Lucy
Laurence Gonzales
Language: English
Pages: 307
ISBN: 0307473902
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Primatologist Jenny Lowe is studying bonobo chimpanzees deep in the Congo when she is caught in a deadly civil war that leaves a fellow researcher dead and his daughter, Lucy, orphaned. Realizing that the child has no living relatives, Jenny begins to care for Lucy as her own. But as she reads the late scientist’s notebooks, she discovers that Lucy is the result of a shocking experiment, and that the adorable, magical, wonderful girl she has come to love is an entirely new hybrid species—half human, half bonobo.
her skin, the sharp reek of her blood. She kissed her on the lips and said, “I love you.” Then she went out into the living room and sat with Jenny. They held each other and wept and in between, Lucy told Jenny what had been done to her, and they wept again. But Lucy knew that it was time to go. “Mom, Mom,” Lucy said when she had at last taken herself in hand. She stood and stepped away from her. “Mom, I love you. I love your selfless nature. You brought me out of the forest and showed me a new
“What?” Jenny asked. “She’s taking a shower.” Amanda had just finished pulling bones with a pair of pliers. Harry grated ginger over the salmon fillet in a big Pyrex dish and then began cracking garlic on a cutting board. “What else can I do?” Amanda asked. “That’s it, thanks,” Harry said. Amanda wandered out into the living room and turned on the television. Jenny heard her mother say, “Turn that thing off. I’m reading.” “Sorry, Mrs. Lowe.” “You should be reading, too.” Harry and Jenny
living a lie. The rain increased, and thunder murmured in the distance. Lucy stepped out of the car and crossed to stand beside Amanda. “Please don’t hate me, Amanda. I tried to tell you the truth.” Amanda turned slowly around in a complete circle, looking at a world that had changed forever. As she came around to face Lucy, their eyes met. She stared at Lucy for a moment, then burst into tears. Lucy held her tight, saying, “I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you.” Amanda
contribute something to society. So, I don’t know. I think I’ve turned out to be a pretty normal girl, given all that I’ve been through.” Amanda put her arm around Lucy. “She is. Totally.” “So with that,” Lucy said, “I’ll let you all judge for yourselves. Whatever my genetic material looks like, I’m just me.” “Oh, and don’t forget to check out Lucy’s Facebook and MySpace pages. They rock.” “Goodbye, everybody. Thanks for watching.” “Bye,” Amanda said. And they both waved. Jenny closed the
see the past somewhere out there. “We didn’t really plan to get rich. Luke was simply, well, I guess you’d have to say that he was obsessed. Obsessed with the minutiae of retail operations. His father and grandfather were retailers. And Luke wanted to perfect all the operations, all the details, like one of these people who build great and intricate ships in bottles. The point wasn’t the end, it was the process.” She pursed her lips, and wrinkles caressed her mouth and eyes. “The money was a side