“As clear as the wine in the glass you’ll probably be using a substitute for a loving touch from a soul mate,” Phil announced, serenely.
“Give it up, Thorn,” I chortled, watching her face turn red with frustration. “He’ll carry on like this forever if you let him. You have to know when to admit defeat.”
Thorn’s angry facade suddenly punctured and she grinned. “I admit to being vanquished,” she acknowledged, bowing to Phil. “But I’m serious, Phillymunna. My feelings for Stephen aren’t a subject for discussion. They’re private.”
“I understand,” Phil acceded, patting her hand in a fatherly way. “I’m sorry I teased you. It’s just that I worry about you. You’re like my own daughter and, more than anything in the world, I want to see you happy.”
“I am happy,” Thorn objected. “A little confused, maybe, but happy, nonetheless. Stephen and I will work things out in our own time.” Then she turned to me and gave me a soulful look. “We will, won’t we?” she hopefully asked.
“I want that more than anything,” I answered, truthfully. “Nothing’s been decided on any level as yet, but it’ll work out eventually. The problem is that we’re hardly ever together to sort it out.” I sighed. “But, nevertheless, I’m positive that it will. One day. When the time is right.”
Chapter 2
An enforced and embarrassing silence followed my words. Eventually, Phil broke the stalemate. “Enough about that,” he maintained. “Let’s go.”
“Nothing’s wrong, is there?” I asked.
“Why should anything be wrong?” Phil wanted to know as he unclipped the case that carried the ‘mind transfer’ electrodes.
“It’s just that for the last few times there’s always been some sort of an emergency,” I explained, watching him as he unravelled the electrode wires.
“Well, not this time,” he said, confidently. “It’s simply a regular visit. A holiday.”
“Then why is Thorn here?” I questioned. “She normally doesn’t come along with you.”
“Can’t I come and visit?” Thorn demanded, a little heatedly. “I’ve missed you, that’s all! Maybe I shouldn’t have come after all! I didn’t realise I was going to be subjected to an interrogation.”
“Calm down, Arugohumna,” Phil soothed. “Stephen didn’t mean anything by it.” Then he gave her a shrewd look. “How about we have a little snack before we go? I’m sure Stephen has a jar of honey somewhere.”
“Ohhh, honey!” Thorn drooled, her anger instantly forgotten. “Yes, please. I’d love some honey!”
Phil winked at me and I smiled. We were both cognisant of Thorn’s penchant for the bee nectar. You could make her to do almost anything in return for a honey sandwich.
We adjourned to the kitchen where I spread a dollop of honey on half a cracker for Thorn. She watched the process with impatient greediness and snatched it from my hand as soon as I’d finished. Phil and I both watched with amusement as she devoured her meal. She was a fussy and dainty eater, but extremely methodical and comprehensive with it. She wiped her lips with a minuscule handkerchief when she’d finished and rubbed her belly with satisfaction.
“Lovely,” she purred. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” I answered.
“Now, let’s get Stephen into a clone,” Phil ordered. We trooped back to the bedroom where Phil attached the electrodes to my head.
“Before you press the button,” I requested, “I have a question.”
“Ask away, my boy,” Phil replied, fiddling with the dials on his magic box.
“This is just speculation, mind,” I began, “but is there a process to make this permanent?”
“What?” Phil exclaimed. “You mean for you to stay in a clone indefinitely?”
“Yes, something like that,” I said, in a deceptively casual tone.
“Well,” Phil reflected, “I suppose it’s possible. I hadn’t really thought about it before. But why would you want to do that?” His glance fell on Thorn and he murmured, “Oh, I see.” He screwed up his face in thought. “I’m not really sure because it’s never been done before. Your present body would die, of course, and I’m not sure what would happen after that.” He shrugged. “Let me think about it,” he advised. And he stared intently at me. “It’s a huge decision,” he said, seriously. “I’d give it a lot of thought if I was you.”
“Hey, I just happened to be speculating,” I airily proclaimed. “I wasn’t being serious or anything. It was only a thought.”
“But quite a fascinating thought,” Thorn interjected, with a dreamy smile on her face. It worried me a bit, that smile. It looked almost possessive.
Phil finished the countdown procedure and had his finger poised above the transfer button. “Arugohumna and I will join you as soon as we can,” he told me. “In the meantime, Traculimna will be there to welcome you until we arrive.” My heart beat a little faster at his words. The luscious Tracey would be there when I awoke? Ah, what a soul-stirring image to behold upon awakening!
“It wasn’t my idea,” Thorn sulked, “but Phillymunna insisted. I don’t trust her alone with you.”
“He needs someone he knows to be there when he regains consciousness,” Phil maintained adamantly. “You know the process can be disorientating. He’ll be fine.”
“I know he will be,” Thorn grumbled. “What I’m worried about is her! She’s a sneaky, underhanded, devious, sly, tricky vixen. Who knows what she’ll get up to when I’m not there to supervise.”
“Are you sure you two are sisters?” I queried, facetiously.
“The very best!” Thorn declared, drawing herself up indignantly. “I’d defend her with my life, but I trust her about as far as I could throw her and, considering the extra weight she’s been carrying recently, that wouldn’t be very far.”
“A fascinating insight on the dichotomy of sibling relationships,” Phil grimaced. “Now, can we please proceed? I’m slowly growing old over here.”
“Do it,” I urged. “Press the button and let’s get this underway.”
And he did.
Books by Steve Elliott:
* The Snurglepuss Doorway
* Vampire? (Part 1)
* Alien? (Part 2)
* Timing It
* Hog Mama
* Thief
*Depression World
* Picture Perfect
* Society Tart
*Betrayal
* Earth Angel
* Double Trouble
*Multiples
‘Soul Mate’ Series:
* Childhood.1(a)
*Dreaming.1(b)
* Rescue.2
* Lioness.3
* Wedding Woes.4
* Crossroads.5
*Daughter.6
* Endings & Beginnings.7
*Grandchild.8
*Final Chapter.9
‘Underground Kingdom’ Series:
*Crystal Thief (1)
* Dangerous Desires (2)
* Trix (3)
* Zenith (4)
* Pitfall (5)
* The Vile (6)
* Revenge (7)
* Retribution (8)
* Rosewing (9)
* Night Things (10)
* Blood Stone (11)
‘Diama the Destroyer’ Series:
* Diama the Destroyer (Vol.1)
* Sacrifice (Vol.2)
* Wizard (Vol.3)
* Finders Keepers (Vol.4)
* Sword of Destiny (Vol.5)
* Known Strangers (Vol.6)
* Deception (Vol.7)
* Time After Time (Vol.8)
* Return (Vol.9)
* Friend or Foe? (Vol.10)
* The Missing Mayor (Vol.11)
* Jigsaw (Vol.12)
* A New Beginning (Vol.13)
‘Vampire Curse’ Series:
* Vampire Curse
* Vampire Friendly
* The Orb of Rule
* The Haunted Portal
* Seeking Petals<
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* Tiger Doorway
* Hidden Motives
*Sings the Morning
* The Cave
* Blossom
* The Dagger of Serios
* Sky
* Fractal Finality
‘Survival’ Series
* Survival
Dangerous Desires (2) (The Underground Kingdom) Page 10
