Читать книгу Chimera - Wendy Lill - Страница 13

The television camera lights are on the House of Commons. CLARE and FANNING are in their places.

SPEAKER The Member from White Cloud.

FANNING:

Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to see what bright new creations the new Minister of Justice will blind the TV cameras with.

ROY:

The girl with the red-hot hair.

FANNING:

But in a more serious vein, last night I received some very disturbing information.

MEMBERS:

Whooah!

FANNING:

Is the Minister aware that not five miles from this House, in Nepean, a scientist is injecting human embryonic stem cells into gorillas, creating something called— (stumbles) chi ... chimeras?

MEMBERS:

Whooah! Shame!

MEMBERS:

making monkey sounds.

DOYLE picks up phone.

DOYLE:

What’s he talking about?

ROY:

(watching CLARE on screen) She has no idea.

SPEAKER The Honourable Minister of Justice.

CLARE:

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Member opposite for his question. However, sometimes I wonder if the Honourable Member and his colleagues have evolved very far from the jungle themselves.

MEMBER:

Whooah! Low blow!

CLARE:

And that is why I am particularly proud that our government passed the very progressive piece of legislation—The Human Reproductive Technology Act—one year ago today.

MEMBERS:

Hear! Hear!

CLARE:

... an act which provides a framework for all of the new fertility technologies, that forbids the selling of babies and embryos, and protects women and children and the most vulnerable as we go forward with the genetic revolution.

MEMBERS:

Bravo! Hear! Hear!

ROY:

Always was good on her feet.

DOYLE:

Good save.

SPEAKER:

Order! Order! Next question. The Member from ...

House of Commons fades.