The Origami Dragon And Other Tales Read Online Free PDF Page B

journalists and I waited for someone
to arrive and begin the briefing.
    “Doctor
Attenborough,” said a voice in my ear, “you will repeat everything
I say to you.”
    I tapped my ear
in annoyance. I had not expected to take the lead during the
presentation, nor did I enjoy being somebody else’s mouth piece.
Nevertheless, I did as I was told.
    “Ladies and
gentlemen of the world,” I repeated loudly, “welcome. Welcome also
to the billions of watchers at home. As you know, we on the Parklands have been working hard on a new series of
interactive documentaries to be released later this year. You were
invited today to be given a taste of the wonder we have in store
for you. Take a moment to look around the Park. Beneath each of
your chairs is a tablet you can use to browse the many cameras
hidden in the Park. Everything you view will be recorded on the
tablet, which you are welcome to take home with you.”
    The room became
transparent again, and buzzed with excited conversation as men and
women looked at the beauty beneath their feet.
    I was largely
ignored in the chaos that followed, but I pulled the earpiece out
and searched the crowd for Dr. Emzara. She was standing where I had
seen her last, a big smile on her face. I pointed at my ear
angrily, and she mouthed ‘Noah’ back at me. I cursed my employer,
but I put the earpiece back in.
    Most of the
journalists sat entranced in front of their screens or stood
watching the Park, but one walked over to my desk and slammed a
fist down passionately.
    “I don’t
believe a word of all this,” she said loudly.
    The room,
previously noisy, fell deathly quiet.
    “I don’t
believe this; I think you are showing us illusions and
simulations!”
    Her protests
gathered a lot of interest. I gulped as cameras and mics swung to
face me.
    “Get the box
under the desk,” Noah whispered in my ear.
    I did as I was
told. The box contained a trio of Noah’s elephants. I let them out
of the box and onto the desk. They trumped noisily, and began
exploring their surroundings. I picked one up very gently and
showed it to my critic.
    “Miniature, but
real,” I explained.
    My desk was
swamped with people, so I quickly returned the animals to their
box.
    “That’s not real!” the protester said, now angry.
    She launched
herself at the elephants as if to punch their box. I quickly got in
her way, but during the scuffle she slapped me across the face and
dislodged my earpiece. I was surprised to find several of the
journalists were helping me separate her from the elephants. Our
security people turned up quickly to drag her away.
    “It’s
unnatural! Who do you think you are, playing God with nature!” she
screamed as she was pulled away.
    “Everybody
please sit down,” I yelled as politely as I could.
    The journalists
settled quickly as the walls became white again and their tablets
switched themselves off.
    “I apologise
for the interruption,” I offered, somewhat lamely.
    “She’s an
idiot!” yelled out someone.
    “She had a
point!” countered another.
    I had lost my
earpiece, but not my temper. This wasn’t the first chaotic class I
had encountered.
    “Quiet please!”
I said sternly.
    “How do you
answer the allegation that such genetic manipulation is extreme and
dangerous?” asked someone near the back of the room.
    “Extreme? Yes,
but we live in extreme times. Our world is suffering, dying even.
The aim of the Park is to conserve something of nature, and use
this fragment to inspire the world to better take care of its
environment. One day we may even be able to release fully sized
versions of the animals held in the Park back into the world.”
    “But where is
Noah?” asked another journalist, “and why set the Park up on a
boat? Surely he could establish such a Park far more easily on dry
land?”
    I didn’t know
what to say to that, but luckily the questions were coming thick
and fast by that point so I only picked the ones I could answer.
Luckily the