Howondaland

He left  Object’s room and sat on the sofa. Who is he? Just a good part of the experiment? What was the Object for all these years with the realization that it was created specifically? And how now to live with him?

He threw his head back against the handle of the sofa. He is a human? Or, as Object, not really?

The door creaked and Reth stepped out of her bedroom. He did not react to the woman, even when she bent over him and gently pulled the hair off his face.

— Gambler, can you hear me?

He looked into her eyes and asked:

— Reth, who am I?

Prev

| Beginning

Rus

She paused, turning away from the boy. Gambler was also silent.

— Is it hard for you to believe all this? — Object broke the silence.

He shook his head and tried to remember his mother — and could not. She died when he was almost six. Was she similar to Object? Was she the ideal mother to whom she was created?

He threw the bones in the palm of his hand.

— I think, scientists hoped that you, too, will become a kind of ideal man. But you are ordinary, except for your ability to play gambling. Are you going to be silent? — the girl asked irritably.

Gambler looked up at her and smiled sadly.

— Perhaps, for me for today there will be enough discoveries. Although … if I did not have this birthmark, would you still hate me?

— I do not know, Gambler. Maybe just a little less? But tell me, Gambler, you and Reth… are you sure you need her? Especially now, after learning everything?

The young man froze. Then he suddenly smiled broadly and laughed.

— It’s not up to you, Object. And not even me.

Prev
| Beginning

Rus

— I escaped from the laboratory, having first learned about the essence of the experiment. I was especially interested in your mother — I’m her improved clone, and I wanted to find her. But then I realized that I do not need it — real life grabbed me. Nailed to different companies, until I found Reth. To be honest, I tried to rob her. I did not have any money then, and I did not eat anything for about a week. I almost did not have the strength, even the implants did not help — she cut me off instantly. Although Reth is not strong … And she brought me to her house. It was almost four years ago and I’ve been living here ever since.

— And then you appeared, Gambler. And when I realized who you are, it struck me. You, part of the old experiment, part of what I do not want to remember — lay before me. What was the chance that we would meet? Practically zero. And I hated you. Why? I don’t know. This is a completely irrational hatred. Maybe because I want to live like a human, and you serve as an eternal reminder that I’m not really a person. What they made me, experiments were put on me, even with the strength of one person, but I remember everything! Reth helped me, if not forget, then let go of hatred, and you shook it all over again! I hate you just for your existence beside me.

Prev
| Beginning

Rus

— An ideal woman, you understand? In everything. The ideal hostess, wife, mother… the ideal soldier, the perfect murderer. Secret development, a large team of people… and in the end there was only one scientist. Birthmark — this is a sign of distinction, according to which we were to learn when our production would become massive.

— The very first women were not ideal and they were destroyed. Your mother is number seven. It seems that she approached the ideal so much that scientists decided to see how her body will lead during pregnancy. I
do not know all the details, whether it was a natural conception or
not, Gambler, but the experiment turned out to be successful. And the woman was lucky — she escaped. Together with you.

— Have you looked for her? I dont know. I do not know much.

Object fell silent for a short time, then continued.

— I’m the last Object. The last creation of the remaining scientist, the peak of his works. Implants are implanted in my brain, into the body too. I’m fast learner and very strong, as you could see. Therefore, to curtail the neck of its creator for me was no work.

She squeezed her fingers into a fist.

— But my character is not perfect.

Prev
| Beginning

Rus

— And what does all this mean? — he asked when the girl put the pants back on. — Who are you, Object?

— I’m Object 16, a genetic experiment to design an ideal woman.

She paused and added:

— Like your mother, Gambler.

The young man’s eyes fell to the bridge of his nose.

Prev
| Beginning

Rus