Double Living by E. M. Foner

Author:E. M. Foner [Foner, E. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Foner Books
Published: 2023-01-08T16:00:00+00:00

Twelve

“This is the Captain speaking. We have arrived at Earth Two and will remain in orbit for five days while transferring colonists to the surface. Tourists are advised to return to Flower a day prior to departure as the planet is not yet connected to the tunnel network and you could be stranded for months if you miss the last shuttle.”

“Doesn’t apply to us,” the Grenouthian director told his documentary crew as they piled into the bookmobile. He checked the clamps on the camera cases and tapped Harry on the shoulder. “Where’s Dave?”

“He has a girlfriend now,” the baker explained. “We saw them at breakfast, and he sent his apologies he wouldn’t be coming, but he found you a substitute.”

“If he wasn’t a volunteer I’d fire him. And who did he find to take his place? An invisible Human?”

“Me,” Belle said, climbing into the back of the bookmobile. “Sorry I’m not early, but I had some things to take care of and Dave didn’t give me much notice.”

“How do you know him?” Dewey asked the clone.

“I don’t, really. Dave asked Flower to suggest somebody and I wanted to visit Earth Two. Maybe I’ll get a story out of it for Gem Today.”

“You can’t use footage from the documentary,” the Grenouthian director warned her. “The festivals would throw me out the door if they catch something that’s already been broadcast.”

“I brought my own equipment,” Belle said, displaying the top-of-the-line smartphone she’d acquired on Bits. “The frame rate is sufficient for my species, and my editor prefers video from the field that looks a little raw.”

“I guess it’s too late to make changes now. Find a seat.”

“Sit next to me,” Harry said. “The more bodies there are between me and any portholes the less likely I am to look outside and get sick.”

“Thank you,” Belle said, relieved that she wouldn’t have to sit next to somebody who wasn’t comfortable around clones, which included pretty much all of the other humanoid tunnel network species. “Have you been to Earth Two before?”

“Every time Flower stops,” Irene told her. “Jorb and Razood usually spend the whole week with the Alt colonists, and Dave accompanies them for the first day because he gets along with everybody. Harry and I try to get human-interest interviews, capturing the impressions of new arrivals, while the Grenouthian director does all of the technical shots. I’m also here to study the director’s technique and clear up any little misunderstandings he may have with the subjects.”

“The documentary has entered the maintenance stage,” the Grenouthian director told them. “I’ve already submitted a feature-length version that’s based on the initial landings to all of the relevant festivals. It’s been short-listed in the colonization category at the upcoming Echo Station awards.”

“In other words, if it strikes a chord with audiences, he’ll be in a position to rush out a sequel, if not a mini-series,” Jorb said, twisting in his seat to join the conversation. “If it turns out there’s no audience for Alts and Humans

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