Deep Black Road: The Head of the Snake

Chapter 49

"Where are they?" Bennett Harrington bellowed from the virtual screen hovering above Dr. Sheppard's worktable in the lab. "They've been gone for six weeks now!"

"How should I know?" Dr. Sheppard yelled back. "It's not like they gave me their itinerary!"

Bennett covered his face with his hands, and took a deep breath. "Sorry, Doctor," he said after a moment. "I know I'm being unreason-able. Ever since Amelia found out her daughter's still alive in that robot, she's been on my case; and it's been wearing me down."

"I understand; but what I said before still stands: I'll let you know as soon as I know."

"Of course. I'll tell Sentinel to not let me call you until I hear from you."

"I appreciate that. Anything else on your mind?"

"Just that your skin technology's working remarkably well, especially after that last software upgrade you gave us."

"Ricky figured that out for me, based on his direct experience with the skin. When I first developed it, I didn't realize how difficult it would be to work with."

"Well, it's working like a dream now. We're selling our Regal Series robots as fast as we can build them; we can't keep them in stock."

"That's great, Bennett, but I've got to get going-got a seminar to prepare for my third-years."

"Right, then. Enjoy yourself."

#

Little Leila took Ricky's hand, and pointed at the half Earth, seemingly so serene, as it hung off to the east in the black sky. "Daddy," she said through their connection, "I feel somebody up there. Who is it?"

"That'd be our friend Philip Orkan. You can feel him because he connected with you back when you were still a very little ball." He showed her the scene from his memory.

"Philip Orkan," she said. "When can I connect with him again, Daddy?"

"When you're all grown up and have rockets in your feet so you can go to him."

"When's that?"

"In about four weeks."

"Okay, Daddy."

#

"General Corran," said the executive secretary in charge of the North American space agency from the screen floating above the general's desk, "the robots you were expressing an interest in are on their way back from the moon." He held his breath for a moment. "All three of them."

Corran stared. "Three." The secretary, clearly uncomfortable, nodded. "I don't suppose there's any sign of manufacturing facilities on the moon."

"No, sir. We checked."

"I didn't expect so. Keep me up to date."

"Yes, sir." He disconnected.

General Corran rested his head on his hands and stared at the surface of his desk. This is impossible! I've read the technical papers; and Dr. Shamir's research was unique, and completely destroyed.

Are these robots breeding? No, they're robots. That's impossible too.

We haven't been able to catch one yet, and now there are four! What am I going to tell his Holiness? ... May he live forever.

#

Philip felt them getting nearer; so he quickly took the large stone he'd pulled out of the field, dropped it on the growing pile in the clearing nearby, and turned to wait.