Page 3 of Lagoon

“Similar,” said Angela. “They aren’t all set up exactly the same inside and they decorate them differently. That’s down to not wanting workers to feel like they’re living in a dormitory. It should feel personal and homey.”

“He’s obsessive about detail, Anderson Scott, huh?”

“I guess so. I’ve never met him.”

“He doesn’t come here?”

“Hasn’t since I’ve been here.”

“And how long have you been here?”

“Three years.”

Riley shrugged her pack off her back. “You like it?”

“The pay’s good,” said Angela. “I sometimes think I’m a token female, just to keep the raging testosterone in check within the ranks of security.”

“Yeah.” Riley ducked into the bathroom, leaving the door open. She took down her ponytail, which was feeling loose, smoothed her hair back and tied it up again. That was better. “I got a taste of Lieutenant Gary Harris and his opinion of the worth of women.”

Angela laughed. “Watch out. You’re new. They’re horny. And the men outnumber us out here. You’ll be the third female employee.”

Riley came back out of the bathroom. “Is it… allowed? Relationships between people out here? Seems like a human resources nightmare.”

“Well, having settled couples tends to make the workers more satisfied with their jobs, I guess is the thinking. There are forms that have to be filled out, but no one gets punished.”

“Spoken as if you’ve filled out those forms?”

Angela shrugged. “I get horny, too.”

Riley laughed. “Well, everyone does.”

Angela laughed, too.

“Except most types of amphibians. Or, well, they get urges, but not to go at eachother.”

“Really?” said Angela. “How do they, um, get babies, then?”

“Some of the species leave their sperm lying around in the water, and the females just gather it up and fertilize their eggs and then lay them. And some females lay unfertilized eggs and then the males—”

“Right,” said Angela, nodding. “I guess I knew that. Sorry.”

“You’re fine,” said Riley. “Can we go to the lab? See these… whatever they are? I assume you’ve seen them?”

“I think there’s just one,” Angela said. “And no, I haven’t see the lizardman up close.”

“Lizardman?” Riley was intrigued.

“It’s big,” said Angela. “It lives in this lagoon up on the top of the hill. Dr. Greyson thinks it’s old, like two hundred years old. He thinks… well, he’ll talk your ear off about it if you let him.”

“Let’s go,” said Riley, a little breathless. She didn’t know why she was excited about this, not exactly, but there was something about this place, about this opportunity, about all of it. She felt almost giddy.

“Let’s go,” agreed Angela.

They left Riley’s cabin, and two of the male guards were loitering around outside. One was smoking a cigar and the other was just standing next to him. They introduced themselves as Peter Mann and Nathan Robinson.

Nathan was the cigar smoker. He was a head taller than Peter, probably six foot five or something ridiculous. He eyed her. “Well, well, Lieutenant’s right, you’re nicer looking than we thought you’d be.”

Riley glanced at Angela. This was bordering on sexual harassment. Was it normal here?

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