to ledge, scrabbling with her claws for purchase in the smallest cracks. Showers of stones rattled to the ground behind her, marking her passage.
Kavan turned back to Ada.
‘You said I was making a mistake? Do you think that Spoole and the rest are the true leaders of Artemis?’
Ada’s blue eyes flashed. Whether in humour or anger, Kavan couldn’t tell.
‘Of course I don’t,’ she said. ‘You’re the right robot for the job. It’s just that you’re going about it the wrong way.’
‘Go on.’
‘You’re thinking like you’ve always done, Kavan. It’s not your fault; it’s the way your mind was twisted, to think of leading soldiers to the expansion of Artemis. Well, the conditions no longer apply. The continent is conquered and you’re not in full control of this army. Although there are many who believe in you, there are just as many who don’t. You don’t have the backing of Spoole and the Generals any more, even the backing that they gave you under duress of circumstances. You’re the right robot for the job of overthrowing the Generals, but not for the job of getting this army down to where it’s needed.’
Ada’s blue eyes flashed again, and this time Kavan saw the humour there. He was reminded of Eleanor, his old second in command. But whereas she was twisted a warrior and had always subtly challenged him for leadership, Ada was an engineer. She would be more interested in getting the job done.
‘So who is the right person? You?’
‘I know these mountains well, Kavan. I know what Spoole’s engineers will have done to the road before you. Blowing bridges, mining the roads, setting avalanches. All the traps that I would have set if I were in their position.’
‘And do you know of another way south?’
‘Yes. Head west and follow the Northern Road.’
Kavan gazed at her blue eyes.
‘The Northern Road? I didn’t realize it extended into the mountains.’
‘There’s a lot you don’t know, Kavan,’ said Ada. ‘What does Artemis care for but Artemis?’
‘Nothing, and that is how it should be. Why is there a road through the mountains?’
‘The Borners, or those who became the Borners, followed the road here from the Top of the World. They came to these mountains for iron, and they carried it back to their home.’
‘What happened to them?’
‘War,’ said Ada. ‘The people who settled in the mountains wanted to keep the iron to themselves.’
Kavan nodded. That made sense to him.
‘How far is this road from here?’
‘Barely a mile,’ said Ada, and she laughed. Kavan understood why. This was a land of sheer peaks and deep valleys. A robot could travel a hundred miles to get to a point a mile distant.
‘There is path to that road not far from here. Send your Scouts ahead, they will confirm what I say is true.’
‘Is it safe?’
‘Safe? Of course not. But under the circumstances it’s the right path. Your mind is set on marching a path of conquest. What you need is a path of stealth and convenience. This path will deliver you through the mountains and onto the Artemisian plain. It is the right path to take. I can see that.’
Kavan thought of the road he had travelled so far and then he gestured to a nearby Scout.
‘Listen to this robot,’ he said. ‘Search the path that she suggests. See if it is suitable for us to traverse.’
Of course, thought Kavan, it could be a trap, but no more so than the path they currently followed.
And Ada was right about one thing at least. Kavan was not the right robot to make decisions at this point. He wasn’t commanding an army as such, he was more caught in the middle of the events that were unfolding on the continent. Robots moved this way and that, and for the moment Kavan was following the ebb and flow of the metal tide.
He had no ego in these matters. What he followed was Nyro’s will. If the moment came, he would resume command of the army.
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do met Rachael as he descended the Street of Becoming. At the time she looked like any other animal; he was not yet at the point where he could identify a young human female of around fourteen or fifteen. She walked with her arms folded around her middle, a look on her face of withering contempt for the world. She was coming up the hill, heading directly for him, and Wa-Ka-Mo-Do realized that she wasn’t going to give way as protocol directed. He signalled to the Copper Guard who flanked him not to intercede.
Her long straight hair was the colour of copper, her eyes like copper sulphate, her skin the colour of titanium dioxide. Her body was not as curved as an adult human female, it more resembled that of a female robot, the same hint of an indentation to the waist that many women built, the same long arms and fingers.
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do stood still, smiling slightly as the girl halted before him. She raised her gaze almost to his, made a loud tutting noise.
‘Excuse me,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do politely, ‘but this is my right of way.’
The girl rolled her eyes and made to walk around him.
‘I know that you can understand me,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘I see the light flicker on the little device you wear by your ear when I speak.’
The girl rolled her eyes. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do had never seen that before, he struggled not to laugh.
‘I was walking this way first,’ she said.
‘Ah yes, but I’m the commander of this city. Strictly speaking I could have your coil broken for failing to show me respect.’
The girl just rolled her eyes once more and turned her back on him. The Copper Guard saw the slight and began to move forward. Swiftly, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do reached out and seized her arm. It felt softer than he expected, but stronger too. There was a hardness at the centre. The bone, he later discovered.
‘Aaaoow!’ yelped the girl, pulling her arm free. She rounded on him, face flushed with fury. ‘That hurt! What are you playing at?’
‘Saving your life.’ And preventing a diplomatic disaster, he added to himself. ‘Yukawa is a land steeped in tradition, young lady. You should never turn your back on a superior.’
‘Your hand is burning!’ She rubbed her arm. ‘You robots stand in the sun all day and you don’t realize how hot your metal gets.’
‘I didn’t realize,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘I’ve never touched a human before. I didn’t expect you to be so sensitive.’
‘Sensitive? Look! You made a mark! And I turn my back on who I want. What gives you the right to tell me otherwise?’
‘Four hundred fully armed troops garrisoned within the city,’ replied Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘Plus another two thousand spread across the surrounding land. Plus the fact that I am trained in the seven arts of combat, and the nine arts of weaponry. Oh yes, and the fact that I am the commander of this city, and what I say goes.’
That brought a faint smile to the human’s lips, and Wa-Ka-Mo-Do felt a kindling empathy with this strange creature. She reminded him of his sister, and of Jai-Lyn.
The thought brought a certain symmetry to his life. Three young females.
‘What’s your name, human?’ he asked.
‘Rachael. What’s yours, robot?’
‘Wa-Ka-Mo-Do.’
‘Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. That’s a stupid name.’
‘I think Rachael sounds rather pretty.’
‘Really?’ She gave a smile that vanished as soon as it appeared. Now she just looked bored. ‘Can I go now, or are you going to get your men to cut off my head for showing your name disrespect?’
‘They’re women, actually,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, gazing at the Copper Guard. ‘You can go in a moment. But first, Rachael, I want to ask you something. You’re the first human I’ve ever spoken to. I want to know, what do you think of Sangrel?’