The Diploids by Katherine MaClean

Author:Katherine MaClean [MaClean, Katherine]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Sci-Fi Short
Published: 2010-03-07T17:34:37.656000+00:00

THEY had trademarked him with peculiarities simply for purposes of recognition. He began to wonder if his question had any meaning. Could they be doing everything she described for mere scientific curiosity, without purpose, indifferent to the cost? Or was there some purpose hidden behind her evasions of his question? He asked, “You have me now—E-2, adult version. What do you want me for?”

“You could answer some questions first, and take a physical examination. You don’t object?” There was a trace of mockery in her voice, and something quizzical in her expression, almost as if she were interested in his reactions, and observing them closely.

“Anything you say,” he replied with bitterness. How much of this could he tell Nadine? And what good would it do him to tell her? If other things had not driven her away, why this new knowledge of what he was would certainly do it. A laboratory guinea pig. “How much secrecy is there in this business?”

“Very much secrecy,” Sorell replied gravely. “We will explain later.” She touched a button on her intercom box and switched off her desk light. “I’m leaving for the day, but I’ll have someone show you around.” She gathered up things from the desk and moved toward the door, adding absently. “There’s a diploid meeting going on upstairs. I don’t think many of them have left yet. If you can spare the time…”

“I think so,” Breden said. He remembered Nadine, waiting at the library for the news, added. “I can’t stay long.”

“Long enough to be introduced around, anyway,” Sorell said at the door, and as a young man came in she introduced him hastily.

“Zal, this is E-2 control standard. Mr. Breden, this is Ea-crossZ, he can explain anything you want to know. If you don’t mind, I have to leave now.”

Zal Elberg shook hands firmly, saying over his shoulder to Sorell as she left, “G’night Mirella.” He turned back to Breden. “Glad to meet you.” he grinned. “She’s a monomaniac. People aren’t real to her, they’re just carriers for genes. I also have a name, besides a gene file. Zal Elberg.”

“Mart Breden,” he said, puzzling over an odd familiarity in the young man’s appearance. “What’s going on upstairs?” he then asked curiously.

“Sort of a party.” Zal Elberg was shorter than Breden. but broad in the shoulders. He was handsome with rugged features, slightly slanting blue eyes and dark hair bristling up in a stiff crew cut. He was wearing a defiantly gaudy pink sport shirt. “Come on upstairs and join in. I’ll answer your questions like a tourist guide.”

V

« ^ »

ON THE way up in the escalator Mart saw that there was something odd about Zal Elberg’s hands, and realized suddenly that there had been something odd about the feel of his handshake. Their fingers had meshed. Six fingers.

And the familiarity of Elberg’s face —it was like his own, like a brother would look if he had a brother.

While Mart was absorbing the realization and trying to frame a question about it, they came to the right floor and walked towards the sound of mingled voices.

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