OF WOMEN AND MICE,

AND THINGS HELD TWICE

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Snowaters sat quietly at the small cafeteria table, sipping slowly her hot coffee. The reek of he nights work still drifted through her memory while her exhaustion kept the images rolling through her memory. She was trying to explain what she had found to the worried woman fidgeting nervously across from her, taking a deep breath she started to speak.

"Jacqueline" she whispered roughly, pausing a moment clear her throat she smiled shyly. "Listen, Ygor and I spent the last four days tracking down what went wrong." She paused again, taking another sip of the sleep fighting high caffeine drink. "You know he's a brilliant man on his own."

Jacqueline looked up from her hands, a nervous smile fluttering momentarily across her face. "What did you find?" she asked, her voice heavy with worry. "I mean, how bad is it really? I've.. well. We have always depended on our clones to be there. Now none of them are. What happens now?"

"Right now, well right now you all should be careful" the snow tressed woman answered. "As to what happens, first we're going to tear the entire installation out and replace it with current updated, off the shelf technology. As to what happened, that’s awful complicated but I'll try to explain." She ran a hand through her fluid stained tresses, winching as the occasional knot made its appearance. "Your creators, and Ygor has to have been as involved almost as much as Frankenbeans, managed the unbelievable using first and second generation technology. I mean, what they did should not have been possible."

She stopped talking, collecting her thoughts. "I'd love to see that team work with todays technology, I mean, well.. They could preform wonders."

"So we're miracle babies huh?" the Hyenoid half asked. "But what went wrong with our clones?"

Snowy finished her coffee, quietly motioning to the robotic waiter for another refill before answering. "It's like this child. Those computers could barely keep the right 'soup mix' when new. As they aged... Even with repairs errors crept in until some backup program tripped in. It's orders were to... Well to take from the worst to keep the best alive. Since Jack used so many clones he, well he sort of stole your immortality."

Accepting the refilled cup she inhaled the fragrant brew, reveling in the minor luxury it granted. "We're going to pull everything. Decom the chambers and install new equipment. It should take about three months to get on-line. Not cheap, but most of the programs have been running the Diamond for centuries." She giggled at a memory in spite of her exhaustion. "Except for Tani Icedance their pretty much bug proof."

Jacqueline smiled at this news. "So, how much are we looking at, how many clones and how long will it take?" Her demeanor changed now that she was on solid ground.

"About half a years profits, no more than three clones of each of you and about six months to get it set up and running. With fast growth we'll have a clone for each of you in a year, the other two will take a few months more. Then I'll set up a cyclic program where you'll always have an adult, teen, and pre-teen clone available." All in all I should be out of your hair and into someone else's in sixteen months" Snowy answered.

Jacqueline whistled slowly at the cost. "That's an awful lot. How much of this goes to you?"

The tiny human smiled, taking a moment to stretch before answering. "None. Remember. Rachelle is paying me." She winked, stifling another yawn.

Jacqueline laughed when she thought of Rachelle's face when presented with such an impossible bill, Snowaters tired laughter following her own. Quickly the depressing atmosphere broke down under the assault of both women’s humor.

"So then what's your next step?" she asked, watching the woman push her hair back again. "And a suggestion. You stick out like a sore thumb on this world, there aren't any Oriental women your age with white hair. You better dye it black."

Snowy stood slowly. Days without sleep couldn't be held at bay much longer, not even with the strongest coffee. "There aren't any Oriental woman my age, period" she half whispered. "First a days sleep. Ygor has the robots cleaning up down there, your garbage bill is going to be something else." She yawned mightily, then carefully pressed her medical gown flat in its few clean places. "Then. Well then I've got to look at Judyth's body."

Nodding in agreement Jacqueline lead Snowaters to the elevator and a guest room in her Penthouse. "I'll make the arrangements while you visit the Sandman. Then I’ll get that equipment ordered."

Snowy smiled, so exhausted that Jacqueline had to carry her the last few steps. "Ho-'kay" she mumbled. See you inna morning."

Pulling the covers over her visitor Jacqueline looked down at the sleeping woman. That equipment would be easy. Expensive, but easy. Judyth she knew would be another matter. Stepping into the hallway she walked

quickly to her office.

Two days later Jacqueline and Snowaters stood in a small examination room as Judyth's casket was brought in. Once they were alone again Snowy moved to the lid, carefully spinning the ornate brass locks free.

"He loved her a lot, didn't he" she half-asked as she fought with a stubborn lock.

"I guess he did" Jacqueline admitted, holding a mask up to her mouth in preparation to the caskets opening. She marveled that the alien hadn't bothered with a mask. But then she hadn't when she dissected those... things. Those things they found in the stainless steel tubes that should have held clones. It was hard to understand her sometimes. She seemed like she was a thousand years away when she was working. Jacqueline smiled to herself. Still she had to admit that the human looked better with her now black hair than that impossible white.

"That's the last" Snowy announced, reaching for one of the two pry-bars. "Give me a hand getting this open, and her body on the table." She glanced at the slightly green-at-the-gills woman. "Then you better leave."

Picking up the other pry-bar Jacqueline fitted it between the casket and its lid. Taking her cue from the smaller woman she heaved. There was a sucking sound, then the clattering boom of the heavy lid as it slid to the floor.

"Well now, isn't this a lovely surprise" Snowaters half cursed.

Bracing herself Jacqueline opened her eyes. She gasped, dropping both pry-bar and mask. Instead of the expected body she found herself looking into an empty, never used coffin.

"What?" she gasped, stepping back. "But I saw her. She has to be here."

Laying her pry-bar on the floor Snowaters turned to face Jacqueline. "I think you saw what someone wanted you to see. You better talk to those brothers of yours. I'll be heading for that castle within the hour."

Turning away she headed toward the door, leaving the shocked Heynoid staring at the empty casket.

Snowaters copyright Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Jacqueline & Jake Hilaris Ygor Lugosi & Pro. C. Frankenbeans