"Sean McMullen - The Blondefire Genome" - читать интересную книгу автора (McMullen Sean)

it.
"These are maps of zitgrass distribution that I've compiled," she said, thrusting the envelope into
Jackie's hands.
 "Zitgrass!" Jackie exclaimed. She looked inside. "You-- but there's so much in here."
"It might make your work easier. There's chromatograph data and other stuff that might help too,
and-- I'd better go."
"No, wait," cried Jackie, following Megan down the path. "How long have you known about
zitgrass?"
"Ten months."
"Ten-- so you discovered it first!"
"But you published first."
"Rockin' and Ravin' is hardly publication."
Megan took a deep breath and reached into the envelope. "This note explains everything. Read it."
"We'll have to-- "
"Read it! Please!"
Megan could not stop the tears of humiliation that ran down her cheeks.
"I've been a prize idiot and a coward too, Jackie. What can I say? Sorry I trashed your career?"
Jackie finished reading the note and looked up, eyes wide and unblinking. "This is unreal," she said.
"You hacked a genome, you created a new species. That's fantastic."
"It's also morally indefensible," Megan said miserably. That's odd, she thought. She hasn't done a total
meltdown yet. She seems to admire me for creating what ruined her face.
"What is in this note would confirm some people's worst fears about science," Jackie said slowly
"Loud, stupid people like Danny." She put a hand on Megan's shoulder. "Besides, why punish you for an
accident? Let's burn the note and forget what you did."
I don't believe this, thought Megan. How could anyone forgive as easily as that? "I should have
concentrated on my 3G plants," she mumbled.
"Yes, I know about your centrifuge. I saw you on Quantum last year, it was unreal-- "
"What!" Megan dropped Alex's helmet in surprise. "How-- I mean, it clashed with the Blondefire
show."
"I set the timer on my VCR. I never miss Quantum."
"I thought nobody from school had seen it. My brain-dead brother reset our VCR to record the
Blondefire special, so I never saw the show either."
"Come inside," said Jackie. "I'll play you the tape. I've already shown it to my friends at school. Do
you drink coffee?"
Megan did not, but she accepted a mug of milk coffee anyway. So that's what the whispering at school
was about, she realised. They actually admired her!
"When you... broke up with Blondefire I was, well, so sorry for you, and it was all my fault."
Jackie shook her head and grinned ruefully. "Show business is cruel and crazy. Image is everything. I
couldn't have a boyfriend because some fans might get jealous. I couldn't get high grades because some
fans might be intimidated."
"Then why stay with it?"
"When you're very good at something it's hard to stop, even if you really don't give a stuff. Don't get
me wrong, though. When the zits hit me, I cried for days. Then my father pointed out that while my IQ
score was at the top of the measurable range, my grades were only so-so. I took the point and threw
everything into my study. Hey, don't look so guilty. I'm happy now."
Not good enough, Megan thought. I deliberately hurt her, then I lied about it, and now I get off the
hook for free. Not good enough, Megan Warnall.
"Jackie, what are you working on now besides zitgrass?"
"Just study. I want to get into university."
"You have fans at NASA, don't you?"