"Walter Jon Williams - Daddy's World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

didn't always pick up the things between.
"I'm sorry," she said. "We didn't think this is how it would be."
"Maybe you should have given it more thought," Jamie said.
It isn't sorrow, he told himself again. It's just electrons moving.
"You were such a beautiful baby." Her lower lip trembled. "We didn't want to lose you. They
said that it would only be a few years before they could implant your memories in a clone."
Jamie knew all that by now. Knew that the technology of reading memories turned out to be
much, much simpler than implanting them-- it had been discovered that the implantation had to be
made while the brain was actually growing. And government restrictions on human cloning had made
tests next to impossible, and that the team that had started his project had split up years ago,
some to higher-paying jobs, some retired, others to pet projects of their own. How his father had
long ago used up whatever pull he'd had at the University trying to keep everything together. And
how he long ago had acquired or purchased patents and copyrights for the whole scheme, except for
Jamie's program, which was still owned jointly by the University and the family.
Tears reappeared on Mom's lower face, dripped off her chin. "There's potentially a lot of
money at stake, you know. People want to raise perfect children. Keep them away from bad
influences, make sure that they're raised free from violence."
"So they want to control the kid's entire environment," Jamie said.
"Yes. And make it safe. And wholesome. And--"
"Just like normal family life," Jamie finished. "No diapers, no vomit, no messes. No having
to interact with the kid when the parents are tired. And then you just download the kid into an
adult body, give him a diploma, and kick him out of the house. And call yourself a perfect
parent."
"And there are religious people..." Mom licked her lips. "Your Dad's been talking to them.
They want to raise children in environments that reflect their beliefs completely. Places where
there is no temptation, no sin. No science or ideas that contradict their own..."
"But Dad isn't religious," Jamie said
"These people have money. Lots of money."
Mom reached out, took his hand. Jamie thought about all the code that enabled her to do it,
that enabled them both to feel the pressure of unreal flesh on unreal flesh.
"I'll do what you wish, of course," she said. "I don't have that desire for immortality, the
way your father does." She shook her head. "But I don't know what your father will do once his
time comes."

****

The world was a disk a hundred meters across, covered with junk: old Roman ruins, gargoyles
fallen from a castle wall, a broken chariot, a shattered bell. Outside the rim of the world, the
sky was black, utterly black, without a ripple or a star.
Standing in the center of the world was a kind of metal tree with two forked, jagged arms.


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"Hi, Digit," Becca said.
A dull fitful light gleamed on the metal tree, as if it were reflecting a bloody sunset.
"Hi, sis," it said.
"Well," Becca said. "We're alone now."
"I caught the notice of Dad's funeral. I hope nobody missed me."