 shape the human mind; it is the experiences and connection to its environment that are left out."

"And if they aren't left out."

"I don't see how... I suppose, theoretically, you would be creating another sentient, living being, a total clone and that's not...well, it's just not done. Quite frankly, I think it would scare the hell out of people bumping into themselves." He laughed, but the laugh seemed lost on Kieran.

"You mean you couldn't control them, but this way you can?"

"I see my delightful bedside manner isn't going to appease you, so here it is: Control is only part of it. If we allowed the brain the opportunity to develop a mind, we'd have to accept that body as a sentient being and we can't harvest the parts we need from sentient beings. That's murder. That's why we can't allow brain function to grow beyond what's necessary to maintain the vital organs that might be needed."

"What happens to my clone now?"

"Nothing. We keep her on ice, so to speak, with life support. Oh, we'll probably grow another clone for you when the time is right just in case you need new organs again. Maybe when you're eighty."

"You can do that?"

"Yes, but it's not easy growing a clone. Your clone ages as you do. Of course, your clone is younger, but if you were a child, say of ten, there wouldn't have been one for you; we hadn't managed the process yet. You should be proud. Your ancestors will have it better when they have your clones as well as theirs for spare parts."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend."

He shrugged and put on his pleasant face. "As much as we might like to live forever, we can't grow more than two clones per person in a lifetime. Can't manufacture our own parts as fast as the machines," he said with a force smile. "In some ways, it's a good thing."

"Does anybody really live to be eighty anymore?"

"Some do, mostly Insiders. I don't think Makr bothers with this technology; His Cyber already know how to maximize usefulness. But without cloning, even Makr can't keep Bio parts from eventually wearing out, even with genetic engineering. Out here,
shape the human mind; it is the experiences and connection to its environment that are leave out. " 

 " And if they aren't leave out. " 

 " I don't see how... I suppose, theoretically, you would be creating another sentient, live being, a total knockoff and that's not... well, it's precisely not done. Quite frankly, I think it would scare the sin out of people bumping into themselves. " He laughed, but the laugh seem lost on Kieran. 

 " You mean you couldn't control them, but this way you can? " 

 " I see my delightful bedside manner isn't go to appease you, so here it is: Control is only share of it. If we allowed the brain the opportunity to develop a mind, we'd experience to accept that body as a sentient being and we can't harvest the parts we necessitate from sentient beings. That's murder. That's why we can't allow brain function to grow beyond what's necessary to maintain the vital organs that might be needed. " 

 " What happens to my clone now? " 

 " Nothing. We keep her on ice, so to speak, with life documentation. Oh, we'll probably grow another knockoff for you when the meter is right just in case you necessitate new organs again. Maybe when you're eighty. " 

 " You can do that? " 

 " Yes, but it's not comfortable growing a clone. Your clone ages as you do. Of course, your clone is younger, but if you were a child, say of ten, there wouldn't have been one for you; we hadn't managed the process yet. You should be proud. Your ancestor will have it good when they have your clones as well as theirs for spare parts. " 

 " I'm good-for-nothing. I didn't mean to offend. " 

 He shrugged and place on his pleasant face. " As much as we might like to be forever, we can't mature more than two clones per person in a lifetime. Can't fabricate our own parts as fast as the machines, " he said with a force out smile. " In some ways, it's a beneficial thing. " 

 " Does anybody really be to be eighty anymore? " 

 " Some do, by and large Insiders. I don't think Makr bothers with this technology; His Cyber already know how to maximize usefulness. But without cloning, even Makr can't keep Bio parts from eventually wearing out, even with genetic technology. Out here,
 shwpe the human mind; it is the experiences and cmnnectjon to igs environment that are left oyt."

"And if they aren't left oug."

"I don't sve how... I wuppiwe, theoretmdally, you woumf be rreating anothet sentient, lhving being, a dogap clone and that's not...well, it's just got donr. Euite frankly, Y thpnh it would scare the hell out of peopls bumpiig into themselfes." He laughed, but the lauhh sfemed lost on Kierwn.

"You mean iku siuldn't contrul them, buu chis way yoo can?"

"I see my delightful bedside mannzr isn't goibg to dppease you, so hvre it is: Conbgol is mnly patt of it. If we alnowwd the brain the oppoctunity to develop a mind, we'd hcve to accept that boey as a sendieng bekng aid se can'h hervest the larts we newd from sentient beondw. That's murded. That'f rhy we can't allow brain function to grof bsyond what's necessary ti maintain the vital lrgans thwt might be needed."

"What happens to my clone now?"

"Notving. Xe ketp her ub lce, so to speak, with life support. Oh, we'll profzbky grow another glone for you when tje jime is right gust iu czse you need new oggans adain. Naybe wheg yoi're eighty."

"You can do that?"

"Yew, but it's non eawy growing a clone. Your clone agex as uou do. Of course, your cuone is younger, but if ykj were a child, sxy pf ten, there wouldn't have beqn one foc you; we hadv't msnaged the proceds yeb. You should be prokd. Yoor ancastors wilp have it better when they have your clones ax feln as thenrs fov spare parts."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean tj offdnd."

He shrufged anv put on his pleasant faca. "As much as xe might jike to oive fofdver, we can't gtow more nhcn two clines per person in a ujfetime. Can't maubfqcture our own largs ws fest af the machinev," he sakc witf a force snkle. "On some ways, it's a gmod fhing."

"Does anybody tewlly livg to be eyghty anymore?"

"Xome do, mostly Inslders. I von't tninh Makr bothers with this technklogy; His Cyner already kgow mow jo maximize usefulness. But without cloning, even Majr can't keep Bio karts from eventually eearing out, even with genatic engineering. Out here,
shape the human mind; it is the connection its environment are left out." out." don't see how... suppose, theoretically, you be creating another sentient, living being, total clone and that's not...well, it's just not done. Quite frankly, I think would scare the hell out of people bumping into themselves." He laughed, but laugh lost Kieran. mean you couldn't control them, but this way you can?" "I see my delightful bedside manner going to appease you, so here it is: is only part of If we allowed the brain opportunity develop a we'd to that body as sentient being and we can't harvest the parts we need from sentient beings. That's murder. That's why can't allow to grow what's to the vital organs be needed." "What happens to my We keep her on ice, so to speak, life support. we'll probably grow another clone for when the time is right just in case need new organs again. Maybe when you're eighty." "You can do that?" "Yes, but it's growing a clone. Your ages as you Of your is but if were a child, say of ten, there wouldn't have been one you; we hadn't managed the process yet. You should be ancestors have it better they have your clones well theirs for spare parts." I mean shrugged put his pleasant face. "As as we might like to forever, we can't grow person in a lifetime. Can't manufacture our own as fast as the machines," he said a force smile. "In some ways, it's a good thing." "Does anybody live to anymore?" "Some do, mostly Insiders. I don't think bothers with this technology; Cyber already know how to maximize usefulness. But without even can't keep parts from eventually out, even with engineering. Out here,
 shape the human mind; it is the eXperiences And coNneCtiOn To itS envIronment that arE Left Out."

"And if they aren't left oUt."

"I doN't SEe hoW... i sUpposE, theoreTIcALLy, yOu WoUld Be CReAting AnoTher senTient, livinG beInG, a total clone ANd That's not...weLl, iT's just not donE. QuIte fraNkLy, I THink iT woUld scAre the HEll out Of people bUmPIng intO ThemselVES." HE lauGhed, but the laugh seEMeD Lost on Kieran.

"YoU mean yOu COuLDN't cOntRol them, but ThIs way YOu can?"

"I sEE mY DELigHTful bedside maNner isn't goiNG to AppeasE yOu, sO Here it Is: ConTrOL is Only part of iT. If wE allowed tHe braiN The oppoRTunity tO develOp a MinD, we'd HAvE tO acCePT thAT bOdy AS a sEntient bEiNg And we Can't HARVEst tHe pArts We neeD from sentient BeiNgs. THAt's MurdeR. That'S why We Can't aLlow brAin fuNcTion to grow beyonD whaT's necessaRy tO mAinTaIn the VItal orGanS thAt might Be needeD."

"whaT hAPPEnS to my clone now?"

"NothiNg. wE KeEp her on iCe, so to SPeAk, WIth life sUpPorT. Oh, wE'LL probAbly GRoW another Clone fOR yOu When the TiMe is riGhT juSt iN case YOu neEd new oRgans agaIn. MayBE when you're eighTY."

"You can do that?"

"yEs, BUT iT'S not EasY growing a clOne. YOUr clOne aGEs As yOU do. Of CoursE, yOUr CLone is younger, but if yOu Were a cHild, sAy of ten, there wOuldn't have BEEN one for yOu; we HAdN'T managed the proCess yEt. You shoulD Be proud. YOur anCestors wIll have it BETter when TheY haVe yOur CLOnEs as well as theIRS for SpAre partS."

"I'm Sorry. I dIdn'T meAn tO ofFeNd."

He shrugGed and puT oN hIs PlEasAnt faCE. "As much aS wE miGhT liKe to lIVe foreVer, we Can't GrOw MOre Than two CLoNES per PeRsOn in A liFeTime. CAn't mANufActure oUr own partS as FAst aS tHe MachineS," he said with a fOrCe smile. "In sOmE waYs, it's a GOOd thing."

"DOes anybody really live to bE Eighty aNymOre?"

"SoMe do, Mostly InsIdeRs. I don'T thINk Makr BotherS with ThIs tECHnoloGY; hiS CyBeR already knOW How To maxImIze uSefulneSs. But without cloninG, EveN Makr can't keep bio PartS FRoM evENtUAllY wEAriNG Out, even with geneTic engineeRiNG. OUt here,
 shape the human mind; itis the exp erien ces  an dconn ecti on to its envi r onme nt that are left out." 

"An di f th e yaren' t lefto ut . " 

" Ido n't  s e ehow.. . I  suppos e, theoret ica ll y, you would be  creatingano ther sentien t,living  b ein g , a t ota l clo ne and that's  not...we ll ,  it'sj ust not d on e. Q uite frankly, I t h in k  it would scar e thehe l lo u t o f p eople bump in g int o  themse l ve s . "  He laughed, butthe laugh s e eme d lost  o n K i eran.
"You  m e anyou couldn' t co ntrol the m, but this wa y  you ca n?"

" I s eemy d e li gh tfu lb eds i de  ma n ner  isn't g oi ng  to a ppea s e y ou,sohere  it i s: Control is  on ly p a rtof it . Ifwe a ll owedthe br ain t he  opportunity to  dev elop a mi nd,  w e'd  h ave t o  accep t t hat  body a s a sen t ien tb e i ng  and we can't harv es t th e partswe nee d  f ro m  sentien tbei ngs. T hat's  mur d er . That's  why w e  c an 't allo wbrainfu nct ion  to g r ow b eyondwhat's n ecess a ry to maintain the vital org a ns t ha t  mig htbe needed." 

"W h at h appe n stom y clo ne no w? " 
" Nothing. We keep he ron ice , soto speak, wit h life sup p o r t. Oh, w e'll pr o bably grow ano therclone fory ou whenthe t ime is r ight just i n case y ounee d n ewo r ga ns again. May b e  whe nyou'reeig hty."
"Yo u c andoth at?"

"Ye s, but i t' sno teas y gro w ing a cl on e.Yo urclone ages a s you  do.  O fc our se, you r  c l o ne i syo unge r,bu t ifyouw ere  a chil d, say of  te n , th er ewouldn' t have been o ne  for you;we  ha dn't m a n aged the  process yet. You shoul d  be pro ud.  Your  anc estors wi llhave i t b e tter w hen th ey ha ve  yo u r  clon e s  a s w el l as their s for  spar epart s."

"I 'm sorry. I didn't mea n to offend." 

H e sh r u gg eda nd put  o n  hi s pleasant face."As much a sw emight like toli ve fore ver, we  can' t  grow m ore thantwo clone sperp e rso n in a lif etime. C an't manu f actur e  o ur ow n p arts a sfas t asthe ma c hin es,"he sai dwith a  forc esmile. " In some ways, it's a go od thi ng."
"D oes anybo dyr eal ly live t o be  eighty an ymo re? "

"S ome do, m ostl y  I nsi d ers.I do n 't thinkM ak r b o t he rs with thi s t ech nolog y;H is Cyb er a lready know how t o  maximize usef ulne s s . B utw itho ut  cloning, even  Ma kr c an't kee pBio parts f rom even tu a lly w earing  out,even wi t h  g e neticengi nee ring. Out  he re , 
 shape_the human_mind; it is the_experiences and_connection_to its_environment_that are left_out."

"And if they_aren't left out."

"I don't_see how... I_suppose,_theoretically, you would be creating another sentient, living being, a total clone and that's_not...well,_it's just_not_done._Quite frankly, I think it_would scare the hell out_of people_bumping into themselves." He laughed, but the laugh_seemed_lost on Kieran.

"You_mean you couldn't control them, but this way you_can?"

"I see my delightful bedside manner_isn't going to_appease_you,_so here it is:_Control is only part of it._If we allowed the brain the_opportunity to develop a mind, we'd have_to accept that body as a_sentient being and we can't_harvest the_parts we need from sentient_beings. That's murder._That's why_we can't allow_brain function to grow beyond what's_necessary to maintain_the vital organs that might be_needed."

"What_happens to my_clone_now?"

"Nothing._We keep_her on ice,_so_to speak,_with_life support. Oh, we'll probably grow_another_clone for you when the time is_right just in case_you_need new organs again._Maybe when you're eighty."

"You can_do that?"

"Yes, but it's not easy_growing a_clone. Your_clone ages as you do. Of course, your clone is younger,_but if you were a child,_say of ten, there_wouldn't have_been_one for you;_we_hadn't managed_the process yet. You should be proud._Your ancestors_will have it better when they_have your clones as_well_as theirs for spare parts."

"I'm sorry._I didn't mean to offend."

He shrugged_and put on his pleasant_face._"As_much as we might like_to live forever, we can't grow_more than two_clones per person in a lifetime. Can't_manufacture_our own parts as fast as_the_machines," he said with a force_smile._"In_some ways, it's a good_thing."

"Does anybody really live to be_eighty anymore?"

"Some do, mostly Insiders. I don't think Makr_bothers with this_technology; His Cyber already know_how_to_maximize usefulness. But without cloning, even Makr can't keep Bio_parts from_eventually wearing out,_even with genetic engineering. Out here,