Vietnam 1968

Nathan Greene is not human. He is of a race known as the reyaqc, or The Empty. They appear human, but due to an unstable genetic matrix must infuse DNA from others in order to survive. Most take from humans alone, but some infuse animal DNA as well, becoming something different, something horrible and monstrous. Nathan lives within human society, but while reporting on the war in Vietnam for a stateside newspaper he becomes disillusioned with his human cousins. How can they be truly civilized if they slaughter each other on such a grand scale as what he sees in this jungle battlefield? Confused as to his true place in the world and enamored by the wiles of a beautiful and adventurous reyaqc female, Nathan is coaxed into infusing animal DNA. Soon he is thrust into a world of savagery the like of which he’s never imagined. Soon he must ask himself if his soul is as damaged as those he would despise.