Clone

Thirteen year old Ronald loved his grandpa very much. Every Saturday his parents brought him to his grandparents to stay for the whole weekend. Ronald liked listening to his grandpa’s stories, especially about ancient gods; these tales were grandpa’s most vivid and interesting. Ronald was always sitting on the next couch, asking his grandpa to tell another story about Anubis, Osiris, Re, Marduk, etc.


On one particular weekend Ronald was brought as usual by his parents on a Saturday morning and he was jumping with joy that the whole two days he will spend with his grandpa.

Ronald immediately noticed that grandfather was kind of sullen, though he tried to smile. Silently, grandfather drank a cup of tea with his grandson, and then retired to his room.

Are you ok? – asked Ronald in a shy voice looking into the room. – Are you sick?

Everything is fine, – answered grandfather, – but please leave me alone, at least till lunchtime.

Ronald closed the door and went to his grandmother who was in the kitchen.

Granny! Is grandpa ok? He is kind of sad. Has anything happened? Did you quarrel?

I don’t know what to say to you… I think if your granddad wants to, he will tell you. But please don’t annoy him with your questions. You’d better watch TV or play at the computer.

Grandmother also seemed to be anxious about something. Ronald strolled to the lounge, turned on the box and tried, at least for awhile, not to think about what had happened.

Time slid by very fast and Ronald was called in to dine. Everybody was sitting silently. Ronald didn’t have any appetite: he loved his grandparents so much; therefore he was very disturbed of what could have happened.

Follow me, I will tell you an interesting story, – uttered grandfather, after a long silence. – Eat up; I will be waiting for you in my room.

Ronald, with difficulty, finished his lasagna and ran to his grandfather’s room.

Grandfather was sitting in his couch; his face betrayed that he was very anxious.

What will you tell me today? - asked Ronald trying somehow to clear the air.

After some silence, grandfather said:

A very interesting story.

About gods?

Yes, about gods. But this time this will be a true story.

Ronald’s eyes shone with joy.

When I was young I had a chance to meet one of the gods, – continued grandfather.

You don’t say so! – exclaimed Ronald. – You said that gods no longer come to earth.

No, they do come, but quite often they disguise themselves in our presence. Some even live next door to us, humans. Some get used to human life and they don’t want go back into their world. I had an occasion to meet with one of such gods.

Ronald’s heart began to thump and it seemed it would jump out from his chest.

When I was…, doesn’t matter how old I was at that time, I lived in a different state in the south of America. I lived with my mother’s cousin as my parents had died before I reached the age of three. Next door lived a farmer’s family. A typical family: father, mother and three kids: two boys and a girl. Father was tinkering day and night with his cattle and equipment; mother was puttering about the house. The children continually helped one and another, and even managed to go to school which was 5 miles from us – children did not even dream about school buses in those days. The boys were typical dunces, but Judy, that was the daughter’s name, was even doing pretty well at school.

Judy – just like our granny, – uttered Ronald, burning with curiosity what would be next.

Well, Ronald, you understand, girls like boys & boys like girls… To cut a long story short, I liked Judy. But I was a very shy boy and I was afraid to confess to Judy that I liked her. We were just friends, played sometimes, and even kissed once or twice. I tried to be always with her, I even helped her father about the farm. But her parents were always cautious towards me – I was an orphan. So in order to be together, Judy and I ran away to the forest or to the river; or we had to wait when my aunt would go to the market, or her parents would take a new calf or a pig to the fair. By the way, Ronald, is there any girl who attracts you?

Grandpa, please don’t be wandering, – uttered Ronald and even blushed from uttering such a statement.

Your response means that there is such a girl.

So – Judy and I mixed together for all those years. I dreamt that when we turn eighteen we’ll definitely marry. But Judy was always afraid that if her father finds out about our intentions he would surely do something. Her fears came true. Having finished her schooling, her family moved to a different state. Her father sold his farm and with the money, he starts a little business. Judy enters a college; we correspond for a year and then she disappears. I also moved to another state – as far as possible from my aunt, entered a college, then a university and eventually got a good job. I had not seen Judy for about ten years. I almost even forgot her. I was dating another girl, who I was about to marry. But once, when I had been to New York on business, I spotted Judy in a restaurant. She was with her husband. You can’t even guess my feelings at that moment – she was like a goddess; I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was good-looking when she was a girl but that time she was as beautiful person as I had ever seen.  Judy also saw me. When her husband left her for awhile, probably for a visit to the men’s room, I approached Judy. I don’t remember what I said to her, we had just a couple of minutes, but I still remember her eyes. I left her my business card and told her which hotel I was staying in – so that she could call any time. Judy called my room that evening. Well, you are pretty young or I would tell you everything, but for a week before my departure from New York we were together. Judy had been living with her husband for three years in New York, and I, at that time, was there on business. A week before leaving I met Judy.

And what does it have to do with gods? You promised to tell me an interesting story how you met with one of them, and now you are telling me about some Judy, – interrupted Ronald, he was too young be able to grasp such a complicated story.

It has a lot to do with gods. Having returned home I knew no rest, each day I was thinking only about Judy. I was eating my heart out over the fact that I was not brave enough to openly make her a proposal, that I was afraid of her father and my aunt. I hated myself, and that allowed my inferiority complex to take over and, as a result, I lost the one with whom I wanted to spend my whole life. Judy had a husband and two children. Thinking of her I became depressed. It was such a strong feeling that it seems like it was just yesterday. Each evening after work I hopped from one bar to another to get drunk. And one day when I had enough whisky in me and was leaving the bar, an average age man approached me and asked me if I am doing ok. He intentionally looked into my eyes like he wanted to read something in them. It made my blood creep. Standing next to him I felt like warm and cold was blowing from him – I can’t describe such a feeling. I had mixed emotions – joy and fear at the same time. He asked if I would like to have a drink though he could easily see that I was already drunk. Of course, I agreed when he offered to buy me a drink. We toddled off to another bar. He introduced himself as a historian, that he studies ancient civilizations and cultures. For three hours he was narrating about ancient gods of Egypt, Sumer, Greece and Rome. He was saying that these are all the same gods but with different names. Each of his words sounded like he himself had been in the middle of all those events. He was also saying that gods still walk on Earth; some even live among us having taken human appearance. I was full of whisky and didn’t care what he was babbling about. Probably having noticed that I was totally drunk he said that he is one of the gods and is ready to grant me any wish. I realized this is all bullshit, that he is laughing at a drunk man, but he repeated that today he is in a good mood and is happy to do anything that I ask him. For sure he knew exactly what I would ask of him. Maybe if I were sober I would have asked him for millions, or an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, or anything else, but my whole mind was occupied only with Judy. And I said, if he is truly a god I want Judy to be with me.

Ronald’s eyes became as large as two dinner plates and he was sitting with his mouth open.

So, does this mean that Judy is our grandma?

Not exactly, – answered grandfather and went to the cupboard where there was a half empty bottle of whisky.

Having poured himself a glass he continued.

Have you ever paid attention how our grandmother looks?

What do you mean? – asked Ronald, in a shy way

She is over 70, but looks as though she is 40, at the most.

But you say that I am young, and I never pay attention, but I have noticed that Mom also looks very young. Dad keeps saying that she looks like a 25 year old girl, and she likes that. So, I assumed that means she takes good care of herself.

It is partly so. A week ago I had been again to New York on business. I had almost forgotten about the meeting with that “historian”, and grandfather showed the “quotes” sign, as many Americans do that, – but I still remember how the next day after the meeting with him, Judy knocked on my door, as I was about to go to bed.  That day is very clear in my mind. She entered and said that she made up her mind to return to me. She just smiled when I asked her about her husband and kids. At that moment I was the happiest person in the world. The most interesting thing is that during all those years I spent with your grandmother, she never mentioned a word about her previous family. I, on occasion asked about her children, how they are doing, whom they are living with; I even offered her the option to bring them here. But she always avoided giving an answer. I am not even sure if she had a chance to ever see them. I calmed myself with the knowledge that they were with her husband or his parents. May be they’ve got a new step mother, I believe for Judy it would have been very hard to go back home after what she had done. But she just smiled and kept saying that she wants to be with me. In the beginning I was scared that her husband might come for her and there will be a brawl, but nothing happened. Two years later you mom was born. I was so happy! Judy and I were so occupied with our family that nothing else drew our interest. And here a week ago, when I was again in New York on business, I met Judy…the real Judy!

Ronald’s eyes became even bigger. Thirteen years old boy’s mind could hardly comprehend grandfather’s revelations.

I don’t quite understand, said Ronald.

Aah, but now I do understand quite well. That damned “historian”, – grandfather showed “quotes” again and took one more gulp, – was really a god or who the hell knows who or what. He granted my wish, but instead of real Judy, he gave me a clone or the hell knows what.

A clone? – Ronald understood absolutely nothing.

You watched many times on the TV how now copies of dogs, cats, rats are being made. You probably heard about that damned Sheep Dolly made by the Brits.

Ronald nodded.

So, your grandmother Judy is such a clone, android or robot or the hell knows what. When I was again in New York a week ago, I popped into the same restaurant where I met Judy. I quite often drop in when I come to New York; I’ve even dined there several times with your grandmother. So, when I was finishing my supper, an elderly woman of approximately my age came to me and asked if I recognize her. I tried to strain my memory but could not for the life of me, in all honesty say I did, though her face did look familiar. She said her name is Judy. There are lots of ladies called Judy, I thought, but in a second, the revelation hit me and I was about to faint. In front of me was sitting Judy, the Judy whom I have known since my childhood. But she looked 70, not like your grandmother Judy who looks 40. I thought I would have a heart attack. That Judy asked me where I had disappeared to, why I didn’t call her back. She was waiting for me to ring. She thought that I got scared like I had many years ago. After the first few moments, what she was saying was so disturbing that I jumped up from the table and ran away like a scalded cat, and cast myself to the winds.

Grandfather poured one more glass and took a big gulp.

I have lived my whole life with a clone, android, biorobot or the hell knows what. My daughter is from the clone, my grandson is also the issue of a clone.

Did you tell grandma Clone, sorry Judy, about that?

The fact is that, yes, I did. I became white as a ghost; she walked around me, and in a mild way asked how she could help me. I was silent for a long time and then I lost my temper. I just ranted and raved, getting things off my chest. And she keeps walking around me and understands nothing. She keeps saying that she loves me and always wanted to be with me. Damned “historian”. If I asked him for money or anything else I could be with the real Judy. I could give her anything. Ronald, do you understand, I spent my whole live with a person who was always a stranger to me, or to be exact a “non-human”. I have no idea what that “historian” did, but your granny is 75 but no way 40. I have realized just today that she did not get older. She was never sick in her whole life! She was always affectionate, well-mannered, she always forgave me everything, never got upset, never was angry. And here it comes out that my whole life I spent with somebody’s copy. Ronald, it should not be so!!! I have such a feeling, that the girl Judy was taken off from the past and was given to me as a gift.

But Ronald did not hear. He left the room and ran to his grandma’s room.

Grandmother Judy was lying on the sofa.

Granny! Granny! Grandma Judy! Wake up! Please wake up!

Grandmother’s left hand was hanging from the sofa. Ronald was perplexed. In her hand she was holding a phial with some sort of pills, half of which was on the sofa and on the floor. Grandfather ran into the room.

Call 911! – he shouted. – Judy, Judy! Please wake up!

The ambulance came in 7 minutes.

Taking away the body on the stretcher one of the doctors whispered to another:

Why did she do that? Such a nice family… And she looked so young…

*****

Experiment #1504-78 failed, like all the previous ones, – stated one of the gods. – People are fools, they are so crave for happiness, you deliver it with the exact ounce as they want it and they twist their nose. For all the millenniums I have not met a human being who would be happy with a clone. You introduce them to an updated perfected model, endowing it with everything they want, create the most comfortable conditions about which one does not dare to dream, and the human beings aren’t grateful at all. They will never be thankful to us, as they are not thankful in their nature. And the clone can not adequately acquire the information. Too much love and other emotions we download into it. We should work on their software. How many experiments are left?

More than two millions, – answered another god. – But they are all doomed to fail. May be it will be better to introduce to these fools technology of cloning? Let the volunteers come. I am ready to come to human scientists and provide them with knowledge.

*****

Ronald comes to see his grandfather quite often in the mental hospital. The doctors say that the old fellow has got cracked brains as he could not resign himself to the loss of his spouse. He keeps talking about a sort of historian or archeologist, wants to meet with him, in order to ask him to bring his wife back.

Meanwhile in another bar a professor of history was telling another young man of the great gods of the ancient days who still live with people.

It’s the year 2010. All the channels are transmitting the news of the first successful experiment on cloning of a human being.