"Greg Egan - The Extra (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Egan Greg)

had simply thrown tantrums - refusing to eat, refusing to cooperate. Then he had
recalled his own plans for his old body, in the event of such recalcitrance.
Cremation. And realised that, in spite of everything, he didn't want to die.
He acknowledged, vaguely, that in a sense he really wasn't Daniel Gray, but a
new person entirely, a composite of Gray and the Extra D12 - but this was no
comfort to him, whoever, whatever, he was. All his memories told him he was
Daniel Gray; he had none from the life of D12, in an ironic confirmation of his
long-held belief in human superiority over Extras. Should he be happy that he'd
also proved - if there'd ever been any doubt - that human consciousness was the
most physical of things, a spongy grey mess that could be cut up like a
starfish, and survive in two separate parts? Should he be happy that the other
Daniel Gray - without a doubt, the more complete Daniel Gray - had achieved his
lifelong ambition?
The trainer yanked on his collar.
Meekly, he stepped onto the path.
The lush garden was crowded like never before - this was indeed the party of
the decade - and as he came into sight, the guests began to applaud, and even to
cheer.
He might have raised his arms in acknowledgement, but the thought did not occur
to him.




Originally appeared pp33-48, Eidolon Issue 02, August 1990.
Copyright ┬й Greg Egan, 1990. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with kind permission of the author.




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