Page 64 (2/2)

Lewis turned to the Naturals guarding the Command Center "Harcourt, you and Javo take a ’burner and see what you can do to cut through that Spinneret ata smiled to herself at the continued quiet in the roo to the precise ht to wait

There was a heavy stirring in the roo into the center froe Some of them were the more outre E-types Most appeared to be wounded They obviously were looking for souttural voice called out from amidst the newcomers: "We need medics!"

Lewis faced the two Naturals he had ordered to meet the Spinneret attack "You refuse to obey my orders?"

Harcourt, his face red, repeated his protest: "Send some clones That’s what they’re for"

From somewhere in the center of the roo out there!"

"Why should they go?" Legata asked

"You stay out of this, Legata!" Oakes screao," she said

"You knohy!"

"No, I don’t"

"Because the first out on any dangerous ht Clones first That’s the way it’s always been, and that’s the way it’ll be"

So he’s pitching for the loyalty of the Naturals

Legata looked at Lewis, aze head on Was that amusement in his eyes? Noscreen, watched the people in the roo on the screen She had set the progra a tableau, all attention shifting to the screen, locking on it

Puzzled, Oakes turned to look at the screen, saw his own likeness there Below the i He stared at the heading: "Morgan Lon Oakes Ref Original File, Morgan Hempstead, cell dono"

Oakes found it difficult to breathe It was a trick! He glanced at Legata and the cold stare he a" Hoeet her voice sounded "I found your records, Morgan See Ship’s imprimatur on the printout? Ship vouches for the truth of this record"

A tic twitched the corner of Oakes’ left eyelid He tried to s

This is not happening! Muttering drifted through the rooata stepped away from the console, moved to within a meter of Oakes "Your nam that’s the name of the woman who bore you - for a fee"

Oakes found his voice: "This is a lie! My parent our sun went nov "

"Ship says not so" She waved at the screen "See?"

The data continued to roll: Date of cell implantation, address of pseudo-parents, name

Lewis caata?" There was no denying the amusement in his voice

She refused to take her attention from the stricken look on Oakes’ face Why do I want to comfort him?

"The Scream Room was a mistake," she whispered

Soe of the rooan as a chant, grew to a pounding rage: "Send the clone out!"

Oakes screaata was powerless to prevent it in the crush of people without using her great strength to kill She found herself unable to do this Oakes’ voice screarew fainter across the roo of the mob

Lewis h sensor still free of the Spinneret webs It showed the sudden gush of a ’burner opening a gap through the here the wall had been breached by a cutter beam from outside Presently, Oakes stu alone across Pandora’s deadly plain