The House of the Scorpion

The scientist Eduardo examines 36 embryos with a microscope. The cells seem perfect to him, and he is in awe of how the genetic material needed to form a human being is packed within one droplet. However, more than half the embryos die for reasons he can’t place. He panics, worried about what will happen to his family. A senior technician, Lisa, reassures him that it will be okay. The cells aren’t as healthy as samples taken yesterday, as they were frozen over a hundred years ago.

Things go smoothly for a month before Eduardo implants the embryos into cows. He wonders what the cows dream of, as their brains contain implants that fill them with joy. Each embryo dies until only one is left. Fortunately, the last embryo grows and is successfully harvested. Eduardo tells the infant that it holds his life in his hands. As he reaches for the needle that will blunt its intelligence, Lisa stops him—the Matteo Alacráns are always left intact. He watches the newborn, wondering whether he has done him a favor.

Matt, the clone, is now six years old. It is early morning, and Matt spreads his arms in front of the door to keep his caretaker,