Deep Black Road: The Head of the Snake

Chapter 17

Bill came into the apartment and asked Ricky, "What have you been up to today?" as he hooked his jacket and hat on the back of the door.

"The usual," Ricky answered. "Reading to Lisa. She was here most of the evening."

"I'm glad you two are able to get along so well. I think you're the only real friend she has."

"I know; and it's really nice of her. I like it when she's here." Hey! he thought. I do like it!

Bill walked over to the kitchen counter, then glanced at Ricky, and asked, "What's the matter with your head?"

Oops, thought Ricky. I forgot to put the cap back on. "You mean besides all the dents?"

Bill came over to get a better look. "Well, your scalp's glowing."

"Glowing?"

"Indeed." He reached over to check Ricky's head more closely. "My goodness, there are sparks as w... ." He toppled over on top of Ricky.

After considerable effort, Ricky managed to roll the limp man off of himself and onto the floor, and then confirm that he still had a pulse.

He then slapped the ball cap on his head, struggled to his feet, and hobbled out the door and into the street as he called up his memories of where everything was.

At Lisa's place, he pounded on the door. "Lisa! Al! Help! Something's wrong with Bill!"

Al got to the door first, and snarled "What sort of wrong, Robot Boy?"

Ricky was startled by a surge of irritation at the man for calling him that, but shoved it aside and said, "He just collapsed. He's unconscious."

Al led the way back, while Lisa guided Ricky.

#

"Wow," Al said after he'd checked Bill. "He's really out of it." He turned to Ricky. "Do you have any idea what happened to him?"

"Not a clue. He said something about my head, that my scalp was glowing. Then he collapsed. I think he might have touched me."

"Let me take a look," Al said, straightening up.

"Just don't touch it, okay?" said Ricky as he removed the cap.

"I won't, I won't. But it is glowing. And sparks! That ever look bizarre! Like electronic dandruff. Anyway, I'd better get Shelley up here to look at him. She knows more about medical matters than anybody around here." He dashed out the door.

Lisa crouched down beside her grandfather, and rested her hand on his chest. "Poor Grandpa," she said. "I wonder what happened to him. I hope he'll be okay."

Ricky, satisfied for the moment that he couldn't do anything to help, wondered about what was going on with his scalp.

There was a sudden 'thok;' and he got the messages, <Fault warning: undetermined injury to head> <Fault alarm: undetermined injury to head> <Complete>

"What's going on?" he asked as he felt the spot.

"What do you mean?" Lisa said, standing up.

"My head. One of the dents just popped out."

She came over to take a look as another dent popped, and exclaimed, "It looks like you're getting fixed!"

"That's amazing!" he said as several other dents repaired themselves.

<System command: initialize visual circuits> < ... >

What?

<Complete> <System command: initiate visual circuits> < ... >