章 31: Chapter 31

Finchley knew why Dr. Gautier held a grudge against Portia Mann. If the woman had only cooperated and let Pan get on some of her committees—those that dealt with homeless women of child-bearing age—the project would have gotten off the ground years before it actually had. Part of the reason she wanted Mann’s semen was to get at his mother.

“If they survive…” She seemed certain about that possibility. It had required a good deal of gene manipulation to remove the factor X from Mann’s DNA. Even though he was merely a carrier, Dr. Gautier wanted perfect children.

For a woman, she decidedly lacked all maternal instincts, but then he supposed that was why she had other women carry the babies.

“Summon Ridley,” she ordered. “We’ll need to come up with another plan.

Finchley sighed but hurried to use the opportunity to escape her presence.

He found Ridley in the dining hall, staring sullenly into a mug of coffee. “Dr. Gautier wants to see you.”