The Clones of Mawcett

by DePrima, Thomas

  "New hair? But how?"

  "The hair is produced by a process that first determines the shape, color, and texture of your own hair, then spins a matching strand which is seamlessly bonded to one of your own. We were afraid that the machine might not be able to match your beautiful color and texture, but Znanna was able to set the machine properly. The process took many hours, but now that it's done, the spun hair appears as original. We usually just use the process to repair broken strands, but in this case we were able to make a complete extension. You said that you didn't wish to wear a wig, so this was really the only solution. People would talk if a Lady of the Royal House always wore a headdress in public."

  Distant memories of a Brothers Grimm childhood fairy tale about a young woman named Rapunzel with impossibly long blond hair flashed through her mind and Jenetta giggled for a second, then said anxiously. "I've never had long hair before. It's too much work to maintain, and I haven't the time."

  "Don't worry, My Lady," Znanna said. "We'll take care of it for you. That's our job. Just relax and we'll take care of everything. You should stand now."

  While Jenetta stood perfectly still and erect, Vronnesa and Znanna trimmed the hair to the proper length.

  "There, all done," Vronnesa said as she moved a second mirror into position so that Jenetta could see the thick, luxurious hair extension that covered her back like a blanket.

  "But it extends to the floor!"

  "Oh, no, My Lady," Tkusa said with alarm. "It is fully one finger width from the floor. The length of her hair is a pronouncement of a woman's status in the palace, and only a member of the immediate Royal Family may have her hair touch the floor when standing erect. Palace handmaidens are only permitted to wear theirs to their knees, and it's required to be trimmed once each week to make sure that the proper length is maintained. The scrub women can't wear their hair below their shoulder blades, but even theirs is longer than yours was."

  With each such discussion Jenetta better understood the social structure within the palace. Hair and clothing seemed to be a visible definition of social class among women. Jenetta's hair was now as long as it could be without her being a member of the King's immediate family, and the extremely restrictive clothes further defined her premier place within the nobility.

  "So if I understand this correctly," Jenetta said, "the length of my hair and the tightness of my clothes means that I'm ranked just below a member of the ruling Royal Family?"

  "Yes, My Lady," Vronnesa said, "your rank is as high or higher than any other who is not a member of the Royal Family. Even the Queen's own sisters may not wear their hair less than two finger widths from the floor."

  Stepping behind Jenetta, Znanna tied a light pink ribbon in Jenetta's new hair, at the nape of her neck. From her neck, the hair was allowed to hang wherever it fell, the massive mop of hair all but obscuring Jenetta's tight gown from the back.

  After a light lunch of Queelish, a delicious Nordakian vegetable stew, Jenetta began her studies in Nordakian history. Having studied the information available on the Prometheus' computer, she soon realized how totally inadequate that text had been, but the history that the Nordakian tutor passed on seemed to be a curious mixture of historical fact and religious doctrine.

  When the history tutor had left for the day, a protocol tutor arrived and Jenetta spent two hours learning about the current Royal Family, their positions within the government of Nordakia, and the extent of their powers.

  "Could you clarify my status here, please?" Jenetta asked, during a pause in the instruction.

  "You are a Lady of the Royal House of Nordakia, My Lady."

  "Yes, I understand the title."

  "That is your status, My Lady, not your title. Your title is Azula Jenetta Alicia Carver, LRHN."

  "Azula?" Jenetta echoed in confusion. "That's one I haven't heard before. Okay, so far I've developed a sense of my position within the palace hierarchy, based on the length requirements of my hair and the tightness on my clothing, but I'm still not clear on what's expected of me and how I fit into the palace picture, exactly."

  "Although not of Nordakian royal birth, all the rights and privileges of the peerage have been bestowed upon you by royal proclamation. You are the first to be so honored in two millennia, and the first of off-world birth ever to be so honored. All members of the nobility can trace their lineage back to one individual who was 'decreed' to be a nobleman or noble-woman by the then ruling king. You are the first member of the noble family Carver. It is absolute, and irrevocable. The family Carver will forever be listed among the nobility on Nordakia and our colonies. You should also include the letters LRHN after your name whenever it is written on documents pertaining to anything Nordakian."

  "The family Carver? You mean if I have children?"

  "No, My Lady. By royal decree, your parents and all their progeny are named as part of the family Carver. Your siblings, their spouses, and their offspring are accorded all the rights of nobility as well. Naturally, your title of Azula will pass to your first born when you die. If a male, the title becomes Azulo. If you have no direct descendant, the title will pass to the appropriate heir within the family Carver according to the Peerage Inheritance Laws."

  "I'm not familiar with the title Azula. What does it mean? Is it sort of like— being adopted, on Earth?"

  "You have not become a member of the Royal Family, if that's what you mean, but you are definitively a Peeress of the Realm. The Azulas and Azulos rank immediately below the Royal Family, and sit at the apex of the Peerage. You have further been proclaimed a Lady of the Royal House, which defines your premier status in our realm. Only marrying one of the King's sons could elevate you higher. We have been without either a Lord or Lady of the Royal House since Azulo Kwittejto passed away eighteen years ago. The status of Lord or Lady of the Royal House does not pass on with the title and inheritance. Um, perhaps it would help if I compared our society with one on Earth that I read about?"

  "Yes, perhaps. Please continue."

  "During what was called your Middle Ages, there existed a form of monarchial government called the Feudal System. As I understand it, the reigning monarch initially owned all the land in his realm. He then allotted some to the nobility, in exchange for vows of fealty and promises to provide fighters if war should come. The nobility then allotted parcels of land to Knights, and exacted similar vows of allegiance and support. The Knights then allotted land to serfs, who never owned the land but would work it and provide part of their crops to their Knight, who would pass part to their Baron, who would pass part to their King. Our system works similarly, except the landowners are responsible for selling their own crops and other products, and must pay their taxes to the crown with currency. Only the nobility may own land, but they don't own their serfs. Each citizen is free to move about as he or she wishes. If one nobleman is cruel or unfair, the citizen may move to another's land. If I understand the import of each title in your ancient system, an Azula is the equivalent of a Duchess, while an Azulo is the equivalent of a Duke."

  "Thank you. I think I understand much better now."

  "The lands bestowed on you by the King and Queen are of minor value right now, but one day they will again be part of an important agricultural area."

  "Lands?"

  "Yes, My Lady; the million hectares on Obotymot that comprise your royal estate."

  "A million hectares? Royal estate? That's something else no one remembered to tell me," Jenetta said quietly.

  "It's just a small estate, My Lady. In fact, your estate is the smallest among all the Peers. The next larger estate is that of Meptro and Meptra Kwudozu. Their estate comprises just three and half million hectares, but it's all rich agricultural land here on Nordakia, which made it much more highly prized even before the meteor strike. When Obotymot was colonized, the king offered to double or even triple the size of anyone's estate that would exchange their land on Nordakia for land on Obotymot. It was an attempt to spur development there, but ow
ing to pressures from the Church, there were few takers. As a result, the ruling family still retains most of the planet."

  "Meptro and Meptra?"

  "On Earth, the nobility was ranked, from highest to lowest, King, Duke, Marquis, Count or Earl, Viscount, and lastly Baron. On Nordakia, the ranking is King, Azulo, Suvvuto, Fetuzo, Wollzako, and lastly Meptro. Although Meptro and Meptra Kwudozu are members of the Nordakian nobility, they are only the equivalent of a Baron and Baroness in the Earth system I was referencing. While their lands are incredibly valuable when compared to your own, their peerage is of the lowest rank in our nobility. I don't mean to disparage your holdings, My Lady. Your farm land was among the very richest and most productive on Obotymot before the meteor strike.

  "Our King is very wise, My Lady. If he had given you a million hectares here on Nordakia, it might have caused— let us say, hard feelings— among the Peerage who have held their land for millennia. By giving you land that is currently considered worthless, our King avoids any such discord. The nobility could hardly begrudge you receiving land that can't even grow Sulp grass. Our scientists have declared that neither the orbit of Obotymot, nor its axis, was adversely affected by the meteor. If that proves true, and the planet can avoid the ice age that some doomsayers are predicting, your estate will certainly return to its former prosperous condition in perhaps as early as— half a century, when the atmosphere completely clears. By then the family Carver will be an accepted part of our nobility and no one will begrudge you your estate. The rich farm land of your demesne has helped feed the people of two planets in the past, and certainly will again. Although I haven't visited it myself, I've been told that the palace there is well appointed, and quite lovely."

  "Palace?"

  "Yes. It was built for the King and Queen when they visit that part of Obotymot. They never have though, so it's never been occupied. There's just a small caretaker staff of twenty-five servants to see that it's maintained properly."

  "Twenty-five servants?"

  "Yes, My Lady. As I've said, it's just a small palace; no more than a hundred suites. I understand it sits on a hill overlooking a beautiful, sparkling clear lake, and had splendiferous gardens. From the upper floors of the palace you can see the snow-capped peaks of the breathtaking mountain range that borders the northern edge of your estate. Your chamberlain will naturally handle all matters of the estate and send you periodic reports when you are away from Obotymot. He's also empowered to deal with your subjects in your absence."

  "Subjects?"

  "Yes, My Lady. While the estate was producing, approximately three thousand tenant farmers worked the lands around the estate. Adding in their family members, your subjects probably numbered about twenty thousand."

  "Uh, do I have any responsibility to these— my subjects?"

  "Oh, yes, My Lady. You are their liege; their protector and chief magistrate. Unfortunately though, most of your tenants have been forced to leave the land since it cannot support them. Your chamberlain has promised them that they will not lose their farms if they return once crops will again grow. In the meantime, your only obligations are towards those that have remained, your staff at the estate."

  Jenetta sucked in as much air as her clothing allowed.

  "What sort of obligations?"

  "Why, payroll and benefits of course."

  The situation was getting more complicated by the minute. She was now responsible for people in perpetuity on an estate which may or may not produce any income within a lifetime.

  "I only earn a small sum from my service in Space Command," Jenetta said. "I can't pay wages and benefits for an estate that isn't producing enough to support itself."

  "That's not a worry, My Lady. The King has suspended all Obotymot taxes indefinitely, and won't reinstate them until the lands are producing again. He is personally paying all salaries and expenses associated with the maintenance of the estates on Obotymot, and repayments will not be required until crops again begin to grow. So you have no worry, except that you probably won't see any income for many years after the land again becomes fertile."

  Jenetta breathed a sigh of relief. She could have lost her security clearance with Space Command if she was forced to borrow money to pay salaries to people she had never met. Owing money to the realm, money that would only become due when the land became profitable again, should hopefully be excluded from such consideration.

  Jenetta's final tutor for the afternoon was a religious scholar. He began by instructing her from the Almuth, revered on Nordakia as the book of the True Word, much as the Bible, the Koran, and other texts might be viewed on Earth, but it was the only such book on Nordakia. Jenetta was able to relate historical events learned earlier in the day.

  By dinnertime, Jenetta's brain ached. The worst part of the day had been the protocol session because the internal workings of the palace seemed to make it a world unto itself. The second worst part of the day had been receiving her new hair, because she either kept sitting or leaning on it, or it was getting caught on, in, under, or around things. Having very long hair requires a discipline all its own.

  For the first week, Jenetta would take her meals in her suite, but thereafter her presence might be required at formal dinners. Vronnesa, Znanna, and Tkusa served Jenetta's dinner and steadfastly refused to join her at the small table. They just stood around her, waiting until her cup needed refilling, or she needed a napkin, or, anything. She understood that this was the way things were done in the palace, but being unaccustomed to such behavior, she was uncomfortable.

  She filled up quickly due to the tight constriction of the corset, and the dishes still contained most of the food when the handmaidens cleared them away. To pass the evening hours, the handmaidens took turns reading Nordakian poetry to Jenetta, so when it was time to go to sleep, Jenetta was feeling quite sleepy.

  * * *

  Chapter Six

  ~ October 13th, 2269 ~

  "This is unprecedented, Edward!" Doctor Zhang shouted angrily, while waving his arms in emphasis as they stood in the underground chamber. "To make a monumental discovery like this and not inform the rest of the planet's scientific community for four months is unconscionable!"

  Although roughly the same age as Doctor Peterson, Doctor Jin Wei Zhang was quite his opposite in appearance. Peterson is tall, while Zhang is barely five-foot two-inches; and where Peterson is lanky, Zhang has a roly-poly body from too many years of easy living and rich foods in his role as museum curator and funds raiser.

  "I'm sorry, Jin," Doctor Peterson said, "but you have to stop looking at this purely from a scientific perspective for a moment."

  "How else am I supposed to look at it? You're part of the scientific expeditionary party, and your contract requires you to immediately inform the rest the community if you make any significant discoveries. I'd say this is kilometers above significant."

  "I wanted to inform you, Jin, but we felt it better that we wait until we knew what was going on in the complex. Then, when the clones emerged, we were faced with a whole new dilemma. We still don't know if the machinery is trying to shut down, or if it's making more clones. We felt that secrecy was best."

  "More clones?" Zhang said, his face reflecting horror. "You think that it could be creating more?"

  "We have to face that possibility."

  Zhang was quiet for a few seconds, then said calmly, "You should have notified my office. If I hadn't stopped here for a routine inspection, I still wouldn't know about any of this."

  "We were afraid that if the news got out, every scientist on the planet would drop whatever they were working on and beat a path to our dig immediately. You must keep this discovery a secret, Jin, until we figure out how to disable the equipment."

  "I'm not sure I can do that. My shuttle crew has been associating with your team members so they probably know everything by now. I'll do my best to keep it from spreading too far, but I must notify the board of directors at the expedition museum headquarters on Anth
ius."

  "If you report this to Anthius, the entire galaxy will know within a fortnight."

  "I'll impress upon them the need for utmost secrecy."

  "Humph!" Dr. Peterson replied. "They couldn't even keep the route of our artifact convoy secret."

  * * *

  It was still dark in the room when the three handmaidens arrived to awaken Jenetta in the morning, but that was quickly rectified as Vronnesa and Znanna pulled open the draperies to reveal a bright, warm sun in a cloudless blue sky. Jenetta couldn't believe that she had slept so soundly during the long night.

  Whisked into the bathroom where a tub full of scented, soapy water waited, Jenetta's nightgown was quickly stripped off by the three women. Half helping her, and half lifting her, Jenetta's naked form was lowered gently into the warm water. She tried to resist when they begin using soft sponges to wash her, as they had yesterday, but six persistent hands are difficult to avoid, and she finally gave up and let them bathe her. Three to one odds are just too challenging to overcome graciously. At least they let her brush her own teeth, and she idly wondered who had brushed her teeth yesterday when she was mostly asleep.

  Propelled back into the bedroom after being dried, powdered, and dressed in clean underwear, three pair of hands continued to dress her in corset, stockings, shoes and a full-length slip. Jenetta was distracted by a new gown lying across the bed as shoes were put onto her feet, but she immediately felt the difference.

  "These aren't my shoes," she remarked as she looked down at the glistening silver and blue footwear on her feet. Rather than the solid vamp that should have covered her toes, a wide piece of leather like material crossed over the area just behind her digits, leaving her stocking-covered toes exposed. Two straps at the ankle held each shoe onto the foot. As with her original shoes, the heels were thirteen centimeters high.

  "Yes they are, My Lady," Znanna stated matter-of-factly. "They were custom-made for you using a pattern created yesterday. They were delivered this morning."