‘Were you followed?’ Xavier asked.
‘I don’t think so. I saw no other lights behind me, once I had left the main road. Now come, let me have a look at you.’
‘It’s not so bad, I am feeling better now.’
‘But still-’ Jean-Claude drew Xavier towards the table in the centre of the round chamber and helped him climb on to it. He drew an LED lamp from his bag and angled it to spotlight the figure now supine in place.
Kim couldn’t help thinking it was like a scene out of Frankenstein, the way one figure was arched over the other, their faces gleaming close together in stark contrast to the darkness surrounding them.
Jean-Claude bent closer to peer at Xavier’s head and began to work his fingers into the clone’s hairline behind his ear. As Kim and Joe watched, without warning he gasped, grabbed at his chest and slumped over Xavier, who rolled out of the way just in time.
‘What’s happened? Is he okay?’ Kim stepped forward, but Xavier waved her away.
‘It’s all right,’ he said. ‘I’ve got this.’
He scooped up the smaller man, one arm under his shoulders, the other under his knees and hefted him against his chest. ‘Stay with me Jean-Claude,’ he whispered. He stepped towards the door.
‘I’m going to get him some air,’ he said, over his shoulder to the others.
Joe and Kim moved aside and watched him leave the windmill with his burden.
‘Joe, I feel awful. Like something dreadful is about to happen. My heart’s thumping and I can’t breathe properly.’ She rubbed at her chest.
‘Me too. Maybe it’s something in this place, it’s been shut up for ages.’
‘It’s more than that. I felt bad in the car. Something’s happening that makes me feel really anxious. I don’t like it.’
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