Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

burning gardens as his men dragged William away. "Someday, all Logres will look like this," he said happily.
    Back in James's chambers, Finn strolled around his creation, studying him from all angles. The clone looked good. He looked very good. Finn approved of good work. Du Katt had been surprisingly easy to bring on board. All he wanted in return for his services and the doctored genetest was a promise from Finn to bring the clone underground back to power and prominence again. And a whole bag load of money, of course. Only du Katt and a select few from the clone underground knew the truth. The less who knew, the less chance there was that someone might develop a conscience and talk. The deal itself was simple enough: in return for James, Finn would see to it that once the Transmutation Board had wiped planets clean of "troublesome" alien life, vast numbers of new clones would be produced to populate these new terraformed worlds. These new populations, along with their planetary votes in Parliament, would make the clones a force to be reckoned with again.
    Du Katt was also responsible for keeping the original cell samples in a safe place, so that another James could be produced if the first one didn't work out. That was one of the first things Finn told James, just so he knew where he stood.
    Anne Barclay had dug up everything the clone James needed to know, from her extensive archives. It wasn't difficult; down the years many books had been written and documentaries produced about the short but promising life of the man who should have been King. Anne and Finn had then taught the clone James all he needed to know on how to speak, how to move, how to act in public. He picked it up surprisingly quickly. As a blank slate he was endlessly hungry for information about himself, and the process was aided by Finn's punishing him severely if he got things wrong, and Anne's comforting him afterwards. Bad cop, good cop; carrot and stick. The old ways are always the best. James was still having trouble with some social skills, but they were mostly the kind you could pick up only by experience—which was why Finn insisted that James do so much at once. A full schedule of meetings and talks immersed James in the world he had to fool. It was sink or swim, but it seemed to be working.
    And if it was a bit hard on James, well, it wasn't as if he was a real person, after all.
    "You still need to do more work on your small talk," said Anne, sitting opposite James. Even just sitting, she still looked stiff and awkward in her new, beautiful body. "I know chatting makes you nervous, James, but you can only learn by doing. When in doubt, just smile and say something nice. It doesn't have to be true; few compliments are."
    "I do my best," said James, trying hard not to sound sulky. "It's just… I get tired. There's so much to do, and it never stops…"
    Finn slapped him across the face. It was a casual blow, but there was real power behind it. James rocked on his feet, but didn't fall. He stopped talking and stood very straight, his hands at his sides.
    "You do what I tell you to do, when I tell you to do it," said Finn.
    Anne was up out of her chair, glaring at Finn. "There was no need for that! He's doing his best."
    Finn looked at her coolly. "I will do what I will do, Anne, and no one gets to stop me anymore. You of all people should know that. James has to be perfect in his part, or all our plans will come to nothing. So James is going to be perfect, whatever it takes." He smiled at James. "I own you, boy, body and soul. I will make you King, and the Empire will bow down to you, but only because it pleases me to do so.
    You're mine, and always will be. Now, I must be about my business. So many lives to ruin; so little time!
    Anne, make sure he's fully briefed for the news interview in an hour. And remember: we are not at home to Mr. Cock-up!"
    He laughed, patted James lightly on his reddening cheek, blew Anne a kiss, and then swept out of the
    luxurious chamber with du Katt hurrying after him. James waited until the door had slammed shut behind them, and only then dared to sit down. His hands were trembling, and he clasped them tightly together in his lap. Anne sat on the padded arm of his chair, and put her arm round his shoulders.
    "Why doesn't Finn like me?" said James. "I do everything he tells me to do. I try my hardest, always."
    "There, there, James, don't take on so. It's just his way. We're both very pleased with your