Endangered Species: PART 1 Read online

  “Hello?”

  Christie felt a sense of relief that the call went through on the first attempt. “Hi, Dr. Nishioki?”

  “Yes, who is this?”

  He could picture the small, compact Asian man, who was in his seventies. He would be wearing a gi in preparation for his morning Aikido exercises. “Doctor, it’s Mitch Christie.”

  “Ah, yes, the FBI agent. And please call me Bill.”

  “Yes, Bill,…well, I hope I haven’t called too early.”

  “Not at all. I’ve been up for some time.”

  “Working on your Aikido skills, I imagine.”

  “Yes, how clever of you to know that, but then you are an investigator. How may I help you, Mitch?”

  Christie cleared his throat and said, “I’m revisiting the affair last year that involved that former military unit, the Sleeping Dogs.”

  Nishioki was slow to respond. And noncommittal. “I see.”

  “I was hoping perhaps you’d given the subject more thought since our visit a year or so ago.”

  Nishioki’s response was measured. “As a matter of fact, I have been following some interesting developments based on very recent research. As you know, I am retired, but not vegetative. I like to keep up with current developments in my field of genetics. After all, Evolution is like rust—it never sleeps. All life forms, especially humans, are evolving continuously; sometimes even into extinction.”

  “Would these ‘developments’ have anything to do with the Sleeping Dogs?”

  “Possibly. They appear to raise another theory about why those men had such remarkable physical and intellectual skills.”

  “You’re speaking in the past tense, Bill. Is there a reason for that? Do you think these men no longer exist?”

  “Some things are best left in the past, Mitch. Do you get my meaning?”

  Christie decided to push on without answering the question. “I’d like to hear about these ‘developments’ you mentioned.”

  Nishioki hesitated briefly, as if gathering his thoughts, then said, “You’ll remember that my late colleague, Jake Horowitz, and I were research geneticists.”

  Christie almost moaned audibly, remembering the previous conversation he’d had with Nishioki. He knew the scientist had tried to dumb down the discussion for the layman. But he remembered the crushing headache he’d gotten trying to follow the scientific jargon. He hoped he wasn’t in for a repeat performance. “Yes,” he said, “I know you and Dr. Horowitz were scientists. You were the ones who developed the theory that, on rare occasions, the mating of the right male with the right female can produce superior offspring, or something like that.”

  Nishioki chuckled. “That’s close enough. Without getting overly technical, our theory suggested that with so many possible genetic combinations, once in every so many million conceptions a being is conceived that is superior to others of its species. Think of them as beta models, Nature’s way of furthering the evolution of the species.”

  “I get that, but what do these so-called recent developments have to do with that?”

  “As I was about to say, Jake and I theorized that these superior beings might be the result of further evolution of the human species. Among hominins, and humans in particular, the rate of speciation—the introduction of a new species, is dramatically faster than for other life forms. For example, Hominins split off from the last common ancestor we had with the great apes more than seven million years ago. Yet, over the just the past thirty thousand years—a mere flash in the time continuum—human evolution has sped up dramatically. For example, within that period, humans have developed thick, straight black hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and other traits. Evidence indicates this happened as a result of the enormous increase in global population over that time. That allows for countless unique mutations. Theoretically, natural selection takes over and that genetic trait becomes widespread, perhaps global.

  “Now, it appears that perhaps we should have been looking in the other direction as well. Based on newly discovered evidence and research, these superior beings, the Sleeping Dogs, may be a modern manifestation of our ancient ancestors. Until very recently, it was accepted that there had never been interbreeding among Homo sapiens and other hominin species.”

  “And now?”

  “Now there is an emerging body of evidence to the contrary. Homo sapiens, our hominin species, migrated out of Africa into the Caucasus region more than sixty thousand years ago. We believe the initial wave arrived in Western Europe not more than ten thousand years later. They encountered an earlier race of hominins we call Neanderthals. Although Neanderthals became extinct some thirty thousand years ago, there was a lengthy period of time during which the two species coexisted.”

  Christie interrupted. “Hold on a second, Doc. You’re not going to tell me that our ancestors, ah, had sex with ape-men…or women.”

  “Indeed. We now have evidence that confirms interbreeding did occur. The recently discovered bones of an individual who lived in northern Italy some thirty to forty thousand years ago appear to be those of a Homo sapiens/Neanderthal hybrid. A five-year study by a large group of international scientists, including paleogeneticists, provides the strongest evidence so far that such encounters took place around sixty thousand years ago in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East. It determined that modern humans of non-African descent carry between 1 and 4 percent of Neanderthal DNA, but it varies in individuals. The sum total of Neanderthal genetic material in modern Homo sapiens is twenty percent or greater. It also is possible that we share a common African ancestor with the Neanderthal.”

  “So, you’re saying we have a…genetic… commonality with Neanderthals?”

  “Actually, Neanderthal and modern human genomes are about 99.5 percent identical. Until recently, we thought our closest evolutionary relative was the chimpanzee. But we share only about 95 or 96 percent of our genes with chimps.”

  Christie pondered what Nishioki had told him. “I take it that you’re suggesting that the reason the men of the Sleeping Dogs unit are stronger and quicker than the rest of us is because their Neanderthal DNA is more prominent?”

  “That is one possibility, but it no doubt is more complicated than that. We expect more evidence of interbreeding to surface as research continues. There may be DNA from other, as yet undiscovered, hominins lurking in our genomes.”

  “You mean other than Neanderthals?”

  Nishioki chuckled. “Possibly. The European Early Modern Humans, or EEMH, from whom all those of European ancestry descended, are the ones who interbred with the Neanderthal. These early ancestors are often erroneously called Cro-Magnon after the place in France where the first remains of these people were discovered. These people were every bit as large as humans today, and they were more powerful and physically robust. And, intriguingly, their brains were one-eighth larger than modern man’s.”

  “You’re losing me, Bill. So what are the Sleeping Dogs, Neanderthal or Cro-Magnon?”

  “Actually, they could be both. The interbreeding between the two hominins resulted in a genome that contains DNA from both. That’s where Jake Horowitz’s and my theory enters the picture. Given the hundreds of millions of children conceived by modern Westerners, all of whom have this DNA, it isn’t illogical to theorize that on some infrequent occasions the right genetic combination occurs, and you have a physically and intellectually superior being.”

  Christie thought about this for a few moments then said, “If that’s true, there is something that doesn’t fit.”

  “What is that?”

  “One of these Sleeping Dogs, Quentin Thomas, is black, not of European descent. And another one, Marc Kirkland, is Jewish. His grandfather Anglicized the family name from Krickstein when he emigrated from Europe in the early 1900s. His ancestors aren’t originally from Western Europe. How did those men get the DNA?”

  “Very simple. In the case of Quentin Thomas, there very probably were one or more white ancestors in the f
amily tree. It is well known that some slave owners engaged in sex with their female slaves. Kirkland’s situation is even easier to explain. Although his family originally belonged to one of the twelve tribes of Israel, they eventually settled in Europe as a result of the Jewish diaspora. While there may not have been any large degree of interfaith sexual activities given the nature of those times and the frequency of pogroms, there unquestionably were some.

  “But there’s yet another interesting phenomenon that needs so much more research. It involves the development of genetic mutations in advance of the need for a particular trait. It’s as if Nature senses a future threat to the species and begins to mutate it to better respond to the threat.”

  Christie mulled over what Nishioki had said. “So, I guess either way the bottom line is these Sleeping Dogs are a dangerous bunch.”

  “You have no idea, Mitch.”

  “Have you ever seen them in action?”

  “No. The laboratory has always been my milieu. But I couldn’t help hearing things.”

  “Such as?”

  “Not only are they enormously powerful and quick, but they also have dispositions toward violence. And an almost insatiable bloodlust. That said, they also are extremely bright and perceptive. And introspective. They can spend countless hours studying, practicing, and perfecting something so that they can be better at it than anyone else.”

  “You have an example?”

  “Yes. Kirkland, of whom we were just speaking, may be the finest swordsman alive. He spends much of his time meditating and practicing the martial arts.”

  “Which style?”

  “All styles. He’s like the late Bruce Lee is said to have been, endlessly curious about each and every martial arts technique or weapon. Because of my own ethnicity as a Japanese American, I am a lifelong devotee of Aikido as well as Iaido and Kendo, which are Japanese sword fighting styles.”

  Christie interrupted him. “What’s the difference between Iaido and Kendo? A sword is a sword.”

  “Essentially, Iaido is the art of drawing and sheathing the sword. Kendo is more focused on the art of fighting with the sword.”

  “What does this have to do with Kirkland?”

  “He was the best swordsman I have ever seen.” He paused briefly, as if contemplating his choice of words. In a reverential tone, he said, “He may be on a comparable level with the greatest swordsman of all time, Miamoto Musashi.”

  “Surely you’re not going to tell me he actually used his sword in combat situations.”

  “Consider how quick these men were. Quick to size up a situation, quick to respond to it. And Kirkland had an incredible katana, a Japanese blade made for a samurai warrior by an ancient swordsmith. I have seen it. It was a remarkable weapon. The smith reputedly folded over and hammered out the impurities in the steel more than thirty thousand times. It is written on the blade in an old style of Japanese that, when tested, it cut through five human bodies in a single slice. And that was by someone far less powerful than Marc Kirkland.” There was an unmistakable note of ancestral pride in Nishioki’s voice.

  “Did you ever see him slice someone up?”

  “Of course not, but, as I said, I heard stories from the other members of the unit. There was one firefight where he supposedly used his katana exclusively. When it was over, his personal body count was said to have been more than thirty. His colleagues said he was a spinning, slashing blur. Heads and limbs were flying everywhere, and blood flowed in torrents. He even sliced two of his armed opponents completely in half.”

  “Damn! ‘Bloodlust’ might have been a euphemism.”

  “There really isn’t a term to describe it, Mitch.”

  “I’ll remember that if I’m ever around any of those guys.”

  “Mitch, you would do well to remember that, as deadly as they all were, there was someone most of them looked up to with respect, perhaps even fear.”

  “Who was that?”

  “Brendan Whelan.”

  Coming Next in the Sleeping Dogs Series of Political Thrillers

  by author John Wayne Falbey

  THE YEAR OF THE DOG

  Will Levell survive his wounds to lead his group of patriots in the good fight against the forces seeking the destruction of nation states and the formation of a one-world government? Or is the AGU too far along in its plan to seize global power? Will the USA become a weak third-rate power? Can Whelan reunite the Dogs? Does he even want to? Has Mitch Christie really gone over to the other side? Will Maksym succeed in eliminating the Dogs? Or will Larsen have his vengeance on the man who killed his family? Is Whelan’s family safe in Ireland? Is Federov really dead? Will Nadir Shah succeed in creating an Islamic caliphate that encompasses the entire Middle East and beyond? Can the Russian president succeed in rebuilding the former Soviet Union? What factor will the Chinese play in the Year of the Dog? What new global problems emerge in the weeks and months ahead?

  These issues and more will be addressed as the Year of the Dog arrives on an already explosive international scene.

  A Note From The Author

  This novel is a work of fiction and isn’t intended to preach, or to praise or condemn any specific political philosophy. It’s just a story. It was fabricated, however, on events occurring in the U.S., and globally, in today’s headlines. It tells the story from the perspectives of various players. Likewise, any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. What is not entirely fictional, however, is the theory of genetics explored in the book. It’s based on considerable research, but does include a certain amount of speculation. The statement that scientists have determined that those with Western European bloodlines have some Neanderthal DNA is true. The European Early Modern Humans, or EEMH, from whom all those of European ancestry descended, interbred with the Neanderthal. These early Homo sapiens ancestors were as large as humans today, and they were more powerful and physically robust. Intriguingly, their brains were one-eighth larger than modern man’s.

  Reading Group Guide is available at: www.sleepingdogs.biz/reading-group-guide.html.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Throughout school, I received top grades for my writing efforts. My English teachers and creative writing instructors uniformly encouraged me to write. But, like John Lennon famously said about life, I was “busy doing other things.” Now I enjoy writing and work continuously to become better at my craft, but the story isn’t all about me. There are many people to whom I am especially grateful. Not the least of which are my readers. I write for you.

  A great many people have contributed to the experiences that have shaped me as an individual, and developed the perspectives that shape my writing. I’m grateful to all of them, even the ones who were involved in the not so pleasant experiences. Each of us, after all, is the product of the sum total of our life experiences.

  Without doubt, the most important person in my life is my wife, “Annie”. She has been my most ardent supporter in this effort.

  My dad, a self-described (tongue-in-cheek) “fine Irish bastard”, played a major role in my desire to write. He encouraged my thirst for adventure stories as a youngster. More importantly, he totally freaked out when, at about age ten, I announced that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. I remember the salient bits and pieces of his diatribe: “freeze to death…bare, unheated attic…starvation…no friends…no money”. It was a blessing in disguise. I spent years moving in other directions and gained much valuable experience and insight, which, hopefully, have made me a better chronicler of the human condition.

  At a very early age, my mother taught me to read and took me to the local library where I was introduced to a vast treasure trove of adventure. She also instilled in me toughness in the face of challenges, an unwillingness to settle for second best.

  Our son Ryan, an articulate, intelligent young man, spent many hours proofreading my efforts and offering valuable comments and suggestions, including cover art and layout. Do not be surprised to see his name
on bestseller lists one day.

  I owe a special thanks to my beta readers: Joe Braden, Jim McGowan, Ryan, and others. I don’t publish until they’ve read it.

  I’m grateful to Caitlin Alexander, a former editor at Random House and freelance editor for independent authors. She provided invaluable developmental and line edits, feedback and constructive suggestions for improvement on reader engagement, structure, narrative voice, dialogue, pacing, plot, character development, suspense, and marketability, with a particular eye toward tightening the manuscript to a more commercially viable length.

  My thanks also to Tatiana Villa at Vila Design for her creativity and talent in designing the cover of the book.

  * * *

  For current information on my works in progress, and more, visit SleepingDogs.biz and sign up for my short and occasional newsletter.

  About the Author

  John Wayne Falbey writes techno-political spy thrillers and adventure novels. His debut novel, Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening, has become an international best seller on Amazon.com and was endorsed by Compulsory Reads. He also is the author of The Quixotics, a tale of gunrunning, guerilla warfare, and danger in the Caribbean. A native Floridian and former transactional attorney, Falbey is a real estate investor and developer in Southwest Florida. As his wife likes to say, Wayne has “more degrees than a thermometer,” (4) including a doctorate in business. He actually spent five years in the “enemy camp”—creating and chairing a Master of Science program in real estate development at an academic institution in Florida. He invites you to connect with him at www.sleepingdogs.biz, where you can sign up for his newsletter announcing publication dates, signings and appearances, and other matters relating to the Sleeping Dogs thrillers and other novels by the author.