Page 6

Chapter six

Nora

Nora came back in, face and hair full of dirt from the dust that had picked up, to see Tilly in full discussion of the program she had just listened to on the radio, Princess Pearl and the Dastardly Three .

A flash of fear flared inside her at seeing Tilly so close to Simon without her there. I asked her to stay away! Her anger was tempered a second later as she took off her shoes and listened. Simon actually seemed to be concentrating and asking Tilly questions in an appropriate manner. Nora watched the two talk, biting her lip nervously. He can hardly move. Looks like that’s okay.

Simon glanced up at her, but was immediately re-engaged in conversation with Tilly.

Nora got a wash rag and wet it from the jar she kept inside of filtered water. She wiped the dust off her face while keeping an eye on them. At least she has someone else to talk with now. An android counts, right?

There was so much to do that Nora left them alone for a minute and didn’t interrupt. Instead, she packed up the house for the night, turning down the lights while Tilly chattered away within her eyesight.

Nora looked away from them to properly set up the solar AC. She hit the button to light up the battery gauge on it and sighed. It has just enough charge to last tonight thankfully, especially as it shouldn’t be as hot now with the rain. Nora stood in front of it, feeling it pump air into the kitchen, making the room blessedly cool, as raindrops hit the roof and began cooling the outside even further.

The AC powered down and Nora lifted it to the back hall to cool the bedrooms off while they slept. With the door open so she could hear what was happening in the kitchen, she pulled off her dusty clothes and slipped into some comfortable pajamas, throwing the dirty ones to the side. Probably should do the laundry once it dries up.

The rain came down harder, tapping on the roof, continually getting louder as the minutes passed. Nora got out her buckets and placed them on the floor all over the house, under the spots she knew would leak. Keeping an ear out to the kitchen, she moved fast, doing her chores. Her gut felt so uneasy that she put a hand over it to try to ignore the anxiety that came from having Simon now awake in the house.

Nora paused on the threshold to the kitchen, listening again. They’re still talking. Well, Tilly is talking at least. As she placed more buckets around the kitchen, she felt Simon watching. He was still talking to Tilly calmly, but his eyes were on her. Her face heated. Don’t like being watched. Especially by an android that looked exactly like a man. She shook herself. Still just a machine.

Tilly needs to take a break. Nora went over to stop her. Even though Simon is an android, Tilly should learn to not talk nonstop like that. Not everyone will have the attention span of a robot. She tilted her head, matching his gaze. Besides, he isn’t charged or fixed up at all yet.

She put her hand on Tilly’s shoulder and tapped it lightly. “That’s enough, save a bit for later. Maybe we can all listen to the program together tomorrow. You gotta go brush your teeth and get into bed. It’s raining, so you can sleep with me again tonight.” Nora side-eyed Simon, sitting slumped by the window. Extra gun is in my room too, just in case. She didn’t let the thought show and smiled at them both instead. Seeing how lifelike he was, unnerved her. He definitely wasn't acting like any other machine.

“Alright!” Tilly nodded happily, ignoring any tension Nora felt. “Tomorrow is the lottery, so you gotta listen anyway. The bulletin board also said they’d be telling us when the next drop would be.”

“Yeah, okay.” Nora turned to Simon as Tilly walked away. She dried her hands, wet from placing the buckets under the leaks, on her shirt. “You can have Tilly’s room tonight. We’ll fix something a bit more permanent for you soon. I only had you here in the kitchen on the floor because . . . well, it was hard to carry you too far.”

Simon didn’t answer. He had a confused expression on his face.

That’s good enough, right? To offer? Nora walked over to him and continued, “Is that okay with you? It’s got a bed in there.”

“You are asking me my preferences?” His eyebrows narrowed.

Nora wrung her hands together. “Well, yes, don’t you have them? Seems like you have human emotions and stuff like that.”

“No one has ever asked me before what I liked,” he said in a voice tinged in disbelief.

Never? Nora frowned. “Oh. Well I’m asking, and I’d feel better if you had a room. I don’t know what you’re used to, but it feels more right for everyone to have their space.”

“That’s fine.”

He seems like he doesn’t care? Hesitantly she added, “I did . . . clean you up the best I could when I found you. Got new parts where I could. All your connectors are cleaned too, with rubbing alcohol at least, but after you look over what’s here in this repair kit, if you need anything, I can try to help if you tell me what to do.”

Simon answered back, matching her rapid tone, “Alright.” He added almost as an afterthought, a bit slower, “Thank you.”

At least he knows I’m trying to be nice. Nora waved her hand in front of her. “No need for thanks. I know this is . . . all weird and different. But we’re gonna help each other out here. Okay?”

Simon’s voice was quiet. “That sounds reasonable.”

Reasonable. Right. Nora's shoulders slumped. Well, Nora, you were able to fix him. What do I do now? Simon seemed so helpless, sitting there. Her stomach unclenched. He looks so lost. So broken. His expression tugged at her heart.

She walked over to him to put her arm under his and started to brace herself on the floor to help him stand.

He shifted away from her helpful gesture and Nora scooted back, confused.

“What are you doing?” Simon asked.

“Helping you up?” Nora extended her hand to him, raising her eyebrows. Does he not want help?

Her gesture was unnecessary, as Simon didn’t answer, but instead attempted to lift himself on his own, not relying on Nora’s helpful hand.

He's still too weak. Nora stepped back and watched him struggle to stand. "Hey, it's okay. Let me help." She intervened and put her shoulder under his armpit, bracing him. He was only a few inches taller than she was. "Alright. It’s this way.”