Candidate (Selected Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

there. It was more than a few minutes but less than an hour. Then, from one moment to the next, an entrance formed in the wall to my left, and a moment later a figure appeared.
    An alien figure.
    She could have passed for a human woman if not for the glowing eyes.
    Catseye.
    We watched each other for a minute, neither of us saying anything, then she stepped fully into the room. The doorway disappeared, and after a moment she took a seat across the table from me. She was carrying a wooden case, and she set it down on the table and looked at me.
    I could have sworn that chair wasn't there before.
    "I am Administrator Brighteyes," she said by greeting. "You are Andromeda Hayes."
    "I'd like to know what you think I did wrong."
    "Nothing."
    "Is it common practice for the aliens to throw women in jail for doing nothing wrong at all?"
    "Yes, actually," she said. "And a few men."
    "This isn't a job offer, is it?"
    "No, it's not."
    "I don't think it's at all coincidence that this happened the day I was fired."
    "It's not," she said. "Although that was four days ago."
    "Four. My roommate-"
    "Has been informed you are out of town, as have your parents. All of them believe this is a job interview with the aliens."
    "But it's not."
    "No, it is not."
    We stared at each other for a while. "Well, are you going to explain what it is, then?"
    "When I first began these interviews, I told everyone in a brisk, efficient fashion why they were here. They all fell behind the conversation three sentences in. I've learned to let the candidate determine the pace of the conversation."
    "Candidate?"
    "Yes."
    "Candidate for what?"
    "You are here as a mating candidate."
    "A what?"
    "You will become mated to one of us."
    "Like hell I will."
    She smiled. "That's what most of the women say. And yet, here you are."
    "Let me put it this way. Over my dead body."
    "I hear that, too. I also hear over my dead body, or over that of the future mate. I also hear threats against the guards. I'd rather you didn't threaten them."
    "You don't mind if I threaten you, but you ask me not to threaten the guards?"
    "I have thicker skin," she explained. "They are human and can't help but react. But they don't always react appropriately, and sometimes it is another woman who suffers for it."
    "Did you just blackmail me, telling me if I'm not polite to the guards, they'll beat one of the other women?"
    "No. When someone is angry, he is not necessarily as kind and gentle as I would rather he be. The guards have never beaten anyone, but they can be brusque. The women in here all feel scared and vulnerable, and I'd rather the guards are able to be as compassionate as possible, under the situation."
    "Are you that insane?" I asked.
    "I have my sanity questioned often," she replied. "Earlier you suggested the timing wasn't coincidence. It wasn't. We know you lost your job, and we know why."
    "Did you have anything to do with it?"
    "No. You would have landed here six years ago, but you were borderline. I chose to let you remain where you were, but I flagged your file. You are not in a serious relationship and you are unemployed. Your parents are remarkably healthy, and there is no one directly dependent upon you for care."
    "So I'm disposable."
    "No. You are available."
    "I don't believe that's your decision to make."
    "And yet, here you are," she repeated. "So it appears it is my decision."
    "You have no right!" I screamed.
    "Ah, there we go. Humans always talk about rights, especially Americans."
    "I want my lawyer," I demanded.
    "Ah, I hear that a lot, too," she said. "There are currently two down in the cells. Human laws do not apply in this place."
    I stared. "Where are we?"
    "Still on Earth, if that's what you were wondering," she replied. "We are not, however, in the United States any longer." She smiled. "You had a comfortable flight."
    "The in flight entertainment left something to be desired."
    "Oh, humor," she said. "Actually, the in flight entertainment left nothing to be