Workingatthelocalprocessingplant,Marcosisinthebusinessofslaughteringhumans--thoughnoonecallsthemthatanymore.Hiswifehaslefthim,hisfatherissinkingintodementia,andMarcostriesnottothinktoohardabouthowhemakesaliving.Afterall,ithappenedsoquickly.First,itwasreportedthataninfectiousvirushasmadeallanimalmeatpoisonoustohumans.Thengovernmentsinitiatedthe“Transition.“Now,eatinghumanmeat--“specialmeat“--islegal.Marcostriestosticktonumbers,consignments,processing.Thenonedayhe’sgivenagift:alivespecimenofthefinestquality.Thoughhe’sawarethatanyformofpersonalcontactisforbiddenonpainofdeath,littlebylittlehestartstotreatherlikeahumanbeing.Andsoon,hebecomestorturedbywhathasbeenlost--andwhatmightstillbesaved.
