smiled at me.
All the others too, were happy for me. Marba grinned and said, ‘I was wrong in my prediction – I thought they’d pick Jov and Sina. But I’m happy for you.’
I didn’t ask him why he had picked Jov and Sina because I had a fair idea. I smiled at him. ‘Thank you.’
He leaned over and prodded my arm. ‘But don’t think this means I’ll let you beat me in the swimming races.’
I pulled a face at him and didn’t tell him I was swimming faster now thanks to Leebar’s coaching.
Justa called us to order and we began the day. ‘Today we will study genetics, inheritance and the way in which we can now manipulate a child’s genes in order to enhance various characteristics.’
It was difficult to concentrate. My mind wanted to wander off into far more interesting channels. I found myself thinking about my genetic parents. My biological mother should have had Silvern for a daughter; they would have suited each other admirably. Her Hope Statement didn’t warm my heart.
It would be selfish to have a child with the world in this sorry state. Also, I don’t want to interrupt my work of contributing to the creation of a healthy, peaceful world. This is why I have chosen to donate to the Taris project.
Her name was Sofia Preston, and she was a geneticist.
My biological father’s Hope Statement was worse than Sofia’s. He had been an astrophysicist called Abraham Lucas.
It is important that those of us with superior genes pass on those genes, however I do not want to have a child. By donating to Taris, I am able to fulfil my societal obligations.
I was lucky indeed to have been born to my Taris parents. But my genetic parents probably hadn’t even met Outside, so I wouldn’t have been born at all. Or if I had been, I’d have been dead by now because they had lived two hundred years ago. It made my headache start up again. I was relieved when school finished for the day.
I hoped Leebar would let me off my swimming lesson, but I should have known better. She was waiting for me at home, marched me off down the track and together we scrambled down the cliff. I dived into the water and swam. She wasn’t pleased with me. ‘Your arms and legs are all over the place today, Juno. Get into the mindspace, child. It’ll do you good.’
I trod water, one hand on the rock she sat on. ‘My head hurts.’
She laughed. ‘Yes, I expect it does. It’ll do you good to exercise.’
So. No mercy from my grandmother. I gave in and bent my energies to powering through the water. I did feel better. I was surprised. I swam out and back from the rock twice. ‘Much better!’ She clapped her hands.
After three more laps, she leaned down and helped me out of the water. ‘Well done, Juno. I’m proud of you.’ She handed me a towel and we went home to eat.
The next day, my parents went to the Gene Centre to choose the parents of the baby. I was to go too, but only after my swimming lesson. Leebar was adamant. ‘It’ll take them forever to decide. You’ll be truly bored by the time they finally make up their minds.’
So I swam, and I swam well, fuelled by the knowledge that Leebar would keep me at it until she was satisfied I’d given my best. I was impatient to get to the Gene Centre. What if they chose the parents before I had a chance to see the place, to go somewhere different – somewhere I was never normally allowed to go?
But they hadn’t. They glanced up when I rushed in, smiled and went back to listening to the transponders they held in their hands.
Trebe came in. ‘Greetings, Juno. This is indeed a happy occasion.’
I smiled at her. Everyone was pleased for my parents – maybe that was what had finally made the Governance Companions decide in their favour.
She handed me a transponder. ‘There are two hundred males on file, and one hundred and forty-six females. You can listen to each statement, or you can speak the key words you want.’ She glanced at my parents,
All the others too, were happy for me. Marba grinned and said, ‘I was wrong in my prediction – I thought they’d pick Jov and Sina. But I’m happy for you.’
I didn’t ask him why he had picked Jov and Sina because I had a fair idea. I smiled at him. ‘Thank you.’
He leaned over and prodded my arm. ‘But don’t think this means I’ll let you beat me in the swimming races.’
I pulled a face at him and didn’t tell him I was swimming faster now thanks to Leebar’s coaching.
Justa called us to order and we began the day. ‘Today we will study genetics, inheritance and the way in which we can now manipulate a child’s genes in order to enhance various characteristics.’
It was difficult to concentrate. My mind wanted to wander off into far more interesting channels. I found myself thinking about my genetic parents. My biological mother should have had Silvern for a daughter; they would have suited each other admirably. Her Hope Statement didn’t warm my heart.
It would be selfish to have a child with the world in this sorry state. Also, I don’t want to interrupt my work of contributing to the creation of a healthy, peaceful world. This is why I have chosen to donate to the Taris project.
Her name was Sofia Preston, and she was a geneticist.
My biological father’s Hope Statement was worse than Sofia’s. He had been an astrophysicist called Abraham Lucas.
It is important that those of us with superior genes pass on those genes, however I do not want to have a child. By donating to Taris, I am able to fulfil my societal obligations.
I was lucky indeed to have been born to my Taris parents. But my genetic parents probably hadn’t even met Outside, so I wouldn’t have been born at all. Or if I had been, I’d have been dead by now because they had lived two hundred years ago. It made my headache start up again. I was relieved when school finished for the day.
I hoped Leebar would let me off my swimming lesson, but I should have known better. She was waiting for me at home, marched me off down the track and together we scrambled down the cliff. I dived into the water and swam. She wasn’t pleased with me. ‘Your arms and legs are all over the place today, Juno. Get into the mindspace, child. It’ll do you good.’
I trod water, one hand on the rock she sat on. ‘My head hurts.’
She laughed. ‘Yes, I expect it does. It’ll do you good to exercise.’
So. No mercy from my grandmother. I gave in and bent my energies to powering through the water. I did feel better. I was surprised. I swam out and back from the rock twice. ‘Much better!’ She clapped her hands.
After three more laps, she leaned down and helped me out of the water. ‘Well done, Juno. I’m proud of you.’ She handed me a towel and we went home to eat.
The next day, my parents went to the Gene Centre to choose the parents of the baby. I was to go too, but only after my swimming lesson. Leebar was adamant. ‘It’ll take them forever to decide. You’ll be truly bored by the time they finally make up their minds.’
So I swam, and I swam well, fuelled by the knowledge that Leebar would keep me at it until she was satisfied I’d given my best. I was impatient to get to the Gene Centre. What if they chose the parents before I had a chance to see the place, to go somewhere different – somewhere I was never normally allowed to go?
But they hadn’t. They glanced up when I rushed in, smiled and went back to listening to the transponders they held in their hands.
Trebe came in. ‘Greetings, Juno. This is indeed a happy occasion.’
I smiled at her. Everyone was pleased for my parents – maybe that was what had finally made the Governance Companions decide in their favour.
She handed me a transponder. ‘There are two hundred males on file, and one hundred and forty-six females. You can listen to each statement, or you can speak the key words you want.’ She glanced at my parents,
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