Read The Eden Factor (Kathlyn Trent/Marcus Burton Romance Adventure Series Book 2) for Free Online

Don’t they know that we’re going to do
that along with a battery of other tests?”
    “I'm sure they do. But maybe they
want their own tests, under their own regulated conditions.”
    The Archaeologist merely shook
his head and turned back to the open window. The breeze was growing hotter by
the moment. All thoughts of The Vatican and DNA testing aside, the very real
question remained of time and permits and manpower to do what needed to be
done.  Something important was out there in the middle of the Iraqi desert,
something important enough to get Kathlyn Trent out there, and he wanted to
have a go at it.
    “Let me contact my grandfather,”
he finally said. “He has the connections. I can most likely be inside the Iraqi
border and excavating within twenty-four hours.”
    “What about Kathlyn Trent?” the
Curator asked.
    “I’m going to pay a visit to
Egypt.”
    “Do you think she’ll help us?”
    “It is my suspicion, given the
fact that she most likely knows she cannot gain any permits that she will
readily agree to assist.”
    “Then glean her for whatever
information you can and be done with it. But I want the angel back here, with
us. The Americans have no claim on it and I don’t care if she was the first one
to see it. Is that clear?”
    “Perfectly.”
    After the Archaeologist left, the
three older men sat around in contemplative silence. As the Chairman finished
his coffee, the Director spoke up.
    “There is something else I failed
to mention,” he said quietly.
    “What is that?” the Chairman
asked.
    The Director looked up, his soft
brown eyes weary. “The gentleman who called from The Vatican was a priest, but
he was apparently also a scientist. He used a lot of language on DNA strands
and codes that was difficult to follow. He was, in fact, more interested in the
scientific implications of this than anything.”
    “Truly? What was this man’s
name?”
    “De Tormo.”
    “I’ve not heard of him.”
    “He is faxing us his credentials
so we shall have everything on file to clear him for the necessary liability
and travel paperwork.”
    “So is that all he talked about?
DNA strands and codes?”
    The Director nodded his head
wearily. “And I feel an ominous sense of foreboding.”
    “Why?”
    “He mentioned one word that made
me extremely uncomfortable.”
    “Which was?”
    The Director paused, not sure how
he would come across with this statement. Maybe he was over reacting; maybe he
wasn’t. All he knew was that the very word the gentleman from The Vatican used
made his heart stop.
    “Cloning.”
    "Cloning?" The curator
repeated in horror. "They want to clone an angel? But Human Cloning is
outlawed by most civilized governments, and certainly by the Italian
government."
    "The Vatican doesn't fall
under their jurisdiction," the Director said quietly.  He remained silent
while the others digested the horrible suggestion. "Perhaps it is not as
dark as we think. I, for one, have a suggestion."
    They were more than willing to
listen.
     
     
     
     

 
    CHAPTER
THREE
     
    The campus of Southern California
University had once been in the center of an agricultural area. Consequently,
there were massive oak trees dotting the extensive compound. Now the city had
grown up and the college had been absorbed into the megalopolis. Kathlyn had
once thought that the university was as big and lonely as the city itself; now,
as she deftly navigated the grounds, she felt as if she had returned to her
small hometown. Being perhaps one of the biggest celebrities the campus had
produced, everyone from the parking attendants to the President knew who she
was. Everyone waved and greeted her. Once she and Marcus reached the department
of Archaeology and Anthropology, her fingers were sore from shaking hands.
    But there was one more hand to
shake. Dr. Jobe McGrath came from behind his heavy oak desk to not only squeeze
her fingers again, but to hug her. He was a short man with premature silver
hair for