Hushed

Hush,’ Kim soothed. ‘It might not be as bad as that. Maybe there’s some way to block these signals?’

Emma shook her head miserably. ‘I don’t know. I don’t think so.’

There were several other Mark 16s like us,’ said Delphine quietly. ‘They were sent out on order before us, and for a little while, we could communicate with them. But the links have all failed one by one.  We don’t know what has happened to them. The only ones we can connect with now are Brontë, Alain and Hugo.’

‘Xavier said not to try, in case anyone is looking for them.’ Emma sniffed again and took the tissue from Kim to blot her nose. ‘It’s hopeless.’

* * *

Joe had evidently finished tidying the kitchen with Xavier’s help and appeared with a tray of mugs and a pot each of tea and coffee.

‘What’s up?’ he said. Delphine was kneeling awkwardly beside  the now sobbing Emma, apparently trying to comfort her.

Kim realised Delphine was in fact mimicking her own body language from just now, reminding her that these clones had only emerged from their incubation slings a very few days ago and, for now, could really only learn behaviours from her and Joe.

‘They’re really frightened that someone is going to track them down and take them back to the facility. Joe, we have to do something.’

‘I get that - but what?’ Joe spread his hands at the huge question that encompassed their lack of knowledge, lack of digital skill and the complete absence of any kind of a plan.

‘There is one thing,’ said Xavier. He had waited until Joe and Kim had picked up on the clones’ desperation and their growing fear. This seemed like the right time.

‘What?’

Four pairs of eyes were fixed on his.