Page 19

Chapter nineteen

Simon

They left for town the next morning. Simon kept track of the time, measuring the distance, wondering how far Nora truly lived from society. By his calculations, she was not as far out as he had feared. It only took around thirty minutes at a good clip in the hover to get to town. The rubble was the same in every direction, so Simon fixed his eyes on the mountains as they passed. We drove farther the other day to get to the old mall .

Nora had two battery-operated scooters in the back, just in case, the same ones Tilly frequently played with in the yard. Having the scooters was a point Nora stressed, even saying that they might need to get a third one for him. Looking out at the unforgiving landscape he could understand. His jaw ticked. Getting stranded out here in the desert would be a death sentence.

What was different today from every other day thus far was how tense Nora seemed this morning. Simon glanced at her out of the corner of his functional right eye, needing to turn a bit to do so. Very different. Nora wasn’t as apt to joke around today like she had the day before. In fact, since yesterday, it has seemed like she’s trying to avoid being close to me.

He was cognizant of the distance between them, realizing that Nora wasn’t reaching to tap and guide him with the same casual impulsiveness that she did when he first woke up well over a week ago. And he was even more aware that he missed it. He missed her playfulness and gentle hands. A change was happening between them and he was struggling to categorize it. The difference, and the vague sense of unease that accompanied it, made him uncomfortable. He frowned at the dusty landscape. Did I upset her somehow?

“Here we are,” Nora said softly as they pulled up to the outskirts of an area where buildings started.

Here? Simon scanned ahead. There was not a defined definition between the areas, just a smattering of buildings clustered together that grew more distinct the closer they traveled.

Now that they were closer, Simon, again, had a moment where the reality of what he was feeling didn’t match with the view before him. His eye zoomed in, processing fast to understand. A town? This? It’s almost like when I’m with Nora, I can forget how the world is now.

He had never been to this town before in his time, nor could he label it on a map even if his frame of references were accurate. Which, without any sort of broadband or logs to tap into, were not to be relied on at all. He only had his own processors to work with.

The hover traveled loudly through the mostly silent streets. Simon scanned everything as they passed. Doesn’t matter where it is. Still doesn’t look like a thriving town. There were shacks everywhere, making Nora’s home more like a luxury model. Refuse lined alleys and offshoots. But as they traveled farther in, a sense of order emerged amongst the throng of humanity.

Simon noted an open-air marketplace here, a church stone building there. The mood was markedly tense, though. There was no casual conversation and no joy on the faces of those in the streets. He shifted on his box seat, uncomfortable. This is similar to one of the post-apocalyptic movies the humans watched; destruction brought to reality.

As they drove, the town became more orderly. There were shops and vendors selling items on the sidewalk and people were walking around. They went farther, and Simon saw how their hover was watched, overtly, as they passed through.

“It appears different here than in the first part of town,” Simon said, eyeing buildings that seemed to be in a better state of repair.

Nora spoke with her eyes scanning the scenery, hands tight on the steering wheel. “Yeah, the big families live here. This still isn’t the most impressive area, where the richer families live. I gotta sell the metal and stuff with the Tyra gang, but if I didn’t, the rich families would probably pay better for the books.” She pointed at the walls, which were painted the same colors as the flag on the front of her hover. “We’re in their section now. We can only travel through here.”

“Gangs?”

“Yeah. They each control an area. People there have to . . . ah . . . contribute to the one in charge.”

“Are there other factions?”

Nora nodded, stiffly. “Yeah. Not every area is claimed but down here, in the outskirts, it is. Gotta stay in your area. Even then you don’t stop or you could lose your shirt.” She tapped the dash where the orange flag lay. “I got a deal to sell my scrap to the Tyra gang only. They leave me alone otherwise. We’re going to my contact now.”

“Are we going to visit Anna?” Tilly asked, unaware of the sullen eyes watching their hover from the street and the tension that Simon felt.

Nora didn’t look away from the dirt road. “You want to see the other kids?”

“No, I want to see Anna. I want to see her belly too.”

“I don’t know if we should.” Nora glanced at Simon. “I don’t think anyone would know he’s an android, but Anna might ask more questions.”

Simon shifted on his box seat again, unhappy to have caused Nora more distress with his presence. He frowned. Is that maybe why she is more distant lately? Fear? He found himself wanting to soothe her, to close whatever gap there was between them. “I don’t want to keep you from any of your friends.”

“Yeah. But . . .” Nora fell silent.

“But what?” Simon asked.

Nora nibbled her lip in thought, and then her eyes went skyward. “I’m not supposed to have you. I don’t want to put her in an awkward position. If there’s anyone here who would figure out what you are, it would be her.”

Simon touched Nora’s shoulder, feeling the stiffness in her muscles under his gentle contact. “You can’t just never see your friend again, Nora. I can wait outside while you say hello. I’m glad you and Tilly know other people. It concerns me that you’re out in the desert all alone.”

He pulled back his hand, not imagining that she had flinched a bit from his touch. Hmmm . . . He also didn’t imagine that small spike of heat that rose from her at his touch, or the way her cheeks were rosy even now as she scanned the distance. That’s . . . His eyes narrowed on her, processing her reaction, his processors growing heated themselves. Oh. Understanding pricked at his awareness. But it can’t be . . .

Tilly pulled on Nora’s shirt sleeve, leaning forward from the backseat. “C’mon, Anna told me she would give me a lemon pop next time I came in, Mama.”

Simon watched emotions play out on Nora’s face until she sighed. “Okay. But let’s get the stuff we need done first.”

They drove on a bit more, the town looking roughly the same. Orderly, but still tense. In the distance, Simon heard gunshots ring out, loud even over the din of machinery and electricity. He didn’t imagine it when he saw Nora give a slight jerk next to him, gripping the steering wheel tight every time they sounded. He wanted to reach for her again, to comfort her, but instead balled one of his hands in his lap.

Nora pulled up in front of a junkyard, the same banner displayed on her hover hanging high on top of it. “Here it is. The Tyra gang’s line for scavenge.” She pointed to a man that blended in with the dust that settled over everything. “That’s Max up front. Been trading with him for a long time.”

Nora turned to Tilly. “You stay back here for a minute, okay? I’ll go up with just Simon this time.”

“Okay.”

Max appeared even more weathered up close when they exited the hover and walked up. Wrinkles crisscrossed his face, even though Simon’s processors assessed his age to be late forties.

“Who’s with you?” he asked, eyeing Simon.

Simon tilted his head politely. “I’m Simon.”

Nora stepped in front of him. “Hi Max. Another scrapper. Helped me collect.”

Max didn’t take his eyes off Simon, but asked Nora, “Gang know he’s with you?”

Simon watched Nora steel her shoulders. “Not yet, but you can tell them. Part of my household now. But check what I brought in first. Got more with his help than I have for a while.”

“Better to have a man with you anyways,” the scrapper said slowly.

Nora’s cheeks reddened, but she walked back to the hover to gather the material. Simon moved to follow but Max held out his arm, stopping them both.

“A moment.” Max’s eyes narrowed on Simon’s face. Then he leaned in even closer. “Where you from?”

Simon took a step backward involuntarily. “The desert.”

Max squinted, looking like he was thinking hard. They both stood under his scrutiny in the hot sun until he looked back at Nora in disbelief. He spoke in a false female voice, clearly mocking her, “I’m not doing anything dangerous in the desert.”

Nora’s ears turned red.

Simon looked at both of them, confused. His body tensed though, as if there was danger.

Max walked all around Simon, as if he was a museum piece on display. “I would have never known though with him covered up like this if I didn’t have my suspicions already with all those parts you’ve been getting.” He side-eyed Nora, scoffing, as he continued pacing. “And the fact that you would never allow a man to live with you that easily. After all your talk about freedom.”

Fear flooded Simon’s processor. He knows. He met Max’s gaze as he came around again, resisting the urge to make a fist. I will not be turned off again.

Nora’s voice shook. “You won’t tell, will you, Max?”

Max looked away from his careful inspection to sneer back at her, biting out the words, “Nora, this is some serious shit, holding an android.”

Simon’s processors swirled while Nora held her hands out, as if in a plea, as she asked again, “You won’t tell, right, Max? I can get so much better stuff now with his help. Look. Look what we got.” She turned back and hurriedly carried over the books Simon had helped her collect.

Simon watched her hold them out to Max, desperation in her eyes. His body tensed and he reached for his limiters, feeling their absence. By his side, his hand twitched.

Nora put the books on a table up by Max and then ran back to the hover, hoisting the extra copper wiring they’d collected onto the table. “So much more, Max.” She put it down on the table in front of him and leaned in close, hair falling into her eyes. “Please?”

The scrapper focused on the metal that Nora quickly uncovered to show him. His eyes widened, then narrowed again before he said, “That’s a good amount. But the rate has gone down since you got him helping.” He focused back on Simon, tone brisk and sharp. “Talk with me, robot. When you from?”

The disdain in his voice and suspicion in his eyes raised Simon’s wariness in dealing with humans. He pressed his lips together tight. Not all are like Nora. She was squirming at his side, however, so he decided to be respectful and not hostile for her benefit. He fell into the same tone and mannerisms he took with humans from his time. The cool, yet polite, indifferent one. “I was last awake over a hundred and fifty years ago. Things were different then.”

Max’s face went slack. “Well shit.” His cheeks paled under the layer of dust. “What the hell, Nora.”

“Max . . .”

Max ignored her, focusing on Simon’s face. “What happened? Why weren’t you dismantled?”

“I was hidden until Nora found me. I do not know what happened during the war.” He tilted his head and lied, “I also was not designed to fight, only to serve. I am incapable of fighting.”

“Incapable?”

“Correct. I am programmed to never harm a human. I am grateful to Nora for her assistance in addition to being designed to help in whatever way possible.”

Simon saw Nora shift from side to side, averting her eyes.

Max rubbed his face and then looked over the stuff they brought in. “Right. That’s what the records said. The robots all got dismantled and melted down when they wouldn’t listen. So even if you . . .”

Simon reached for calm coolness. “My guardrails are still intact. I exist only to help.”

“Simon has been great, Max,” Nora interjected.

Max narrowed his eyes, obviously thinking hard. “Yeah . . . you did find more with him helping, too.”

Behind them, others started to filter in with their scrap to trade. Max’s eyes darted fast in his old face. He spoke quickly, before the others could overhear. “Fine. You’re the one taking the damn risk living with him anyways. But the deal is different now. I get half the shit you find for free. And in return, I don’t know anything about your pretty new pet here.”

Simon watched Nora back down and nod as she forced a smile. “Okay Max, that’s fine.”

“If you try trading elsewhere, deal is off.”

“I won’t, Max. You know I always just come here.”

“I mean it.”

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

Nora’s quick, meek compliance made a sensor twitch in Simon’s cheek. As well as the practiced placating smile that formed on her lips a second later.

Max narrowed his eyes on Simon again. “Damn straight. That’s the only reason I’m considering this deal. You’ve always followed the rules.” He shook his head and mumbled, “Other than finding and waking him, that is. Shit, Nora.”

Simon knew enough to stay silent, assessing the entire area and committing it to memory. And this is . . . civilization?

Nora held out her hand as Max put coins in her palm, holding it out a bit after he finished as if expecting more. Simon watched the exchange, his neural receptors sinking as Max stared at Nora stonily until she wrapped her palm around the money. Disappointment coated her face as she said back in a small voice, “Thanks, Max. We’ll be back soon.”

Simon followed Nora as she walked away until they got back in the hover. Tilly was bouncing on the backseat, happy they were back. They climbed in and drove off.

When out of earshot, Simon asked her in an undertone so Tilly couldn’t hear, “Did he severely underpay you?”

Nora nodded her head. She leaned against the hover’s steering wheel once they were out of sight, letting the engine idle, then banged her hand on the dash. “Shit.”

“That’s not a good word, Mama,” Tilly said, frowning from the backseat.

Simon felt at a loss on what to do. How can I make this better? His hand reached out to touch her gently on the shoulder. A second later he removed his fingers, feeling her muscles twitch underneath and the small heat surge that happened at his touch.

The earlier curiosity over her reaction was dimmed by her current distress. His touch seemed to help her move on though, as he watched Nora sit up and palm at the money in her pouch, counting it while taking deep breaths.

He asked, slowly, “Are we in trouble, Nora? From Max knowing?”

Nora leaned forward and shook her head, rubbing her forehead on the steering wheel. “No, I don’t think so. His word is good. He won’t blab if he thinks he’s getting a deal.”

“How much?”

She sat up fully in the driver’s seat and rubbed her chest, leaning back against the worn fabric. Her head tilted so her face pointed toward the sky. “Gave us only half what we usually get. My poor heart, though. Max only knew because he already suspected I was doing something with an android from those parts I had been getting all these weeks to fix you up. My freaking luck.” She side-eyed him. “I don’t think anyone else will figure it out.”

After a few minutes, they arrived in the merchant’s area. Her intuition proved right, as no one questioned Simon other than a few suspicious glances at being new when she visited various merchants to buy syntho-gas, chicken feed, and a few dried goods.

Simon followed her, noticing Nora’s restless glances at the armed guards standing at the entrance to the shopping district, overseeing everything with hard eyes. He continued absorbing all the information as they drove, watching Nora begin to relax as they got to a different area of town that was better put together and furnished. People were walking more freely and openly on the road as they passed. Soon they pulled up to a little shop with a sign that read “Bakery Delights.”

Nora stopped the hover on the side of the building and turned to him, flipping the loud engine off. She sat there, staring at him as if for guidance. “Alright. We’re at Anna’s. How do we want to do this? You want to stay by the hover?”

Simon stared back, uncertain. “Do you need me to stay here?”

“Ah. I just . . .”

He cut her off and pointed at the dirt street continuing to wind around the shops. “I will walk the block while you are there. I wish to see around town. Would that be alright?” He saw others walking around slowly, but this was a new land. He didn’t want to do anything to make himself stick out. Maybe on my own I can find an internet connection.

Nora bit her lip. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Even after . . .”

He saw her hesitation and countered it, placing his hand over hers. I do not need a keeper. “Nora, I am sentient and, despite what I told Max, capable of protecting myself. I need to know more about where I am living now. I will not get close or speak with anyone. You enjoy time with your friend and we can meet back here together.”

Nora’s shoulders were hunched and her eyes remained on their connected hands.

Simon squeezed her hand underneath his, and was relieved she didn’t immediately pull away like she had been. Now that he had a suspicion of the reason behind her reactions, he was beginning to get a rush when he felt her heartbeat pick up under his touch. “I will not run off and leave you.”

At that, Nora huffed and Simon saw her posture sag even further. “Okay. You’re right. You look like a human guy so you should be fine. Just watch your neck to make sure it’s covered, and maybe stay away a bit with that cracked eye. This here, where Anna lives, is the middle part, with all the merchants. It’s fine to walk around.”

“Alright.”

Nora fished around in a little box where the pistol lay. She hadn’t bothered pocketing it like she did the first time they went out, but picked it up and slipped it in at her waist now. She took a little cloth square with the same design as the Tyra gang’s flag on the dash and handed it over to him. “Show that if anyone asks, but it’s early in the day, so you should be fine. A lot of the action around here doesn’t happen until the end of the day or at night.”

“Yes, thank you.” Simon slipped the fabric patch in his pocket.

Nora turned around and adjusted a tarp to cover their purchases. Then she sat and hesitated, sitting in the driver’s seat as if lost in thought.

Simon was already lifting Tilly out, placing her gently on the dust road next to the hover. He walked over to her and offered his hand. “Want help?”

Nora startled into action but still grabbed his outstretched hand for help, making the jump down from the hover’s side with ease. She squinted up at his face and covered her eyes to shade them from the sun shining behind him. “Do you . . . are you able to keep time? There’s solar clocks on posts all over if not. Meet me back here in around an hour?”

An hour is more than enough. Simon was already looking over her shoulder at the road. “Yes. I’ll be back.”

He watched her and Tilly leave and walk in the shop, then took off himself to explore.