Read The Clone who Didn't Know (The Genehunter) for Free Online

nearly told you the truth, you know,’ the woman said. ‘ Help him and you help yourself. ’
    ‘Yeah, great. I love a puzzle. You could have just told me.’
    ‘Would you have believed us?’
    ‘Probably not.’
    ‘You gave us an interesting dilemma, you see. We despise the cloners and the genehunters who help them. We’re also sworn to defend the rights of clones to be themselves, do whatever they want to do. To transcend their genetic backgrounds and be free individuals.’
    ‘Yeah, I get it. Hence the funky spelling of clONE.’
    ‘So, in other words, we protect people like you from people like you. I mean, what are we supposed to do with a genehunter who is also a clone? Especially one who is a clone of him . In truth we really didn’t know what to do.’
    ‘And what have you decided?’
    ‘It depends on you, on what you do now. If you carry on as before we’ll pursue you. You’ve had a fair warning; we’ve given you a chance to change. After this you’re own your own. Understand?’
    ‘And if I change?’
    ‘Then we won’t pursue you. If we’re convinced about you.’
    ‘Now you sound like Forty Days offering me the chance of redemption.’
    The woman glanced at him, eyes narrowed. ‘We’re nothing like Forty Days. Nothing at all. Have they been talking you?’
    Simms wondered what he should say. He shook his head.
    ‘Take my advice and stay clear of them,’ the woman said. ‘They’re dangerous people if you cross them.’
    ‘And you aren’t?’
    The woman scowled before replying. ‘Make your choices, Simms. Decide what you want to be then face the consequences, OK? We’re giving you the freedom to do that.’
    ‘I’d like to see Kelly now. Please.’
    There was a pause while the woman communicated brain-to-brain with someone. Then she spoke again.
    ‘Very well. She says she’ll see you. I hardly need tell you she can summon us in a moment if she needs assistance.’
    ‘You don’t need to worry about her. Kelly can look after herself, believe me. She’s no innocent.’
    The woman held up her hand. ‘Please, Simms. We know what Kelly used to be. But she’s changed. You can too.’
    The woman led Simms to one of the small houses in the compound. Some irrigation system had been set up here; the houses were clustered around a little oasis of sparkling water, the green fronds of some tree dipping into it. Standing in the doorway of one of the houses, dressed in a white cotton dress, stood Kelly. She looked well, the sun lighting her up. Last time he’d seen her she’d been lying in Cahn’s cell, she and Eloise, the two of them sedated. Did she know anything about that? Those hours she’d mysteriously lost just so the Director of MegaMeta had his bargaining chip? Probably best he never asked her.
    ‘I’ll leave you alone,’ said the woman. Simms walked around the pool of water towards his ex-lover.
    ‘Hello, Simms.’
    ‘Hello, Kelly.’
    ‘You found out, then?’ she asked. ‘You and Grendel.’
    ‘When did you know? When we were together?’
    ‘No, no. When I came here. They told me very recently. You must be feeling confused.’
    He looked at her, looked away, suddenly not knowing what to say. At least she wasn’t so mad at him anymore.
    ‘I … I don’t know who I am any more, Kelly. Am I Grendel? Or me? I had parents, a family, everything. Except, now I know it was all a lie. False memories. I don’t know who’s done this to me. I don’t know why.’
    She looked sorry for him. ‘I don’t know either. But I think you’re you , not him. You’ve always been you. A free individual. You’re not destined to be like him.’
    ‘But I am like him, aren’t I? I know what I am. Is that how I’m going to end up? Despised by everyone who knows me?’
    She looked away from him. ‘Sometimes I think you will. When you’re working you can be pretty ruthless. But you don’t have to be. It’s up to you. You’re not a machine. Your genes are just your genes. Molecules.