CITY OF DUPLICATION In the city of Uqbar, a long prophesied phenomenon of duplications has been set in motion. Here is one instance that is currently playing out: while he is sleeping, an unpublished writer discovers movements that seem to come from inside his mattress. He cuts open the mattress to find his clone.The clone jumps out from inside the mattress like a Trojan horse. The writer freezes. Have you finished the book? the clone asks. No, the writer says. Why? the clone demands. I havent had the time, the writer blurts unconvincingly. At this point the clone ends the writers life, the writer disappears and the clone takes his place and lies in his bed. For the next week, the clone works with new found enthusiasm on the writers book but soon slips into a familiar pattern of inertia that he cannot resist. One night he feels movements from inside the mattress. He cuts open the mattress to find another clone. Is the book done, clone 2 asks. No, but - starts clone 1 but before he can finish, clone 2 ends his life, takes his place and lies in his bed. This phenomenon of duplications will proceed infinitely, until one of the clones manages to finish the book or one of them manages to overpower the next clone that materializes in the mattress.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 05:21:26 +0000