Zera and the Green Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Who knows, if you follow in the Green family’s footsteps, maybe one day you, too, will work for BioTech.”
    Zera’s stomach lurched. An urge to run, to claw her way out of the crowd, filled her. She suddenly realized why Tiffany made such a big deal of her being there. Of course, Mr. Cadger knows all about Green Seed Company, it was once the biggest seed company in the world. The images of several forebears, all renowned botanists, flashed through her mind. This is just an opportunity for them to look good by parading around with the poor orphaned niece. Yeah, sure, Mr. Cadger, she longed to say, I’m sure I’ll work for you one day. When hell freezes over!
    The urge to run subsided. Zera took a deep breath and put on her fakest smile. “As you know, Mr. Cadger, my grandmother, Guinevere Green, owned the Green Seed Company. She’s never approved of what is being done in genetic engineering — and neither do I.”
    Cadger’s eyes registered shock, but his flashing smile diminished only slightly. He turned to the staring reporter, “Oh, the youth of today, such kidders!”
    “But I’m not — ” Zera began.
    “Zera!” Tiffany said. “Mr. Cadger, I am so sorry. I guess since it’s her birthday, Zera thinks she can just say whatever rude thing comes into her mind!”
    Cadger’s smile tightened and he ran one hand over his close-cropped yellow hair. “Believe me, I understand. I have two teenagers of my own.” He turned to Zera, eyes focusing on her green hair just long enough to convey disapproval. “Young lady, progress is a good thing, always has been, always will be. In fact, it’s the only way. You’ll find that out one day.” He turned to the reporter, effectively cutting them off. “Now, as far as the future of biotechnology . . .”  
    Tiffany took Zera’s arm and began leading her away from the group.
    “Wait a minute. Excuse me,” a middle-aged woman with poofy red hair moved in front of them; another reporter with an electronic notepad. She smiled at Zera. “I heard you say you didn’t ‘approve of what is being done in genetic engineering.’ I’m just curious, what do you mean by that, exactly?”
    Tiffany let go of Zera’s sleeve. Caught between Zera having a reporter’s undivided attention and being afraid of what Zera might say, she was momentarily unsure of what to do. Zera’s reaction was the opposite. Everything she had heard growing up about genetic engineering and plant life came flooding back. She took a deep breath. “My grandmother always said there are a lot of things that can go wrong with bioengineered crops. She explained to me how genetically-engineered crops can’t be contained in their fields. Pollen can get carried away by wind, bees, and other insects, causing the plants to reproduce with wild plants or non-GM crops. This forever changes the wild plants’ or non-GMO crops’ DNA — DNA that’s taken millions of years to evolve. She’s always said that it’s a tragedy to our food supply waiting to happen.”
    “And your grandmother, she’s . . .”
    “Guinevere Green, of Green Seed Company.”
    “Well. We’ve certainly all heard of Green Seed Company. Interesting,” said the reporter. She moved closer to Zera. “I’ve researched this topic. Biotech Multinational’s literature says they’ve taken steps to ensure such events, bioengineered plants escaping into the wild for example, won’t happen. That they’ve spent millions in failsafe procedures.”
    “Failsafe is impossible.”
    Tiffany went into red alert. “I’m sorry,” she said, putting her body between Zera and the reporter. “I hope you’re not thinking of quoting a fourteen year old without permission. Everything she just said is off the record .” She grabbed Zera’s arm and this time did not stop dragging her away until they were a good distance from the crowd.
    “Fifteen!” said Zera. “Today’s my birthday, remember?”
    “We’d better find a seat,” Tiffany