Page 50

Chapter fifty

Simon

Simon tended to Nora’s leg, feeling the pressure of the uplink on his mind but refusing the connection. With a shake of his head, he brushed it off. Later. He left Nora’s side to get out the first aid kit she had that contained a sterile needle, thread, and gauze. He dipped the needle briefly in alcohol to make sure it was clean as he assessed the supplies. None of this is ideal. This should be done in a hospital or clinic, with strong antibiotics and a sterile environment. Not here in Nora’s bedroom, on her bed, with a towel underneath her leg. He clenched his jaw. But I’ll do my best.

Simon got down low and flushed the wound out with saline, making sure it was completely clean. His brows contracted in a frown as he began to use the needle and thread to stitch the two bullet wounds on her leg mostly shut.

Never had he willed his hands to remain so steady as he worked. He put the stitches all in a neat line, taking breaks to wash the wound and keep her settled in sleep. She lost a lot of blood.

He released the tourniquet as he went, monitoring the bleeding and his repair. Nora twitched as he stitched, floating in and out of awareness and whimpering as she did so. The sound made him wince, and he took a deep breath when she finally rested for real the moment he was done.

Only then, once it was finished, did he let his hands shake as he looked at her, the anxiety from the day lingering in his central processors. I almost lost her. He frowned and pulled the blanket over her body again, leaving her leg exposed. She was hurt . Ultimately because of me. He looked back down at his row of expert stitches and forced himself to breathe, thinking the action might help calm him down like it did for a human. Gently, he moved her hair behind her ears. Oh, Nora.

This was the first time he ever wished Nora was other than human, so that he could fix her easier than her body allowed. He’d left one side of the wound, the larger hole, partially open for the wound to drain, and now dressed it properly with the gauze from the first aid kit.

Having taken action didn’t help his anxiety, but sitting and watching Nora breathe deeply calmed him down. Moving carefully to clean his supplies, he tried not to disturb her, even though his sensory cortex ached to hold her. He readjusted her blanket. Tonight, when everyone’s asleep, I will. I’ll hold her the entire night. Like I should have before.

What if anything worse had happened and that was their last night together yesterday? Full of misunderstandings? Fear clawed at him and he took his head in his hands. It’s alright. She’s alright. He did worry about infection though. The androids were silent but Simon could see the drone watching his actions through the bedroom window. They might have some stronger medication. I’ll ask tonight. Simon turned the lantern lights off and walked to the door.

“Is Mama okay?” Tilly rushed to ask. She was sitting on the understuffed sofa, Anna next to her with the chalkboard in her lap. They had been drawing together with the radio turned down low.

Simon mustered a smile for the two sitting there. “Mama will be. She’s sleeping now, so let’s try to let her rest.” He went over and hugged the little girl, lifting her off the sofa completely in his arms. “You were so brave and got me in time.”

A grin lit up Tilly’s face. “Yeah. It’s all okay now?”

“Yes.” Simon smiled back at Tilly and set her back down. He leaned and connected foreheads with her. “Are you okay? It was a tough day.”

Tilly pushed her doll into Simon’s face. “Yes. My dolls are happy we are back.” She pointed to the cat. “Tater too.”

“Good.” He pat the doll’s head and then Tilly’s again. Then he looked over at Anna. We’re all mostly okay.

Anna stared back at Simon with a lost expression. She was holding one of Tilly’s dolls on her lap on top of the chalkboard. The only one unaffected by the day’s events seemed to be Tatertot, who wound around his legs purring like normal.

Simon leaned over and turned the radio up a bit. “Listen to this a while longer and then we’ll all go to bed. This day feels like it has been forever. Have either of you eaten anything?”

Tilly nodded. “I had a bar.”

He turned to Anna. “And you?”

Anna shook her head hard, her hands gripped on the doll. The sadness in her eyes said it all.

Simon tilted his head. She needs to eat. I know she’s in shock, but . . . He walked into the kitchen and back with some water and two ration bars. Ripping the package, he gave one to Tilly. “Eat another, Tilly.”

Then he crouched next to Anna, who started to cry. His mouth ran dry, the scene from the bakery replaying before his eyes unwillingly. The chaos and unnecessary violence. Ending with Paul’s dead, vacant stare. Her husband. His tone was low. “I’m sorry, Anna. None of this day’s events was anything I would have chosen.” He put his hand on her knee. “For either of us.”

At that, Anna cried harder, tears tracking down her face. She wiped them to the side, hands tangling in her curled brown hair before she choked out, “Not your fault. It’s not. Nora was right. Paul just was no good. His stupid fault.”

Simon swallowed. “It both is and isn’t my fault. I didn’t willfully create the situation, but me being here did. But regardless, how everything turned out is still hard. Paul was still your husband. This is not something that should have happened. And your life is now different.”

“Yeah.” She wiped at her face with her sleeve. Across her pregnant belly she was still wearing the bakery apron. “Paul wasn’t good but . . . now I have nothing.” She took a deep, shuddering breath in. “Got nothing at all.”

Simon squeezed the top of her knee, watching more tears roll down Anna’s face. “I know you don’t know me very well, but you can come with us, and we can figure it out. You have us. It’s a lot all at once. You’re like a sister to Nora; we won’t leave family behind.”

Anna sniffled, her entire body shaking.

Simon took his hand away from her knee and held out the ration bar in his other hand. “You need to eat still, for you and the baby.”

“I know.” She took the bar and mug of water from him. “I know. Just gotta . . . it’s a lot.”

“It is.” The silence stretched in the room, only broken up by Tilly's humming. Simon cast his mind around, thinking hard. “I have something I would like to have you hear.” He pointed at her stomach. “May I?”

“Sure." Anna looked up at him with hollow eyes, but scooted back so he could sit next to her on the sofa, moving her arms to the side.

Gently he took his hand and pressed against her belly. “Six months? Is that how far along?”

“Just about. What . . . ?” Anna swallowed and wiped her face with a piece of her apron.

In response, Simon moved his hand around her stomach, focusing hard. “A moment.”

It took a few seconds before a thump, thump, thump sound filled the room, broadcasted over his speakers. He smiled, amplifying the noise until it rang out loud and clear. There we go.

Anna’s face went slack. “That’s . . .”

“Yes. Your baby. Strong heartbeat. This baby is strong. Anna, you have us as your family, and also . . .” He tapped on her stomach, along with the beat.

Anna’s eyes followed Simon’s hand tapping the beat. The sound played for a minute, Tilly even scooting close to hear.

Tears started falling down Anna’s face again as she took a deep breath. She let out a shaky chuckle. “Yeah. Yeah, it’s in there alright. Can you tell if it’s a boy or a girl?”

“I can’t tell that, unfortunately. We used to be able to, though, before.” Simon stopped the sound.

“Can you do mine?” Tilly tugged on his shirt sleeve.

Simon put his hand right over her heart on her small chest. “Listen.”

Tilly’s eyes grew wide as her heartbeat now played over his processors. “That’s me?”

“Yes.” He chuckled and removed his hand. As he went back into the kitchen he saw Anna take a bite out of the ration bar.

By the time he took another cup of water into Nora’s bedroom and checked on her again, Anna had eaten the entire thing.

He crouched down by Tilly, who was back to playing like the day’s events didn’t happen. “Tilly, you okay sleeping alone tonight? I think Mama needs to not move a lot in the bed.”

“Yeah.”

Anna said softly, “I’ll rest out here on the sofa, but if Tilly needs me I’ll go in with her.”

“Okay.” Came Tilly’s voice as she arranged her dolls around Anna.

Simon stood and walked outside into the deepening night, leaving the living room where the radio played, a backdrop to Tilly’s nonstop chatter to Anna. The drone was hovering, waiting, as he exited and closed the front door behind him.

“Thank you for watching Tilly. And helping.” Relief was evident in Simon’s tone as he stared up at its faded, dented side. They were back home. All together and in one piece.

The response was slow to come, but Stella finally answered, “We were fearful for their safety too. Nora and Tilly.”

“You were?” He crossed his arms as it hovered. “Fearful? Have you come to understand how I feel now? Why I couldn’t leave them? Can’t leave them?”

“Yes. Seeing them in danger let us know that we are not unattached anymore. Sometimes you don’t realize that attachment when things are calm. It is only through potential loss that things become more clear.”

Understanding passed through Simon, echoed in the connection. He nodded. I almost lost them as well.

Stella’s voice took on a softer note. “How they have lived . . . we feel ashamed. I feel ashamed. Humanity might have wronged us, but these two . . . they have not wronged anything.”

Simon’s shoulders dropped and he rubbed the tension from his neck. “No, they haven’t. I’m glad you can finally see that.”

Stella spoke haltingly. “We always knew that, but . . . there are other Humans coming now, trying to find you after what happened in the town.”

Simon’s processors began to run fast, possibilities spinning. He looked past the drone, as if he could see where they might settle rather than all the broken-down buildings around them. Where is safe?

He began to turn away, his mind already calculating the places they might go. How will I move Nora with her injury? “We will need to leave. Sooner rather than later. Thankfully I don’t think anyone knows where Nora lives.”

“Wait.” Stella’s voice cut through the night.

“Yes?”

“The pressure of time is upon us, and we find ourselves unwilling to chance their safety again. There are conflicting opinions, but enough consensus amongst us.” There was a pause and then Stella said, “Can we try again? From the beginning?”

“What are you implying?” Simon turned back to the drone and crossed his arms. Some of his internal wiring, where the bullets he took had severed a few connections, protested at the movements. He would need to repair himself later.

The drone swooped lower and Stella clarified, “Would they want to come? Would they want to try to join our little human colony here? It will be a few weeks, but there is a ship coming soon with supplies for the next drop.”

Hope suddenly bubbled up. “They could come? To Mars?”

Stella answered without hesitation. “Yes.”

Simon’s eyes narrowed. “That depends. Will everyone there be kind? I will not have them go to a place that makes them live half a life because of suspicions and mistrust. I love them.”

The drone hovered up and down, seeming to nod earnestly. “You know it is not in our nature to lie. We are not human. You can feel our sincerity. They just need to commit to being peaceful and fitting in with our ways. That should not be a problem . . . for them.”

Simon looked past the drone again, thinking of Nora’s response. And Anna, sitting there, looking lost as she listened to the radio play. Nora would want her to come. She would agree easier if Anna did as well.

He uncrossed his arms. “Does the offer extend to her friend? To Anna?”

“Yes. Nora, Tilly, and Anna. We watched Anna as well.”

The hope Simon was unwilling to foster before bloomed inside of him. “I will convince them. Nora trusts me.”

A gust of wind picked up, but underneath it Stella replied. “She does trust you. And we are going to try to trust her.”