CLONER : a Sci-Fi Novel about Human Cloning (A Captivating Story about Reproduction Outside the Womb and Identical Humans) by Emma Lorant Read Free Book Online Page A

smell in the air, and looked at Lisa leaning back against the wall. ‘Just got to sluice the floor. Be through in a tick,’ she said, concern in her voice. ‘Then yer can have a sit down. Anyway, all be due to that special plankton them do use, Frank says. Fancy Multiplier being developed here, to Somerset!’
    ‘The grass looks marvellous.’
    ‘Almost a bit too lush.’
    The field beyond the home meadow was drowsing in unusually warm winter sunshine. The latest herd of bullocks was huddled under the whitethorn hedge to the left of the field, the animals swishing their tails and keeping away from the sun. A few, thirstier than the rest, were exposing themselves to danger by steeping into the rhynes lining the pastures and now only trickling water. It had been a dry winter.
    ‘Frank’ll need to get they water pumps going,’ Meg was saying anxiously. ‘What with the size of the herd, there baint enough for they to drink. Us had one die only t’other day.’
    ‘Did you?’ One out of so many didn’t seem terrible to Lisa.
    ‘Costs a mint to get the knackers out. Can’t get nothing for a dead animal,’ Meg explained to Lisa. ‘Even for pet food. That be against they new regulations.’
    Lisa looked uncertainly at the animals now crowding down towards picturesque withies edging a rhyne. ‘But you’ve had lots more than usual this year, haven’t you?’
    ‘What be strange is that when Frank goes out to tag they, he often finds them knows. Many’s the time them try to get away. None of they likes the tagging, of course, but them do seem to know as he’s going to do it. Maybe Multiplier makes they brighter as well as fatter!’ Meg laughed.
    ‘Can’t be bad,’ Lisa agreed, vaguely remembering that Don had also mentioned tagging lambs, and that one of them had managed to dodge him.
    Phyllis bent down to her foot, pulling at the brace, fretfully kicking her leg.
    ‘Come on now, Phyllie. Us’ll be taking that off soon.’
    The child kicked petulantly, with strength enough to displace the double pushchair.
    It seemed to be taking the strain well. Lisa examined it critically. ‘Is this a good type of pushchair?’
    ‘Can cope with Phyllie’s temper,’ Meg snorted. ‘Got to be strong for that.’

CHAPTER 5
    ‘Guess what?’ Alec was on the phone, excitement mounting in his voice. ‘It’s been confirmed. Multiplier not only increases herb yields by a factor of three, it seems to affect the meat yield as well!’
    ‘Meat yield?’ Lisa, feeding Sebastian his lunch, had no idea what Alec was so fired up about.
    ‘Has the effect of making cows produce calves with quicker growth rates, and they go on to become bigger beef cattle.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘And the ewes produce lambs with bigger yields on both wool and meat, though that’s almost too much of a good thing.’
    Sebastian made a stab at the food on his plate. Lisa steered his spoon into the mashed potato while holding the phone in her left hand. ‘It is?’
    ‘People think it’s mutton, not lamb.’
    ‘Of course.’
    Lisa heaped a few pieces of carrot into Seb’s mouth, then let him feed himself. The new baby was due in a couple of weeks, and could be early. Seb would need to do as much for himself as possible. ‘You’re going to have a baby brother soon,’ she cooed at him. ‘Won’t that be lovely? Then you can play with him.’
    ‘Bother,’ Seb said dutifully.
    Lisa laughed. Bother was right even if he didn’t know it.
    ‘Lisa? You there? OK if I bring Frank round?’ Alec was asking her. ‘We need to go over some figures and our place is quieter than theirs - at least for the time being,’ he added, not altogether jocularly.
    ‘He’ll have to take pot luck.’
    ‘I’ll pick up some scrumpy,’ Alec chortled down the phone. ‘By the time we get round to the meal he won’t know the difference.’
    Lisa marvelled again at Alec’s confidence. He was the newcomer. Frank’s family had lived in Somerset for generations, all