Change Agent: A Novel

359 Pages·2017·1.63 MB·English

by  Daniel Suarez

ALSO BY DANIEL SUAREZ
Daemon
Freedom™
Kill Decision
Influx

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Copyright © 2017 by Daniel Suarez
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Names: Suarez, Daniel, 1964–
author.
Title: Change agent : a novel / Daniel Suarez.
Description: First edition. | New York : Dutton, [2017]
Identifiers: LCCN 2016030244 | ISBN 9781101984666 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781101984680 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: International Criminal Police Organization—Fiction. | Genetic engineering—Fiction. |
BISAC: FICTION / Technological. | FICTION Science Fiction Adventure. | GSAFD: Science fiction.
Classification: LLC PS3619.U327 C48 2017 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016030244
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business
establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Version_1
For my mother, Jane Haisser. You will always be my hero.
CONTENTS
Also by Daniel Suarez
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Epigraph
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Further Reading
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Full fathom five thy father lies.
Of his bones are coral made.
Those are pearls that were his eyes.
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
—The Tempest,
William Shakespeare
Chapter 1
B
efore we begin, have you any questions about genetic editing, Mr. and Mrs.
Cherian?” The counselor took a whopping bite from a vada pav sandwich
as he clicked through their file.
The young Mumbai couple exchanged uncertain looks. In their late twenties,
well-groomed, and dressed in crisp business casual clothes, they appeared a step
above the cramped, dingy, and windowless office around them. Nonetheless here
they were. The wife appeared especially ill at ease.
The husband shook his head. “No questions at the moment, no.” He looked
to his wife reassuringly. Patted her on the knee.
She spoke up. “How does the procedure work?”
The counselor answered with his mouth full. “Ah, an inquiring mind.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
The husband cut in. “My wife and I are both attorneys. Given the legal status
of this enterprise, we were understandably reluctant to research the topic on our
own devices.”
“Well then . . .” The counselor finished chewing and wiped his fingers on a
crumpled napkin. “I have something that should address your questions.” He
noisily rooted around in his desk drawer and in a moment produced a device the
size and shape of a paperback book, which he placed on the cluttered desktop
between them. When he pressed down on the device it unfolded into a pylon
shape—sporting several lenses facing forward and back. It booted up, white light
glowing within.
The wife drew stylish mirror glasses from her purse and donned them to
shield her eyes. “A glim? You think we’d allow you access to our retinas? This
is out—”
“No retinal scanning, I assure you, Mrs. Cherian. Merely a brief in-eye
presentation.”
The husband looked to his wife. “They have our DNA, love. Retinas are the
least of it.”
“Neelo, I want our embryo transferred back to the clinic.”