Page 4 - Tales Apocalyptic and Dystopian

The Spark of Life

Now, that was a big mistake, thought Johnson. Didn’t the
ecclesiastical court know that this woman was the daughter of an
Old Believer, a rebel against his own father as well as the Church?
The records would have to be reviewed. He surreptitiously made a
note on the screen to that effect while continuing to listen
attentively and sympathetically
“Aunt Lisabeth was so young when she died,” continued the
woman. “I could tell from her letters that she really wanted to
have lots of babies. I know Grandfather Christopher was very
disappointed when she turned out to have that problem with
her—her organs.” She blushed again.
The discussion evidently was turning toward embarrassing
topics. Reverend Johnson smiled benevolently.
“Ah, yes. It is God’s will that some of us must be tested in order
to prove we deserve His love. Your aunt had recourse, then, to the
desperate and sinful procedure of in vitro fertilization.”
“But it was perfectly legal then, reverend!” For the first time
Mrs. Everly revealed a tendency toward irreverent objection and
inappropriate rationalism. “She placed those embryos here in good
faith, hoping that one day her children would be born and grow
up tall and strong and healthy.”
“Of course she did,” replied Johnson in soothing tones. “And
you became aware of the depth of her feeling through these old
documents?”
She nodded emphatically.
“Yes. Yes, I did. You see, I was just a child when she died, and
my parents didn’t have much to do with that side of the family. So
I didn’t really know her at all until I started reading what she had
written in her letters and in her diary.”
Diary! Johnson wondered whether it could be confiscated, at
this late date. So far her story had a certain ring of sincerity, but
the reverend knew well the biblical caveats against female
duplicity. With a cunningly casual flick of the fingers he brought
Christopher Rawson’s will up on the monitor. It was completely
out of her line of vision.
“Let me just review the medical reports for a moment, Mrs.
Everly.”

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