Tuesday
The black
and red van led the convoy, with the two delivery trucks closely behind. Past
22nd St and the old hollowed out grocery store, past 17th
and the Dutch themed strip mall, rolling by 15th and 14th
before turning onto BC St (not 13th); because people are a
superstitious lot in a town with enough churches to attend to the souls of
twice the town’s population.
The three
vehicles pulled over to the curb and the three drivers stepped onto the
immaculately cared for lawn.
“Time to man
up Jefferson,” said the very masculine woman standing next to Jefferson. Her
storied past included stints in the United States Marine Corp and head cook at
Vegas buffet line – I’m not sure which makes her more scary.
“I told you,
I’m in like Flynn. Just let me go around to the back, I don’t want to overwhelm
him with you guys… gals… people.”
“You've got
five minutes,” said the other driver, his square jaw setting of his permanent
scowl nicely.
“Dave… It’s
me,” Jefferson said as he set off around the corner.
Jefferson
came up to a tall fence, cutting off his advance. Cursing to himself he did the
only obvious thing and started to climb. Three falls and torn pant leg later he
was over and in the backyard.
He walked to
the sliding door I remembered looked into the living/movie room and looked
inside. The giant TV beamed brightly and Ito and Gronk were watching intently;
Bruce Willis was just walking across a floor of shattered glass barefoot.
Jefferson rapped on the window.
Ito came near
the door but stopped when a white and black robot, about average height and
build, stepped up to the door. It had a head like a motorcycle helmet, a black
visor making up its face with no obvious eyes, nose, or mouth. The rest of the
robot was amazingly human like.
“You must be
T1N. I’m Jefferson. I’m sure Al told you all about me. Could you let me in?”
T1N stood
still for a moment and then drew the blackout drapes.
“Well that’s
rude.”
“Marcus!
That’s five minutes! We’re rolling,” Dave yelled from the front yard.
“Just a minute,”
Jefferson yelled back. He looked back at the door and in a much lower voice
said, “I talked to Gwen yesterday.”
The curtain
opened a crack, T1N still holding it. “I talked Dave into letting me do the
pickups and I mentioned I’d met you.”
The curtain
moved aside and T1N opened the sliding door. With the tip of his head he
invited Jefferson into the house. “I have to do one thing first.”
The front
door opened, surprising the two ESP drivers leaning against the delivery van.
“My man’s indisposed at the moment, but could I introduce you to the boys?”
Jefferson
stepped aside, Ito and Gronk came out onto the stoop. Gronk.
“What the
heck is going on!”
Jefferson
turned to see Albro step out into the hallway in just a towel, still wet from
the shower.
“Al, introduce
yourself to Dave and Celeste.”
“Get out!”
Albro made a shooing motion with his free hand, the other clutching his town
closed. “How did you get in?”
“Which do
you want me to do first, because if I leave first I can’t answer your
question.”
“I want you
to leave! T1N…” Albro looked the automaton to escort the trespassing delivery
driver.
“I talked to
Gwen yesterday.”
Both
Jefferson and Albro stared at T1N.
“You just…
He just… He just used my voice to talk.”
“He just
used a recording. You talked to Gwen?!”
“One
second.” Jefferson turned back towards the street. “Guys… people. This is going
to be a little bit. We’ll settle up back at the barn, m’kay.” He then closed
the door.
“I talked to
Gwen yesterday, just to feel her out. Some, reconnaissance, you know.”
“Why would
you do that?”
“It’s what
friend do.”
“We’re not
friends! You’re a trespasser and a crazy person!”
“I planned
to tell you more gently so we’d avoid these hysterics. Gronk, get Al a gin and
tonic. Gronk?”
“They’re
outside aren’t they?” Albro looked at T1N, “I’ll activate the remote shut down
while you go and get them. They’re probably heading for the ice cream shop.”
T1N went out
the front door and Swift went into his office.
“They eat
ice cream?”
“They just
think they do. Ito get these wild hairs, I’ve never been able to isolate that
part of his programming. Gronk just
follows.” Albro typed as he talked, but then stopped to look back at Jefferson.
“This is all your fault.”
“My momma
said blame is a two way street.”
“How is this
my fault?”
“If you’d
just go and talk to that girl I wouldn’t have to do it for you.”
“I don’t…
What did you tell her?”
“That you’re
three hundred pounds and covered in Cheeto dust.”
“What?”
“Nah, man, I’m
just joking with you. I just told her I’d met you and she said she was jealous.”
“Really?
“Scout’s
honor… although you should probably be a scout to have that mean anything.”
“Why would
you do that?”
“Be a scout…
well...”
“No, go talk
to Gwen.”
“Oh, that’s
what friends do and you looked like you needed a friend.”
Jefferson
then started to back towards the door.
“Where are
you going?”
“I’m going to
go help with your robots… that and your towel just fell off.”
No comments:
Post a Comment