and disingenuous. "What's 'right,' here, Corey? No one knows for sure that fetal-stem-cell research isn't a total pipe dream. Why not wait for methods that don't compromise how we value human life?"
"Because people are suffering now. Ever known anyone with Alzheimer's?"
Marotta hesitated. "Maybe. We're starting to think Mary Rose's mother may be in the early stages."
"Wouldn't you like to help her?"
"Based on what? Guesswork? We're Catholic, and for us the sanctity of life is nonnegotiable." With a self-deprecating smile, Marotta added, "That's why we've got five kids, aged seventeen to three."
Corey returned his smile. "And here I'd thought you'd flunked Bob Christy's favorite program: abstinence-only sex education."
The mention of Christy, however light, banished all good humor from Marotta's face. "Politically speaking, that brings us to the crux of things. Christy's made this vote about himself."
"He's hardly unique. Ask the president, and it's about
him
. I'm sure you believe that
I
think it's all about me. Why isn't it about some infant with a spinal disease?"
"If Christy runs," Marotta said flatly, "he splits the party, and maybe helps elect a Democrat. That can't be what you want."
Corey laughed. "Hardly. It's been at least six years since I saw the slightest sign that the Democrats are fit to govern anything."
"So why give Christy an excuse to help them out?"
Leaning on his elbows, Corey propped his chin on steepled fingers, gazing at his rival intently. "There's something off about this conversation, Rob. We've managed to reduce a question of human suffering to the parochial political problem of how to pacify an evangelist who's blackmailing us on television."
"_That,_" Marotta snapped, "involves a whole lot more than stem cells. This is still your party, Corey—the president is our party's leader, and I'm its leader in the Senate. If you divide our party, you're at risk of becoming a very sorry man."
At this not so subtle threat, Corey felt the anger rise within him. "With respect," he said softly, "that's spoken like a man who's never learned what 'sorry' means."
Marotta considered him. "So why don't you explain it to me."
"I'll never have time enough, Rob. Just accept that it involves living with myself. I'm deciding this one on the merits."
OF COURSE, IT was not that simple: within the hour, the president of the United States called. Corey made no commitment; hanging up, he pondered the risk of deepening the president's antipathy. As Marotta had implied, Corey could expect to be in politics long after the president was gone, but the incumbent retained considerable power to ensure that the next president would not be Corey Grace.
A familiar voice from the television distracted him: in the last few days, Jack Walters had made a habit of watching Bob Christy's weekday show. "We are monitoring the Senate closely," Christy assured his followers, "to determine whether Senator Marotta and his fellow Republicans will defeat this ungodly tampering with life."
"Ever wonder," Jack asked, "why
Christy
hasn't lobbied you?"
Corey cocked his head in inquiry. "What makes you think that Christy wants me to vote against?"
As Corey watched the television, Eve Stansky walked in. "Lexie Hart called. She's wondering whether she should hold dinner open after tomorrow's vote."
Surprised, Corey laughed. "Tell her to watch the debate. She'll find out when I do."
WHEN COREY ARRIVED on the Senate floor, the gallery was packed, and Lexie Hart sat in the front row.
Corey looked up until she saw him. Even at this distance, he could read her anxiety and doubt.
Senator Rob Marotta opened the debate. "A frozen embryo," Marotta argued forcefully, "is the moral equivalent of a fetus, summoned into being so that a married couple can fulfill their sacred purpose of bringing life into their world. But now, the proponents of this science project propose to
create
life to
destroy
life."
Pausing, Marotta scanned his colleagues'
"Because people are suffering now. Ever known anyone with Alzheimer's?"
Marotta hesitated. "Maybe. We're starting to think Mary Rose's mother may be in the early stages."
"Wouldn't you like to help her?"
"Based on what? Guesswork? We're Catholic, and for us the sanctity of life is nonnegotiable." With a self-deprecating smile, Marotta added, "That's why we've got five kids, aged seventeen to three."
Corey returned his smile. "And here I'd thought you'd flunked Bob Christy's favorite program: abstinence-only sex education."
The mention of Christy, however light, banished all good humor from Marotta's face. "Politically speaking, that brings us to the crux of things. Christy's made this vote about himself."
"He's hardly unique. Ask the president, and it's about
him
. I'm sure you believe that
I
think it's all about me. Why isn't it about some infant with a spinal disease?"
"If Christy runs," Marotta said flatly, "he splits the party, and maybe helps elect a Democrat. That can't be what you want."
Corey laughed. "Hardly. It's been at least six years since I saw the slightest sign that the Democrats are fit to govern anything."
"So why give Christy an excuse to help them out?"
Leaning on his elbows, Corey propped his chin on steepled fingers, gazing at his rival intently. "There's something off about this conversation, Rob. We've managed to reduce a question of human suffering to the parochial political problem of how to pacify an evangelist who's blackmailing us on television."
"_That,_" Marotta snapped, "involves a whole lot more than stem cells. This is still your party, Corey—the president is our party's leader, and I'm its leader in the Senate. If you divide our party, you're at risk of becoming a very sorry man."
At this not so subtle threat, Corey felt the anger rise within him. "With respect," he said softly, "that's spoken like a man who's never learned what 'sorry' means."
Marotta considered him. "So why don't you explain it to me."
"I'll never have time enough, Rob. Just accept that it involves living with myself. I'm deciding this one on the merits."
OF COURSE, IT was not that simple: within the hour, the president of the United States called. Corey made no commitment; hanging up, he pondered the risk of deepening the president's antipathy. As Marotta had implied, Corey could expect to be in politics long after the president was gone, but the incumbent retained considerable power to ensure that the next president would not be Corey Grace.
A familiar voice from the television distracted him: in the last few days, Jack Walters had made a habit of watching Bob Christy's weekday show. "We are monitoring the Senate closely," Christy assured his followers, "to determine whether Senator Marotta and his fellow Republicans will defeat this ungodly tampering with life."
"Ever wonder," Jack asked, "why
Christy
hasn't lobbied you?"
Corey cocked his head in inquiry. "What makes you think that Christy wants me to vote against?"
As Corey watched the television, Eve Stansky walked in. "Lexie Hart called. She's wondering whether she should hold dinner open after tomorrow's vote."
Surprised, Corey laughed. "Tell her to watch the debate. She'll find out when I do."
WHEN COREY ARRIVED on the Senate floor, the gallery was packed, and Lexie Hart sat in the front row.
Corey looked up until she saw him. Even at this distance, he could read her anxiety and doubt.
Senator Rob Marotta opened the debate. "A frozen embryo," Marotta argued forcefully, "is the moral equivalent of a fetus, summoned into being so that a married couple can fulfill their sacred purpose of bringing life into their world. But now, the proponents of this science project propose to
create
life to
destroy
life."
Pausing, Marotta scanned his colleagues'
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