Chapter 27

Maundy Thursday, April 1, 5:11 p.m. Passion Ministry

News of Virginia Darrow’s late-afternoon revelation raged across the networks. Jimmy flicked between television stations, finally settling on ABN.

“Jimmy, please.” pleaded John. “Listen to me.”

Jimmy ignored him, concentrating on the TV.

A priest was sitting at a large desk, flanked by a bespectacled woman and an African-American man. Virginia Darrow was visible in a split screen.

“Cloning humans isn’t unethical,” the woman was saying. “With proper restrictions, who knows

“It’s an unnatural abomination! An affro—“

“Thank you,” Virginia interjected. “I’d like Dr. Johnson’s comments, but just a reminder: the Catholic Church declined our invitation to participate.”

Perry’s voice was in Virginia’s ear. “Keep ‘em rolling.”

“In our next hour, a fascinating conversation with an expert on the Shroud of Turin.” Virginia turned, as though to the African-American man. “Now, Dr. Johnson, as an embryologist, what do think of all this?”

Dr. Johnson cleared his throat. “It’s a fascinating supposition.”

“Supposition!” Virginia bleated. “I’ve seen him.” The camera zoomed in to a photograph of Jimmy playing with Darby. “Got his picture!”

“Quite. Well, ah, Dr. Somerville has an excellent reputation but given no proper scientific proof of this claim, I can’t comment.”

Perry shouted, “Ask about cloning!”

“Hypothetically, Doctor,” Virginia said. “Are we able to clone humans?”

“In some form or other, yes. We’ve cloned frogs, mice, cattle, even dogs but…” Johnson spread out his hands. “These were from embryonic cells. Most didn’t live past a few days. Dr. Wilmut had one success.”

He held up an index finger. “Out of almost three hundred attempts. It’s taken years, thousands of failures and millions of dollars to get this far. Humans?” He entwined his fingers. “Even using live, embryonic tissue, not for another few years, two at the least. From white blood cells dead 2000 years?” He shook his head.

The picture shrunk into blackness.