Clones

1

        The following story is very difficult; the most awkward part of all is determining just how and where to begin. For more than a year now I’ve wrestled with this thing. It has brought about torture that’s well-nigh unbearable …caused soul-searching unending.

         Should this bizarre information be “leaked” to warn the general populace? Or might the wiser choice be that it remain secreted away in a musty, cobweb-filled closet? Perplexing questions, but nonetheless one’s that must be taken by the horns and grappled with.

         Until this point in time a great reluctance has ruled my thinking, and that hesitation has resulted in dozens of delays in speaking out on this all-important matter. But no longer. The decision has been reached…I’m gonna’ tell it!

         This is a story dealing with, and indeed highlighting, the ridiculously low depths to which man will stoop. Also contained herein, at least to some extent, are elements one doesn’t face on a day-to-day basis.

         Portions of material appearing here is perhaps not suitable for all members of the family. The meek and squeamish are advised to drop out immediately, for in this written work are found shapes and forms of a truly frightening nature…grotesque, mis-shapen creatures surely not of this world, but spawned instead in the fiery pits of Hell itself. Or in this case, in the minds of men. Makes no big difference. Hell, and the minds of men…all too often they’re one and the same!

         A sidenote if you will. Though not possessing those extrasensory powers that enable Gypsy fortune-tellers to peer into the future, I am aware of the reaction this subject causes. Already I can see a gleeful outpouring from the scoffers. Skeptics are gonna’ have a field day.

         Admittedly  a tad of “tom-foolery has appeared in these pages ( some critics have described it as an over- abundance of foolishness, but that’s incorrect. The correct description is tad ) in the past. But none of that stuff will be found here…there’s a time and place for everything!

         This work is a complete turnabout from all that’s been before; in a manner of speaking, a departure from the norm. Seriousness …a keyword to remember throughout the ensuing pages

         A truly incredible event, fomented and given root in faraway places, have spread their tentacles and now reach into our backyard, much too close for comfort. Only b y accident did I stumble across this story. Well, perhaps a retraction here. After all, candor and honesty were promised.

         Six months ago I learned where a series of clandestine meetings were being held ( attending were high-ranking government officials and business big-wigs ). If their agenda is successful then another weighty onus is on the backs of poor people. This group, believe it or not, are already far too over-burdened. Looking at the over-all situation, I decided drastic action was needed.

         Acting with the stealth of a sneaky Indian brave and taking advantage of an inky black darkness provided by a driving rainstorm,  I crept in undetected and used government tactics against the G-Men. I bugged that consarned conference room!

         Folks, a great danger ( from unexpected sources ) is upon us, and hasty action to deter this threat should have priorities at the highest levels. Unless someone of authority has the presence of mind to step in and halt the opening of this Pandora’s Box the ensuing consequences will be horrible, far beyond the capability of our puny human minds to comprehend.

         Time is of essence, the hour grows late…

2

         For several months I’ve been having this dream, one that is hardly a mere reverie. More like a nightmare, and has left me with a deeply troubled and worried mind. The reasons for this uneasiness are vague and ill-defined, much like searching for the sun in an ominous sky filled with storm clouds.

         Now please understand. I realize but few people ( maybe nary a single soul ) will give a hoot about any unpleasant experiences I might have undergone. Such uncaring attitudes could well change however , because here, for every living person on this planet is a topic rife with grounds for alarm!

         Perhaps it can give rise to prolonged and serious thought about the direction in which we’re headed…a headlong and out-of-control plunge into areas where sensible folks wouldn’t dare trespass.

         This bluewater Earth has known many sad chapters, but viewed from a purely personal viewpoint , nothing in the past has caused me quite so many dark and brooding moments of anxiety as does this devious plot now being formulated and hatched out in certain circles. Poor people the world over should be made aware of just who this seamy action will be directed against. Make three guesses!

         Some people in the upper echelons of our hierarchy have made a momentous decision . They’ve reached a rather startling conclusion that human-beings ( poor ones ) are obsolete! That’s right. Passe, out-of-date, over the hill…useless!

         From the time that first computer ( the potential for these electronic monsters to do us evil has no limits. Some false information is gonna’ be spat out in either Washington or Moscow, we’re gonna’ be blown to smithereens and find ourselves in orbit somewhere between those two outermost planets, Neptune and Pluto. When it happens chalk it up to computers )         pinged it’s way onto the world scene I’ve suspected this would happen, but have lately come to realize computers represent only a tip of the iceberg .  Something far more sinister is astir, and a terrifying monster soon to confront all humans is lurking and biding it’s time…there, just beneath a turbulent surface.

         The flesh-and-blood entity known as homo-sapien is an astounding machine, easily capable of a zillion moods and emotions. Few of these are more remarkable than it’s ability to unleash a deluge of lachrymal drops, a fluid substance secreted by glands in the eye that usually results in a torrential outpouring of tears. Crying it’s called.

         The clomping of distant hoof-beats draws ever near, carrying a seedy scene that makes me wanna’ cry a river of ‘em

         As of this date neither the Apple people nor Texas Industries has come out with a computer that can duplicate, or even mimic, this exclusive talent that remains unique to humans alone. However, a sneaking suspicion tells me the  “intellectual whiz-kids” on their payroll are burning the midnught oil trying. Hmm, just think…a crying machine!

         Each passing year see’s man’s knowledge grow with leaps and bounds, and today he’s getting very close to stumbling onto things that are better left alone. Tampering is damned dangerous! Even here on the local scene man stands on the verge of  awakening a sleeping giant, and catastrophe looms just ahead. Only the blind, or complete fools, can fail to see it…

3

         In secret underground laboratories all across the country men wearing long white coats are hard at work. For our own sake we’d better wish them every possible failure.

         For years they’ve been tinkering with the DNA process, the very building-block of life itself. These nuts are fooling around with the genes that determine your hair and eye color, and every other little detail about the children you might wish to bring into this world. Just step right up to the counter folks…place your order right here! Be sure to state your correct size and colors you prefer, whether you want a male or female. And please…a limit of two per customer!

         Fifty years ago another chap was messin’around with this thing; he thought every man, woman and child oughta’ have blond hair and blue eyes. A little strange! That rascal himself had black hair and brown orbs of vision. It’s all self-explanatory however; he was later diagnosed as being “nuttier than a fruitcake.” His name was Adolph Hitler, and perhaps that will alert you to the kind of people I’m gonna’ tell you about.

         People in the computer industry, along with their brainy cohorts in our leading universities, have formed a unanimous opinion. Their logic follows this line of thought; miniaturized electronic gadgets…crammed full of of micro-chips and a billion memory cells, could better run this world and should have priority over “sub-standard human dummies.” You and I, pal…you and I!!

         Recall, if you will, that creation back there in the Garden of Eden. The Omnipotent Creator of this infinite universe made something, remember? That supernatural and Almighty Being looked at his handiwork, liked it…and called it Adam.

         Well now! It just so happens that “these here high IQ” graduates of  MIT, Stanford and Cal-Poly have decided old Adam just ain’t good enough. He needs some improvement, and they’re just the ones who can remedy those glaring imperfections ( wonder if such experiments are also being conducted at Slippery Rock University? ) The justification for such projects: “we stand on the threshold of amazing scientific breakthroughs!” Personally and in this particular instance I’d translate that to read “blasphemy.”

         Now please, I’m not about to fall into a trap and find myself  drawn into a discussion centering on the Bible and Christianity. To each his own.

         My own belief in this matter? Well, certainly this person doesn’t wish to sound like an old Fogey, but I believe we’re lately treading into areas where even Angels might fear to tread! And just maybe that Omnipresent Creator sits up there watching ( in a disgusted manner no doubt ), and at any moment may decide to send his big foot crashing down! That…in a nutshell, is what I believe.

         But this is a field for Church and theologians. Right now we’re gonna’ get back to those aforementioned Universities. Stanford, MIT, Cal-Poly. Man, I’ll tell ya.’ These are the Cadillac’s alright…the really prestigious schools. And now a great land-grant college, located just 25 miles from us, has joined forces with that select group. I believe there’s some shady shenanigans goin’ on just across Brush Mountain. “Over yonder at VPI!”

         Ever hear of cloning?…

4

         Cloning…the intentional tinkering with life-forms ( both animal and human )toward an ultimate goal of altering it. Now listen here fella,’ the mere mention of that word “skeers me plum to death” for it instantly causes ghoulish memories to come flooding back from a long-ago and nearly forgotten past.

         Forbidding, menacing castles…cobblestone streets…bands of terrified villagers carrying lighted torches while giving chase to unspeakably foul creatures across fog-enshrouded swamps!

         Bela Lugosi…Count Dracula! Lon Chaney Jr….Wolfman! Boris Karloff…Frankenstein, the huge monster created by an insane doctor with the same name! Vincent Price…playing hundreds of roles that would scare the Devil himself to death!

         Mad scientists working at a frenzied pace over a gigantic figure strapped in a prone position. Bolts of lightning ziz-zag precariously about, emanating from undistinguishable points of origin in the ceiling down to a bolt that has somehow grown thru the creature’s neck.

         Suddenly a slight twitching of a hand, an involuntary movement of an arm, and a pair of eyes begin slowly to open, eyes that have gazed upon the red-hot coals of Hell. Good Lord…that thing is alive! Git outta’ my way man! I’m gittin’ outta here!

         You’d better hope you’re never smitten with that rather serious malady known as lycanthropy. Certainly you’ll not be able to hide this illness, and it just might affect your social standing…friend, you ain’t gonna’ be invited to many functions.

         The symptoms of this disease are easily detectable…an unusually heavy growth of body hair, and teeth suddenly growing to become lengthy fangs. Lycanthropy…the transformation of ordinary humans into snarling, murderous, blood-thirsty werewolves!

         Any person with the slightest inkling he might have contacted this highly contagious disease should report in at the nearest hospital for tests and observation, especially on nights with a full-moon rising!

         These recollections race back from across the decades to rekindle old acquaintances. Those horrible, degenerate monsters awakening from a 40 year slumber can yet send chills creeping along the spine.

         I’m not too educated where clones are concerned, but if I understand correctly they’ll fit right in with the hideous “things” just mentioned. At first glance and to all outward appearances clones are human. But ya’ know, first-hand impressions can be deceptive , and oft times can lead unsuspecting fools into perilous situations. Any and all similarity between humans and clones ends abruptly at skin-level.

         Clones are creatures without spirit and soul…unthinking, unfeeling, uncaring. They’re more closely related to “the living dead” than to any other repugnant creature. That’s right pal, the unholy…zombies!

         Supposing them there “perfessers” over yonder at VPI have some success in their diabolical experiments. Just recently I listened in on a conversation some insiders were having, and their general tone conveyed the idea that, indeed, success has already been realized in Blacksburg!

         These people we4nt on to say that some of their prototype clones have escaped from campus, headed in a westerly direction for Giles County and even now walk among us. Remember now, clones are unthinking entities, which explains why they’ve “settled in” under the guise of government officials.  Posing as such, they might go undetected forever. Hell, we could find ourselves being over-run by an army of 200,000 cold and calculating clones! May we be showered with mercy from above!

         A giant cover-up is goin’ on in Blacksburg. Make no mistake…we’re being hoodwinked. Their publicized goal at that institute of higher learning is how to coax an extra gallon of milk from Elsie the cow at milkin’time.

         Pay heed to what I’m saying. These people ain’t interested in Holsteins…cows ain’t their business. That’s a “front” for clandestine activities being carried out in underground labyrinths neath that sprawling campus.

         We sit idly by saying to each other: “they oughta’ leave well enough alone.” Friends, that’s not enough in this instance. We need to do more.

         I’m gonna’ sit down and write my Congressman a letter and request he launch a full-scale  Congressional investigation into this matter.  But be forewarned; I’m not certain such an inquiry will ever get off the  ground.

The End

M. L. Wilkinson

August, 1980