Book Excerpt for Assassin Years

Assassin Years

Melody Ryan

Cover graphic design by Drew at idrewdesign on Fiverr.com.

The right of Richard Stooker to be identified as the author of this book has been asserted in accordance with Sections 77 and 78 of the Copyrights and Patents Act 1988.

Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

"Errr, Denise . . "

"I'm trying to think of the best way to tell you something," she said.

"Oh."

"Without you thinking I'm crazy."

"You're not crazy. I have lots of friends might be crazy. Not you, not Denise Reid."

"I'm not Denise."

"Huh?" His eyes widened with surprise and he looked around them, as though making sure nobody could see her, as though she were undressing in public.

"I'm not Denise."

He laughed, a nervous, jagged unhappy sound. "Okay, I'll play this game. Then who are you?"

"Taylor Williams. I was born in 1995. Like you and Denise, I am seventeen years old and a senior at Laughing Deer High School, but in 2012."

"2012." Georgie repeated that slowly, in a stunned voice, as though it were a foreign language.

"2012," Taylor agreed. "The same time of year -- October."

"Denise, it's 1968."

"It's 1968 to us. But I swear to God, I'm from 2012. I don't know how. I just know I went to sleep in my own bed, in 2012, and I woke up yesterday morning in Denise's bed -- in Denise's body -- in 1968. That's why I'm acting so weird. Before then, I didn't know you, I didn't know Denise's family, or any of the other kids, including Curt."

"Wow. Somebody have slipped me acid. This is the weirdest trip . . . Denise Reid telling me she's a time traveler from the future."

"Have I been acting like Denise?"

Georgie moved his head slowly, like a stunned animal. "No, you're right about that. You do seem like another person. But you can't be."

Taylor started to cry. "I knew you wouldn't believe me. I can't blame you. I wouldn't believe it either."

Georgie put his hand on her shoulder. "Denise --"

"Taylor."

"Okay, Taylor, have you talked to your parents? Look, we've been friends since grade school. You've always been nice to me even though people call me a weirdo. Listen, I really think you should get some help."

"You mean go to a doctor?"

"Yes."

"So you think I'm crazy?"

"Look, let's be scientific. There are two explanations for what you're telling me. One -- you really are a girl named Taylor from 2012 who somehow has switched bodies and times with Denise."

"That's the truth."

"Two -- or you have a split personality or something. You know, like in THE THREE FACES OF EVE. There's medicine for you, doctors who can help you."

Taylor's shoulders dropped. "If you won't believe me, nobody will."

"Who's going to win the election, Nixon or Humphrey?"

"How should I know?"

"If you're from 2012, you should know."

"I'm just now taking American history class. We've barely started learning about the Revolution, let alone the twentieth century. But I do remember hearing one thing."

"What's that?"

"Nixon quit the presidency. So I guess he'll be the winner, because he couldn't quit if he didn't win first."

"And then he quits?"

"Something about a scandal."

"Wow, far out. What about the war in Vietnam?"

"That was too long ago. I only know about Iraq and Afghanistan."

"You mean we've invaded two other countries?"

"The news people say those wars are like Vietnam, except in the desert."

"Does everybody fly around like the Jetsons? What about bases on Mars?"

Taylor shook her head. "We went to the moon a long time ago, but not for many years. There's space stations in orbit. That's all I know."

"Come on, we've got to be on Mars by 2012. We're almost to the moon now."

"Sorry."

"No Mars for over forty-four years? What a bummer."

"We've got the first African-American president."

"Hey, that's cool. What else?"

"Computers and cellphones. Everybody is hooked up to the Internet and other networks. You can talk online, send email, chat, watch videos, play games -- lots of stuff."

To her surprise, Georgie didn't seem to care about the Internet.

"So by 2012 we still haven't gone to war with the Soviet Union?" he asked.

"What?"

"You know, intercontinental missiles and hydrogen bombs going off. It must not have happened or you'd sure know that."

Taylor thought for a moment. "Now I remember hearing about the Soviet Union. Communism? -- that wall was torn down before I was born. Now it's just Russia."

"I wish I could believe you. That'd be a relief, just to know we're not going to all die in a thermonuclear war."

"In 2012 we worry about Iran and terrorists getting the bomb."

"Look, Denise, I don't believe you, but I'll help you. What do you want me to do?"

"Taylor."

"Miss or Missus?"

"What?"

"Miss Taylor or Mrs. Taylor?"

"Just Taylor."

"You have two last names and no first name?"

"Taylor's my first name."