Christ Clone

by McLeod, David

  Neither team knew what to expect when they arrived at the restaurant. The principal focus on both sides was what the other clone would look like. The fortunate — or was it unfortunate? — fact was the clones looked different. Both had slightly olive skin, but that was where the similarities ended. However, as the two clones looked at each other a hint of recognition flashed between them.

  The PSI chairman was the first to offer his hand, and the colonel shook it, although he found it difficult to drag his eyes away from the German clone. 'Congratulations, quite an achievement,' he said.

  'The same goes for you,' the chairman responded.

  Dr Poskov and Klaus shook hands as well, and they all took seats with the clones opposite each other at the ends of the table.

  'I assume you've heard the news,' the colonel began.

  'Seems that we're all in a whole heap of trouble,' the chairman replied, nodding.

  News of the police storming their labs had been relayed to both of them.

  'I guess we were both expecting something like this to happen, otherwise why would we be here?' Once again the chairman nodded.

  'The thing is, what do we do now?' Dr Poskov interrupted.

  'Well, one thing's for sure, we can't go back!' Klaus added.

  Both the clones were silent, staring at each other.

  'What it boils down to now is, who do you trust?' the chairman said.

  'What do you mean?' asked the colonel.

  'Well, we all agree we can't go back. So it boils down to whether or not we can trust the Americans — Travis, Wainright, and Galbraith — to do what they say they're going to do and protect us, or should we go into exile independently.'

  'If we focus on going forward, I think you can cross Galbraith off the list. He hasn't answered his phone since the conference call; I think he's already off protecting himself. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one who leaked this to the police.'

  'A fair assumption. So, can we trust Travis and Wainright?'

  'From the start, my sources have said that Travis is a fair businessman, and for whatever reason, he genuinely wants this to happen. Wainright on the other hand is a wildcard; I don't know whether he's a straight shooter or not. My gut feeling is not!'

  'I'm inclined to agree with you. I don't believe Galbraith's story about his being involved from the outset. If I'm right, we need to be careful how we proceed.'

  The conversation was moving too fast, and was far too complicated, for either of the clones to follow. Stefan was keen to ask questions about the meal he was eating, but since his counterpart remained silent he felt he should too.

  'There's also the twenty-five million dollars to consider. Even if Travis and Wainright decide not to take care of us, twenty-five million goes a long way if a person wants to hide. Of course we don't know which of us has the real deal, and to be honest, I have no idea how Travis would know either, but that's his issue. What I do know is that Travis wants to sight these two men, and I'm sure we can both provide adequate proof of their authenticity.' He paused for a moment. 'I think we should make a pact here and now to take care of each other. Twenty-five million dollars, split equally four ways, could provide a new life for all of us.'

  The other men at the table considered the chairman's proposal. One by one, they began to nod. A Russian–European alliance seemed the best way to proceed.

  'We should contact Travis and play hardball. If he wants to see these two men, he's going to have to pay for the privilege, and it would confirm his intentions. I already have an account set up here in Switzerland; a cash deposit from Travis as a gesture of good faith would, I believe, be more than fair.'

  While they finished their meals, the four men, under the direction of the colonel and the chairman, set out their terms and conditions. The chairman agreed his account should have additional signatories, and they also agreed to meet in the colonel's suite to place a conference call to Travis.

  Once inside the suite, the men naturally formed three small groups. The colonel and the chairman were quick to discuss the plan of action for their call to Travis; Klaus and Dr Poskov wanted to discuss their observations regarding their clones; and the clones finally had a chance to talk.

  They approached each other timidly.

  'Hi,' Aloysha began.

  'Hi,' Stefan quietly replied.

  The clones looked at their guardians in conversation with each other.

  'Do you ever get the feeling you're being used?' Aloysha asked.

  'Sure do. But do you have any idea why?'

  Aloysha shook his head.

  'It's one big secret after another. The conversation around the table earlier was the first time I've actually felt like part of a group rather than focused on like a lab specimen. We're different to them. It's like we're aliens,' Stefan continued.

  Aloysha nodded. 'I saw a documentary on that subject once, and I wondered then if I was an alien. But my friend Viktor told me I wasn't an alien, just someone very special . . .' Aloysha's mind wandered as he thought about Viktor.

  'We are definitely special. They want to know everything about me. Up until now, I've been constantly attached to machines and monitors. My blood, my pulse, my heart . . . You name it and it's been tested a thousand times.'

  'Me too. But it's my mind that they're really interested in. What do I think about this? What do I think about that? It goes on and on. Oh, and my dreams, they really want to know about my dreams.'

  'Mine too. I always have to tell them about my dreams. What are yours like?'

  'My dreams are almost always about a place I've never been. It's a really hot place, and up until recently it's been a happy place. What about yours?'

  'That's so weird. Mine are like yours!'

  They both went quiet as they thought about their dreams and how strange it was that they were similar.

  'But I also have dreams that I don't tell them about, scary dreams,' Aloysha whispered.

  'Me too. What are yours like?' Stefan asked.

  'You two seem to be getting along!' Klaus said walking over to them both.

  'I'll tell you later.' Aloysha said quickly and turned his attention to the doctors.

  DALLAS, TEXAS

  Travis saw that the caller ID on his cellphone screen was an overseas number and he picked up the phone straight away. The chairman warned him he was on speakerphone. He introduced the others and told Travis they were all safe but confused.

  'Good evening, gentlemen. First, I want to tell you how sorry I am about what has happened. It seems we had an informer in our midst, but I'm happy to say that has now been dealt with.'

  'Is that why we can't get through to Mr Galbraith?' the colonel asked.

  'Dale? No it wasn't him. I can only assume Dale has gone into hiding like the rest of us. I'm sure he'll turn up in due course. Now, the good news is the police are looking for us all in Israel. It looks like our informer wasn't as smart as she thought. So gentlemen, you may relax.'

  A huge sigh of relief came from the men.

  'What's the bad news?' Klaus asked.

  'There isn't any real bad news. As far as I'm concerned, the event is still on. I've heard from Wainright; he's fine and has taken care of most of the arrangements. We're on track to be in Jerusalem by Monday morning so, as I say, as far as I'm concerned it's business as usual.'

  'I'm sorry Mr Travis, but it's not quite that simple as far as we're concerned. Your so-called informer has spooked us all; we're concerned you will be unable to fulfil your promise of a safe haven once we've presented our successes. To be frank with you, Mr Travis, we need something to restore our faith and confidence.'

  Travis went quiet for a moment while he thought.

  'Mr Travis, are you there.'

  'Yes, I'm here. I was just mulling over your comments. What exactly did you have in mind?'

  The chairman and the colonel looked at each other, satisfied they had Travis hooked. 'To ensure our attendance on Monday, we want your word that we will be given s
afe passage to a country without extradition treaties, and to be supported there more than adequately.'

  'I've already told you that would happen.'

  The chairman ignored him. 'Second, as a sign of good faith, we would like a million US dollars put into each of our accounts, as a kind of fail-safe.'

  'Four million dollars! You want me to pay you four million dollars?' Travis fumed.

  'It's actually only one million dollars each, Mr Travis,' the colonel interrupted.

  Travis fell silent again while he considered their terms.

  ***

  Travis was able to relax at last, secure in the knowledge Malone and Taylor were dead, or about to be, and the police were looking for the challenge participants in Israel. He felt slightly uncomfortable about the demise of Taylor and Malone, but they'd been trying to stop his project, and that he could never allow. It had been a busy few hours, what with finding a vacant room for the night, appeasing the Europeans, and tracking down Wainright. He looked around the sparse but acceptable hotel room, thankful for the comfort it would offer for the night.

  In fact, it had been a long few days, what with the state-hopping flights and twelve hours on the Greyhound to Dallas, he was looking forward to a good night's sleep. With Dr Androna out looking for transport and Probandi showering, Travis decided it would be a good time to open a bottle of wine. Probandi finished in the bathroom and joined Travis at the table. Travis smiled and patted his arm.

  'I promise you will soon be enjoying the luxury to which you're accustomed, my friend.' Travis filled both their glasses with wine and proposed a toast. 'Here's to a happy and fulfilling Easter.'

  52

  TENNESSEE

  EASTER SATURDAY

  'So are you ready to meet the King of Rock and Roll?' Douglas Wainright asked his creation. The three of them — Wainright, his lab manager, and the clone he'd named Genesis — were standing outside the gates of Graceland.

  Even before hearing that Travis' Sorrento laboratory and his own Nevada facility had been stormed by police, Wainright had been dodging like Travis — taking to the air, and then to the road. But true to form, Wainright's chosen mode of transport on the ground wasn't a Greyhound bus; it was the biggest, most obnoxious RV he could lay his hands on. Wainright's self-appointed job was to handle the event and organize the media. So, with this in mind, he'd turned the RV into his own mission control. The lab manager and Wainright took turns driving, but when he wasn't at the wheel, Wainright set up an office in the back of the vehicle and made all the arrangements for Easter Monday. Unfortunately for him, the plans for worldwide media coverage and public adoration had been dashed now that the police had found out about the girl's abduction. Still, he had one contact who would happily be the front man, and was primed and waiting.

  With a couple of days to spare, Wainright had decided to make his way to Graceland, a fitting place to hole up he thought: plenty of tourists to get lost among, and located on the border between Tennessee and Arkansas. There was a certain ironic humour in the notion of the King of Kings meeting the King of rock and roll that wasn't lost on him either.

  LOS ANGELES

  'It's been almost two days now. How can they not have arrived in Israel?' Malone was pacing. Taylor and Daniel nodded in agreement.

  'I'm as frustrated as you guys are,' Logan said. 'The only thing I can offer in Interpol's defence is that finding a handful of people in Jerusalem at Easter makes the proverbial needle in a haystack look like child's play.'

  'So what you're saying is Dale Galbraith told you nothing about where the unveiling would take place? There's nothing on his computer, no phone records, nothing?'

  'For the hundredth time, Malone, Dale didn't give us anything other than a location to save your sorry ass. And if I really want to be specific, it wasn't your ass he was interested in saving, it was Taylor's.'

  'Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you keep saying. I still can't believe the cops weren't able to keep the Twin from stabbing Galbraith — it sure would have been a help to be able to question him more closely.'

  'And the Twins are still tight lipped?' Logan just nodded.

  Daniel butted in. 'Will you two stop fighting.' He stood up and walked to the whiteboard. 'Let's go over it again. Now, Taylor, word for word, what did Travis and company say?'

  Logan decided he could be more useful back at the station, so he made his excuses and left them to it.

  LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

  'Welcome to Little Rock, Arkansas y'all.' The chirpy tourist information clerk beamed. 'What brings you to our beautiful state? Are y'all here for the melons or the Clintons?'

  The faces of the six men she was addressing were blank; they had no idea what she was talking about. Unfazed, the girl proceeded to display a pamphlet on the Clinton Trail Tour, a route she told them included: Little Rock — the Clinton Presidential Centre; Fayetteville, University of Arkansas — where Clinton had taught constitutional law; Hot Springs — Clinton's boyhood home; and Hope — Clinton's birthplace and, coincidentally, home to the world's biggest melon, weighing two hundred twenty-five pounds, about which she also had a brochure.

  'Hope don't just spring eternal — it springs 'em big and springs 'em motivated!' she boasted.

  'We just need a room for a few nights and some transport,' the chairman said, trying to disguise his German accent.

  The girl quickly stacked the pamphlets together and produced some new ones with hotel information. She categorized them from most expensive to least, and pointed out the car rental kiosks at the end of the lounge. The chairman thanked her for her help and they turned to walk towards the rental booths.

  'Don't y'all forget these,' she called, waving the tour pamphlets at them.

  TENNESSEE

  The lab manager came back from the toilets with a big smile on his face. 'Look what I've got for all of us,' he beamed.

  From behind his back he produced three T-shirts. For Wainright and himself he had shirts with Elvis Rocks on them. 'But wait until you see what's on this one,' he said proudly as he handed the shirt to Genesis.

  Printed on the front in large capitals was THE KING LIVES.

  LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

  Once they'd unpacked at the hotel, Klaus and Dr Poskov suggested the clones should take a rest. They agreed the combination of jetlag and lack of quality dietary supplements would be putting their health at risk. As was becoming the norm, the colonel and the chairman conferred and elected Dr Poskov to be babysitter, and Klaus was dispatched to find the nearest drugstore for the appropriate supplies. They, on the other hand, were going to head to the sauna and steam room to strategize. Everyone in the room knew what this meant, but reluctantly assumed their roles.

  LOS ANGELES

  'Graceland, what the hell are they doing at Graceland?' Malone yelled. Taylor and Daniel watched as Malone strode around the room, listening to the voice on the phone. After several uhhuhs and protracted sighs, Malone said, 'Fine, we'll see you soon,' and hung up.

  'What was all that about?' Daniel asked.

  'It seems that Wainright, or at least Wainright's lab manager, isn't on his way to Israel as we all assumed. He's decided to go sightseeing in Tennessee. They've picked up an electronic transaction of his, and they've traced it to Graceland. It would appear he's used his Amex card in the Graceland souvenir gift shop! Logan's not completely sure, but his hunch is that wherever the lab manager is, Wainright and the clone will also be.'

  'But why Graceland?' Taylor asked.

  'That's what we'd all like to know.' Malone looked pained.

  'What time was the card used?' Daniel asked.

  Malone shook his head. 'I've no idea. You basically know what I know. Logan said he's on his way over to bring us up to speed.'

  LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

  As instructed, the two clones settled into their beds. Neither of them felt particularly tired, but both realized that arguing with their guardians would be a futile exercise. Stefan had so many questions to ask Aloysha
that he struggled with where to begin. As his mind raced, his eyes began to blink, first very quickly, then after a few flutters they became heavier, and before long sleep was upon him.

  Once again his dreams returned him to a place so familiar it felt more real to him than the waking world. It was a place where he felt free, a place where there were no boundaries and, above all, no guardians.

  But this was also a place of haves and have-nots, and he was definitely one of the have-nots. He'd had this dream several times before and he knew how it ended, but he also knew that his dreams were out of his control, and that some went further than others, revealing more than before.

  This time he found himself in a bazaar in a small town near Jerusalem. There was the general hustle and bustle of the open-air market. He looked down at his feet. They were in worn sandals and they were filthy. As he looked around the bazaar, people were haggling with traders and inspecting livestock. He made his way through the crowd, dressed in a brown and white flowing robe. This robe had been specially adapted to carry and hide items acquired from the market during the course of the day. As he moved his way through the stalls, he stopped at a purveyor of wine, quickly sampled what was on offer and then moved along. He picked up several pots and admired their craftsmanship, but once again went on his way. He was jostled, but he didn't mind; in fact, he was happy the market was so busy.

  He spotted his target through the crowd. One of the traders dealt in precious stones brought in from the mines in the hills and made into impressive necklaces and bangles. He readied himself for his task, though he had long since perfected his art. He nodded to the boy on his left and made his way to the stand. The boy kicked away a leg of the stall opposite and ran. The pots on the table crashed to the ground and everyone turned to see what the commotion was. He seized his opportunity, filling his secret pocket with as many treasures as his darting hands could appropriate. He eased into the crowd to make his escape.

  Today however, fortune wasn't shining on him, and he bumped into someone in the crowd. The heavy-laden pouch split with the impact and the hidden pocket burst, spilling its contents on the ground for all to see. Simultaneously, the trader realized his precious stones had been stolen and cried out for help. The crowd gathered around the thief, blocking his escape, and as he struggled the guards were called.