"Maria V. Snyder - Protect the Children" - читать интересную книгу автора (Snyder Maria V)

тАЬAlright, Ms. Darren, you have one hour as promised.тАЭ He sank into the overstuffed chair across
from me.
 I placed my recorder on the scratched surface of the desk and turned it on. тАЬWhy did you begin
Project Protection?тАЭ I asked. The question had burned inside me for years and tasted hot and acidic in
my mouth. Life would be completely different if he hadnтАЩt meddled. Much had been written about his
research and the wide spread effects of his discovery, but there hadnтАЩt been any articles on his
motivations. And I wanted to know.

тАЬDonтАЩt you know?тАЭ he countered.

тАЬNo.тАЭ I wanted to shake him until the rest of his gray hair fell out, but instead I clenched my hands
and pushed them into my lap.

тАЬWhy ever not? HavenтАЩt you read your own newspaperтАЩs headlines from forty years ago? They were
screaming for help. Disease. Birth defects. Abuse. Accidents. Shootings. The children were dying.
тАШProtect the childrenтАЩ the public demanded.тАЭ He slammed a fist on the desk. тАЬMy research into genetics
discovered the answer. Instead of being banned by the government like all the other genetic
breakthroughs, it was literally hailed as the messiah. It was implemented before anyone could properly
imagine the consequences.тАЭ

I shook my head. He had misunderstood my question. тАЬBut you had been working on the project for
years before that. Why did you start on that particular line of research?тАЭ

тАЬYouтАЩre hoping for some heart-warming story? A childтАЩs death that propelled me on my mission of
mercy.тАЭ He clutched his hands to his heart, acting like a grieving father. Then his expression dropped
from his face. тАЬSorry, no tears for your exclusive. I was after the elixir of life and all the fame and fortune
that comes with it. The protection was a misfire, but it ended up being quite useful.тАЭ

A sudden flush of fury shot through me. тАЬWhat about the consequences? DidnтАЩt you think about
them?тАЭ My fingernails bit into my hands. I had envisioned myself behaving professionally during this
interview, remaining detached from the subject matter.

тАЬYes, I did.тАЭ He stood abruptly and crossed to his bookcase. Hidden behind a wooden panel was a
row of bottles. тАЬDrink?тАЭ He waved a glass in my direction.

тАЬNo.тАЭ

He poured himself some scotch, then made a circuit of the room. The ice in his glass clinked as he
moved. тАЬEach time I had mentioned a potential problem it was quickly dismissed as minor. I was
accused of being difficult, of being greedy by holding back the technology. I decided the problems would
be addressed as they arose, so...тАЭ He shrugged and took a long drink. тАЬI gave society what they
wanted.тАЭ

Dr. Silver appeared calm, unconcerned about how he had ruined society. Not one bit remorseful
over the anguish he had caused and was still causing. тАЬBut what about...тАЭ Unable to remain still, I stood
up. тАЬThe overcrowded schools? The Kamikaze gangs? The Euthanasia gangs? The waning effect?тАЭ

тАЬI warned them. Protect the children, they demanded, so I did. Overcrowded schools would be
wonderful, society said, weтАЩll just raise taxes. Kamikazes? Well, adolescent suicide rates actually