bringing a cooling touch to the end of a hot and particularly busy summer. Jacob was glad to see the colors begin to change. Reaching back into his car, he grabbed the clipboard and his black PTR satchel. He placed the satchel on the hood of the car, opened it and produced the small vial of serum that would erase the child's personality, replacing it with a new one. He checked the silver encryptions against the order on the clipboard, making sure that all factors matched. Reassured, Jacob tossed the clipboard back onto the front seat and locked the car.

Walking up the quiet street, he admired the houses of the new well-to-do. The scars of the Drug Wars had faded. The neighborhood had been reclaimed after six years of guerrilla warfare and South American occupation. Life had returned to a more normal regime. Warm light cast soft shadows through the twilight, scenes of home and hearth behind pastel panes.

The only thing missing is the squeals of playing children, he thought. He looked once more at the vial before placing it roughly into the satchel. And that may never change.