that, they nodded and chatted to each other. That wasn’t to say they weren’t well trained. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do could tell by the way they were always scanning the crowd, despite their easy posture. And yet they seemed to regard the people at the party with something like amused derision, not like their superiors whom it was their honour to guard.
Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah appeared at his side.
‘Mr Ambassador, may I present Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, commander of the Emperor’s Army of Sangrel.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do found himself face to face with a human a little taller than he was. The animal’s skin was a shiny black colour that reminded Wa-Ka-Mo-Do of anthracite. His hair was grey, his eyes a deep brown. He reached out one shiny black hand and Wa-Ka-Mo-Do stared at it.
‘The Ambassador wishes to shake your hand,’ murmured Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do remembered his instructions, and reached out and took the anthracite hand in his, looking at the pail pink tips at the end of the fingers. The hand was warm and soft. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do moved it up and down.
‘And how do you like our city, Mr Ambassador?’
‘I find it both spectacular and beautiful, Commander. It is a wonderful testament to the culture of the Yukawan robots. The sense of history and tradition is written in the very stones themselves.’
‘Thank you.’
‘But I understand that this is not your own city, Commander? I have been told that you represent a very, ah, different culture?’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do felt a skitter of current up and down his hand. How on Penrose would the Ambassador know this? Was this La-Ver-Di-Arussah’s doing?
‘I represent the Emperor, Mr Ambassador,’ replied Wa-Ka-Mo-Do carefully. ‘However it is true that I come from another province, some distance from here. You may have seen its mountains from your ship?’
‘How fascinating. You must tell me about it sometime. Now, forgive me, I must circulate.’
And at that the Ambassador shook his hand once more and headed off around the room.
‘What just happened there, Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah? I feel as if I’ve just been dismissed. Doesn’t he realize who I am?’
‘I fear he realizes all too well, Honoured Commander. I don’t think it would serve either of you to engage in anything but small talk. Do you really wish to mention what happened this morning in number three mine?’
‘I don’t know! What happened in number three mine?’
‘You mean you haven’t been told?’
‘Obviously not.’ Wa-Ka-Mo-Do’s voice was cold with fury. Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah looked at the floor, embarrassed.
‘The robots refused to work, Honoured Commander. They said that they would only follow the commands of the Emperor’s robots, not animals.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do held his face immobile.
‘And what did the humans do?’
‘Nothing, Honoured Commander. They chose to pretend they could not understand what was going on.’
‘Is the matter resolved?’
‘Of course. La-Ver-Di-Arussah led a detachment of the Copper Guard there and killed one in ten of them. Half of them children, as is customary.’
‘What!’
‘Children cannot work as efficiently, Honoured Commander. Plus the effect on the parents is remarkable. It is the logical thing to do for so many reasons.’
‘You know that’s not what I mean! How dare you take such action without my permission?’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do realized that he had spoken too loudly. Animals and robots were looking in his direction. At that moment he saw La-Ver-Di-Arussah, standing with three humans, resplendent in a body of gold foil. She was staring towards Wa-Ka-Mo-Do with a look of amused condescension.
‘Bring her here, Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘At once!’
La-Ver-Di-Arussah strode up, the gold of her body swaying in the wind. Long sheets had been stretched out and soldered back on themselves, giving her a flouncy, puffed up appearance that reflected the dress of the human women.
‘Honoured Commander,’ she said. ‘I hardly think this is the place-’
‘Silence, La-Ver-Di-Arussah. I’ve just heard about number three mine! How dare you take such action without my permission?’
‘Honoured Commander, it is neither custom or practice that you are informed of every action that takes place within the city. I acted according to precedent.’ She moved, and Wa-Ka-Mo-Do heard the sweet singing of current perfectly tuned in to her golden body. He was more than aware of the deadly force that lurked beneath that fair construction. ‘However,’ she continued. ‘In future I will inform you of all activities, if that is your wish?’
‘Don’t try that dumb insolence with me, La-Ver-Di-Arussah. We are not playing court games here. My orders are clear. Punitive actions on civilians will only take place with my express permission. Do you understand me?’
‘Of course I do, Honoured Commander,’ La-Ver-Di-Arussah smiled sweetly. ‘Now, if you will excuse me, I left our guests rather suddenly. I fear I am being rather rude…
At that she turned and made her way back to the waiting humans.
It was all Wa-Ka-Mo-Do could do to remain still. The urge to kick her to the ground was surging through every electromuscle in his body.
Sometimes Karel felt as if he lived in a ghost story of the north. He stood in an empty town under a grey sky, watching two robots that had succumbed to rust walking towards him through the rain. He felt nothing but disgust at their state. Good metal left to flake away, joints squealing for lack of oil, sluggish current dulled by dirty contacts… How could a robot have so little self-respect?
‘Greetings,’ said one. Her voice was so badly tuned that it sang with harmonics. ‘My name is Gail, this is Fleet. May we help you?’
She held out a hand, as if to support him. Karel took a step back, as if rust was something that would spread from her body onto his own.
‘Please, don’t look badly on us,’ said Gail sadly. ‘There is precious little metal in this place. We do our best with what we have.’
Karel felt a mixture of shame and anger at this.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, carefully. ‘One forgets how lucky one is sometimes.’ Even so, surely there was always something one could do to prevent oneself falling into this state of disrepair? ‘My name is Karel.’
‘We saw your friend collapse,’ continued Gail, and her voice wobbled up and down the registers, harmonizing and burbling. ‘We have a fire and some metal. Perhaps we could help?’
Some metal? Then why not use it on themselves?
‘There are always those worse off than ourselves,’ said Gail, guessing his thoughts. ‘We can still move around.’
Karel looked back towards the forge where he had left Melt.
‘Maybe we can at least dry him out?’ she suggested.
‘How far is your place? We will have trouble moving him. ‘
‘A little way into the hills. We cannot stay in this town. Other robots are about. Soldiers. Silver Scouts. They carry sharp blades on their hands and feet. They would tear us apart.’
Gail was right, realized Karel. Although, he felt a little like doing the same himself. And yet, there was pity mixed with his contempt. Karel realized that Fleet had not spoken yet. Gail noted his look.
‘Fleet cannot speak, his voicebox is long decayed. Yet he will still do all he can to help.’
Pity moved Karel, that and embarrassment. How could he refuse such an offer of help from those who had so little?
‘Thank you,’ he said.
There was a narrow path leading up into the hills from behind the buildings of the old town. They dragged
