"This whole town is owned by Hillburg. They bought a ghost town about five years ago and cleaned it up." Colt seems to smile. "As you already found out getting here, nobody is going to come to Greene Pastures unless they really, really want to. The isolation that killed the town the first time is just what Hillburg wanted."
"But...." You can't help staring at Colt's equine features. "You're part animal! And so is..."
"Bossie. or Becky. And yes, the names sorta changed to fit the form. My real name is Carl."
"That's just not possible!" You feel stupid even as you say that. These two animal hybrids are obviously real. Flushing bright red, you swallow hard and say "I mean, it just doesn't seem possible." You look down and see horse's hooves instead of feet holding Colt up, his upper legs are covered by an apron, but seem to just out too far.
Reaching behind his back, Colt undoes the apron and lets it fall away. "Go ahead. Take a good look, touch as much as you want." He manages a kind of whickering chuckle. "Though if you touch enough, I'll have certain expectations."
You flush even redder as it becomes obvious what he is referring to. Nestled between two protruding animal-like thighs is a prominent bulge. "I.. uh..." You stammer, trying to find words. "Wow."
Colt chuckles. "I guess the report was right. Looks like our new manager is a horse at heart."
"Report?" That startles you out of your stunned observations. "Wait! You got a report on me?"
"Well, sure! You don't think the only thing I do is run this diner, do you? Everyone in Greene Pastures is an employee of Hillsburg. I also serve as the town coordinator, sort of like a mayor. I got the full rundown on you as soon as you were placed in consideration for the job."
Bossie, or Becky, comes back with a glass of water and rolls her eyes. "Honestly, Colt! The poor fella is still in shock. Don't you remember what it was like the first time you saw a hybrid?" She shakes her head and sits across from you. "Listen, hon. It's hard to swallow, I know. But Colt and me, heck, pretty much everyone in town, is a hybrid. By choice. And that's not even the limit here. More than half of Hillburg's champions used to be human."
You blink and stare at her. Hillburg maintains some of the most magnificent champion animals in the world - cattle, horses, dogs, sheep, pigs - nearly every domestic species that even has a championship has at least a few top contenders in the Hillburg menagerie. It made for great publicity for Hillcrest animal feed and care products, and the program was actually self-sufficient due to popular animal husbandry programs.
"Why didn't they tell me?" Your mind is racing, trying to gather it all in. What was it Bossie had said? Nearly everyone is a hybrid. Or animal? Then your eyes widen. "Wait! You mean they plan to make me part animal, too!?"
Colt shrugs. "Or all animal, if that's what you want. Personally, I've given some thought to retiring to Bovine Research as a bull." He grins. "Might even end up making Bossie happy."
"In your dreams." Bossie snorts. "Besides, I see you more as a pig." Seeing that you are not enjoying the banter, she gets serious again. "Sorry, hon. Look, this is all voluntary. If you don't want to join the program, just say so. They'll ship you back to wherever you came from, no questions asked."
"No questions!?" You almost laugh. "This is the freakiest thing I have seen in my life! How could they just send me back and expect me to keep it a secret?"
This time Colt gets serious. "Very simple. You leave here with no memory of anything odd. Most likely you'll remember us as average, nondescript folks in a small town you just drove through once. You'll have decided Greene Pastures was too remote for your taste and gone back to your old job."
"Or..." Bossie smiles again. "You'll take advantage of the most incredible opportunity you could possibly have and join us. You don't even have to take the job, if you want to try full animal."
You stare at them both, trying to decide if you have just gone crazy. At the same time, excitement is building up in your gut. The chance to be transformed into something different? A Minotaur? Or a satyr? A tail-wagging Great Dane morph? A massive draft horse stud? "What if I want to leave later? If I stay, is it permanent?"
"Not if you don't want it to be." Colt shrugged. "I was not kidding about retiring as a bull, though. I'd much rather spend my golden years as a prime young champion stud that sitting in a rocking chair."
Bossie stands up. "Well, no point in delaying things. If you want to take the job, we'll take you to the Employee Welcoming and Processing Center. If not, you can make a visit to Out-processing. Your choice."