Page 47

Chapter forty-seven

Simon

“W e’re almost there, Tilly,” Simon said as they got close, the town looming just ahead. The desert was silent in all directions. He eased off the throttle and had the hover idle a moment as he looked around. “I’m going to find you a safe place to hide. If it gets dangerous you run away. The drone will follow and I can find you again.”

“Is Mama going to be okay?” Tilly asked, her voice trembling.

She better be. Simon’s jaw clenched. “I’m going to go get her now.”

He scanned the area as he traveled closer to the town, wanting Tilly away enough to not be found but also close enough that he could get to her fast after getting Nora. The drone came down and hovered right in front of them both.

Simon settled on a rock outcropping a bit to the side of the town’s entrance. It was tall enough that you could not see the town behind it. There, he powered down the hover and lifted Tilly out before climbing down himself. He fiddled with the hover’s controls a minute, keeping it unlocked and easily accessible for Tilly to use. “This is how you turn it on, okay?”

“Okay.”

He showed her how to turn the little hover on and off, her tiny face intense in concentration. Tear tracks were down her cheeks where the dirt had washed away. Simon took out the jug of water and set it on the dirt next to her. He bent down and looked her in the eyes, his tone intense. “Tilly, can you stay here? And be very quiet?”

Tilly nodded and hugged herself. “Yes. I won’t move.” She sat down on a rock, pulling her legs up to her chest.

Simon was anxious to get to Nora but took an extra second to bend down and hug Tilly close as she sat there, looking just like Nora putting on a tough face. She trembled in his arms as he held her. “You were so brave in getting me so fast. I’m going to get her now. But I can’t be worried about you too.”

Tilly pointed to the town. “Okay. Just help Mama.”

He backed up and stood, taking the gun he took from the bedroom from his pocket. Then he double checked the bullets, just like he remembered Nora doing . Where is Nora’s gun now? The gun shook slightly in his hands as he put it in his pocket and covered it with his shirt, not wanting to open carry through the town.

Alright. Ready to go. He started to walk away but then looked at Tilly again, sitting on a rock, just looking back at him with those sad eyes. “I will be back for you, but just in case, you have this hover. If it is not safe, ride to the schoolhouse, okay?”

The drone came down low to rest on the ground next to her. Stella’s voice was firm and clear as she said, “We will watch her. And talk. We have many stories and songs for Tilly to listen to while we wait.”

Another drone hovered overhead, flashing deep green in the desert sun. And another raced across the midday sky. “We will be watching the whole area. No one will come close without us knowing.”

Tilly picked up a stick and held it in her hands. She stood up and waved it at him. “Okay. You’ll be back? With Mama?”

Simon nodded, his eyes flinty and already staring at the town in the distance. “I won’t stop until I am.”

***

Simon walked through the refuse-lined streets, determined, knowing the way to Anna’s shop well now. There was no pause in his step and no one stopped him to chat as he traveled through the segments on foot. He tried to not overtly rush, to avoid drawing any attention. As it was, his processors were stressed and nearly overheated from forcing every part of him to remain alert.

It was with relief that he was able to walk into the merchant district with only minimal interruptions. Soon he reached the entrance to the building with the sign saying “Bakery Delights.”

That relief was short-lived, however, as he was clearly expected by those within the building.

His eyes narrowed as he heard muffled shouts of, “He’s here!” coming from inside.

Simon took out Nora’s spare pistol from his pocket and held it in front of himself while his eyes flashed with fury. I'm here.

The street, which was busier on the other end of the merchant district, was deserted outside the bakeshop. Simon couldn’t tell how many of the other shop owners were in on Paul’s plan, or how many had a sixth sense for danger and kept inside now, shutters drawn tight. The grip on his pistol was firm. It doesn’t matter.

Simon was seeing red through his functional right eye.

He walked up to the door and entered like normal, not wanting to draw any of the shoppers down the street into the commotion.

“There you are,” Paul drawled as he opened the bakery door. “Came for her just like I said he would, didn’t he.” Paul let out a sour laugh to the other men at his side. “Can’t believe I didn’t see what you were before.” He swaggered a step closer. “Too pretty to be anything but a robot.”

Simon tilted his head as he stepped fully inside and shut the door behind him. Three other men surrounded Paul, all with their guns drawn and pointed at him. His words were clipped and precise, “Yes, I’m here. I believe you have someone I’m looking for?”

Paul took another step forward, the three men hanging behind. “You can say that. Give yourself over now and I’ll let you see her again before we get you sorted out.”

“I’m afraid that’s the wrong answer.” The corners of Simon’s lips lifted in a predatory smile.

“That’s the only one I got. Sorry for you, robot.” Paul pointed his gun at Simon’s hands. “Put that gun down. You’re outnumbered.”

Simon huffed out a dark chuckle as he raised the pistol and pointed it directly at Paul’s heart. He tilted his head and regarded the humans in front of him. “And you’ve underestimated me.”

After his words there came one, and then two, gunshots from the men at Paul’s side. The bullets ripped through Simon's arm and midsection, causing error codes to go off in his vision, but the damage overall was minimal. A smirk came across his lips. As if that could stop me. The wiring that was damaged could be easily repaired later. Bullets were tiny, and even if they hit his battery pack, he had internal reserves from eating real food lately.

Paul’s eyes widened as he saw that the bullets barely made him pause. His face paled as Simon lunged for him. Paul punched out, his fist grazing Simon’s chin, but he quickly pulled back when he hit the metal. The hit barely registered on Simon’s sensors.

Simon punched back, hard, splitting Paul’s lip before grabbing his arm and toppling him to the floor. He easily could have hit him harder, caved in his whole head, but then Paul wouldn’t be able to talk. Wouldn’t be able to tell him where Nora was.

Paul let out a shriek of pain, flailing as he tried to get out of Simon’s grasp.

Simon twisted the man’s arm up and put his own knee in the small of his back. “Tell me where Nora is. Now.”

Paul’s lip was bleeding from the hit, coating his mouth in blood. “Like I’d tell you.” He yelled to the men lining the wall, “Turn him freaking off already, what are you waiting for? Shoot! Get him off me!”

Another gunshot sounded and Simon felt a hit on his back. He looked up, eyes wild, to identify which man was responsible. Wrong move. Lifting his hand, he shot back, the bullet going through the man’s heart with precision.

Paul’s friend toppled over as blood flowed. The one standing next to him jumped back from the falling body. “Screw this plan, Paul. I’m out of here.”

Paul took advantage of Simon’s distraction as his head turned, tracking the man’s exit, and lunged forward, pushing Simon back. He leaned his weight on Simon with a snarl. “Take you down myself.”

Simon easily pushed Paul off his chest, grabbed him by the throat, and brought him back down to the floor as another bullet whipped at him from behind.

And another. Simon turned and shot the remaining man with one hand, the other still gripped over Paul’s throat. Not even looking as the man collapsed, he turned back to Paul and snarled. “Tell me. Now. Where is Nora?”

Paul gasped for air, blood sputtering around his words. “Your bitch is bleeding out.”

Bleeding? Fury coated Simon’s mind as he pushed the gun into Paul’s chest and pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang through his processors, his system automatically muting it and filtering it out. He stood, walking away from Paul as the light faded from his eyes.

Simon's hands shook as he pocketed the gun and looked around the bakery. No more attackers? His sensors didn’t pick up any other heat signals in the room. He called out, “Nora?” and then connected internally to the drone. “She did not leave, correct?”

“As far as we can tell, yes.”

Simon stepped over Paul’s still twitching body. “Nora? Where are you?”