"Serrano Legacy - 03 - Winning Colors" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

"We're clones, but we're not the same person he was. We can't be. Identical twinsЧbionatural clonesЧwere like that too. Each an individual person, even if outsiders couldn't tell them apart. We have similarities built into the genome, but we're not determined. I happen to love old-fashioned opera; the prince himself had an ear for music, but preferred instrumental."
"And that'sthat Gerald," the other said. "I too have the inborn ear for music, but my preference is far more popular; since I've been here I've discoveredcasanegra , which they tell me is descended from an entirely different Old Terran tradition than opera."
Ronnie glanced from one to the other. "I can't deal with this Gerald A. and Gerald B.," he said. "If you don't help me out, I swear I'll give you nicknames, both rude."
"You forget," the clone said, "that we're armed and dangerous."
"So shoot me," Ronnie said. "But I'm not going to struggle with it." The clones looked at each other, and finally nodded.
The one on the left spoke first. "I'm Andres and he's Borhes. Borhes and opera; Andres and casanegra, if you can keep that straight."
"I don't see why, if you're clones, you're not identical mentally as well," George said. "What's the use if you're not?"
"Identity is more than genes," Andres said. "I didn't understand it all myself, until the medical experts here explained it as they tried to figure out which of us was which. I always knew whoI was, even when others got us confused. And Bor knew, andа.а.а. and the others, whatever names they might have chosen, if they'd had the chance. And Gerel I suppose."
"When he wasn't so confused he didn't know day from night," Borhes put in. "And in case you wondered, apparently we never got the full dose of the drugs used on Gerel. They tell us we're normal. But even though we're identical at the genetic level, developmentally there are always minute differences in brain structure resulting from exactly which neurons connect with which in what order."
"But why didn't you tell Captain Serrano which was which when she came to take the prince for medical treatment? Or at least explain once you were here? It might have savedЧ"
"I don't see why we should care," Andres said. "They had us made for their own selfish reasonsЧyes, we enjoyed a life that was mostly pleasurable, but we had no freedom. Why should we risk anything to help them?"
"I suppose I thought you were a gentleman," said George. Andres laughed unkindly.
"Gentlemen? Clones? I suppose in the historical sense we are, if you think it's all in the blood, but otherwise absolutely not. Not if you mean some ridiculous code of behaviorЧ"
"Which, after all, our Prime didn't adhere to, as you know very well." Borhes grinned at Ronnie. "I don't know what Gerel would have been if he hadn't been drugged, but on the whole he was as little bound by notions of duty as anyone I ever knew. You at your worst were a paragon of dedication beside him."
George flushed, and turned to Ronnie. "I thought your aunt said they were nice young men."
"She also said she was sure that the one who was killed was Gerel himself. A fool, but a noble fool." Ronnie took another direction. "LookЧyou remember Captain Serrano."
The clones exchanged glances. Andres finally answered. "Of course. Anа.а.а. unusual person, we thought."
Undoubtedly. Ronnie wondered if she'd treated them to any of the special methods she'd used on him. "What did you think of her?"
Again the quick exchange of glances; this time Borhes spoke. "Wellа.а.а. unusual, as Andres said. Intelligent, perhaps a bit stuffy the way Fleet officers often are."
"And my Aunt Cecelia? I know she talked to all of you."
Borhes looked thoughtful. "She's your aunt? I didn't realize that. She's the one who told the king our Prime was not normal, wasn't she?"
"Yes." Ronnie said no more. They seemed willing enough to rattle on; let them rattle.
"I liked her," Borhes said. It sounded real. "She told us we shouldn't go back; she told us we could make a better life here."
"And she was right," Andres said. "The Guernesi have given us limited citizenshipЧwe can get full rights in five years if we're employed and have a clean legal record. Clones are not only legal, but valued. We'd be crazy to go back."
"I wouldn't ask you to go back," Ronnie said. Had they thought he might? Had that been the core of their resistance? "My aunt would skin me if I did." They grinned at him. "But in your position you might have heard thingsЧthings we need to know now, that might help us hold the alliances together. That's what I'd like to ask you about."
Borhes shook his head. "We're a lot safer if we don't know anythingЧif we did know, did remember, and told you, then the next person who wanted to know mightn't be so friendly. Surely you can see that."
He could. He could imagine a whole series of people who would think the clones must certainly knowа.а.а. some of them very rough indeed.
"But we wouldn't have to tell anyone where we got the information," George said.
The clones merely looked at him. Of course that wasn't enough. Of course they wouldn't trust that. Would they trust anything?
The clones' apartment, when they reached it, was a decent-sized three-rooms-with-bath in an area they said housed many students. Ronnie had tried to convince himself to bolt on the way thereЧsurely the clones wouldn'treally kill them. If nothing else it would interfere with their citizenship application. But the Gerel who had thrown himself on the gas grenade on Sirialis was dead, from another gallant act: these were only clones, who had already made it clear their ethics did not match Gerel's.
"We'll think of something," Andres said that first night. "We would prefer not to kill you; we're not experienced at this sort of thing and we might botch disposing of your bodies. That way you'd cause us even more trouble. Maybe we can get hold of some drugs to alter your memories or something. In the meantimeЧ" In the meantime meant uncomfortable positions, tethered back to back.
The next morning, Borhes raided their pockets. "Sorry," he said. "But we don't have enough money to feed you and us, and I presume you're hungry."
"We are expected back at the Institute," George said.
"Thanks for reminding us," Andres said, grinning. "I think you need to send a message saying you went somewhere and won't be back for a few decads, at least. Let's seeа.а.а. what might two wealthy young men do on this planet besides hang around here? Bor, pick up a travel cube, why don't you?"
With the threat of imminent death, Ronnie found he was quite willing to contact the hotel and explain that they had decided on a tourЧno, hold their luggage, they were going horse-packing and would have to buy the survival gear they needed closer to the trailhead. George grimaced when Ronnie got through. "I don't know why you wouldn't go for that cruise," he said. "If anyone asks, Andres, they'll know it wasn't us. Ronnie and me riding horses in the mountains?"
"The cruise ship has constant contact with the shore; it would be easy enough to transfer a query. We inquired, and this tour company offers a real wilderness experience. No comsets at all." Andres smiled. "No one from the Familias is going to tryЧif they call the hotel, they'll be told you're out of the city, touring. It costs too much, and takes too long, to have a realtime conversation."
* * *
Over the next few days, George kept after the clones whenever he was awake, pointing out repeatedly that they had no plan, that they couldn't hold prisoners in an apartment forever, that someone would eventually find out.
"We could kill you," Andres said finally, in a temper. "At least we wouldn't have to listen to you, even in prison."
"You don't want to kill us," George said. "You know that; you've said that. What you want is decent anonymity, right?"
"Of course."
"Then get plastic surgery." The clones looked at each other, then back at George.
"We like being clones; we're used to it."
"Fine. I'm not asking you to change thatа.а.а. but get enough change so that you don't look like Gerel to any casual tourist from the Familias who might happen into a taverna and see you. You can kill us, of course, and you may be right that my father wouldn't be able to find you or extradite you, but if Familias visitors start dying off, the Guernesi are going to notice."
"And you already told us they have a very efficient law-enforcement system," Ronnie added.
The clones looked at each other again. "We're used to looking like this," Borhes said.
"You're also used to being mistaken for Gerel," George said. "But you don't like it. Just a little changeЧenough that the Familias crown prince isn't the first person that pops into mind when you're seen. Then you could be a normal clone pair here, and no one would ever know."
"Except you two," Andres said.
"And my Aunt Cecelia, and Captain Serrano," Ronnie said. "They haven't spread it aroundЧwhy do you think we would?"
Andres laughed unpleasantly. "RonnieЧI know you too well. Remember the Royals?"