{"id":2483,"date":"2013-08-09T08:30:40","date_gmt":"2013-08-09T08:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/?p=2483"},"modified":"2013-08-07T19:48:42","modified_gmt":"2013-08-07T19:48:42","slug":"rayguns-over-texas-preview-stina-leicht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/2013\/08\/09\/rayguns-over-texas-preview-stina-leicht\/","title":{"rendered":"Rayguns Over Texas preview: Stina Leicht"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cover<\/a>

Cover by Rocky Kelley<\/p><\/div>\n

As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of\u00a0Rayguns Over Texas\u00a0<\/em><\/a>at\u00a0LoneStarCon 3<\/a>\u00a0(aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s selection comes from\u00a0Stina Leicht<\/a>‘s\u00a0\u201cTexas Died for Somebody\u2019s Sins But Not Mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Introverted programmer Una Dallas\u00a0spends an illicit night with a co-worker. Campbell-nominee Stina Leicht explores what horrible secret prevents her from\u00a0fulfilling her desires.<\/p>\n

The name etched into the black plastic desk plate read \u2018George W.\u00a0Templeton, Human Resources.\u2019 Unfortunately, the blonde man\u00a0sitting behind the dated beige Herman Millar desk was scowling.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatent Number U.S. Dallas 2,457,972-1, Can you explain why you\u00a0left the building last night? Was there a fire?\u201d Templeton knew there\u00a0hadn\u2019t been an emergency of any kind, of course\u2014that was obvious\u00a0by his tone.<\/p>\n

Focusing on the grey industrial carpet, Dallas attempted to think\u00a0of an explanation that wouldn\u2019t condemn Paul or herself. \u201cI \u2014 I\u00a0wanted to feel the rain on my face.\u201d It sounded lame even to her.<\/p>\n

Templeton paused. \u201cAt four in the morning?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ah. He only has my keycard record to go by.<\/em> Dallas decided on a\u00a0half truth. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I \u2014 I couldn\u2019t sleep. So, I decided to watch the\u00a0rain. I stepped outside for just a minute. But the door slipped in my\u00a0hands and closed before I could catch it. It was just for a minute. It\u00a0won\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d he said, apparently too busy reading the file resting on\u00a0the beige plastic desktop to look up. \u201cYour performance record is\u00a0impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you say so, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThree years. That\u2019s a long time for someone like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose so.\u201d<\/p>\n

He frowned again. \u201cHow the hell would you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dallas clamped her mouth shut and held her breath. She\u00a0returned her gaze to the close grey carpet. Templeton could be a\u00a0total bastard when he wasn\u2019t addressed with just the right amount\u00a0of diffidence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told Human Resources this was a bad idea, allowing you to remain\u00a0in your position this long. There were bound to be complications. But\u00a0they said your performance record exceeded that of the others. And\u00a0the Cost Report indicated it was well worth the risk. I don\u2019t know why\u00a0I let them convince me. I suppose I\u2019m just too kind for my own good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you very much for letting me stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid I say you could speak?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dallas tensed up, preparing for the worst.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re nothing. You\u2019re a transgenetic. You\u2019re not real. I\u00a0programmed you. Me.<\/em> There isn\u2019t a single thing inside your skull that\u00a0I didn\u2019t put there. Understand? I could put a bullet in your brain right\u00a0now, and no one would care.\u201d Templeton smiled to himself. Getting\u00a0up, he walked around the desk. \u201cWell, the cost analysis would take\u00a0a momentary hit. But I could replace you within a week. In a few\u00a0months, this place will be filled with others just like you.\u201d Quick as a\u00a0snake, he snatched up her hand and held it up at an awkward angle. \u201cI\u00a0can do anything to you I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! Please don\u2019t, sir! Please!\u201d<\/p>\n

He released her in disgust and went back to his chair. “Remember\u00a0your place, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. I will.\u201d If there were a God for transgenetic humans Dallas\u00a0would have prayed many times over. But there wasn\u2019t. What God\u00a0would have a creature without a soul?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Excerpt from \u201cTexas Died for Somebody\u2019s Sins But Not Mine\u201d \u00a9 2013 by Stina Leicht.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of\u00a0Rayguns Over Texas\u00a0at\u00a0LoneStarCon 3\u00a0(aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day. Today\u2019s selection comes from\u00a0Stina Leicht‘s\u00a0\u201cTexas Died for Somebody\u2019s Sins … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-rayguns-over-texas"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n