Read Online After the Crash by Michel Bussi - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michel Bussi
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to eliminate the possibility of paternity, not to
confirm it. We would only be able to assert a family connection if
there was an unusual rhesus factor, or in the event of a rare genetic
illness. But that isn’t the case here. The science can’t tell us anything
about who this child’s family is.’
I can sense you wondering now, with all this talk of science: what
about DNA and all that jazz? But let us not forget, this was 1980.
Back then, DNA testing still seemed to be in the realms of science
fiction. The first legal case to have been decided on the basis of a
DNA test occurred in 1987. But don’t worry, we will return to this
issue; it was a question that had to be confronted eventually, but
by then, the miracle child was much older, and the situation had
changed completely.
Back in 1980, the experts on Avenue de Suffren managed as
best they could. Dr Morange showed his colleagues a series of
pictures.
‘These are models created by the lab in Meudon. We have applied
computer-generated ageing techniques to images of the miracle
child, to see who the baby might resemble in five years, ten years,
in twenty years . . .’
The judge glanced at the photographs and seemed irritated: ‘If
you think I’m going to base my decision on something as crazy as
that, you’re dreaming!’
On that point, he was right. Or partly, at least. Objectively, the artificially aged child looked more like a Vitral than
a de Carville, although it wasn’t obvious, and the de Carvilles’
lawyers had little trouble ridiculing the process. Eighteen years
later, having witnessed the miracle child grow up, year after year,
I can tell you that those ageing programs are complete and utter
crap.
‘There remains the question of eye colour,’ the doctor continued.
‘The only real distinguishing feature of this baby . . . Her eyes are
strikingly blue for her age. The colour can still change, darken, but
all the same, this appears to be a genetic characteristic.’
Vatelier took over: ‘Emilie Vitral had pale eyes that were already
turning blue. All the witnesses we approached – the grandparents, a
few friends, the nurses in the maternity hospital – confirmed that.
Pale blue eyes like those of both her parents, her grandparents, and
practically the entire Vitral family. The de Carvilles, on the other
hand, are mostly dark haired with dark brown eyes. The same goes
for the Berniers – I checked.’
Judge Le Drian appeared to be at the end of his tether. This was
not good – not good at all for the de Carvilles. Outside, the drizzle
had turned to a downpour, but the stoical tourists continued to
wait at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, hidden beneath a marquee of
umbrellas. The judge stood up and went to the light switch, bringing a little brightness to the room. His scarf slithered to the right.
He did not bother to readjust it.
‘Hmm, I see what you’re saying,’ he said, playing for time. ‘But
really that’s just one more presumption – there’s still no proof.
Everyone knows that two parents with brown eyes can have a child
with eyes of any colour whatsoever.’
‘That’s true,’ Dr Morange admitted. ‘It’s just a question of probability . . .’
And probability was not pointing towards the de Carvilles. I
remember a few weeks later, Science and Life magazine used the
example of the ‘miracle child of Mont Terrible’ to explain why the
science of genetics was incapable of systematically predicting an
individual’s physical characteristics based on their ancestry. I have
always suspected that Léonce de Carville must have commissioned
that article, directly or indirectly – the timing of it was just a little
too convenient.
Next, the judge interrogated Saint-Simon, the Turkish policeman, through the loudspeaker.
‘So what about the child’s clothing? Is it really so difficult to draw
any conclusions from the clothes she was wearing on the day of the
crash?’
Calmly,
confirm it. We would only be able to assert a family connection if
there was an unusual rhesus factor, or in the event of a rare genetic
illness. But that isn’t the case here. The science can’t tell us anything
about who this child’s family is.’
I can sense you wondering now, with all this talk of science: what
about DNA and all that jazz? But let us not forget, this was 1980.
Back then, DNA testing still seemed to be in the realms of science
fiction. The first legal case to have been decided on the basis of a
DNA test occurred in 1987. But don’t worry, we will return to this
issue; it was a question that had to be confronted eventually, but
by then, the miracle child was much older, and the situation had
changed completely.
Back in 1980, the experts on Avenue de Suffren managed as
best they could. Dr Morange showed his colleagues a series of
pictures.
‘These are models created by the lab in Meudon. We have applied
computer-generated ageing techniques to images of the miracle
child, to see who the baby might resemble in five years, ten years,
in twenty years . . .’
The judge glanced at the photographs and seemed irritated: ‘If
you think I’m going to base my decision on something as crazy as
that, you’re dreaming!’
On that point, he was right. Or partly, at least. Objectively, the artificially aged child looked more like a Vitral than
a de Carville, although it wasn’t obvious, and the de Carvilles’
lawyers had little trouble ridiculing the process. Eighteen years
later, having witnessed the miracle child grow up, year after year,
I can tell you that those ageing programs are complete and utter
crap.
‘There remains the question of eye colour,’ the doctor continued.
‘The only real distinguishing feature of this baby . . . Her eyes are
strikingly blue for her age. The colour can still change, darken, but
all the same, this appears to be a genetic characteristic.’
Vatelier took over: ‘Emilie Vitral had pale eyes that were already
turning blue. All the witnesses we approached – the grandparents, a
few friends, the nurses in the maternity hospital – confirmed that.
Pale blue eyes like those of both her parents, her grandparents, and
practically the entire Vitral family. The de Carvilles, on the other
hand, are mostly dark haired with dark brown eyes. The same goes
for the Berniers – I checked.’
Judge Le Drian appeared to be at the end of his tether. This was
not good – not good at all for the de Carvilles. Outside, the drizzle
had turned to a downpour, but the stoical tourists continued to
wait at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, hidden beneath a marquee of
umbrellas. The judge stood up and went to the light switch, bringing a little brightness to the room. His scarf slithered to the right.
He did not bother to readjust it.
‘Hmm, I see what you’re saying,’ he said, playing for time. ‘But
really that’s just one more presumption – there’s still no proof.
Everyone knows that two parents with brown eyes can have a child
with eyes of any colour whatsoever.’
‘That’s true,’ Dr Morange admitted. ‘It’s just a question of probability . . .’
And probability was not pointing towards the de Carvilles. I
remember a few weeks later, Science and Life magazine used the
example of the ‘miracle child of Mont Terrible’ to explain why the
science of genetics was incapable of systematically predicting an
individual’s physical characteristics based on their ancestry. I have
always suspected that Léonce de Carville must have commissioned
that article, directly or indirectly – the timing of it was just a little
too convenient.
Next, the judge interrogated Saint-Simon, the Turkish policeman, through the loudspeaker.
‘So what about the child’s clothing? Is it really so difficult to draw
any conclusions from the clothes she was wearing on the day of the
crash?’
Calmly,
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