About This Book
If we're all aggressive, obedient soldiers, who's going to write the poems and play the blues and go on anti-war protest marches?" Jeannie raised her eyebrows. It was a surprising thought to come from a career soldier. "There's more to it than that," she said. "Human variation has a purpose. There's a reason we're born different from both our parents. Evolution is a trial-and-error business. You can't prevent nature's failed experiments without eliminating the successes too." Charles sighed. "And all this means I'm not Steve's father." "Don't say that." He opened his billfold and took out a photo. "I have to tell you something, Jeannie. I never suspected any of this stuff about clones, but I've often looked at Steve and wondered if there was anything at all of me in him." "Can't you see it?" she said. "A resemblance?" "No physical resemblance. But Steve has a profound sense of duty. None of the other clones could give a darn about duty. He got it from you!" Charles still looked grim. "There's bad in him. I know it." She touched his arm. "Listen to me. Steve was what I call a wild child - disobedient, impulsive, fearless, bursting with energy - wasn't he?" Charles smiled ruefully. "That's the truth." "So were Dennis Pinker and Wayne Stattner. Such children are almost impossible to raise right. That's why Dennis is a murderer and Wayne a sadist. But Steve isn't like them - and you're the reason why. Only the most patient, understanding, and dedicated of parents can bring up such children to be normal human beings. But Steve is normal." "I pray you're right." Charles opened his billfold to replace the photo. Jeannie forestalled him. "May I see it?" "Sure." Jeannie studied the picture. It had been taken quite recently. Steve was wearing a blue-checked shirt and his hair was a little too long. He was grinning shyly at the camera. "I don't have a photo of him," Jeannie said regretfully as she handed it back. "Have that one." "I couldn't. You keep it next to your heart." "I have a million photos of Steve. I'll put another one in my billfold." "Thanks, I really appreciate it." "You seem very fond of him." "I love him, Charles." "You do?" Jeannie nodded. "When I think he might be sent to jail for this rape, I want to offer to go instead of him." Charles gave a wry smile. "So do I." "That's love, isn't it?" "Sure is." Jeannie felt self-conscious. She had not meant to say all this to Steve's father. She had not really known it herself; it had just come out, and then she had realized it was true. He said: "How does Steve feel about you?" She smiled. "I could be modest...." "Don't bother." "He's crazy for me."
