"I had a plan, too," the copy reminded Channing. "You forced my hand, as they say."
Channing dropped his magazine and stood up. One of the giants palmed him back into his chair.
"Sit still," said George.
"Now, see here...."
"Sit still. Be quiet."
"If you disappear, they'll call the experiment off. Qui Dor will say he already destroyed you. He'll apologize about copying me in the first place."
Channing's heart was thumping in his temples. "You're going to have me murdered," he said. He wished he could come to some other conclusion.
"And have the body found when you're supposed to be non-existent? Esse es percipi, don't forget. A dead Channing would embarrass us as much as a live one. You'll be taken far away instead."
"And then murdered. You can't chance my coming back."
"You seem hell-bent on your own demise."