"Edward L. Ferman - Best From F&SF, 23rd Edition" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ferman Edward L)

Nolan's tongue froze to the roof of his mouth. Time itself was frozen as he stared down at the
crushed and pulpy thing sprawled shapelessly beside the rocker, its sightless eyes bulging from the
swollen purple face.
No use calling her name again; she'd never hear it And RobbieтАФ
Nolan turned hi the frozen silence, his eyes searching the shadows at the far side of the room.
The crib was empty.
Then he found his voice and cried out; cried out again as he saw the open window and the gray
vacancy of the clearing beyond.
Suddenly he was at the window, climbing out and dropping to the matted sward below. He ran
across the clearing, through the trees and into the open space before the riverbank.
Moises was in the launch, working on the engine. He looked up as Nolan ran towards him, shouting.
"What are you doing here?"
"There is the problem of the motor. It requires attention. I come early, before the heat of the day-"
"Did you see her?"
"Who, senor?"
"The girl-NinaтАФтАЬ
"Ah, yes. The India." Moises nodded. "She is gone, in her catamaran, up the river. Two, maybe three
hours ago, just as I arrive."
"Why didn't you stop her?"
"For what reason?"
Nolan gestured quickly. "Get that engine startedтАФwe're going after her."
Moises frowned. "As I told you, there is the matter of the repairs. Perhaps this afternoonтАФ"
"We'll never catch her then!" Nolan gripped MoisesтАЩ shoulder. "Don't you understand? She's taken
Robbie!"
"Calm yourself, senor. With my own eyes I saw her go to the boat and she was alone, I swear it. She
does not have the little one."
Nolan thought of the hatred in Nina's eyes, and he shuddered. "Then what did she do with him?"
Moises shook his head. "This I do not know. But I am sure she has no need of another infant."
"What are you talking about?"
"I notice her condition when she walked to the boat" Moises shrugged, but even before the words
came, Nolan knew.
"Why do you look at me like that, senor? Is it not natural for a woman to bulge when she carries a
baby in her belly?"


Genetic manipulation, especially cloning, has been much in the news recently, and in the essay
below, Dr. Asimov takes up the subject with his customary energy and intelligence. Imagine, if
you will, one hundred Isaac Asimov clones!

Science: Clone, Clone of My Own
 ISAAC ASIMOV

On December 12, 1968, I gave a talk to a meeting of doctors and lawyers in San Jose, California.[
Those of my Gentle Readers who know that under no circumstances will I take a plane need not register
shock. I traveled to California and back by train. -Yea, they still run.]
Naturally, I was asked to speak on some subject that would interest both groups. Some instinct told
me that medical malpractice suits might interest both but would nevertheless not be a useful topic. I spoke
on genetic engineering instead, therefore, and, toward the end, discussed the matter of cloning.
In the audience was my good friend of three decadesтАФthe well-known science fiction writer, bon
vivant, and wit, Randall Garrett Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a piece of paper placed on the