Wayne Kyle Spitzer

Aluka Wayne Kyle Spitzer

A Prequel story to the Witch Doctor series ... She looks at me incredulously, disbelievingly, then, suddenly, rushes to within several feet of me, where she pauses. "You're ... But-your voice, your eyes. How could a woman have clear-" I only shake my head. Slowly, it dawns on her, spilling across her face like the sun, illuminating her eyes. "Oh, my God." She sways as though she might fall upon the floor; then, recovering, begins pacing back and forth. "I mean, what are the odds ...""You begin to see my interest," I say, even as my finger tightens against the trigger. "Now-again. Your life for information. What is all this about?" She stops pacing suddenly, her face a riot of emotions, as though she is experiencing some kind of epiphany. "But, don't you see?" She gestures at the tanks and jars. "You're what all this is about. Facial reconstruction, breast reduction, eye normalization-all attempts to place spies amongst your ranks; to infiltrate you, as you have infiltrated us."She steps to within a few feet of me. "The Power-do you have it? How about identity? Orientation? Do they know-the men, that is-do they accept it?"I hesitate, questioning my own motives. At last I say, "No, they do not-know, that is. I came to them before puberty. As for acceptance, they accept that I am a man with androgen insensitivity syndrome; a man who's face resembles a woman's. That is all. As for having the Power ... my eyes have begun to change, at night, but clearing as the day goes on-if that's what you mean. Now ... please. Details."She looks at me as though having achieved a minor victory. "That's how you found me, by accessing the hive mind, though you wouldn't have been aware of it. So, you've stayed among them and killed for them in order to survive, but now all that's changing. Isn't it?"I don't say anything, only continue to stare at her."And it is changing-make no mistake. That's how M24 progresses. Your eyes will remain white longer with each passing day-until the transformation is at last complete." She scans my face as though attempting to read my thoughts. "Tell me, Witch Doctor. What will you do when that day arrives?"