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DEAN KOONTZ
Life Expectancy
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2005
Copyright © Dean Koontz 2005
Dean Koontz asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
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Source ISBN: 9780007196951
Ebook Edition © FEBRUARY 2009 ISBN: 9780007318223
Version: 2018-12-03
To Laura Albano,
who has such a good heart.
Strange brain, but good heart.
But he that dares not grasp the thorn
Should never crave the rose.
—ANNE BRONTё, “The Narrow Way”
Here’s a sigh to those who love me,
And a smile to those who hate;
And, whatever sky’s above me, Here’s a heart for every fate.
—LORD BYRON, “To Thomas Moore”
Contents
Title Page Copyright Epigraph Part One: Welcome To The World, Jimmy Tock Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Part Two: Might As Well Die If I Can’t Fly Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty One Chapter Twenty Two Chapter Twenty Three Part Three: Welcome To The World, Annie Tock Chapter Twenty Four Chapter Twenty Five Chapter Twenty Six Chapter Twenty Seven Chapter Twenty Eight Chapter Twenty Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty One Chapter Thirty Two Chapter Thirty Three Chapter Thirty Four Chapter Thirty Five Chapter Thirty Six Chapter Thirty Seven Chapter Thirty Eight Chapter Thirty Nine Chapter Forty Part Four: All I Ever Wanted Was Immortality Chapter Forty One Chapter Forty Two Chapter Forty Three Chapter Forty Four Chapter Forty Five Chapter Forty Six Chapter
