‘People from the experimental team came to check ze clones and were particularly interested in those affected by the power surge. Zey took some of them away for testing and zey did not bring them back.’
Kim could hear the emotion in Jean-Claude’s voice as he struggled to compose himself.
‘I began to fear the worst. Ze clock, it was ticking for the sentient ones.’
‘What did you do?’
‘Ze only thing I could. I changed the distribution schedule. To send those particular clones out of the unit quickly, ahead of ze regular ones.’
‘But weren’t they going out to customers to be used for spare parts? How would that save them?’
‘The only thing I could do was teach them to try to engage with their purchasers aussi vite que possible. I ‘oped, once people realised they were sentient, they would have ze second thoughts. About deconstructing them.’
‘You were right about that. I couldn’t do it,’ said Kim with feeling.
‘But I don’t think it worked. There were thirty or so in the group and one by one I lost contact with all of them except Xavier and Emma.’ He let out a sob.
‘Mrs Driver, I sent them to their deaths.’
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