Strange New Feet

by Shannon Esposito

  “Sue, that’s not a good idea.” Safia says as she slides in beside her in the back seat.

  “It’s okay.” Anders lifts a hand. “It’s her decision.” He gives the cabbie the address.

  “Mommy?”

  “Yes, did you know that Anders is my guardian angel?” Her tone is conspiratorial.

  Sue shoots Safia a harsh look and sighs. “He’s just a person, Olivia.”

  “I know.” Her voice is colored blue. “Mommy?”

  “Yes?”

  “Am I a person?”

  “Of course you are.”

  Long silence. “Mommy?”

  “Yes?” Safia can hear the strain in her voice now. Her own questions pushing against the dam wall. “One more question, Olivia, then mommy needs to close her eyes for a minute, okay?”

  Olivia nods. “Okay, but…will my other mommy go to heaven when she dies?”

  *******

  “Hey, have you heard the news about Bill Crowley?”

  Safia has just left a thirty two year old cancer patient’s room. She looks up, drained and startled by Rita’s sudden presence. “No.”

  “He killed himself. They found him this morning, dead in his cell.”

  She stops walking. “Dead?”

  “Yep. He must have felt really guilty, huh? For trying to smother Olivia?”

  Safia shakes her head and continues toward the elevator. “He knew about Olivia when he met them. He thought death would be preferred over the life she would have after everyone found out what she was.”

  “Did he tell you that?” Rita follows her in and pushes the button. “Wow. That’s a really twisted thing to think.”

  Safia rubs her eyes. “Is it?” She sees Rita look at her suddenly in the quiet hum of the elevator. She doesn’t make eye contact.

  “Hey, weren’t you going to take Olivia and Sue to stay with your mom for a little while? Until all the publicity dies down?”

  “Yeah, two problems with that. One, Sue can’t leave until after her court date. And even if she doesn’t get any jail time, I’m not so sure she’ll go with me now.”

  “Why not?”

  “She’s really angry with me about Anders. I think she should let him stick around, I think Olivia’s in a lot of danger. She wants the normal life and all that. She said…”

  Rita glances up. “What did she say?”

  “She said she wishes I would have just left them alone. She wishes she didn’t know.”

  “But, you didn’t know either. It could have been something that needed fixed, something life threatening.”

  “It is life threatening,” she whispers. “Only it’s something I can’t fix.”

  They step off the elevator, their rubber shoes silent on the sandstone path. Safia watches a hawk floating in the wind above them, the sun momentarily hidden behind gray clouds. She knows Rita is waiting, giving her time to gather her thoughts. “Do you really think the publicity will die down?”

  “I think so,” Rita says. “It’s just a cycle, like every other big story. The press pumps it up, bombards the public with it causing mass panic then drops the story for something new a few weeks later and you never hear about it again.”

  Safia nods. “That’s what Sue thinks, too.”

  “But, you don’t?”

  “I want to…hope.” Safia moves off the path and sits down to rest by the fountain. Rita sits across from her, tilting her face to the sun and closing her eyes. Safia watches the water dance and spray and gleam. After she feels some strength and order returning to her thoughts, she speaks. “Sue thinks it’s best not to change Olivia’s world. She wants to stay in their home. She just wants Olivia to have a normal life, to go on like it was before. She thinks if Olivia lives like a normal child, people will forget. They will move on to the next story.”

  “That sounds reasonable.”

  “It should. I mean, after all…what are we talking about here? One child with a slightly different genetic makeup than we have? Shouldn’t panic people…but it does. People are afraid of her and that’s dangerous.”

  “Yeah, but people have had a lot to be afraid of in the past. Look, we’ve had three major terrorist attacks on our own soil and people have gotten over that. Everyone goes about their own lives.”

  “But there’s a difference. Threatening bodily harm is nothing compared to threatening people’s fundamental belief system. Terrorists don’t threaten people’s deep-seated belief in what it means to be human, to be made in God’s image…Olivia does.”

  “Well, then people are blind because to me, the terrorists are the ones presenting a better case for humans being no different than animals.”

  Safia smiles wearily. Her phone rings. “It’s Kat,” she sighs after pulling it from her pocket and glancing at it. “I’m working, Kat.”

  “Yeah, well, thought you might like to know about the debate tonight on the Gil Harley Show.”

  “About what?”

  “Olivia.”

  Her heart sinks. She glances at Rita. So much for the publicity dying down. “Who’s doing the debating?”

  “Our very own Dr. Mills and some scientist from the President’s Council on Bioethics, oh, and of course, Reverend Benny Brown.”

  “What time?”

  “Eight. We’ll be there around 7:30.”

  “We?”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll bring dinner. See ya then, Sis.”

  “Kat?” She has already hung up. “Great.” She turns to Rita. “You’ll come, too, right? For moral support?”

  “Sure.”

  “I better call Sue and warn her.”

  The phone rings five times and then she has to leave a message.

  “Do you think they’re okay?” Rita asks after she hangs up.

  “Yeah, I guess. Sue won’t answer my calls but Anders says they are okay. He’s still keeping tabs on the situation.”

  “Yeah, I don’t get that. I mean, is he just protecting her out of duty to A.R.N. or what?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think so, though. I should call him, too. He’ll probably want to watch the debate.”

  Chapter 20

  “Knock, knock.” Kat pokes her head into the apartment.

  “Come on in.” Safia’s legs feel like lead. She and Rita are working on their second glass of Pinot Gris as they watch the debate countdown scroll across the bottom of the television screen. It’s the lead story on Yahoo news and has been plastered across every news feed on every electronic devise and billboard in the nation. There will be at least sixty to eighty million viewers according to pre-show newscasters.

  “Hope everyone likes Thai.” Kat comes through the door, the bags in her arms rustling. Reuben follows, making his way across the living room. Behind him is Robert Huxley, the vet.

  “Ladies,” Reuben smiles, taking a seat next to Rita.

  “Hi, Reuben.” She nods. “Who’s your friend?”

  “Robert,” he holds out his hand and she shakes it. “And these are for you.” He holds out a bouquet of white lilies to Safia.

  “Hm. My favorite,” Safia manages a smile, taking them from him. “Thanks. However did you know?” She stands up reluctantly to make way for him to sit. “I’ll just go put these in water then.”

  “Thanks, Kat.” She whispers in the kitchen, stuffing the flowers into a yellow crystal vase.

  “He likes you, Sis. Give him a break. You really should think about dating. It’s not healthy keeping to yourself all the time.”

  A knock at the door interrupts her response. Instead she says. “Get that, would you?”

  She hears a shocked, “Oh, hi,” and smiles to herself. She hears Reuben and Robert greet Anders and then he finds his way into the kitchen, Kat paddling softly after him, the surprise still bleaching out her small tulip face.

  “Anders Grey is here,” she says.

  “I see,” Safia answers, looking at Anders. He is dressed in black jeans, a fitted grey t-shirt and a black knit toque. She is keenl
y aware of some kind of effect his presence is having on her. She feels lighter and more vulnerable, like her very fabric is loosening and could come unwound at any moment. He hands her a bottle of Locke’s Irish whiskey and winks. “Make the debate more interesting.”

  She makes a face and feels herself smiling a smile that is wide and uncharacteristic. It also doesn’t escape her attention that Kat is watching them closely.

  “Here,” Safia fishes three shot glasses from the cabinet and pushes them into Ander’s chest. “You boys have at it.”

  “There’s an extra box of pad Thai, Anders,” Kat said, her arms crossed, her dark eyes bright with something that looks like suspicion.

  “Just take the whole bag. We’ll bring in some plates.” Safia says, grabbing a second bottle of Pinot.

  “Are you sleeping with him?” Kat hisses when Anders clears the kitchen.

  “Kat!” Safia cries, glancing at the exit knowing she said it loud enough for him to hear her. She really looks at her sister then, her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowing. Was she actually jealous? Did she like him? Wouldn’t be the first time, but then why was she with Reuben? “No. And what if I was. How is that any of your business?”

  Kat seems relieved and walks over to grab the chop sticks. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. He’s not boyfriend kind of material. He’s complicated and dangerous.”

  “Five minutes!” Rita yells from the living room.

  “We’re coming,” Safia calls back, gathering the plates and dragging an extra chair into the living room. Kat passes out the chopsticks and takes a seat beside Reuben on the sofa.

  “Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to this week’s edition of the Gil Harley Show.” Safia’s stomach contracts as she quickly hands out the plates and take out boxes. Anders meets her eye. He is telling her he understands what is at stake here. She nods with sincere gratitude. She’s not alone. She has an ally.

  “I am Gil Harley. Let me introduce our guests for tonight’s discussion. First up is Dr. Margaret Mills from the animal rights group A.R.N.” Safia glances at the screen as she sits slowly into the chair with her own box of pad Thai. Dr. Mills looks poised but tense, her pale eyes shining from skin smoothed by good make-up or good lighting. She gives a half-nod to the camera.

  “She looks weary,” Reuben comments with a mouthful of noodles.

  “How would you feel if you knew the whole world was pissed at you?” Robert asks.

  “To her left is Dr. Zottenburg, a biologist currently serving on the Presidents Council on Bioethics.” He’s a small serious man with thick gray hair and a black suit. He nods solemnly. “And last but certainly not least, the Reverend Benny Brown.”

  An obviously happy man, the reverend lifts his large palm in greeting. “Glad to be here, Gil.”

  “Thank you, Reverend. Thank you to all our guests.” Gil stares into the camera as it zooms in for a close up. He strokes his thick mustache thoughtfully. “All right, let’s get started. Tonight ladies and gentlemen, the topic is the chimera child known as Olivia Barnes.”

  A picture of Olivia in the hospital is cropped and appears on the screen.

  “If you’ve been living under a rock lately, I’ll give a brief recap of the situation. A member of the animal rights group Animal Rights Now purposefully created a part human, part bonobo chimpanzee embryo and implanted it into an unsuspecting IVF patient. The result is this female child, who is now fourteen, but—as I understand it—has the mental capacity of about a seven year old. Now, of course there are laws broken here but what I’d like to focus on tonight is the future. Where do we go from here? To contradict myself, the first question I have for the panel is: have her rights already been violated? After all, she is a minor, yet her picture is being used unapologetically by the media. Let’s turn to our ethics expert first. Dr. Zottenburg?”

  “Yes. Well, as I understand it, Gil, hospital lawyers did try to stop the media, threatening a lawsuit. What it came down to was the question, ‘Is she human?’ Our laws were written for human rights and only apply to humans.”

  “So, I guess we have to answer the question, ‘What exactly does it mean to be human’ to decide if she qualifies for human rights protections?”

  “Yes.”

  “Would you like to give us your definition? I mean, as a biologist does it come down to DNA for you? If she is tested and it can be proved that 51% of her cells are human vs. 49% that are chimp, would that make her human?”

  “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that. Humanity is defined more by its higher consciousness, its sociability and intelligence.”

  “I’d like to answer that question, if I may, Gil.”

  “Go on, Reverend.”

  “It’s very simple. Man was created in God’s own image.”

  “You have a picture of God, Reverend?” Dr. Mills interrupts.

  “With His divine spark,” the reverend answers, ignoring the interruption. “Unfortunately for this young girl, God had nothing to do with her creation. She is a creature fashioned by man.”

  “So you don’t believe she is human?”

  “No.”

  “Wow,” Gil folds his hands on the desk and nods thoughtfully. “Okay, Dr. Mills? Care to weigh in on the question?”

  “Sure, Gil. I don’t think she should be considered human, no.”

  “What?!” Safia almost chokes on her noodles. “Why would she say that? Doesn’t she want her protected?” she is staring at Anders. “Why would they create her and then not want her protected?” He looks away.

  “I think it’s very arrogant of us to say that she would have to be declared human to have protective rights. She is obviously different from us. A new creation. I think that is the point that Dr. Vogler was trying to make with her. That protective rights should not be something exclusively afforded to beings labeled ‘human’.”

  “Which brings me to a question I have,” Gil says. “Why would Dr. Vogler create a chimera and then not tell anyone? What is the point?”

  “He wanted her to be grown and aware of her situation so the impact would be greater. She would have a voice, an opinion and a new perspective on what it means to be both human…and not human.”

  “I guess we should define what rights we are speaking of here. I mean, obviously the right to vote is not going to be as big a deal as say the right to reproduce.”

  “Reproduce? Absolutely not!” Reverend Brown interjects. “Her creation was illegal and immoral. To allow this to happen again would be, well…illegal and immoral.”

  “Hold on, Reverend,” Dr. Zottenburg holds up a steady hand. “It would not necessarily happen again. Remember, she’s not a hybrid. Depending on whether her germ cells are human or chimpanzee. It is very possible that she could have a human baby.”

  “So,” Gil says, a look of distaste pulling his eyebrows together. “If I understand what you’re saying, it is also possible…theoretically, of course…that she could mate with a chimpanzee and have a 100% chimpanzee baby.”

  “Well…yes,” he seems to deflate. “Theoretically.”

  “Oh my god,” Safia shakes her head. “Please tell me they didn’t just put that image in millions of people’s heads.” Her face is suddenly hot. She wants to shake these people.

  “Ouch,” Robert says quietly.

  “Look,” Dr. Zottenburg speaks up. “What it comes down to is there really is no such thing as fixed species boundaries. They’re just invisible lines we drew to categorize the world around us for better understanding.”

  “I beg your pardon, Doctor. It was God Almighty who fixed the species boundaries.” Reverend Brown argues. “First Corinthians 15:39 says "All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds."

  “I beg your pardon, Reverend, but some people believe the book you are quoting from was written by man. Besides, even if you are right, we artificially crossed that boundary long ago. Olivia Ba
rnes isn’t the first human-non human chimera. Through xenografting we have given people cow and pig neurons, skin tissue, livers and heart valves.”

  “That’s different.”

  “Is it? Why? Because of the ratio of human to animal cells?”

  “No, because they were born human. Therefore, they were created by God.”

  “And other mammals weren’t?” Dr. Mills asks, a sharp edge to her voice.

  “I’m sorry, let me rephrase that. Of course everything is God’s creation, but they weren’t created with the breath of God, endowed with his spirit.”

  “That’s not what Darwin taught us.”

  “Darwin?” The reverend’s eyes flash. “Do you know how many scientists, so called philosophers and doctors used Darwinism to dismiss the moral sanctity of human life?”

  “Yeah, I never understood that argument,” Dr. Mills answers. “Why does Darwinism have to mean devaluing human life instead of valuing all life as much as human life?” She holds up her hand. “I know, divine spark versus no divine spark. How unjust is that?”

  “Okay,” Gil cuts in. “I’m going to stop you right there. I have a question for Dr. Zottenburg. Since you are on the council that advises the President, why haven’t any solutions to this very issue been put in place already? I mean, don’t you guys sit around and try to foresee the future of science. Didn’t you think this would be an important thing to figure out before it came to pass?”

  “Absolutely. Look, scientists asked for guidelines, wanted guidelines, and the National Academies gave them some. Every possibility can’t be foreseen, such as a rogue doctor with a grudge against humanity. We did, however, discuss the possibility of humanzees and to what degree the creatures would be considered human.”

  “And?”

  “And, well,” he smiles sadly. “Most felt it was purely science fiction. We knew it was possible, of course. But we also believed no one would actually do it, no one would cross that line. Most felt the speculation was a waste of time, better spent on real issues that might come up. Of course, there are laws in place to keep it from happening. Back in 2005 Congress tried to pass a Human Chimera Prohibition Act.There’s just no protocols in place to deal with a situation like this one, where someone has broken the law.”