Replication (24 page)

Not only did the FBI let Dad off, they asked him to be in charge of the new Jason home. The government needed someone who understood the boys, as Dr. Max and the others had disappeared.

And I’d just about gotten used to Fishhook High School
. Now she’d be homeschooling herself for the rest of the semester so she could help Dad. It would be strange for her to live in a facility for clones. Not that she minded much.

Despite all the talk and action around the Jasons, no one seemed to be asking too many questions about the most unique clone of them all, JD Kane. He had a mother and a social security card, after all. Still, Abby wondered what would happen. For possibly the first time ever, she wanted to see him.

“There are two other labs,” Marty said, interrupting her thoughts. “But Dr. Kane didn’t tell me where they are.”

Two more labs! The idea made Abby queasy. She watched the fluid in Marty’s IV bag drip down the tube, wondering if there might be other Jasons trapped somewhere. “Let the police handle it, okay?”

Marty reached over to the hand that held Abby’s, and fingered the steel cuff on his wrist. “What’s this?”

She shrugged, not wanting him to freak out about the tracking device.

“I heard the women talking. They said it’s because I’m a criminal, so the police can know where I am if I escape. Abby, is it a taser or another tracker? Like the one in my ear?”

“You’re
not
a criminal. You’re special. The government just doesn’t want you to get lost.”

Marty’s eyes narrowed. “How can I get lost in this little cell? I can’t even get out of bed.”

“They gave the bracelets to all the Jasons. It’s because of the move. There are so many of you, they are worried one of you might wander off and they’ll never know. This way, everyone will make the trip safe and sound.”

“How’s my tough guy?” A nurse dressed in purple scrubs walked into the room, met Abby’s gaze, and stopped, her sneakers squeaking on the white tile. “Oh, you’ve got a visitor! I need to check your lungs, but I’ll come back.”

“Thank you!” Marty called after her. He tugged Abby’s hand until she looked back at him. “What trip?”

“To a new home. They’re preparing a place for you to live. All of you. A safe place. They’ve asked my dad to be in charge, and they want you to help them.”

“Me? Why?”

“Because you’re the leader.”

“Iron Man is the—”

Abby squeezed his hand. “No, Marty. Iron Man told them you’re the leader. The boys asked for you. They need you.”

“You’re coming too?”

Abby smiled. “Yeah. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually looking forward to homeschooling.”

“Abby Goyer?”

“Yes?”

Marty’s eyes ensnared hers; his pupils seemed huge. “Now that we will have time, can we slow down a bit and eat?”

Abby frowned, confused by the intensity of his expression and the simplicity of his request. “You’re hungry? I don’t think you can eat anything for a while.”

Marty tilted his head a bit, rustling the pillowcase. “You said that a girl and boy ate for a while before getting married. I would like to eat with you.”

Abby burst into laughter. “Not
ate
, Marty,
date
. It’s when two people spend time together doing fun things, going places.”

Marty’s cheeks lifted in a smile. “Can we date?”

“When we all get settled in the new place, yes, we can date, if Dad says it’s okay.”

“And you’ll tell me how the baby got into Aliza’s stomach?”

Abby’s cheeks burned. “Nooo. I know I said I would, but … Marty, I think that’s a question my dad could answer better for you.”

She only wished she could see the look on Dad’s face when Marty asked.

1. Martyr believes his purpose is to die in order to help save those living outside from toxic air. Why would the scientists tell the Jasons such a lie? And when Martyr learns the truth, why does he care so much about a new purpose for his life? Have you ever wondered about your own purpose?

2. When Abby comes home to find her apartment empty, she weighs the pros and cons. Why do you think Abby does this?

3. Describe Dr. Max’s relationship with Martyr. Why is he willing to offer the clones some forbidden things like pictures of the sky and ice cream but refuses to take Martyr to see the sky? Is this type of kindness dangerous for the clones? How does knowledge of the outside world affect Martyr?

4. When Abby and JD are debating issues of pharmaceutical testing on humans, JD calls Abby a “religious type” and Abby surmises that JD is a “liberal extremist.” How are such conclusions harmful to a healthy debate?

5. How does the way the Jasons were forced to live and the simple questions they ask about the sky, color, marriage, God, etc. make you think about the freedoms you have each day and how you view the world?

6. What do you think about the lies that Abby and her father tell the police in order to throw the scientists off Martyr’s trail? Could they have handled the situation another way? How? Can you name some of the consequences that came from their lies?

7. In a facility with fifty-five boys with the same DNA, where scientists force obedience and conformity, the boys have very different personalities. Why do you think that is? Have you ever been stereotyped based on your age or how you look? How do you seek out individuality and purpose in your life?

8. Abby and her father react differently to Abby’s mother’s death. For instance, Abby tries to find beauty in ashes. Have you ever tried looking at devastation in a positive light? How might such a practice be helpful? Is there a way it might be harmful?

9. Abby claims to have standards as to who she dates and that JD doesn’t measure up. Then later, Abby is the one who kisses Martyr, breaking her own rules. Have you set any standards in regards to dating? If so, have you ever broken your own rules? Why might having standards be a good thing?

10. The police take Martyr and Abby to the station, and Martyr is put into handcuffs. How might such bonds be considered a metaphor for his life?

11. Abby tells the police that Dr. Kane is the real criminal. How has Dr. Kane stolen the lives of all those living on the Farm? As different as he and Martyr are, how might environment influence actions more than DNA?

12. Dr. Corrine Markley gave the Jasons something no other scientist did, and Martyr remembered her for it. What was so powerful about Dr. Markley’s presence on the Farm? Was it simply the fact that she was female? Or was there something more?

13. Why do you think JD injected himself with the syringe after having seen what an injection did to Dr. Elliot? Do you think JD wanted to die?

14. Abby and Martyr both have a tendency to try and be heroes. How are they alike and/or different in their motivation and methods? In the end, Martyr donates one of his kidneys to Dr. Kane. How is Abby’s interpretation of this act different from Martyr’s? How does Martyr’s explanation of his choice change the way Abby views herself?

15. Do you feel that the possibility of human cloning is an ethical option for scientists to investigate further, or do you feel that the cost of such experimentation is too high? What are the pros and cons of human cloning? (For more information on both sides of this controversial issue visit
www.cloninginformation.org
and
www.humancloning.org
.)

I have so many to be grateful for.

To God, who continues to amaze me and teach me new things each day, for loving me and allowing me to write books.

To my husband, Brad, for putting up with this time-consuming writing thing of mine, and for liking
Replication
best of all my stories.

To my sister, Beth Britton, for taking me to pick apples that day in upstate New York. There would be no
Replication
without that little adventure.

To the members of the CYAW critique group, who helped me make this story stronger, specifically Mary Hake, Stephanie Gallentine, Gretchen Hoffman, Amy Meyer, Shelley Pagach, Diana Sharples, and Claire Talbott.

To Shawn Grady and Greg Bremner, my firemen, for teaching me about fires and procedures to make those scenes as realistic as possible.

To Jeff Gerke, for publishing
By Darkness Hid
and distracting me from my plans of publishing
Replication
with a different house. Because I got so busy with edits for Jeff,
Replication
eventually went into a drawer until I pulled it out again in the summer of 2010.

To the Oregon Christian Writers organization for putting on
such great summer conferences where conferees like me can find publishers and an agent.

To Kathleen Kerr for liking my ideas and wanting me to be a Zondervan author.

To Amanda Luedeke for liking what I write and wanting to work together.

To Jacque Alberta for championing my book and for being a brilliant editor, who helped make this story the best it could be.

To the fantastic team at Zondervan. Thanks so very much for taking a chance on me.

And to my readers, for sticking with me on this science fiction adventure. I promise I’ll write more fantasy soon. ☺

Jill Williamson
is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. Growing up in Alaska led to a love of books, and in 2010 her first novel,
By Darkness Hid
, won the Christy Award. She loves working with teenagers and gives writing workshops at libraries, schools, camps, and churches. Jill lives in Oregon with her husband and two children. Visit Jill online at www.jillwilliamson.com.

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After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves Halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in the mission they undertake, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Available in stores and online!

A mysterious mirror with phantom images, a camera that takes pictures of things that are not present, and a violin that unlocks portals … Each enigma takes teens Nathan and Kelly farther into an alternate universe where nothing is as it seems.

Book One

Sixteen-year-old Nathan Shepherd has a great life … until his parents are murdered. Left only with a mirror and notes from his investigator father’s last case, Nathan goes into hiding at the home of his father’s college buddy, and there meets Kelly. Together, the teens gather evidence—but the killers want the mirror, and danger threatens at every turn.