Heavy

In the rear view mirror, Kim watched Emma and Delphine eating their snacks. She spotted their exchange of meaningful glances in between bites, and guessed they were communicating somehow.

‘Is everything okay?’

One more quick look between them and it seemed a decision was made. 

Emma spoke quietly. ‘We think Jean-Claude is in danger.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘We’re all in danger,’ said Delphine.

‘Well, yes, Jean-Claude said that Osborne and-’

’No, not that,’ Delphine interrupted. ‘Xavier will deconstruct him. And then us. And then you.’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ said Joe. ‘Jean-Claude has been helping him. And so have we. Why would he “deconstruct” us?’ He made speech marks in the air with his fingers.

‘Because you’ll find out,’ said Emma simply.

‘Find out what?’

‘That Xavier is a threat. Jean-Claude has realised. That’s why he’s in danger.’ 

‘That’s a bit heavy. It doesn’t make sense. What kind of a threat can he possibly be?

‘He has altered his circuits.’

‘Now just a minute.’ Joe swivelled fully in his seat to face the clones. ‘Are you saying that Xavier is some sort of super-sentient and he’s changing himself?’

Emma nodded. ‘He hasn’t changed us, although he could have. Whatever he has planned, we are not a part of it.’

‘I don’t like the sound of this,’ said Joe. ‘I’m going after them.’ 

He got out of the car and Kim scrambled out to join him. Out of earshot of the clones, they had a whispered conversation.

‘Joe. This isn’t a good idea. We have no idea what we’re getting ourselves into. Those two could be wrong about all this.’

‘Did you see their faces when the vans went past? They were scared.’

‘ - and they turned to Jean-Claude, not Xavier.’

‘Exactly. Look, if you drive me a bit nearer, then I can catch up with them. I wish I’d brought my stick, my knees are not liking all this activity.’

‘Lucky I put it in then. It’s stowed under your seat.’

He hugged her and then reached for it. ‘You think of everything.’

She grimaced. She wasn’t happy about Joe going but she saw his point. Back in the car, they hurtled along the road and spotted Xavier and Jean-Claude deep in discussion near the warehouse gates.

‘Be careful Joe.’ 

‘I will. Go back now.’

She hugged him and then watched him walk awkwardly away, leaning on his stick. She turned the car and drove back the way they had come.