Built to Last

The horse exploded from the training gate.

“We didn't select for speed during the gene splicing phase, we- “

“Be quiet.” Angeline looked through binoculars.

Thundering hooves blasted chunky plumes of dirt as the horse nosed past the mirrored half mile pole. Angeline's gloved hand jerked, pushed the timer button. She looked at the numbers and fought to maintain a stone face. “You didn't aim for speed.”

“No. We increased _stamina_. By the half mile, the race is over, the speed demons are wasted from fighting for the lead, and the stretch finishers are too far behind to recover the pace.”

“I agree.”

“Damn, it's cold. The gene - S-S798 - was difficult to identify; it's hidden on the DNA strand- buried deep.”

Iron clad hooves thumped clefts in hard ground as twin streams pulsed from steaming nostrils. Vapor dribbled from the creature's mouth.

“How much?”

“Five Million.”

She squeezed the stopwatch. “Done.”