'I am trying to establish a line of questioning, Your Honor.' Judge Lyang, intrigued by the left-field nature of the ques-tion, said, 'Overruled. Be aware, though, that I may interrupt at any time if I think you are harassing the witness.'
'Thanks, Your Honor,' Johnson said. Turning back to Burke, he lowered his voice 'Well?'
'Yes,' she said. 'I do.'
'And when your hair and nails are trimmed, do you demand that the trimmings be burned in your presence?'
'Hair and nails are composed of already dead cells.'
'Just yes or no, Ms. Burke.'
'No, of course not.'
'Have you had your appendix removed?'
'Yes.'
'Do you have any idea what the surgeon did with it after-ward?' Burke smiled wryly. 'No.'
'I see.' He paced around for a moment. 'Have you ever had an abortion?' Some spectators frowned at hearing such an intrusive ques-tion.
Burke sat up straight. 'Yes, I have,' she announced with pride.
'Oh? And what did the surgeon do with the abortus?'
'I don't know. I presume she disposed of it properly.'
Johnson slammed his fist on the rail. 'You presume?' Did you know that aborted fetuses are the major source of liver cells for transplant research?'
'No.'
'Did you know that their pancreatic islets are cut out and used for insulin experiments?'
'No.' She shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
She wasn't alone. Spectators and members of the jury found images coming to mind that generated a queasy discomfort.
Johnson pressed on. 'Did you know that some brands of hair spray contain human placental extract?'
'Yes.' She laughed nervously without realizing it.
'Did you know that fetal brain tissue is being used to treat Parkinson's disease? That fetal nerve fibers and astrocytes can be used to treat spinal injuries?'
'I've read something about it.'
'And none of this disturbs you?'
'Why should it?'
Johnson turned toward the jury to make a helpless gesture with his hands. 'You attack the mercenary nature of surrogate mothering and of doctors who charge fees for their services, but you seem unconcerned that there exists an entrenched financial interest involved in the practice of abortion. Research-ers, after all, are getting valuable fetal material for free from women-in fact, charging women for having the material re-moved after the dubious privilege of being incubators. Do you find no ethical conflict in that?'
Burke tried to formulate a reply to the lawyer's question.
'At first glance,' she said, 'there might seem to be...' Her voice trailed off, her confidence slipping like a worn stocking.
'Why do you support abortion and not transoption? Is it be-cause abortion allows a woman to ensure that her mistakes don't live to haunt her?'
