Clone City

‘Is there any other business?’ Darvin asked as they approached the end of a meeting of the Home Affairs Committee.

Both Valchek and Q’zar raised their hands simultaneously and, although both deferred to one another, Darvin indicated Q’zar to speak first.

In a matter-of-fact tone, Q’zar began: ‘I should like to inform the committee that the clone who was reported as deconstructing will soon be taken to the Encrypt to be euthanized. I mention this only as a formality to set the usual procedure in motion.’

Unexpectedly, Gorvik spoke up. ‘I suppose you’re referring to the one who was transferred out of the job he was trained for? Caused a rumpus at the Hub?’

‘That’s right,’ Q’zar answered, wondering why Gorvik was bothering to state the obvious.

‘What state is he in now?’ asked Gorvik.

Q’zar replied, ‘Oh, he’s approaching the final stages.’ And added, ‘He may be questioned.’ He was thinking if Ord had anything interesting to say about the Outside he would bring it up at a different meeting.

‘What’s the point of questioning him?’ asked Darvin as he tidied some papers. ‘We don’t usually bother them with questions, do we?’

‘Sometimes we do,’ replied Q’zar, beginning to feel apprehensive. He had not told them that Ord had been to the Outside. He wanted to wait until he had questioned him to find out if it would be useful to send a patrol out on a fact-finding mission.

‘Do you want to question him about that sign? The one he described in his C80,’ asked Valchek.

‘Yes, and other matters possibly.’

‘Other matters?’ asked Sovran, looking at Q’zar in a querulous fashion. ‘What other matters?’

They know, thought Q’zar. His grey eyes took on a steely hue as he drew a deep breath and coldly enunciated the words, ‘It came to our notice that he had crossed to the Outside. That’s why we need to question him.’

Q’zar witnessed a visible, as well as an audible reaction, around the table. Valchek’s jaw dropped. Sovran feigned equal astonishment by drawing her head back. Lara nervously covered her mouth. Sensing it was orchestrated, Q’zar continued: ‘I think it might be to our advantage to question him as to what he did and saw Out there.’

‘Ahem.’ Valchek cleared his throat to signal his intention to speak. ’I don’t want to seem, eh, impertinent, but did you know he was going to go beyond the perimeter, that is to say, were you aware…’

‘No, no, of course not,’ Q’zar lied, glaring into Valchek’s bobbing face.

‘Didn’t know?’ said Darvin, puffing himself up like a blowfish.

‘There have been more sightings recently,’ replied Q’zar, not doubting for a second that he was wasting his breath. ‘In fact, a significant increase. We need information on what is going on Out there. And as none of us would dream of going beyond the limits of our jewelled city, it seemed a perfect opportunity – a clone, soon to be junked, could do the dirty work for us. We didn’t know he’d crossed until later, of course. But after we found out, it struck me it might be useful to check how far he’d gone by checking his locator.’

‘Sightings? Of what, may I ask?’ asked the Chairman, relishing the pickle that Q’zar had got himself into.

‘Animals, birds,’ replied Q’zar. ‘We need to know what it all means. Is the Outside beginning to regenerate? Why is one vast area grey?’ he asked.

‘Birds?’ said Lara derisively. ‘Be that as it may, shouldn’t the matter have been discussed? At council or committee level? There are procedures, protocol, don’t you know,’ she said, beginning to raise her voice.

Q’zar remained silent, deciding it was futile to say anymore. To reply would have made it appear that he did, in fact, have something to answer for.

Valchek took up the baton. ‘I agree. Protocol should have been adhered to. The Outside poses many dangers. Not least of which is disease. It is not a light matter. In fact, it’s very serious and, frankly, I’m shocked.’

Seething inwardly, Q’zar swore he would nail Valchek one day.

Darvin decided it was time to step into the fray. He leaned forward and said, ’It would appear that this time, you really have overstepped the mark.’ He glanced round the table; everyone present, even those who had not spoken, were nodding their heads. ‘Procedures are there for very good reasons. Was he contaminated?’

‘No.’

’Well, on this occasion, I’m inclined to overlook your misdemeanour, although I hasten to add that I consider it a serious breach of protocol.

‘I doubt if the clone has anything to tell us of the…’ Darvin waved a dismissive hand in the direction of the perimeter, ‘but if you think it’s useful then I have a suggestion. Given the fact that the clone has already reached a fragile mental state, a full-blown interrogation might prove too much. You know, the push that sends him over the edge. No, I think a subtler approach is required.’

Q’zar sat impassively as Darvin began to outline his proposal. He knew there was nothing he could do but accept whatever hare-brained scheme he had hatched. Even though Darvin was acting as if the idea had just occurred to him, Q’zar knew it was one favour traded for another,

‘We’ll get someone to tease his secrets out. That way we might avoid a total breakdown and loss of information.’

‘And who have you in mind, Chairman?’ asked Q’zar.

‘No one, at this point. But let me consult with the head of the Aesthetics School. I seem to recall her saying something at a steering meeting not so long ago that there was someone who showed great expertise in this area. Can I take it that this alternative plan is accepted?’ Darvin looked around with the satisfied air of someone who had stopped a full-scale dispute.

The next matter had to do with preparations for the banquet and ball. This event marked the high point of Joypolis’ social calendar. It commemorated the founding of the city by staging an enactment of its history. The matters brought up were mostly of a financial nature – how much had been set aside, number of guests, the order of ceremonies, the entertainment, whether any changes should be made to last year’s arrangements which were a huge success, and so on.

Q’zar sat through it with gritted teeth, scarcely listening. He wanted to know which of his three lieutenants had betrayed him. Suddenly, he became aware that Valchek was stating that a clone called Url had put forward the idea for changing the sorting method at the Hub. Before he could raise a question, Lara had brought up a separate item of business. This meant he had lost his opportunity. Feeling utterly defeated, he swore he would find the mole and put him behind bars.