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

pulled away from Meg as soon as he saw his mother, and ran towards her as fast as he could.
    ‘Kitty dead, Mummy!’ he cried out, tears smudging down his face.
    Lisa lifted him into her arms. ‘There, now, Seb; you know sometimes kitties get ill – ’
    ‘All kitties dead!’
    ‘Frank drowned all five on they,’ Meg greeted her, subdued. ‘Forgot him did promise one to Sebbie. Him be that upset.’
    ‘There now, darling. We’ll find another kitty for you, promise.’
    ‘I be picking out another one for he,’ Meg said uncomfortably. ‘Don’t know what Frank were thinking of, drowning all five on they.’ She smiled vaguely at Lisa. ‘Sebbie do like the calicoes specially. Thought as I spotted one at Mark’s t’other day.’
    ‘Come along now, Sebbie, everything’s going to be all right. There’ll be another kitty for you soon.’ Lisa cuddled the little boy to her as she turned to Meg. ‘It is good of you to take such trouble, Meg. You mean Mark Ditcheat’s got a new litter? That would be lovely.’
    Meg was now peering into the prams, then swept her eyes over Lisa. ‘Still in your smocks? I’d have thought you’d be fed up with they by now,’ she said, looking at Lisa critically. ‘You’re that little anyways, and you got your figure back right off. Different for us; baint nothing else for us to wear.’
    ‘They’re much more comfortable in this heat,’ Lisa insisted evenly, annoyed at Meg’s indiscretion. ‘I’m sorry, Meg. I’d offer you a cup of tea, but I’m so pressed for time...’
    ‘No call to worry none; just bringing Seb back,’ Meg said quietly, searching Lisa’s face. ‘And Frank said to let you know as he didn’t forget the milk. Don’ll drop it off later. Him won’t be long. It be market day; him be taking some of the Jerseys in.’
    ‘We can survive for at least another hour,’ Lisa joked. ‘After that the racket will be intolerable.’ She glanced at the prams affectionately.
    ‘Seems the goat’s milk be doing they a power of good. Natural be best, whatever they doctors do say.’
    ‘I know.’ Lisa couldn’t help sounding proud. ‘They didn’t lose a single ounce. Rita says she’s never come across prems putting weight on right away; Janus looks almost plump! I told her your two did just as well. She was very impressed.’
    ‘Her come from London,’ Meg dismissed Rita as irrelevant. ‘But I never did see a baby put on weight as quick as your Janus. Not even Phyllie.’
    Lisa laughed, delighted. She was assured now in her motherhood. She was no longer infertile, pitied and patronised. On the contrary, she was admired, looked up to. Even sophisticated London friends, normally uninterested in babies, were clamouring to see the twins, though Lisa was keeping them at bay. ‘Janus certainly loves his food. And they do seem to be thriving on the bottle.’
    ‘You be settled on not giving the basil tea another go?’
    ‘I can’t manage to feed two of them, Meg. And there’s so much to do, I’m always rushing round. It’s very kind of you, but I simply haven’t got the energy.’
    Lisa felt guilty about rejecting Meg’s kind attempts to help her breast feed the infants. Meg was doing all she could to support her, and yet... Lisa realised she was acting almost churlishly towards Meg and smiled brightly to cover up.
    ‘There is something I’d like to try, though, Meg.’
    Meg’s eyes lightened into friendliness. ‘And what be that, then?’
    ‘You mentioned about valerian tea. A sedative, you said, better than any tranquilliser.’
    ‘Having problems sleeping?’ The eyes questioned her, sought out intimacy.
    ‘Rather het up, I suppose,’ Lisa admitted unwillingly. ‘I’m always worrying.’
    ‘I be sending a few roots round with Don,’ Meg immediately reassured her. ‘Steep an ounce in a cup of cold water for a day or so. Don’t taste that good, mind. And make sure yer don’t take too much.’
    ‘I won’t.’ In spite of Meg’s obvious