Deep Black Road: The Head of the Snake

Chapter 22

"We're ready," said Al to the people assembled in the yard at sunset. "Let's hit the road."

"Another night march," a young mother complained as she struggled to settle her infant.

"We'll lose our crops," said one of the men.

"Can't be helped," said Al. "They know we're here."

Ricky stepped forward. "Can I make a suggestion?"

"Go ahead," Al responded.

"How about I come back here during the day and look after the fields? That way you guys'll be safe, and you'll get your crops too."

"You sure?" responded Al. "All by yourself?"

"I'm robotic. I can handle boring."

"That's not what I mean. What if they come and attack you?"

"They're after you guys-not me, not corn and vegetables-so I can take off. Once they find out you're gone and leave again, I come back. No problem."

"That's very good of you," said Al.

"So where are we going?" asked a woman.

"Down south," said Al. "The other site we'd considered back when we developed this plan. And we need to get moving. We've got no idea how long it'll be before the CDA returns."

Ricky picked up Jeff and the little girl that he'd carried during the previous night march, set his night vision, and took the lead with Lisa.

#

"Colonel Waterland," General Orkan linked to the chief of Engineering first thing the next morning. "Do you have any ideas I might be able to use to capture the boy robot?"

"Not from what you've told me so far; but if I get its design specs from whoever built it, I should be able to come up with something."

"The man you want to talk to is Dr. Bruce Sheppard in Robotics Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh in Appalachia."

#

"Yes, sir," said the lieutenant from the virtual screen above General Orkan's desk. "The place now appears to be deserted."

Orkan gazed at the screen. "Where have they gone? And what of the robot? Did it go with them?"

"We haven't yet determined their destination, since it's out of range of our monitors; but our trackers followed their trail southward for some distance before that rainstorm washed it away. However, we do have some preliminary indications that the robot's still there, at least part of the time."

"I wonder why."

"No idea, sir; but we should know more by tonight."

"Good. Carry on."

How long will Ricky remain there? Orkan wondered. This'd be the perfect opportunity to trap him if he'd stay put long enough for us to prepare.

Waterland and his people aren't going to like this, but I'm going to have to put a rush on the project.

If only I could convince Ricky of the importance of my plan, and the vital destiny we could share as living robots in this human world.

#

Ricky sat out in the yard of the new farm with Lisa, gazing up at the stars that spread their tinsel light across the heavens.

"You know," he said to her, "I like looking after the kids. It's lots of fun; and ... and it makes me want to have a family of my own."

"And you know you can't," she answered. "That must be a pain."