Donte is a Mascot – a genetically modified human. He is the offspring of Mascots designed by a group of scientists known to the inhabitants of Purlieu only as "The Parliament." Mascots were programmed for leadership. They lived longer, were stronger and more intelligent than their human counterparts. And yet, the humans were resistant to a plague that swept through all the colonies but one. The plague killed many of the male Mascots and left most of the remaining sterile. Donte, safe in his mother's womb throughout the plague, was an exception. Being the only fertile male Mascot in two colonies made him distinctive enough, but Donte was also a descendant of the leaders of two colonies. His heritage had made him a target and his integrity kept him a captive.Donte is a captive in Nyumbani, one of the original five colonies of the Purlieu Experiment. Their insane king has been conducting raids on other colonies, but for Donte, he crosses the line when his raiders take a captive and plan to kill her. Donte does the only thing he can to save her – he kills the king.A last-minute change in punishment from execution to being exiled from the colony means his escape route is over the snow capped mountains in scant clothing. He must take the girl over the mountain and across a desert to her colony.Donte believes the only way the colonies can progress is to unite. He gets help and resistance in some unexpected areas. In spite of all the obstacles thrown in his path, Donte keeps his momentum until tragedy makes him falter and lose faith in himself. He must retain that faith if he is to meet the final challenge. Linda Rigsbee, aka Linda L. Rigsbee, L. L. Rigsbee and Linda Louise Rigsbee, is a multi-genre author with over 50 books in print. She writes science fiction/fantasy, westerns, clean romance, children's and young adult. Rigsbee has been publishing since 1986 in fiction and non-fiction story lengths from flash fiction to novels.She is founder of ProActive Writer's Group and has placed in numerous writing contests. When a scientific company on Planet Oriel illegally creates humans contaminate by animal genes, it uses them to guide and protect colonists on a newly discovered planet. After an accident, the company abandons the experiment and claims the planet is contaminated and therefore uninhabitable. Thirty years later, the colonies are beginning to unite and a young mascot is prophesied to lead them to freedom from Oriel. Donte has no manual or instructions on how to do this. He must depend on his unique skills - and pray it all works out.
