《Cold Hands》


 Prologue

    Hugo Barnes, clad in his finest suit¡ªthe one he typically reserved for only the most critical company meetings¡ªheld a screwdriver in one hand and a small steel cap in the other.


    ¡°Stu?¡±


    A young man, no older than twenty-five, with reddish hair and red-framed glasses, stood nearby. Hearing his name, the boy straightened up and, with a few quick steps, was at Hugo¡¯s side. In his hands, Stu clutched a tablet, and on the back of the device, where the manufacturer¡¯s logo ought to have been, there gleamed instead the emblem of ¡°FutureRobot¡±: a stylized letter R, torn apart by two robotic hands.


    ¡°Stu, are you there?¡± Hugo repeated, his eyes fixed on the machine before him, awaiting a signal from the young man.


    ¡°Y-yes, Mr. Hugo,¡± Stu replied, standing rigid as a soldier.


    ¡°Are you ready to activate it?¡±


    Stu didn¡¯t rush to answer. Hugo knew him well and gave him time. Stu was clever¡ªone of the sharpest minds Hugo had ever encountered. But he lacked decisiveness. He needed time to mull things over, to run every detail through his mind, weigh the potential benefits against the risks, calculate how to proceed without offending or harming anyone, and only then act. People like him were the best workers¡ªevery boss loved a man like Stu. But people like Stu could never lead others, manage processes, or even hold a family together. People like Stu struggled to find a woman to share their lives with. Not because they were bad people, but because people like Stu lacked the courage to tell a woman they loved her. Hugo liked Stu and wouldn¡¯t trade him for anyone else in the company. Because Stu was the finest worker anyone could ask for. Hugo had molded him in his own image.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready, Mr. Hugo,¡± Stu called out, standing firm.


    Hugo stepped once more before the heap of metal shaped like a human, its back turned to him. The robot had long, black hair and wore no clothes. The curves of its body were startlingly lifelike, though in places its skin was peeled back, revealing a tangle of protruding cables. Here and there, red or green lights blinked across its form. And yet, despite resembling a human¡ªmore precisely a woman, thanks to the long black hair and smooth skin¡ªits pallor was striking. The skin, if it could be called that, was nearly translucent, with well-oiled gray mechanisms faintly visible beneath it in spots.


    Hugo adjusted two electronic components at the base of the machine¡¯s neck with his screwdriver, attaching them to separate terminals. He carefully tightened the bolts on each, tapped them once with the tool, then fitted the steel cap into place, securing it with a bolt at each of its four corners.


    ¡°Hand me the hair, Stu.¡±


    Stu was already holding it. In his hands was a scalp-like piece of skin from which dangled a cascade of black hair. He passed it to Hugo. With practiced fingers, Hugo located the attachment points and gently fastened it atop the machine¡¯s cap. He sealed the remaining open sections along the back of the creation before him, smoothing the skin into place where it belonged.


    Stu¡¯s tablet flared to life, and he nearly yelped in astonishment.


    ¡°Pull yourself together, Stu. It¡¯s not your first time,¡± Hugo said.


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    Stu grinned. Hugo watched him. Now everything rested in Stu¡¯s hands. This was the moment Hugo hated most. His own work was done. He always dressed in his finest clothes for each new robot he unveiled. This one wasn¡¯t among his favorites¡ªthose were the first ones he¡¯d built himself at sixteen. Now, at sixty-two, with a paunch and a weak heart, he could only make money, oversee the youngsters, and connect the final two cables in the robots¡¯ heads.


    The blue and the yellow.


    The yellow cable dispersed plasma throughout the robot¡¯s body, while the red linked its brain to the central computer at headquarters. Without those two cables, the robot would be no more than a toy-store trinket¡ªnot worth a tenth of his inventions.


    Stu tapped at the tablet, and with each press of a button, his smile grew wider.


    Suddenly, a noise rumbled from within the machine. It was normal¡ªthe mechanisms were stirring for the first time. It would take about two hours of operation for the oil to circulate fully through her. The red lights dotting her body turned green, then faded entirely. Hugo heard the pump kick in, spraying plasma laced with artificial blood.


    The robot¡¯s whiteness softened to a pale hue, then blossomed into a faint pink. The cheeks of the almost-real woman before him flushed, growing redder. This was a new feature, and it had worked. There were even a few tiny blemishes here and there. After all, everything had to be perfect for the clients¡ªwhich didn¡¯t mean flawless robots, but realistic ones.


    The woman before them now had color and a human form. And she was beautiful. She had a long, almost Native-like face, her eyes perhaps blacker than her hair¡ªthough it could have been the dim light. Hugo hadn¡¯t yet decided her purpose, but they¡¯d likely place her in the Land of the First Ones. She looked like a warrior woman. He couldn¡¯t imagine her fitting into the modern world¡ªnot as a housewife, nor a stripper, nor even a court lady.


    Her gaze was fierce, militant.


    His creative team would decide. He¡¯d spent years assembling them. They were sharper than he was. And youth was the greatest skill¡ªone that couldn¡¯t be taught.


    Under Stu¡¯s control, the black-haired woman¡¯s eyes flickered to life. Then her arms rose smoothly, despite the grating noise that spoiled the moment¡¯s grandeur. The robot girl lifted one leg, set it down, then raised the other. Stu beamed. He bent her forward, then back. He rotated her head with the tablet as far as the device allowed. The robot obeyed every command.


    ¡°I think she¡¯s ready for automation,¡± Hugo said.


    ¡°I¡¯m activating!¡± Stu¡¯s voice rang out with rare resolve¡ªone of the few times it ever did.


    The tablet¡¯s screen flashed green, the light reflecting in Stu¡¯s glasses. He held the device steady but no longer pressed anything.


    Amid the sound of grinding metal, the black-haired figure turned to face Hugo. She was taller than him, forcing her to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze. She stood naked, unperturbed¡ªfor now. Her moral functions would activate after the psych test, conducted by a team of over twenty psychologists. Though they imbued her with consciousness there, every robot seemed to emerge with traces of it already. Hugo saw a divine hand in each one, even though he himself was their god.


    The black-haired woman raised a hand toward Hugo. He smiled.


    ¡°Pleased to meet you,¡± she said, her voice as clear as any human¡¯s.


    ¡°Nine thousand six hundred seventy-five.¡±


    All robots introduced themselves by their production number. She had no true name yet, but she spoke it with a confidence that suggested she liked it. Hugo thought to himself that he was nearing his ten-thousandth creation.


    ¡°Welcome, Amara,¡± he replied.


    The name came to him unbidden, but he liked it. He¡¯d suggest it to his creative team.


    The black-haired woman smiled and tilted her head slightly to the side. Hugo took her hand.


    Cold, he thought. I hope they find her some nice gloves.

 1

    In the evening, the streetlamp right in front of Daniel Hawk and Emma¡¯s house cast just enough light into the room for them to have dinner without needing to turn on the lights inside. They weren¡¯t trying to save electricity, but somehow the light from outside made it feel more magical¡ªalmost romantic, Daniel might¡¯ve said, though Emma would¡¯ve given him a sideways glance if she ever heard him say something like that. Still, she loved that light too, even if she wouldn¡¯t admit it. He¡¯d often caught her standing there, reading a book late into the night, bathed only in the free glow spilling in from the street. But if Daniel ever had to sleep on the couch down there¡ªnot beside her in the bedroom¡ªthat same light became a nuisance.


    Daniel Hawk was sitting next to Emma in the living room. He tossed his small suitcase¡ªthe one he¡¯d taken to work¡ªaside and leaned toward her, his eyes never leaving her face.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you at least wash up first?¡± Emma said, swallowing her food slowly, glancing at him out of the corner of one eye.


    Daniel reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and, with the same enthusiasm he¡¯d brought home from work that evening, pulled out two tickets and placed them on the table. Emma gave them a quick look before returning to her dinner¡ªa strange mix of vegetables and nuts.


    He waited for her to ask what the tickets were for, but she didn¡¯t. So he started himself:


    ¡°They¡¯re invitations.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Emma didn¡¯t bother hiding her boredom.


    ¡°A tech park. Ever heard of FutureRobot?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Her reply was even colder.


    Daniel searched her eyes for a spark¡ªsurprise, gratitude, or even curiosity¡ªbut found none. He pressed on anyway:


    ¡°It¡¯s a park full of robots. For the first time, something like this is open to the public. You can immerse yourself in any era you want. There are all kinds of robots, and they¡¯re all so lifelike.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like one of those dumb computer games. No, no. I don¡¯t have time, Daniel.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not a game. It¡¯s completely real. I saw one of the robots¡ªthey sent us a video. I can¡¯t show it to you, but they¡¯re¡­ real, honestly.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ve got invitations because¡­?¡±


    ¡°Because I work in the field. You know that¡¯s what I do.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t work there. Or at least I don¡¯t know about it. This is the first I¡¯m hearing of this¡­¡± Emma picked up one of the invitations and glanced at it. ¡°FutureRobot¡­ No. Never heard of it.¡±


    ¡°Hugo Barnes? Doesn¡¯t that ring a bell?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. You¡¯re not in those circles. That¡¯s probably why. They¡¯ve sent invites to people from all fields¡ªIT, doctors, accountants, pilots¡ªa few from every industry.¡±


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    ¡°And somehow you¡¯re one of the chosen ones. Isn¡¯t that a bit suspicious?¡±


    Her words stung, and Daniel felt a twinge of disappointment. Didn¡¯t she know how good he was? That those twelve years at his company hadn¡¯t been for nothing? He¡¯d never stayed in the same position¡ªevery year brought a step up in his career and within the firm. Well, not every single one of those twelve years, but since starting as an intern there, he was now just two steps below the board of directors. Technologically, he considered himself the best. He¡¯d told her about his work countless times and was ready to do it again now, but more and more, it felt pointless.


    ¡°Yeah. And there are two invites,¡± he said, clinging to the same hope.


    ¡°Who¡¯re you taking?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re offending me.¡±


    Emma didn¡¯t say anything and went back to her food. Even when she was annoyed, she was beautiful. Sure, her thirties had started leaving faint traces on her forehead, but she was still a woman anyone would notice¡ªdark-haired, dark-eyed, with thin lips and a slender frame. She didn¡¯t have much in the chest department, but she had a cute backside. He loved watching her dance while she cooked. Though it¡¯d been a while since she last danced. Now she just walked to the counter, mixed some things in a bowl, and sat down to eat. She didn¡¯t even wait for him to get home anymore.


    ¡°Honestly, I think it¡¯s nonsense. Are you sure we won¡¯t just be wasting our time?¡±


    ¡°In two or three years, the whole world will be talking about this. Trust me. Even my company¡¯s blown away by the scale. It¡¯s been Hugo¡¯s dream for years, but aside from interviews, nothing¡¯s been shown to the world. Until now¡­¡±


    ¡°Another billionaire¡¯s whim. Sorry, babe, it sounds dumb to me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be crazy expensive later. Right now, you¡¯ve got the chance to enjoy a whole different world for a week. For free.¡±


    ¡°A whole week? A week with robots? No, no. This thing¡¯s got no future. I don¡¯t get it like you do, but I¡¯ve heard of robot stuff before. It¡¯s exciting at first, then no one cares. This¡¯ll die out too. I¡¯d rather not waste my week.¡±


    It was one of those days when Emma was in a bad mood again. It¡¯d been happening more often lately. Things hadn¡¯t always been like this. Except for those first two months when Daniel found out she¡¯d cheated on him, they¡¯d had no real issues in their relationship. And that relationship had lasted ten years now. Well, everything was fine until recently, when her coldness started showing up more and more.


    Emma worked as an intern at an architecture firm. For years after graduating, she¡¯d been a waitress¡ªtips were great, and she had no intention of wasting time studying. But as the years piled on, the tips started going to her younger coworkers, and all she got were smiles from customers that didn¡¯t pay the bills. At twenty-eight, she started studying, and at thirty, she landed the internship. The pay wasn¡¯t much, but Daniel earned enough for both of them. They lived well¡ªfinances were solid, rent wasn¡¯t steep, the neighbors were cool, and the sex was good. When she was in the mood, that is. If she wasn¡¯t, they¡¯d just sleep apart to avoid a fight.


    Daniel stood up and took off his jacket. The two invitations still sat on the table. Emma looked everywhere but at them. The streetlamp outside flickered, plunging the room into darkness for a moment.


    ¡°Can you turn on the light?¡±


    Daniel reached for the nearby switch, and the room lit up. He thought they¡¯d keep talking about the park. He¡¯d researched so much, he needed to share it with someone. But it clearly wouldn¡¯t be her.


    ¡°You could go with Jasper if you want. Or Colin.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to go with you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.¡±


    Emma smiled¡ªnot the smile he loved seeing, but a mocking one.


    ¡°No, honey. How long did you say? A week?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer. He grabbed his jacket and the invitations and headed to the bedroom. He tossed everything into the laundry pile and lay on his back on the bed. One of the invites was still in his hand. ¡°Hugo Barnes invites you to the first journey through time¡­¡± That¡¯s how it started. After a long explanation he knew by heart, it ended with, ¡°We¡¯re not wizards, but we¡¯re damn good with machines.¡±


    Emma was right. Not about the park, but about his next options being Jasper and Colin.

 2

    Two evenings had passed since his talk with Emma. The park had consumed his thoughts the entire time. And now, approaching him wasn¡¯t a machine, but a man. Colin had kicked the ball forward and was chasing it with all his might, aiming to dart past Daniel.


    Football was their favorite pastime. Almost every week, after the long chaos of workdays, they¡¯d gather to kick the ball around. Today was no different¡ªthere they were with seven other guys. The teams were split into two, five players each. Jasper was on Daniel¡¯s side, while Colin played for the opposition. The goals and field weren¡¯t regulation size¡ªabout half as big¡ªbut it was enough for a few friendly matches.


    Jasper, tipping the scales at over 110 kilograms, usually stuck to the goal during these games. People his size were perfect for it¡ªthey filled the space, and at such short range, reflexes weren¡¯t a big deal. Daniel was better as a striker, but in this match, he¡¯d opted to hang back in defense.


    Colin, his other close friend, was on the opposing team and itching to play. Not because he loved football that much, but because Jasper was guarding the goal opposite. He got a kick out of scoring against him¡ªit was their eternal rivalry. Colin had a powerful shot and bombarded the hefty keeper with the hardest kicks he could muster. Jasper caught every one, hurling insults back at Colin in return.


    In the end, Colin¡¯s team won. The deciding goal came from him, left alone against Jasper. As their hefty friend cursed and tried desperately to trip him with a kick to the shins, Colin slipped the ball between Jasper¡¯s legs and scored. Most of the other guys¡ªmutual acquaintances¡ªburst into laughter.


    After hitting the showers, they lingered in the steamy locker room. Jasper sat with just a towel draped over his privates. His hefty frame sagged where the fat gathered, and he breathed heavily. He had dark blond hair¡ªalmost reddish¡ªand a faint mustache. He was likable, but very overweight. That didn¡¯t stop him from charming women and cycling through them constantly. Daniel had long given up counting or trying to remember them. Jasper would introduce them, and Daniel would just wave dismissively. When it came to picking up women, Jasper was a walking miracle.


    Colin stood before them, naked save for his boxers, waving a towel in front of himself¡ªmore to fan some air than out of boredom. Fresh air was sorely lacking in the bathroom. Colin was the tallest of the trio, with strikingly light eyes and dark hair. He was clean-shaven and always dressed sharp. If he could¡¯ve played football in a suit, he would¡¯ve. Even now, next to his bag sat formal shoes, pants that leaned sporty, a white tee, and a light blazer.


    ¡°Where¡¯ve you been, Dani?¡± they called him that for short. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you in two weeks. Emma¡¯s got you on a tight leash, huh?¡± Jasper and Colin exchanged a glance and chuckled quietly.


    ¡°Been swamped with work, guys,¡± Daniel said, looking first at Colin, then Jasper.


    ¡°That¡¯s what Jasper says too, but last night I saw him with some chick. No time to hang out, he claimed, yet there he was in a bar, wrapped around a redhead. Did you seal the deal, Jasper?¡±


    Jasper spread his arms wide and kissed the air with his eyes closed. No words needed. Colin and Daniel laughed.


    ¡°At least you¡¯re good at that, ¡®cause as a goalkeeper¡­?¡± Colin teased.


    ¡°No problem. I scored plenty of goals between a real woman¡¯s legs last night, Colin,¡± Jasper said, snatching the towel¡ªhis only cover¡ªand chucking it at their tall friend. ¡°Lately, you¡¯re only scoring against guys.¡±


    ¡°If you must know, Jasper¡ª¡±


    ¡°No need to tell me. I¡¯ve never once seen you with a woman.¡±


    ¡°Actually¡ª¡± Colin shifted to defense.


    ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®actually,¡¯¡± Jasper cut him off. ¡°You haven¡¯t gotten laid since last year.¡±


    Colin opened his mouth to retort but stopped himself.


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    ¡°He¡¯s gonna lecture me about women and legs¡­¡± Jasper stood up, stark naked, his goods swinging freely, and reached out to yank the towel back from Colin.


    They bickered like this often¡ªit was nothing new. It was an unspoken game: see how much you could rile the other up. Naturally, the bigger egos struggled to take it, but the sulking never lasted long.


    ¡°Jasper, can you cover up?¡± Daniel tried starting indirectly.


    ¡°What, like you haven¡¯t seen it before, bro? Why¡¯s everyone acting like a prude today?¡±


    Jasper pulled on his shorts commando-style and threw on a black tee that draped over his bulk¡ªa size bigger than his already oversized usual.


    ¡°Heard of FutureRobot?¡± Daniel decided to cut to the chase. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer.


    Both looked at him oddly. They hadn¡¯t heard of it¡ªhe could tell from their faces.


    ¡°Some new virus or something?¡± Colin laughed.


    ¡°No. A company.¡±


    ¡°Right, more of your computer geek stuff.¡±


    ¡°Sort of.¡±


    ¡°Bro, spit it out, ¡®cause I¡¯m running late,¡± Jasper said, glancing at his watch and tapping his foot impatiently.


    ¡°Have you heard of Hugo Barnes? The Historical Park, anything?¡±


    ¡°Heard of this, heard of that¡­ Are we on some quiz show?¡±


    Colin was getting annoyed too.


    ¡°Short version, guys: I¡¯ve got two invites to something new. Something this Hugo Barnes has been working on for forty years.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ How grand,¡± Jasper mocked without even looking at him.


    ¡°They¡¯re opening a park with robots. Real robots.¡±


    ¡°Real robots?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. With faces, hands, legs, blood.¡±


    ¡°And where is this thing?¡±


    ¡°Outskirts of the city. For now, it¡¯s only open to invitees.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ve got invites because¡­?¡±


    D¨¦j¨¤ vu hit. He had to explain himself again, just like with Emma.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I have two invites. For a week in the park.¡±


    ¡°A week? What are you gonna do there?¡±


    ¡°No clue, but it¡¯s huge, I swear. No one¡¯s heard much yet ¡®cause Barnes wants feedback from the invitees first. He¡¯s invited people from every profession.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re one of them?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s say yes.¡±


    ¡°Cool, so you¡¯re saying we won¡¯t see you for another week?¡±


    ¡°No, guys. I want one of you to come with me.¡±


    ¡°What about Emma? Did you two break up?¡± Jasper stood, raising a clenched fist.


    ¡°No, no. Nothing like that. She just doesn¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t want to? And she¡¯ll let you go off for a week with robots? Actually, it does sound kinda childish. Her man comes home and invites her to a metal show. Big whoop. And for a week, no less.¡±


    Hearing it from the outside, it did sound pretty juvenile. Had he explained it right to Emma? Maybe he¡¯d messed up. He¡¯d just talked about robots. What woman cares about robots?


    ¡°Guess I¡¯m not explaining it well¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not. And you¡¯re wasting our time,¡± Colin said, already standing near the locker room door. The steam had mostly cleared, and the air was fresher now.


    ¡°The robots are real. No metal on them. The metal¡¯s inside, but you don¡¯t see or hear it. And their consciousness, from what I know, is fully independent. That¡¯s how they pitched it to us.¡±


    ¡°So it won¡¯t be a mess of cables?¡±


    ¡°Not a single cable in sight, I promise. No cables, no oil drops.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯ll we do there?¡±


    ¡°No idea. But it¡¯s a whole city. Depending on what era we step into, there¡¯ll be everything¡ªcops, diner vendors, prostitutes, you name it.¡±


    ¡°Prostitutes? You mean I can screw robots?¡± That was the magic word that always piqued Jasper¡¯s interest. Daniel was starting to regret not leading with it.


    ¡°I guess so, but I don¡¯t know how safe that is.¡±


    ¡°Bro, I¡¯ve been with all kinds of women, but never a robot. Though, gotta say, I wouldn¡¯t stick it in metal. You never know¡­ that thing¡¯s precious to me.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to screw robots, Jasper. We¡¯re going ¡®cause it¡¯s free. Once it¡¯s public, none of us will afford it. People like us will just drool over the TV ads.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in. Anyway, I¡¯m dealing with this one chick¡­ Never mind, long story.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s not stopping you?¡±


    ¡°She wants me to meet her folks. Your idea¡¯s the perfect hideout for a week. But I¡¯ve seen tons of movies. Robots always turn on humans. If that¡¯s the deal here, tell me now. I¡¯ll go crash at her parents¡¯ instead¡ªsafer bet.¡±


    ¡°Look, that¡¯s not guaranteed. But the park¡¯s fine, bro. It¡¯s all in testing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what worries me.¡±


    ¡°You coming, Jas?¡± Colin was still by the door, listening but not chiming in. His expression was part confusion, part irritation.


    ¡°Wait, Col. This is starting to sound better. I¡¯m picturing myself by a pool, lounging on a chair while four blonde bots bring me drinks and sit in my lap.¡±


    ¡°Blondes, but made of metal,¡± Colin corrected.


    ¡°Hey, Dani,¡± Jasper turned to him, ¡°you said two invites?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s the other option. Don¡¯t know which of you to give it to. If you both want in, I¡¯ll sit it out.¡±


    Jasper and Colin locked eyes. Colin pulled back almost instantly.


    ¡°You guys go. Sounds dumb to me anyway,¡± Colin said, opening the door and stepping out. Jasper stared at the door a bit longer before turning to Daniel.


    ¡°Think I pissed him off earlier. I don¡¯t really think he¡¯s gay¡ªjust haven¡¯t seen him with a girl in forever. Set it up with the metal hookers, bro. I wanna be the first guy to stick it where oil leaks out.¡±


    ¡°Well, you probably won¡¯t be the first¡­¡±


    They both cracked up.

 3

    The dark streets near the hall where they played football gradually gave way to narrower, brighter, and busier ones. While the hall sat uphill in the park, close to the mountain¡¯s edge, Daniel¡¯s home lay almost at the opposite end of the city. The deeper he drove into it, the more people and cars appeared, and the traffic lights stopped him more frequently.


    He drove a two-seater car. Not because he couldn¡¯t afford a bigger one¡ªhe could buy five of them if he wanted¡ªbut because he didn¡¯t need more. He loved this one. It could carry him and Emma, along with all their luggage, for a few days away. He could travel in it, even race it if he felt like it. But he didn¡¯t. Nor was he in a hurry to get home tonight. Emma was still upset about something he couldn¡¯t quite grasp, but as a true man¡ªand especially as someone with a girlfriend of nearly ten years¡ªhe¡¯d learned not to meddle when a woman was in a bad mood. Things always got worse if he did.


    He turned into the side street leading to his house, found number 187, and parked in front of it. He turned off the engine and stayed inside. Reaching over to the dashboard in front of the passenger seat, he pressed a button, and the compartment lazily slid open. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Only two remained inside. He took one and returned the pack. Pressing the button again, he watched the lid slowly close, staring at it intently. The lid was a robot. The car he sat in was a robot. Everything around him was robotic. So what if he spent a week in a world like that? Nothing would happen. And the privilege of being one of the first to experience such a place¡­ not everyone could boast about that. One day, he¡¯d have a story to tell his grandkids.


    Daniel rarely smoked. He turned to cigarettes only when truly stressed. With so much work, he barely had time to feel stressed most days. But Emma stressed him out, and lately, he¡¯d been lingering after work longer and longer just to avoid the disappointment of seeing her displeased face. The TV kept preaching that communication was key in a family. What communication? That was the talk of people without families. He knew everything about Emma, and she knew everything about him. What was there to discuss?


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    He lit the cigarette and took a drag. The smoke wafted over his whole body. It didn¡¯t feel like poison¡ªmore like a kind of healing. The second drag was even deeper. He deliberately kept the windows shut. He wanted the car to reek of smoke. It calmed him. Emma, on the other hand, had never smoked and would likely ask him from the doorway why he had. He didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d say, nor did he care right now.


    He finished the cigarette, and it brought him one of the greatest pleasures he¡¯d felt lately. Only then did he open the door, letting the smoke pour out. To an onlooker, it might¡¯ve looked like the car was on fire. He locked it and leaned against it. A group of kids passed by¡ªno older than sixteen. One stared at him like he was a cop. If he were a cop, he¡¯d have stopped them for sure¡ªthey had no business being out this late.


    He glanced at his house. It was dark, save for the living room, where the light glowed but the blinds were drawn. Emma was probably home.


    He walked slowly toward the house, opened the door, and called her name. No answer. The living room was empty too. He cracked open the bedroom door and saw her there. The window was ajar, and she lay on her back, topless, wearing only panties below. The sheet covered just a sliver of her waist.


    He slipped into the bathroom, took a hot shower, stripped down, and climbed into bed beside her. He didn¡¯t want to wake her, and she probably didn¡¯t want him to either. Once upon a time, when he came home late, she¡¯d wait up with the bedside lamp on, reading a book¡ªusually a crime novel. Then they¡¯d make love, sometimes more than once.


    Now, she just fell asleep.


    Daniel lay on his back, staring at the open window. A cool breeze brushed his face. He pulled the covers over Emma and himself. As he drifted off, he wondered: Did robots feel? Robots didn¡¯t feel, but would the ones in the park have emotions? Could they tell cold from warm?

 4

    <h2 style="text-align: justify">4</h2>


    Morning came, and Emma was still asleep. He left her as she was, took a quick shower, and headed out. Honestly, he felt a slight relief at not having to talk to her. It was calmer this way. On his way to the car, he remembered the last cigarette stashed in the glove compartment. He summoned his willpower and didn¡¯t reach for it. He wanted to keep something like that hidden away¡ªa comfort to know that when things got really bad, he could just grab it and soothe his troubles. Or maybe he¡¯d deal with them instead.


    He pulled up to his office. He loved mornings. The streets weren¡¯t yet crowded with people or cars. Traffic jams plagued the city, but his route skirted its edges, sparing him the endless waiting.


    ¡°Good morning, Daniel,¡± the parking lot guard greeted him.


    Daniel returned the greeting. The guy was friendly, though Daniel could never quite recall his name.


    He worked three days in the office and two from home. Today was supposed to be a home day, but one of his bosses had called him in urgently. They¡¯d offered him the option to work the entire next week from home instead. Daniel had agreed.


    In the office, he had his own room, separate from the others. Back when he was lower on the ladder, he¡¯d despised those who shut themselves away in private rooms, avoiding everyone else. They seemed like people who looked down on others. He¡¯d vowed never to become one of them¡ªbut he had. Now, every time he stepped into his own space, he felt a quiet relief. He could stretch out his legs, fire up his laptop, and work in peace.


    He wasn¡¯t on bad terms with any of his colleagues, though he sensed they talked about him the same way he¡¯d once talked about those above him. Maybe it was just how things went.


    A knock came at his door. He didn¡¯t respond. The door opened anyway, revealing a short girl with long chestnut hair. She was slim, with wide hips, dressed in black jeans that hugged her from the waist down. He knew her¡ªStella. He was pretty sure she had a crush on him.


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    ¡°Can I?¡± she asked, sitting in the chair across from him without waiting for an answer.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Daniel said, more to feel like he¡¯d made the call.


    ¡°Some clients reached out to me.¡±


    ¡°To you? What business do they have contacting you?¡± He sometimes tried to sound like a boss, though he didn¡¯t put much heart into it.


    ¡°Well, they¡¯re my acquaintances, actually. They want the company to do a project for them. Specifically, they insist on our firm handling it.¡± She said it with all the confidence in the world.


    ¡°Those things get discussed at a higher level, Stella. Not here. I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡±


    ¡°I know. I just¡­¡±


    ¡°They can submit a request through the usual channels, and we¡¯ll meet with the higher-ups to discuss it. I¡¯ll call you in too if it means that much to you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that important, actually. I just thought¡­¡±


    ¡°That you¡¯d write their program yourself without involving the company?¡±


    Stella looked at him, slightly startled, with a hint of embarrassment in her eyes.


    Daniel knew that move. He¡¯d pulled it himself back in the day. Instead of asking his boss, he¡¯d just do it. No one at the firm caught on¡ªnot even the clients. It might¡¯ve been a bit unethical¡ªsome could call it theft or even extortion¡ªbut there were no victims. He¡¯d hire or pick two or three quiet, eager-to-learn youngsters, give them tasks, and at the end of the month, treat them somehow. He¡¯d done it before, but he wouldn¡¯t allow himself to now. Nor could he greenlight it.


    ¡°Anything else, Stella?¡±


    ¡°Not really. I¡¯ll tell them you¡¯re thinking it over.¡±


    ¡°Tell them you¡¯ll do it.¡±


    She looked at him again, and the spark returned to her eyes.


    ¡°But we won¡¯t involve the company,¡± Daniel added.


    ¡°Right, but they wanted the firm.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you part of the firm?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°So? If they trust us, they¡¯ll trust you. If you¡¯re up for it, I¡¯ll talk to some of the younger guys to help you out after hours. But you¡¯ll have to pay them.¡±


    ¡°And the company?¡±


    ¡°If they want it through the firm, they can file the request. I feel like we¡¯re going in circles here.¡±


    Stella nodded, glanced at the wall behind him for a moment, braced herself on the desk, and stood. On her way to the door, she turned as if to say something more but thought better of it and left.

 5

    The meeting with the directors was scheduled for after 2 p.m. Daniel stood in front of the room ten minutes early. Not only the room but the entire floor seemed deserted. He wasn¡¯t surprised. People like that rarely showed up on time, especially when meeting someone beneath them.


    He heard the sound of heels clicking up the stairs. Turning around, he saw a blonde woman, slightly stocky, with an authoritative face, black glasses, and a black skirt. She walked deliberately, step by step, holding something in her hands.


    ¡°Good afternoon, Daniel,¡± she said.


    Daniel smiled at her, but she was already looking elsewhere. She brushed past him, opened the office door in front of him, stood in the doorway, and signaled with her eyes for him to enter.


    ¡°Mr. Scott said to wait for him.¡±


    He¡¯d expected Scott to be late. These people never arrived on time, but he was used to it.


    The office was ordinary. Slightly larger than usual, with a big round table in the center that could seat no more than ten people.


    Max Scott arrived five minutes later.


    ¡°Oh, Daniel. Sorry for being late.¡±


    His boss walked past him first, shook his hand, then sat down under the smiling gaze of the woman.


    ¡°This is Brooke. She¡¯s starting as a secretary today.¡±


    Daniel nodded at her. He didn¡¯t know what to say. It didn¡¯t interest him, nor was it his problem.


    ¡°Are we expecting anyone else?¡± Max glanced at the blonde woman again.


    ¡°Mr. Cole.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t be coming. Personal issues. Anyone else?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    That was interesting. Daniel was the only one present at the meeting. He could think of at least five other people¡ªhigher-ups¡ªwho should¡¯ve been there if this was about work. But apparently, it wasn¡¯t. That worried him.


    Max Scott straightened the papers in front of him, as if they needed straightening, then abruptly looked up. He had dark blonde hair and glasses. His face always seemed to carry a smile, even when he was angry.


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    ¡°Daniel, sorry we took your work-from-home day, but we needed to talk about something.¡±


    Daniel didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he let him continue.


    Max Scott glanced at the blonde woman, who stood expressionless in the corner. Then he lowered his head again, his eyes meeting Daniel¡¯s.


    ¡°I assume you got the invitation to the Historical Park?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± He was surprised by the direct question. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Come on. I know who¡¯s been invited and figured you¡¯d be on the list.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Scott. Two invitations. You must have gotten them too.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± He waved his hand, as if the question annoyed him¡ªor at least that¡¯s how Daniel interpreted it.


    ¡°Exactly, exactly. How¡¯s Emma? That¡¯s your girlfriend¡¯s name, right? Is she excited about the invitation?¡± The question was odd.


    ¡°Actually, no.¡± He wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°I won¡¯t be going with her. She wants to, but she¡¯s got commitments.¡±


    Max Scott started thumbing through the papers in front of him. He wanted to say something but seemed unsure where to start. The blonde secretary watched them with a smile. They always smiled.


    ¡°I see. Have you found someone else to go with?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got two options.¡± Daniel was almost certain either Colin or Jasper would agree. But there was no point in naming them. Max Scott probably didn¡¯t care about them specifically. ¡°I¡¯ve got someone to go with.¡±


    ¡°Look, Daniel, I¡¯ll get straight to the point.¡± Max Scott placed both palms on the papers in front of him. ¡°We both have other work to do. I need both of your invitations.¡±


    Daniel leaned back in his chair. He wasn¡¯t so attached to the idea that he¡¯d cling to the invitations like they were irreplaceable, but to have them demanded so bluntly? The sheer audacity made his hands tremble¡ªmore from anger than anything else.


    ¡°My invitations?¡±


    ¡°Look, Daniel. You¡¯re one of the fastest-rising people in the company. A highly valued asset. But I have friends. Very influential friends.¡±


    It all felt like a threat.


    ¡°And they want to visit the park too, but they don¡¯t have invitations.¡±


    ¡°If they¡¯re as influential as you say, I¡¯d think Mr. Barnes would gladly get them tickets.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ve already spoken to Mr. Barnes, and he refused. The invitations are gone, and they can¡¯t risk adding more people.¡±


    Daniel realized he had little time to decide, and it¡¯d be better for him to make the right call. The ¡°right¡± decision now seemed to be handing them over to his boss. He didn¡¯t want to lose his job over some tickets.


    ¡°Look, Dani,¡± Max Scott suddenly softened, ¡°all the big shots in the country already have tickets. Including me. Even those beneath them have them¡ªundeservedly, if you ask me. But Barnes explained they¡¯ll need support staff there too. So, look, Daniel, you¡¯re support staff.¡± Max paused to study Daniel carefully, perhaps searching for a flicker of rage on his face. ¡°You¡¯d be a secondary role there.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± It was the only question he could think to ask.


    ¡°See? I know more than you do. That¡¯s why I¡¯m where I am. You¡¯re where you are¡­ Actually, do you want time off for it?¡±


    He¡¯d have wanted it. But now he wasn¡¯t so sure.


    ¡°Look, I hope you make the right choice.¡± Max didn¡¯t let him answer. Instead, he smiled, stood up, and left. The secretary stayed where she was. Daniel didn¡¯t move. Truthfully, those invitations weren¡¯t the most important thing to him, but now that there was such a demand for them, they felt more valuable. All this in just a few minutes. Scott was known for his directness, but this¡­ this was too bold.


    The blonde secretary adjusted her glasses, glancing between him and the door. He got the hint and stood up.


    He didn¡¯t wish her a good day as he left.

 6

    Daniel stood alone in the living room, getting ready to head out. Emma still wasn¡¯t back from work. On Fridays, they always kept her late. Her architecture firm held a sort of weekly briefing for the upcoming week with all the staff. While most companies did this on Monday mornings, they did it on Friday after hours.


    Daniel stood by the table where they usually ate, watching the people passing by outside. Colin and Jasper had invited him to a bar and told him to bring Emma if he wanted. He did want to, but she¡¯d turn him down. So he¡¯d decided to wait for her and ask. If she wasn¡¯t back in an hour, he¡¯d leave without her.


    His phone started vibrating. An unknown number.


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Hauk?¡±


    It was a woman on the other end. She spoke slowly, measuring every word.


    ¡°Hawk,¡± Daniel corrected her. ¡°Daniel Hawk.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Hawk. My name¡¯s Victoria, and I¡¯m calling from FutureRobot.¡±


    He¡¯d expected them to reach out eventually, but not on a Friday afternoon.


    ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m calling regarding your invitations for the week-long experience at our Historical Park.¡±


    A week? Was that all? He¡¯d been under a different impression.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to inform you that your adventure will begin on the twentieth of this month.¡± Daniel looked up at the calendar. Today was the tenth. The woman kept talking. ¡°Before that, within two days from today, you¡¯ll need to confirm the name of the guest you¡¯ll be bringing.¡±


    ¡°Jasper,¡± he blurted out immediately, but she continued as if she hadn¡¯t heard him.


    ¡°Also, next week, you¡¯ll need to visit our headquarters for routine tests.¡±


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    ¡°Tests?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need an ID, a health record, and an international passport if you have one.¡± She still wasn¡¯t listening.


    ¡°What kind of tests?¡±


    ¡°The tests will include a routine medical check-up, a psychological evaluation, bloodwork, and more. We recommend setting aside a full day.¡±


    These people weren¡¯t messing around. If Emma had agreed to go, she¡¯d definitely back out at this step. She only got near needles if she was unconscious. The idea of giving blood for what she called a ¡°game¡± was absurd to her.


    ¡°You¡¯ll also get to see the location and meet some of the inhabitants.¡±


    He thought of Max Scott. He¡¯d completely forgotten his boss wanted those tickets. This was the moment to ask.


    ¡°What if I can¡¯t make it and want to send someone else in my place?¡±


    The woman¡¯s voice cut off, followed by a long static hum. Daniel checked if the call had dropped, but it hadn¡¯t. He put the phone back to his ear and heard her again.


    ¡°Mr. Hauk.¡±


    ¡°Hawk,¡± he corrected her again.


    No apology this time, just a brief pause.


    ¡°The invitations are in your name. You can change the name on the second invitation, but not both. If you can¡¯t attend, both invitations will be void.¡±


    ¡°So I can go with whoever I choose or alone, but I can¡¯t give my tickets to someone else?¡±


    Silence again.


    ¡°Do you have any other questions? I¡¯d be happy to help.¡±


    ¡°Where do I send the other name?¡±


    ¡°Please provide the details of the second person in response to the email you¡¯ll receive after this call.¡±


    ¡°What details do you need?¡±


    ¡°Two names.¡±


    ¡°Just that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What do you mean ¡®just that¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Just two names?¡± He was starting to get irritated. She was either new or incompetent.


    ¡°Yes. We only need two names. The rest will be verified on-site. Any other questions?¡±


    ¡°No. Thank you.¡±


    The call ended.


    So what his boss wanted wasn¡¯t possible. That, at least, eased his mind. He wouldn¡¯t have to make excuses or find ways to refuse. He hoped Max Scott would figure that out on his own.


    Emma still wasn¡¯t back. He took off the shirt he¡¯d worn to work and put on a plain black t-shirt. He spritzed on some cologne, sent Emma a text saying he was heading out, and included the location¡ªslightly unnecessary, he thought, but it gave him an alibi that he¡¯d invited her.


    He left the living room light on.


    It was something of a tradition for them.

 7

    ¡°You must be crazy,¡± Jasper said, gripping a glass full of whiskey next to him. ¡°The invitation¡¯s personal to you¡ªit didn¡¯t go through your boss, did it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. FutureRobot sent it to me.¡±


    ¡°Well, then it¡¯s yours. Who¡¯s this guy to take it from you?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not taking it, Jas. He asked me for it. Said it¡¯s for a friend of his.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s blackmail,¡± Colin chimed in. ¡°He didn¡¯t say he¡¯d fire you, but he hinted at it, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    Daniel paused to think. It was true, no matter how much he tried to deny it.


    ¡°He¡¯s a big sucker,¡± Jasper said, looking at Colin. ¡°He¡¯ll end up giving the ticket to that boss of his.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re still up for it?¡±


    ¡°Hell yeah, bro. I was planning to take a week off soon anyway, but I had no clue what I¡¯d do¡ªmy wildest guess was lounging on the PlayStation all day.¡±


    ¡°Stress at work?¡±


    ¡°Nah, the opposite. Deals are going fine. It¡¯s just that when you work with people, sometimes you get sick of them. You wouldn¡¯t get it, stuck behind your keyboard all day.¡±


    ¡°Why would I want to meet people if they¡¯re like you?¡± Daniel managed to shut him up and make him raise his glass.


    ¡°Guys like me are one in a million.¡±


    ¡°And take up so much space,¡± Colin winked at Daniel, and the two burst out laughing. Jasper pretended to be offended, took a sip, and then started laughing too.


    Jasper was a real estate broker. In his early years, it had been tough¡ªhe¡¯d close one deal every three months, and even then, it was because someone higher up felt sorry for him and tossed him a hot property that would¡¯ve sold itself with little effort.


    At the start of his career, Jasper had even crashed at their place while he saved up money. Daniel could tell it annoyed Emma, so he¡¯d had to hint to Jasper to move out. He¡¯d helped him with cash and introduced him to Colin back then.


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    Colin, on the other hand, owned two freight forwarding offices. He¡¯d started working at one, then somehow scraped together the money to buy it. With the profits, he¡¯d snagged a second. Now he was gunning for a third, but lately, he¡¯d been losing steam¡ªit took up too much of his time. Daniel kept pushing him to hire assistants, but Colin wouldn¡¯t listen.


    ¡°Listen, Daniel. Don¡¯t you dare give me up. You promised me that invitation.¡±


    Daniel looked at him without answering. He didn¡¯t want to give it up, but his job mattered more.


    ¡°Is Emma coming tonight?¡±


    ¡°She wasn¡¯t home. I left her a message¡­¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s cheating on you, you know that, bro,¡± Jasper said.


    ¡°Watch how you talk about her.¡± Daniel¡¯s hand trembled slightly. It always did when he held back from snapping. In moments like this, he liked to light a cigarette.


    ¡°You¡¯re more my friend than she is. Women come and go.¡±


    ¡°And still, it¡¯s Emma. I¡¯ve been with her for ten years.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Jasper jumped in. ¡°That¡¯s why I switch them out fast. If we¡¯re not married or she hasn¡¯t popped out a kid by the second lay, next one¡¯s up. Otherwise, they cheat.¡±


    ¡°Men cheat too.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, true. Let¡¯s drink to men!¡± Jasper shouted the last part so loud that a few guys at the other tables raised their glasses too.


    The bar they were in wasn¡¯t the most popular, but it was one of their favorites. Mostly old men came here, and the women were some of the roughest in town. They loved it because they could get drunk with the older crowd, who¡¯d then start spilling life stories. Jasper and Colin lived for that¡ªthey¡¯d soak up the tales and retell them as their own in fancier bars over the next few days. And if it came to a fight, watching drunk, bearded, filthy retirees trade punches was pure entertainment. Today wasn¡¯t one of those days, though¡ªthey needed to talk. And when they talked, they didn¡¯t want young women strutting around, stealing their focus. Though even here, there were some.


    ¡°You see that one?¡± Naturally, Jasper spotted her first.


    Leaning against the bar was a dark-skinned woman with curly hair that looked more like a wig. She glanced side to side, and from a distance, it was clear she was here to make some cash tonight by selling her charms.


    ¡°She¡¯ll charge you at least a hundred,¡± Colin said, egging him on.


    Jasper downed his drink in one gulp and stood up.


    He was back in less than two minutes.


    ¡°Got her for fifty.¡±


    ¡°Fifty? Still not worth it.¡±


    ¡°For all three of us.¡±


    Colin rubbed his hands together. Daniel clutched his head.


    ¡°Count me out.¡± Daniel tossed money for his drink on the table and got up.


    ¡°You always kill the vibe, bro. But the offer was for two anyway. I knew you¡¯d say no.¡±


    Daniel watched their clumsy attempts to corner her. Paid or not, it didn¡¯t matter.


    Then he left.

 8

    ¡°So you¡¯re really going?¡±


    Finally, one of them broke the silence.


    Daniel and Emma had been in the living room for a while now, each doing their own thing, not saying a word to each other. It felt like they¡¯d fought, though Daniel couldn¡¯t recall anything like that.


    Above them, the TV on the wall was the only sound. The living room was the one place that could bring them together, even if just to see each other.


    Emma wore black leggings and a big gray sweater that used to be his. She was bent over the sink, washing various greens for her meal.


    Daniel sat at the table, glancing outside now and then or scrolling aimlessly on his tablet for some interesting news.


    ¡°Yeah. Jasper¡¯s in,¡± he replied, though a bit delayed.


    ¡°Jasper? What about Colin?¡±


    ¡°Colin wasn¡¯t up for it. Which is good, since I only had one extra invitation.¡±


    Emma seemed in a better mood today, or so he thought.


    ¡°Uh-huh. How¡¯d they react when you told them?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much like you. First, they thought it was dumb, then a game.¡±


    He saw her crack a slight smile.


    ¡°Jasper didn¡¯t need much convincing, though.¡±


    ¡°He loves weird stuff¡­ and women, mostly.¡±


    ¡°Well, close enough. He agreed once he heard there¡¯d be women there.¡±


    ¡°Women?¡± She turned to face him.


    ¡°Robot women. But lifelike.¡±


    ¡°And you can¡­?¡±


    ¡°I guess so. Not me, but in general.¡± He corrected himself quickly.


    Emma went back to peeling vegetables under the running water. He glanced at her more often than she did at him. Their conversation was calm, their tone normal¡ªsomething increasingly rare in their relationship. He loved when they got along and hated fighting with her. When she¡¯d cheated with her high school sweetheart, Reid, he¡¯d understood. Naturally, the first few days were rough. They¡¯d just moved in together, and Daniel had taken it as the first big hurdle in their relationship. So he¡¯d forgiven her.


    That first night, he¡¯d gotten drunk alone in the living room. Emma was in the bedroom, crying. The next morning, he lay down beside her, and when he woke up, she was still there, still crying. The following night, he¡¯d gone out to get even. The girl he¡¯d picked didn¡¯t bite, so he found another he could pay. But just before it happened, he backed out. It felt like he¡¯d hurt her¡ªEmma, that is. He didn¡¯t want to hurt her. Revenge would¡¯ve driven him, but revenge was never a good guide.


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    After that, things were fine. They loved each other again within a week, and it stayed that way until now. Everything was great¡ªwell, until a few weeks ago, when Emma started acting strange. Had she cheated again? He considered it, of course¡ªhe wasn¡¯t that naive¡ªbut she¡¯d tell him. Like last time.


    ¡°Did Jasper finally find a place?¡± Emma cut into his thoughts.


    ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s got a two-bedroom apartment. Thinking about a second one.¡±


    ¡°One¡¯s plenty for him¡­ and his women.¡±


    Daniel laughed, remembering the bar from the night before. He hadn¡¯t heard from Colin or Jasper since.


    ¡°She¡¯s probably still mad I kicked him out of here.¡±


    ¡°Actually, it wasn¡¯t you. I talked to him,¡± Daniel said, trying to take the blame.


    ¡°Come on. He¡¯s not that dumb¡ªhe knows I made you do it. You¡¯d never have done it otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Still, he¡¯s never said anything about you.¡±


    That was a lie. He didn¡¯t like lying to her, but Jasper often said things about her¡ªnot outright offensive, just enough to irk Daniel. He definitely didn¡¯t like her.


    ¡°You know, Daniel,¡± she said, setting everything down in the sink, turning off the water, and facing him. His heart stopped. He braced for the worst, not ready to hear it but meeting her gaze anyway. ¡°I think this is actually pretty cool.¡±


    His heart started beating again. But he wasn¡¯t sure what she meant.


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Today, my boss was talking about this park. He was telling one of my colleagues he got an invitation¡ªI overheard them.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯d he say?¡±


    ¡°He was really excited. He sounded like you when you told me. I honestly didn¡¯t think it was such a big deal.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t believe me, but you believed your boss.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± It came out half-teasing, half-defensive. ¡°My boss explained it better than you did. More¡­ captivatingly.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°He said the park¡¯s split into different zones, and our firm¡¯s been hired to design one of them.¡±


    ¡°A zone? Which one?¡±


    ¡°Well, listen¡­¡±


    Emma grabbed a chair from the table, pulled it close to him, and sat down. It¡¯d been so long since he¡¯d kissed her that her closeness almost pushed him to try. But she wouldn¡¯t take it well now. She went on:


    ¡°Different time periods. The first is prehistoric¡ªlivestock, stone tools, huts, that sort of thing. Then antiquity¡ªGreek civilization, Roman civilization, Renaissance, Middle Ages, modern era, and so on. That¡¯s what I gathered. And we¡¯re building the structures for one of those.¡±


    Daniel stared at her, baffled. Just the other day, she¡¯d thought it was nonsense, and now her eyes sparkled with excitement.


    ¡°So it¡¯s not finished yet?¡± That interested him more.


    ¡°From what I heard, some zones are done. Specifically, the ones you¡¯ll be testing as guests.¡±


    ¡°You? I thought you¡¯d found a way to go too.¡±


    ¡°Sadly, no.¡± Her eyes brimmed with regret for not taking the invitation. Daniel felt sorry for her but also a flicker of satisfaction¡ªnot right, but there it was. ¡°Only my boss is going. Him and probably his wife, I guess. I don¡¯t know who the other is. We might get involved later.¡±


    ¡°I could¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, Daniel. You already gave it to Jasper. I don¡¯t want to be that person. And your friend doesn¡¯t like me anyway¡ªI don¡¯t want to look like some indecisive woman in front of him.¡±


    Even if he¡¯d wanted to take it back, he couldn¡¯t. But he was glad she refused. He¡¯d already sent Jasper¡¯s name to the email the woman on the phone gave him and had received dates for the tests and when they needed to show up.


    ¡°Guess it¡¯s a serious project,¡± she said, placing a hand on his knee. Warmth spread through him. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you when it officially opens. I¡¯ll even pay.¡±


    There were sparks in her eyes. Daniel smiled at her, and she returned it.


    That night, they finally rekindled their relationship.


    It wasn¡¯t like before¡ªthe passion wasn¡¯t the same¡ªbut she seemed to enjoy it, and he¡¯d seen her smile twice now. His own smile was back too. In the morning, she was gone, off to work early. It was his best night in a long time, even though they slept apart again afterward.


    Sometimes, he just wanted to hold her, nothing more.

 9

    The address they were summoned to wasn¡¯t at FutureRobot¡¯s headquarters but in some remote field about twenty kilometers outside the city. Daniel and Jasper had agreed he¡¯d swing by their place, switch cars, and head out in Jasper¡¯s. Jasper hated riding in Daniel¡¯s car. Every time he had to, he¡¯d curse the whole way. Daniel¡¯s car was a two-seater, and he always told Jasper it was meant for picking up chicks, not pigs like him. Jasper would fire back with a swear.


    Jasper¡¯s car, though, was a full-on SUV¡ªbig enough to cram at least ten people inside, though definitely not ten as heavy and bulky as him. They drove along what felt like a secondary road, one the highway had rendered obsolete. But it was the only path leading to the destination they¡¯d been given.


    ¡°You see that?¡± Jasper drove with one hand, pointing ahead into the distance with the other.


    On the horizon, a massive hangar loomed into view¡ªmore iron than anything else, sprawling across an area the size of at least four football stadiums. At first glance, it wasn¡¯t impressive; it looked like an oversized warehouse.


    ¡°That¡¯s gotta be it.¡±


    ¡°You see the train behind that iron beast? There¡¯s a train.¡±


    Daniel squinted. His eyesight had been acting up lately, but he refused to wear glasses. Sure enough, on one side of the hangar, there was a train and a railway line disappearing into the mountain.


    ¡°When I was a student, I rode trains all the time and knew every line by heart. Never seen this one before.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s theirs.¡±


    ¡°A whole railway line? Where¡¯s this guy getting that kind of money?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been building robots his whole life. And by robots, I don¡¯t just mean humanoid tin cans. All kinds of machines. Probably not alone anymore, though¡ªhe¡¯s got a team big enough to churn out hundreds of robots a day. That¡¯s my guess.¡±


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t heard of him until the other day,¡± Jasper said, scratching his head. ¡°Actually, I did some digging, bro.¡±


    ¡°Miracle you had the time.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you know how it is. Even guys more successful than you get a break sometimes.¡± Jasper flashed a greasy grin, his chubby cheeks crumpling as his lips stretched wide. ¡°So, what¡¯s with these tests? They gonna touch my junk?¡±


    ¡°Could be.¡±


    ¡°But women or men? I¡¯ve got some morals.¡±


    ¡°You? Morals?¡±


    ¡°Alright, not morals¡ªI misspoke. I¡¯ve got rules. No more guys touching my balls.¡±


    ¡°When did that ever happen before?¡±


    Silence fell in the car, followed by both of them bursting into laughter.


    In front of the hangar¡ªwhat they¡¯d dubbed it¡ªtons of cars were parked. Jasper¡¯s SUV slotted in among them. Most were new and shiny, with only a couple of older ones tucked away at the edges of the lot, their owners likely trying to keep them out of sight.


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    They entered through two sliding doors that looked odd against the iron walls surrounding them. Inside, though, the scene was nothing like the exterior suggested.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± Jasper exclaimed first, and he wasn¡¯t easily impressed.


    The walls were iron on the inside too, just slightly more decorated, but what stood out was the swarm of robots filling the hall. In one corner was something like a caf¨¦, simply named ¡°Coffee.¡± Outside it, customers sat while waitstaff¡ªhuman from the waist up, but with toy-car-like wheels instead of legs¡ªrolled around them.


    Nearby, several gardens were enclosed by stone walls, tended by more robots. One watered plants, another carefully maneuvered a gardening tool between them.


    In the opposite corner, a slew of couches sat under a sign marking it as a rest area. In front of them were escalators, both leading to the underground levels¡ªone bringing people back up, the other taking them down.


    ¡°Hello, your names?¡±


    They hadn¡¯t noticed her, too caught up gawking at everything. A redheaded beauty stood before them¡ªhair tied in a bun, pale skin, red glasses. She wore a long blue skirt cinched at the waist with a belt, a pale pink shirt tucked into it, and a blue blazer over it, slightly unbuttoned. Black gloves covered her hands. Daniel was sure Jasper had already marked her as a target. She held a tablet high in one hand and a stylus in the other.


    ¡°Daniel Hawk and Jasper¡­¡±


    ¡°Jasper Lee,¡± Jasper stepped forward, cutting Daniel off.


    His last name really was Lee. Hard as it was to believe, Jasper had a Chinese grandfather who¡¯d passed the name down through the generations. Whenever a pretty woman was around and he had to give his last name, he¡¯d claim his granddad taught him every kind of karate¡ªeven ¡°bedroom karate.¡± A dumb joke, but it worked.


    ¡°Jasper Lee,¡± the redhead repeated, tapping something on her tablet.


    ¡°Yep. And I know all kinds of karate. Even bedroom karate.¡± He winked, but she either didn¡¯t get it or pretended not to hear. Jasper faltered.


    ¡°Please follow me,¡± she said, turning gracefully.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Jasper kept pushing, earning a kick from Daniel. He shot Daniel a disapproving look and threw his hands up in confusion.


    She didn¡¯t answer. She walked ahead, cradling her tablet gently. A few times, she glanced side to side, the way women do when scanning for something interesting. Her hips were wide, her legs long¡ªshe was like a sculpture. Daniel glanced at Jasper, already knowing what he¡¯d see. Jasper looked like a cartoon character drooling over the love of his life, as he always did.


    ¡°Starting to like this place more and more, bro.¡±


    His eyes were wide, like he¡¯d taken some drug, and his grin had morphed into a gaping mouth.


    She stepped onto the escalator, turning her head to check if they were following. Satisfied, she faced forward again. The ride was short¡ªjust a few seconds¡ªand they were downstairs. A sign stood before them, marked with sectors and their corresponding floors. The redhead positioned herself beside it and turned to them, mostly looking at Daniel.


    ¡°Mister,¡± she began, pointing at the sign with her stylus, ¡°we¡¯re on the first floor.¡±


    ¡°Minus one?¡±


    ¡°No, upstairs isn¡¯t considered a floor,¡± she said, glancing at Jasper before returning to Daniel. ¡°This is the first, and it goes down from here. Imagine you¡¯re going up, but you¡¯re descending.¡±


    They both nodded.


    ¡°The tests are here,¡± she continued. ¡°At the end of this corridor, there are lots of doors.¡± She pointed behind her. ¡°There¡¯ll likely be one or two people at most waiting in front of each. Clear?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Where do we start?¡±


    ¡°You start with the standard medical tests in Room 1. Then move to Room 2 for bloodwork. You wait for the results¡ªthey¡¯ll be ready almost instantly¡ªthen go to Room 3 for the psych test.¡±


    ¡°Together or¡­?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she almost shouted, then smiled and softened her tone. ¡°One at a time.¡±


    ¡°And if the tests are fine?¡±


    ¡°If everything checks out, you go down to the second floor and wait with the others.¡±


    ¡°Others?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think you were alone, did you, Mr. Daniel?¡±


    ¡°No, but¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a huge hall on the second floor. You¡¯ll find it easily.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there?¡±


    ¡°Your final test.¡±


    ¡°More tests?¡± Jasper was getting impatient. ¡°It¡¯s like they¡¯re drafting us into the army. And you, miss, where¡¯ll you be during all this? Can I test with you?¡±


    She ignored him again. She was one of the few women immune to his charm.


    ¡°The final test on the second floor isn¡¯t physical¡ªit¡¯s more mental. Not like the one coming up shortly.¡±


    ¡°Meaning?¡±


    She smiled at both of them.


    ¡°Any other questions?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Have a good day, Mr. Hawk. And you, Mr. Lee.¡±

 10

    Jasper had volunteered to go first in Room 1. He emerged after no more than twenty minutes, staring upward, eyes nearly rolling back.


    ¡°Bro, that was the hottest test I¡¯ve ever taken.¡±


    He looked dazed.


    ¡°Just go in,¡± he added, stepping aside.


    Daniel pushed the white door open, stepped inside, and closed it behind him. It was a standard doctor¡¯s office like any other¡ªeverything white, posters on the walls, a white desk with no one at it. Only a neon sign above his head glowed unnaturally:


    ¡°Choose Your Doctor.¡±


    An arrow pointed right. Daniel turned and saw a booth like those at public places that spit out instant photos. He stepped in, and the door shut automatically behind him. There was an emergency lever he clearly wasn¡¯t supposed to touch.


    Inside, the booth was empty except for a tablet in the center, facing the entrance. On it was a list, flanked by up and down arrows and a select button. The list wasn¡¯t long¡ªabout ten faces, seven men and three women. No sound came from outside. With each selection, the doctor¡¯s face appeared, along with their degrees, training, and courses. Though most looked no older than thirty-five, they all had at least ten years of experience. And they were all stunning¡ªyoung and beautiful, a rarity in other hospitals.


    The one he liked best was a bald, dark-skinned doctor with black glasses named Johnny Wan. Thirty-nine, two kids, and his hobby was sleeping outdoors. Daniel wasn¡¯t sure why he needed to know that last bit, but he picked Johnny, marked him, and hit ready.


    The booth lit up green, and the door behind him opened. Daniel stepped out slowly, back into the office, but it wasn¡¯t empty anymore. Johnny Wan¡ªhis doctor¡ªsat at the desk.


    ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± the doctor said, gesturing to the exam table. Daniel obeyed.


    Dr. Wan rose from his chair and approached.


    ¡°Any complaints?¡±


    ¡°No. I had a cold two weeks ago, but I¡¯m fine now.¡±


    ¡°Please open your mouth.¡±


    Daniel opened wide. The doctor inserted one of those metal spoons, pressed his tongue down, and released it after a few seconds.


    ¡°Good. Undress.¡±


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    Daniel followed every instruction.


    The doctor placed a stethoscope on his chest and listened in silence. He leaned in so close that his mouth was inches from Daniel¡¯s. He tried not to breathe in his face, but Daniel couldn¡¯t feel the doctor¡¯s breath either.


    ¡°Good,¡± Dr. Wan said, pulling back.


    ¡°Please stand, take off your pants and underwear.¡±


    Daniel froze for a moment. He¡¯d expected this kind of exam, but from a specialist, not a general practitioner. He spared the questions and slowly did as Dr. Wan asked.


    ¡°I sense tension,¡± the doctor said, as if reading his mind. ¡°I¡¯m General Practitioner Wan, but if you¡¯d read my profile carefully, you¡¯d know I have plenty of specialties. You¡¯re in safe hands with me.¡±


    Daniel just nodded. Naked, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to chat. He just wanted this over with.


    ¡°Please sit on the table.¡±


    Daniel sat. The doctor tapped his knees a few times with a small hammer, flashing Daniel back to childhood doctor visits. Testing reflexes and finding the nerves that triggered them had always been his favorite exams¡ªhe¡¯d laugh every time.


    ¡°Good. Now stand, face me, and spread your legs slightly.¡±


    Here it came¡ªthe part he¡¯d always dreaded most. He¡¯d been to these exams before, and they¡¯d told him the shame fades after the first time. Not for him, it didn¡¯t.


    The doctor pulled on a glove and, without hesitation, grabbed both his testicles, making gentle movements, feeling them thoroughly.


    As the doctor handled his balls, Daniel thought of Jasper. It was weird, but now he understood why Jasper had been so pleased. That bastard had picked one of the female doctors.


    ¡°Cough.¡±


    This was endless. He coughed. Dr. Wan pulled his hand back, grabbed a stylus with it, and noted something on the tablet. Daniel hoped he changed styluses between patients.


    ¡°Good. Now turn around.¡±


    Oh, no.


    ¡°Please bend over and, if you would, spread your buttocks.¡±


    ¡°Is this necessary?¡±


    ¡°If you refuse the test, your park invitations are automatically void, Mr. Hawk.¡±


    ¡°Hawk.¡±


    The doctor ignored the correction. Daniel had only heard stories about exams like this¡ªhe never thought he¡¯d face one. He felt a cold, metallic touch near his rear. Now he didn¡¯t regret picking a man; even with him, it was awkward.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    His favorite word. He stood up.


    ¡°Can I get dressed now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. Wait for the results slip.¡±


    ¡°That fast?¡±


    ¡°Our system¡¯s revolutionary¡ªa blend of the world¡¯s best tech and the expertise of thousands of doctors.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Honestly, he didn¡¯t care to hear it. He just wanted out.


    ¡°Your results aren¡¯t perfect, but they¡¯re good.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that mean?¡±


    ¡°You have slight prostate enlargement, and you¡¯ll suffer from hemorrhoids soon if you don¡¯t take precautions.¡±


    He knew it wasn¡¯t dire, but it still felt like grim news.


    ¡°But none of it¡¯s serious enough to stop you from visiting the park and enjoying it.¡±


    The doctor handed him a slip and wished him a good day. Jasper waited outside, eyes wide.


    ¡°How¡¯d it go, bro? Which doc did you pick?¡±


    ¡°A dark-skinned male doctor.¡±


    ¡°A dark-skinned guy? You serious? A man touching your balls, bro?¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t feel right picking a woman, Jasper. What if she has a boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°What boyfriend, bro? Don¡¯t you see? Everyone here¡¯s a robot. The doctors too.¡±


    ¡°Robots?¡±


    Daniel looked around. The redhead upstairs, the doctors here, the gardeners, the waiters¡ªall robots. He saw Jasper¡¯s smug grin. He was right.


    ¡°My doc forgot her gloves, bro. Some glitch, I guess¡ªthought she liked me at first. Her hands were ice-cold.¡±


    ¡°And you still enjoyed it?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I always enjoy a woman touching my balls.¡±

 11

    They entered Room 2 at the same time. Another person was with them¡ªa short, blond guy. Daniel and Jasper exchanged a glance. They were both thinking the same thing. Before either could muster the courage to ask, the blond guy beat them to it.


    ¡°I¡¯m human.¡±


    They both laughed.


    ¡°Awesome, bro,¡± Jasper said, always the chattier one. ¡°I was seriously starting to lose it.¡±


    ¡°The robots wear black gloves¡ªdidn¡¯t you notice?¡±


    They glanced at each other again. They hadn¡¯t.


    ¡°No clue why,¡± the guy went on. ¡°Sometimes it really doesn¡¯t match their outfits.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s for their hands, bro,¡± Jasper said. ¡°One of the lady docs grabbed my junk bare-handed.¡±


    ¡°No gloves?¡±


    ¡°Nope. Ice-cold.¡±


    ¡°At least it was a lady doc. I picked some dark-skinned guy,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°Wan?¡± the blond guy asked, while Jasper cracked up beside them.


    ¡°The same. A pro. And at least he had gloves.¡±


    ¡°Man, I¡¯d take cold lady hands over warm guy hands any day,¡± Jasper said, always knowing the right comeback.


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    ¡°So what happens here?¡±


    The new guy stood in front of several machines. Each had an opening with a sign above it picturing a hand.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s obvious. We stick our hands in,¡± he said.


    ¡°Our hands? Isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡±


    ¡°You just let a robot fondle your balls. How much worse can this get?¡±


    Jasper rolled up his sleeve first and shoved his hand into one of the slots. The machine whirred to life, its screen flashing messages. The first was ¡°washing.¡± Daniel and the blond guy watched. ¡°Washing¡± disappeared, replaced by ¡°site cleaning,¡± then almost instantly, ¡°drawing blood.¡±


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Jasper nearly jumped.


    ¡°You feel anything, Jas?¡±


    ¡°Nah. I just expected a jab. Didn¡¯t feel a thing.¡±


    The screen showed ¡°cleaning¡± again, followed by ¡°procedure complete.¡± Jasper carefully pulled his hand out. There was a tiny dot on the crease of his elbow, smeared with something to stop the bleeding.


    The blond guy and Daniel went to two other machines and repeated the process. Daniel was a little nervous, but not seeing the needle helped¡ªthough the mere thought of being pricked still creeped him out.


    ¡°What about results?¡±


    ¡°On the board outside,¡± the blond guy said, clearly knowing more than them. ¡°Above this room¡¯s door, there¡¯s a display. It¡¯ll show your name and if you pass.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your name? Looks like we¡¯ll be seeing more of each other,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°Vince. Nice to meet you.¡±


    Daniel shook his hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m Daniel, and this is Jasper.¡±


    ¡°What do you guys do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a computer specialist at a big company. Jasper¡¯s a broker.¡±


    ¡°Broker? Me too. Which company?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have time to chat, bro,¡± Jasper cut in. ¡°Let¡¯s check the results.¡±


    They stepped out and immediately looked up.


    ¡°We¡¯re good. All green,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°A few are in red. They¡¯re being called back to Room 1,¡± Vince noted.


    ¡°Good thing we passed first try. No way I was going back to that dark-skinned Dr. Wan,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°This time you¡¯d totally pick the blonde doc, Daniel. I¡¯d bet on it,¡± Jasper teased.


    Vince had vanished somewhere without them noticing where he¡¯d gone.

 12

    They headed to Room 3, which was supposed to be their last stop.


    ¡°We¡¯ll breeze through this,¡± Jasper said, striding confidently ahead. ¡°But this place is starting to freak me out, bro.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m losing track of who¡¯s human and who¡¯s a robot.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t really need to here. Most are robots anyway.¡±


    ¡°If that dude hadn¡¯t tipped us off about the black gloves, I¡¯d have pegged him for a robot too. This Hugo guy¡¯s unreal. What a mind¡­¡±


    ¡°Why do you think we¡¯ll ace the psych test?¡±


    ¡°Bro, I¡¯ve done psych tests for my driver¡¯s license and back when I applied to military school.¡±


    ¡°You applied to military school? I didn¡¯t know that.¡±


    ¡°They even accepted me. I wasn¡¯t always this fat. But I¡¯ve always been lazy. When I found out how much running I¡¯d have to do the first year, I bailed. Then I packed on the pounds.¡±


    ¡°And you passed the psych test?¡± Daniel tried to joke.


    ¡°It¡¯s more about building your profile than failing you. You¡¯d have to be totally unhinged to flunk it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been giving me doubts for years,¡± Daniel quipped.


    Jasper chuckled, loud enough to hear his voice.


    They both entered Room 3. It was a space filled with booths that looked like wider versions of bathroom stalls. Each had a door with a number. Numbers 3, 8, and 9 glowed green; the rest were red.


    ¡°Guess we pick a green one,¡± Jasper said, not waiting for a reply before stepping into Number 9. Daniel took 8.


    The room was long and narrow, like an investigator¡¯s office from a police station. He¡¯d only been questioned by cops once¡ªbecause of Jasper, naturally. He¡¯d beaten up a bar owner at one of their haunts. And now, by some twist of fate, here he was again with Jasper, in a similar room.


    In front of him was a black chair, a table, and another chair on the far side. He approached and sat down. The room was empty. He looked around for a tablet to pick a psychologist, like before, but there wasn¡¯t one. The door across from him suggested the shrink would come through there.


    He didn¡¯t have to wait long. The door opened, and in walked a woman¡ªpossibly the oldest robot he¡¯d seen yet. She looked at least fifty-five, maybe more. Her hair was short and black, and she wore glasses. They all had glasses. Her nose was sharp, her gaze even sharper. Unlike the others, she didn¡¯t carry a tablet¡ªjust papers and a pen. She greeted him with a nod and sat across from him, placing a blank sheet in front of her.


    ¡°Names?¡±


    ¡°Daniel Hawk.¡±


    She wrote his name down and underlined it thickly.


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    ¡°Mr. Hawk¡­¡±


    She was the first robot from this company to get his name right.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you a few questions, and I want you to be completely honest with me.¡±


    Daniel nodded once in agreement.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t an exam. There are no right or wrong answers. Everything you say is what you think. And a person¡¯s thoughts are never wrong¡ªthey¡¯re their way of reasoning. Only the Almighty judges how we reason. I¡¯m neither a teacher nor God.¡±


    Daniel nodded again. This lecture was starting to bore him. Maybe Jasper was right¡ªeveryone would pass this easily.


    ¡°Is everything clear?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s begin. You encounter an inhuman being¡ªor a robot¡ªthat displays emotions similar to human ones. Do you believe robots can have feelings? Say, if the robot is sad, how would you react?¡±


    Daniel paused to think. On one hand, if they weren¡¯t programmed for emotions, they shouldn¡¯t have them. But if he said that, she¡¯d tell him to stick to the question¡ªthat since she asked, it must¡¯ve happened.


    ¡°If it¡¯s sad, I¡¯d comfort it. You should feel empathy, no matter the being or whether it¡¯s alive.¡±


    The dark-haired woman scribbled something on her paper and looked up at him again.


    ¡°A critical situation: a robot and a human are both on the brink of death. You can only save one. Who do you choose?¡±


    ¡°The human. Humans are created by God and can make another robot. I¡¯ve never heard of a robot creating a human. I mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± she cut him off before he could finish.


    ¡°Moving on¡­ Do you have any phobias or fears?¡±


    ¡°No. The only thing I¡¯m starting to fear is losing track of who¡¯s human and who¡¯s a robot.¡±


    She looked at him, interlaced her fingers, and rested them under her chin.


    ¡°What do you think I am¡ªrobot or human?¡±


    ¡°Your gloves suggest you¡¯re a robot. Like everything here.¡±


    She grabbed one glove and pulled it off, then did the same with the other.


    ¡°We¡¯re jumping ahead, Mr. Hawk, but just so you know, robots aren¡¯t taught the significance of gloves¡ªand they¡¯d never remove them.¡±


    Daniel stared at her, bewildered. So she was human.


    ¡°Let¡¯s continue. Sorry about the gloves¡ªI wanted to try that trick on someone.¡± She smiled, though it mostly exposed her crooked teeth.


    Daniel returned a smile but was already uneasy.


    ¡°Since we¡¯re on it¡­ how would you distinguish real reality from virtual reality?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d look for telltale signs.¡±


    ¡°Like the gloves?¡±


    ¡°For example, yeah.¡±


    ¡°And if a human wears gloves?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d ask them to take them off. If they ignore me, they¡¯re a robot.¡± He used what he¡¯d just learned.


    She jotted something down¡ªagain, he couldn¡¯t see what¡ªand went on.


    ¡°Is there a situation where you¡¯d choose a machine over a human?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Daniel knew this one. ¡°If emotion stops the human from reasoning.¡±


    ¡°But if you consult a machine, it might give a logical answer that leads to consequences. Say someone accidentally kills a child. The law prescribes a long prison sentence, but for a machine, the logical response might be that death deserves death.¡±


    ¡°Which is the human answer in some countries too.¡±


    She wrote something again. She looked up, studying him. Was she searching for something?


    ¡°That¡¯s it. You can move on.¡±


    Jasper was waiting outside, grinning again.


    ¡°Took your time?¡±


    ¡°Chatted a bit more with the lady. Did you figure out she wasn¡¯t a robot?¡±


    ¡°Spotted it the second I walked in,¡± Jasper said proudly. ¡°No gloves. Mine was a guy, though¡ªkinda disappointed me. You got a lady, huh? Hot?¡±


    ¡°She was old.¡±


    ¡°Shame.¡±


    ¡°But it was nice. How¡¯d you answer the questions?¡±


    ¡°Questions? No questions, bro¡ªjust a chat. We talked about robots, their future in the world, he asked if I knew anything about Mr. Hugo, stuff like that. Ended with him saying I¡¯m good to go.¡±


    Jasper strode down the corridor like he was in a hurry. Daniel had to pick up his pace to keep up. They reached the escalators and took the one going further down to the second floor.

 13

    As soon as they stepped off the escalator onto the so-called second floor¡ªactually two levels underground¡ªvarious voices filled the air. The further down they went, the louder they grew.


    Ahead of them stood a small group: two men and two women. They were dressed better than Daniel and Jasper, and most importantly, they weren¡¯t wearing gloves. These were humans.


    The women turned toward them, gave them a quick glance, then resumed their conversation. Along the walls, more people were scattered¡ªsome in pairs, others mingling and chatting. At the far end of the room was a raised platform, about a meter off the ground, accessible by steps on either side. The platform was empty except for a microphone stand. Behind it hung a white screen, draped from the ceiling.


    ¡°This looks like some kind of press conference hall,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°Probably where they¡¯ll introduce the park, Jasper. Behave yourself.¡±


    ¡°When have I ever not?¡±


    ¡°Almost always.¡±


    Two female robots with wheels for legs rolled toward them. They had no hair or faces, just two human-like eyes and feminine voices. Both approached at a speed faster than seemed normal for a pedestrian-only space, then slammed on their brakes about a meter away. The drinks on their trays didn¡¯t spill a drop.


    ¡°Please, sir!¡± one said politely, its large eyes blinking twice.


    One robot turned to Daniel. He reached out and took a soft drink. He wasn¡¯t big on alcohol and wanted to stay sober for whatever show was about to start. Jasper had other ideas. He grabbed a glass of booze, downed it in one gulp, flipped the empty glass back onto the robot¡¯s tray, and picked up another to hold.


    ¡°Bro, you¡¯ll have to drive back,¡± he said.


    Daniel was used to this. He often ended up driving Jasper¡¯s car when Jasper was too wasted to manage. Today would be no exception.


    ¡°Daniel!¡±


    A familiar voice called out. He turned and saw a tall woman with a short man beside her. The woman was beautiful and blonde¡ªthe secretary from his office. The man was his boss, Mr. Scott. She had her arm linked with his. Daniel wasn¡¯t surprised. He¡¯d expected Scott to bring his wife, but this possibility hadn¡¯t been out of the question either. She gave him the same blank stare she¡¯d had at the office that day.


    ¡°Guess you didn¡¯t change your mind about the invitations. No worries, I¡¯m not mad,¡± Scott said, his smile greasy and lacking the genuine cheer he tried to project.


    ¡°When my wife called¡­¡± Daniel started, rushing to explain.


    ¡°Yeah, you asked her. They can¡¯t help you, Daniel. The ones on the phone were robots. I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t figure that out.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t. It made sense, though. Everything here was run by robots. Why wouldn¡¯t the woman on the phone be one too? She¡¯d mispronounced his name, just like the doctor had. Maybe it was standard for their systems to glitch the same way. If he¡¯d thought of it earlier, he could¡¯ve brought it up with the psychologist.


    ¡°I tried anyway, Mr. Scott.¡±


    ¡°No big deal. We found invitations. Glad we¡¯ll be seeing each other here. With Miss Wells,¡± Scott gestured to the blonde, ¡°you know her, right? Yeah.¡± He answered his own question. ¡°We¡¯re planning to stay here a while. Purely collegial, of course.¡± Scott winked, while the blonde kept her dumb smile and vacant stare.


    ¡°More than a week? The invitations are for one week.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure. But I¡¯ve got money, Daniel. And with money, anything¡¯s possible. You and everyone here today are part of the test phase. I find it odd they¡¯re using handpicked elite from the country¡¯s top tiers for a test run, but maybe it¡¯s a good idea. Did you hear the robots train themselves?¡±


    ¡°Does this guy ever shut up?¡± Jasper turned to Daniel but spoke loud enough for Scott to hear.


    ¡°Jasper!¡± Daniel snapped. ¡°This is my boss.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not my boss. His mouth never stops.¡±


    ¡°Well, maybe your friend¡¯s got a point,¡± Scott said, winking again. This wasn¡¯t good. ¡°I do talk a lot sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and if you don¡¯t mind, bro, leave us alone,¡± Jasper shot back.


    Scott winked a third time, slipped his arm around Miss Wells¡¯ waist, turned, and walked off in the other direction.


    ¡°Why are you like that?¡± Daniel asked.


    ¡°Was that the guy who wanted your invitations?¡±


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    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Honest, bro, if you¡¯d given my invite to a guy like that, I¡¯d have strangled you.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s my boss.¡±


    ¡°So what? You¡¯re not his slave. You work, he pays. Isn¡¯t that the deal?¡±


    Jasper was right about Scott, but he shouldn¡¯t have talked to him like that.


    The lights in the small hall dimmed, and soft music began playing from speakers along the walls. A short, stocky man with black mustaches and a top hat that jutted above his head approached the platform. He leaned on a cane with every other step and waved to someone in the crowd with his free hand. In front of the makeshift stage were several tables without chairs, each fitting seven or eight people, with open space behind them.


    Daniel started toward one of the emptier tables, but Jasper yanked him back by the sleeve.


    ¡°Too many snobs here, bro. That¡¯s not our spot.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re not less than them. You just said¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not, obviously,¡± Jasper cut him off, ¡°but we don¡¯t act like them either. Stay here.¡±


    Jasper was rarely serious, and this was one of those moments.


    The short, stocky man on stage was Hugo Barnes. It was Daniel¡¯s first time seeing him in person. His face matched the photos Daniel had seen, though he looked a tad older here¡ªnot by much.


    Hugo removed his top hat, and the lights dimmed further. The music stopped. The park¡¯s owner scanned the guests, smiling at some, lingering on others. The silence in the room started to feel slightly awkward. He raised a hand again and adjusted the microphone to his mouth.


    ¡°Welcome, dear guests.¡±


    Everyone clapped.


    ¡°Welcome to a world that¡¯s new to you,¡± he began again. ¡°I say ¡®to you¡¯ because, for me, this is the world I¡¯ve lived in for over forty years. You could say I¡¯ve interacted with more inanimate beings than living ones in my lifetime. But what¡¯s the difference between the inanimate and the living? Is it emotions? Empathy? The joy of a newborn child or the grief of losing a loved one? Or even love?¡±


    Hugo Barnes paused. His smile never left his face, though it hid beneath his plump cheeks.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had the joy of experiencing many of humanity¡¯s strongest emotions¡ªlike seeing what it¡¯s like to have a son, or that feeling when your seventeen-year-old daughter brings her boyfriend home to meet you, and he turns out to be, say, a tattooed rocker.¡±


    Laughter rippled through the room.


    ¡°So yes, friends. All I have is everything around you. And everything around you was created by my hands. If you¡¯ve ever wondered what you¡¯ll leave behind on this Earth¡ªwell, it¡¯s memory. But memory fades with time. That¡¯s why my legacy won¡¯t be children.¡± Hugo paused, scanning the room, beaming at the attention. After a moment, he continued. ¡°It¡¯ll be robots. They¡¯ll remain after me. And perhaps after each of you.¡±


    Thunderous applause followed, and Hugo kept smiling. The white screen behind him suddenly burst into colorful patterns. A projector above kicked on, flashing a photo of a man dressed like a cowboy, flanked by two beauties hugging him. The image vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a panoramic drone video of the entire park. It was so vast that Daniel couldn¡¯t process everything he saw. Some areas were packed with little houses and figures scurrying like ants¡ªpeople or maybe robots. Others were littered with construction materials, where modern excavators stood alongside ancient huts.


    While the film played and everyone¡¯s eyes were glued to it, a tall, slender woman climbed the steps to the stage and stood beside Hugo. She wore a headband across her forehead, a thin buttoned blouse, and a long, patterned skirt.


    Hugo didn¡¯t look surprised. He stepped beside her and waited for the crowd¡¯s attention to shift back to him. When the same silence as before settled in, he smiled again.


    ¡°Stu?¡±


    A young man with reddish hair rushed to him, almost tripping. He wore no black gloves, but his hands moved oddly, like a robot¡¯s. His face resembled the kid from Stuart Little, though this Stu was at least a decade older.


    ¡°This is Amara,¡± Hugo said, prompting applause. ¡°And today, she¡¯ll show you what she can do.¡±


    ¡°Stu, please.¡±


    Stu tapped something on his tablet. Amara¡¯s head suddenly spun. Her movements became fluid. She studied her hands as if seeing them for the first time, raising a palm to her face and rotating it a few times.


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Barnes.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Amara. Can you introduce yourself to the people?¡±


    Amara turned to the crowd, and her face flushed red. She stepped back, clasping her hands behind her waist.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, Amara. Be bolder.¡±


    The crowd clapped again. Daniel glanced at Jasper, who couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the stage, laughing like a kid.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Amara,¡± she said, then turned back to Hugo. ¡°But they¡¯ve already seen others like me. Even here in the room, there are some. Why do I have to introduce myself?¡±


    A few people chuckled.


    ¡°Shh, Amara,¡± Hugo said, acting like he was on a stand-up comedy stage rather than unveiling a park. ¡°Some of our guests haven¡¯t yet realized that everyone they¡¯ve met here was a robot.¡±


    ¡°Except the psychologist,¡± Daniel thought.


    Many in the crowd were just now catching on¡ªit showed in their faces. He and Jasper probably wouldn¡¯t have either if Vince hadn¡¯t tipped them off. Daniel had looked for Vince a few times since but hadn¡¯t spotted him. All the robots were eerily convincing. Even Amara. She acted so human, with no hint of the machinery inside her.


    ¡°All I ask is that you treat them like people,¡± Hugo said, addressing the guests. ¡°Don¡¯t forget¡ªthey learn from you. How you act toward them is how they¡¯ll respond. Every one of them is undoubtedly smarter than you, but their minds are blank slates, their functions utterly basic. Meet a cowboy, and he can hit the fastest bird in the park with one bullet, but he won¡¯t know how to charm a lady. Give him a chance, though, and midway through a chat with one of you ladies, he¡¯ll be the most gallant gentleman you¡¯ve met. Unless he¡¯s already met one of you gentlemen and joined your murder posse¡ªthen he might not be so polite.¡± Hugo spoke with such passion that no one dared interrupt. ¡°That¡¯s why the test invitations didn¡¯t go to ordinary people but to some of the most qualified we could find. I want the robots to absorb the best from you, good or bad. When the park opens and the first guests arrive, they¡¯ll see your reflections in their eyes. These aren¡¯t just my children. They¡¯ll be yours too.¡±


    Hugo stopped, and after a brief silence, the applause erupted again. He bowed, and shy Amara followed suit. Her face showed genuine human expressions¡ªreal confusion, like anyone would feel up there.


    ¡°Live the history,¡± Hugo said as his final words.


    The rest of the ceremony was mundane¡ªmostly guest chatter and eating.


    Halfway through, Jasper and Daniel left.


    On the way back, Daniel drove while Jasper wouldn¡¯t shut up about the park.

 14

    ¡°My boss was especially impressed,¡± Emma said, standing in front of him. For the second time this week, she was in a good mood, and he liked that. He loved seeing her this way. ¡°He talked about the park all day¡ªthe tests, everything.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s he going with?¡±


    ¡°I think his wife. I haven¡¯t met her. He mentioned some woman. Said he went through three tests, and robots were everywhere. The only human was the owner, Hugo or something.¡±


    Daniel had told her plenty about it over dinner that same night. Now he realized she hadn¡¯t even listened. She was just parroting the same stuff through her boss¡¯s lens. No point in calling her out¡ªit¡¯d spark an argument, which would turn into a fight, and he¡¯d end up sleeping in the other bedroom again. Emma never kicked him out herself, but her attitude when she was mad irritated him so much that he¡¯d choose to sleep elsewhere on his own.


    ¡°What else did he say?¡± Daniel opted to keep going.


    Emma furrowed her brows.


    ¡°Not to me. To everyone who was there.¡±


    ¡°Strange.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s strange? Is it a secret?¡± Her tone edged up slightly.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a secret, but it¡¯s in a test phase, and no one¡¯s talking much. Or daring to. The reactions are a bit weird.¡±


    ¡°If you mean me, yeah. But most people are into this stuff. One of my colleagues said she read a story with a similar plot¡ªrobots came to life, and it didn¡¯t end well for the humans.¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t happen here.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got a whole binder of rules and instructions. Almost every page hints at or outright mentions handling firearms and melee weapons. Basically, we can do whatever we want with the robots¡ªwithin reason, of course¡ªbut they¡¯ve got no right to act aggressively toward us.¡±


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Still, they¡¯re just machines made by humans. Something could go wrong, and they could kill you.¡±


    ¡°Like something in your mind could glitch and suddenly teach you to fly a plane? If it¡¯s not built into you, it¡¯s tough. Same with them¡ªnothing about weapons is programmed in. To them, they¡¯re just props they can use to kill each other if ordered.¡±


    ¡°So? They know how to kill,¡± she said, her voice rising again. She loved taking charge.


    ¡°Yeah. But only other robots.¡±


    ¡°You said something different a second ago.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, and so am I. They don¡¯t have consciousness yet¡ªjust basic functions. We¡¯re there to teach them.¡±


    ¡°Teach them? Sounds like they hired you to do their job.¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. Hugo explained they need to learn from the best around. He picked people like that.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re one of them?¡± Daniel couldn¡¯t tell if she was mocking him or genuinely impressed. Reading her emotions from her face was getting harder, and the respect he used to see in her eyes was long gone.


    ¡°Apparently, yeah.¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡± Her smile lingered, and it annoyed him.


    Emma was finishing her yogurt with finely chopped strawberries. She looked down at it more often than at him, smiling now and then at moments he figured should be serious.


    ¡°What time do they want you on Monday?¡±


    ¡°The train leaves at five.¡±


    ¡°Train?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s a railway behind the hangar we were at. It¡¯ll take us there.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°No idea. Just know we can¡¯t bring anything.¡±


    ¡°Not even clothes?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. They¡¯ve got everything covered. We leave all tech behind too.¡±


    ¡°What if I need to call you?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t called him for anything important in ages, so he doubted it¡¯d be an issue now. Still, he answered:


    ¡°There¡¯s an emergency line. They¡¯ll get in touch with me somehow.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Emma scraped the last of the yogurt from the container and slowly licked the spoon. She stood, tossed it in the trash, and came back. She wore old, torn jeans¡ªslightly too big, hanging low over her hips¡ªand a black hoodie with the hood up over her dark hair. Despite the warm weather outside, she¡¯d tucked her hands into the sleeves. She sat back at the table, glanced at him once, then rested her arms on it and laid her head down.


    His first instinct was to stroke her arm, but he held back. He knew her. She¡¯d jerk up, shove his hand away, and maybe snap at him.


    He decided to get up instead.


    He wanted to head to the park right now.

 15

    Jasper had beaten him there. He stood on the platform in shorts and a light shirt. The weather permitted it¡ªalready warm this early, it¡¯d get even hotter by midday. Jasper winked at him from a distance and waited. He took a drag from his cigarette, eyeing the ladies nearby. Most of them had dressed up again in their finest, unlike Daniel and Jasper¡ªclothes they¡¯d soon swap out anyway.


    The train stood before them¡ªan old-fashioned one, the kind that ran on steam, though Daniel wasn¡¯t sure if that was real or just a trick to make it fit the era they were headed to. Sure, early epochs didn¡¯t have trains, but he¡¯d take this over riding a horse any day.


    ¡°Yo, bro,¡± Jasper greeted him. ¡°We gotta grab tickets.¡±


    ¡°Tickets?¡±


    ¡°Over there, two booths,¡± Jasper pointed. ¡°I see people going in. Some weird guy¡¯s checking everyone¡¯s ticket.¡±


    Daniel spotted the odd character Jasper had mentioned. A short kid, no glasses this time, but wearing black gloves. He moved faster than the other robots Daniel had seen. His legs churned quickly as he walked, and he arrived at each person out of breath. He was amusing in his own way.


    They stepped into the booth. Jasper went first. When he was sleepy, he barely talked, his face frozen like a mask. Daniel knew better than to bug him in that state. Jasper entered the doorless booth, and Daniel queued up behind him. Jasper pressed something twice, and a white screen lit up, illuminating his face.


    He stood there for a while before turning to Daniel.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Bro, we¡¯ve gotta choose here. Tons of options, but most are locked. Only Middle Ages, Wild West, and Modern Era are left. I say we skip Modern Era¡ªdoubt it¡¯ll be more interesting than now.¡±


    ¡°Wild West?¡±


    ¡°Indians, cowboys, women in skirts¡­¡±


    ¡°Middle Ages would be kinda similar.¡±


    ¡°Dunno. Swords and knights kinda fire me up more, bro.¡±


    ¡°What about the others?¡±


    ¡°Locked. Guess they¡¯re still building them. Otherwise, it¡¯s everything from the first humans to now. Like a buffet of eras¡ªjust need a wild imagination.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you pick, Jasper. I¡¯m fine either way.¡±


    Jasper pressed something, and seconds later, a slip slid out from a slot next to the screen. He yanked it out and flashed it to Daniel as he stepped aside. It read Wild West. Daniel went in and chose the same.


    ¡°Well, gentlemen, where to?¡±


    The breathless voice had caught up to them. They turned, and Daniel saw the strange kid Jasper had pointed out earlier.


    ¡°We¡¯re off to the cowboys,¡± Jasper said, showing his ticket.


    ¡°Great choice. Watch out for Iron Jake, though. Always scared me a bit. Good soul, but when he gets ticked off¡­¡±


    The odd kid took Daniel¡¯s ticket too, scribbled something, then handed it back with a grin.


    ¡°Second car¡¯s yours. Your seats are on the tickets. Your clothes will be waiting there too.¡±


    ¡°Hey, man,¡± Jasper said, turning to the kid, who flinched and slowly tilted his head toward the burly guy, ¡°I¡¯m a bit on the big side. What if the clothes don¡¯t fit?¡±


    The kid smiled again and replied, ¡°Mr. Lee, you¡¯re among the first to step into one of the most magical places human hands have ever created. Do you really think clothes will be an issue?¡±


    Jasper laughed, and the kid nodded before heading to the next group. The train let out a whistle, and the first people started boarding.


    Daniel and Jasper were among them.

 16

    Their train car wasn¡¯t divided into compartments but was instead a long corridor filled with seats scattered in various spots. Jasper and Daniel¡¯s seats were numbers thirty-one and thirty-two, meaning they had to pass about thirty others to get there. After a short search, they found them.


    In the two seats in front of theirs sat a man and a woman.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Daniel greeted first.


    The man tipped his hat¡ªan expensive-looking one¡ªbefore placing it back on his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m Daniel, and this is¡­¡±


    ¡°Jasper.¡± Jasper had already extended his hand, first to the woman.


    ¡°Ava,¡± she said with a smile.


    ¡°Sam,¡± the man replied.


    ¡°Nice names,¡± Jasper said, taking charge of the conversation. ¡°No point in asking where you¡¯re headed.¡± He was trying to break the ice. The woman returned his smile, but her companion stared as if no one else existed around him.


    ¡°Do you know how we can change?¡± Daniel asked. ¡°They told us that¡­¡±


    ¡°There are machines in the back,¡± the man interrupted, pointing with a hint of irritation.


    ¡°Just asking, mate,¡± Jasper said, raising both hands defensively. The man shot him another look¡ªthis one downright chilling. He wasn¡¯t the friendliest sort.


    Jasper slipped away toward the back, dragging Daniel along with him.


    ¡°Shh, mate,¡± Jasper said, pointing to the end of the car. He¡¯d already forgotten the man and woman in front of them. Now his sights were set on two women¡ªand nothing else mattered.


    ¡°Women? Like it¡¯s your first time seeing any,¡± Daniel teased, trying to rein him in.


    ¡°What, because of Emma again? Mate, we¡¯ve got a week in another world. If you don¡¯t have fun here, where will you? And it¡¯s not like things have to go all the way. Come on, follow me.¡± Jasper grabbed Daniel¡¯s shirt and yanked him forward.


    The women were leaning against one of the windows, staring outside. They held drinks in their hands¡ªdefinitely not non-alcoholic. One was dark-skinned with short black hair and a small upturned nose. She was taller than the other and grinned with every word, clearly telling an exciting story. Her clothes didn¡¯t seem like something she¡¯d ever buy for herself, but they suited her¡ªthough the oversized earrings gave her an almost exotic flair.


    The other woman facing her had long black hair that reached nearly to her waist. She wore almost identical clothes, just in blue.


    ¡°Ladies? You¡¯re dressed fantastically,¡± Jasper said, always knowing how to start¡ªand never repeating the same line twice.


    The dark-skinned woman gave a slight bow and smiled.


    ¡°Unlike you two, yes,¡± she said, pointing at them with a smirk. ¡°If you don¡¯t find something more suitable, they might not even let you off the train.¡±


    ¡°We were on our way to change, but then we spotted you,¡± Jasper replied.


    Daniel could only stand there and smile. Jasper handled everything else.


    ¡°You saw us and forgot how to dress?¡± the long-haired woman chimed in. They were enjoying this¡ªDaniel could tell.


    ¡°With ladies like you, clothes are just a hindrance,¡± Jasper said. It was a cheesy line, but from his mouth, it always worked.


    The dark-skinned woman stepped closer, wrapping both arms around Jasper¡¯s neck. Her drink was still in hand. She leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Jasper¡¯s wide grin never left his face. Whatever she said was for their ears only, but it was enough to make him pull back, mutter an apology, and shove Daniel toward the corridor as the women chuckled quietly behind them.


    ¡°First time I¡¯ve seen you like this,¡± Daniel said, barely holding back his laughter.


    It wasn¡¯t until they were a safe distance away that Jasper turned to him. The women still watched them, and Jasper kept his voice low:


    ¡°They¡¯re together.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t recall that ever stopping you.¡±


    ¡°She said I could join, but only if I¡¯m the woman and they¡¯re the men. Run, run!¡±


    Daniel burst out laughing¡ªso loud the whole train probably heard. He tried to stop, realizing where they were, but couldn¡¯t quite manage it.


    ¡°Enough, mate,¡± Jasper said, trying to hush him a few times. ¡°It happens to everyone.¡±


    ¡°Seems to happen to you a lot more often.¡±


    The clothing machine was a simple box, like one of those token-operated candy dispensers, but fully enclosed with a tablet in the center. It matched the train¡¯s colors, and without the tablet breaking the illusion, you might¡¯ve thought it had been there for centuries.


    Jasper went first. He picked a white cotton shirt, jeans with frayed hems, and a brown belt with a big eagle buckle. For good measure, he added ammo pouches to the belt¡ªthough he had no bullets or gun. Naturally, he didn¡¯t skip the cowboy hat and leather boots, classics for where they were headed. He looked like the chubby kid from Wild West movies¡ªthe one always there for comic relief or to waddle away from flying bullets, shaking his plump backside.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Daniel didn¡¯t tell him how he looked¡ªpartly because he was still chuckling from Jasper¡¯s run-in with the women.


    Jasper stood in front of the mirror by the machine, striking poses and letting out a new exclamation of delight with each one.


    Daniel went next. He chose similar jeans, but paired them with a black shirt and a dark gray vest. The leather boots and hat were a given. He also grabbed a bandana and tied it on right away.


    ¡°Mate, find a second¡ªI¡¯m challenging you to a duel,¡± Jasper said, fully in character.


    ¡°I accept your challenge, Sheriff Lee, but we¡¯ve got no weapons.¡±


    Their little act ended abruptly when someone shouted from behind them.


    They hurried back to their seats, almost at a sprint.


    They found all the passengers pressed against the train windows. Jasper squeezed through the crowd and snagged two spots for them.


    Outside, between fields and mountains, a dinosaur roamed casually. Even funnier were the people chasing it¡ªthey looked straight out of a cartoon. None wore black gloves. Around them were huts and workers. It was bizarre to see a Stone Age hut next to a cement mixer or a worker in a yellow hard hat. The ones chasing the dinosaur seemed human enough, but the workers by the huts were robots, judging by their gloves. Yet even the robots wore helmets. None paid any attention to the train passing by.


    The speakers crackled, then a voice came through:


    ¡°Dear visitors, we¡¯re now in the first section of the park. As you know, the park spans an area larger than some of the world¡¯s biggest cities. And within that space, anyone can dive into the era of their choice.¡±


    Daniel had learned to spot a robot¡¯s voice by now, and this one¡ªstumbling over longer words and pausing awkwardly¡ªwas definitely not human. Without prior knowledge, though, he might not have noticed.


    The voice continued:


    ¡°What you see outside is the first era. An age when all people needed was good shelter, meat, and a woman to warm their cold nights.¡±


    ¡°Same as now,¡± Jasper quipped. A few people laughed.


    ¡°Unfortunately, this era¡¯s development is behind schedule, so visitors aren¡¯t allowed here yet. But if you¡¯d like to explore it, come back in a month for the official opening. For now, please don¡¯t step away from the windows. Next up is the Middle Ages.¡±


    ¡°Mate,¡± Jasper said, leaning back against the window and looking at Daniel, ¡°this is serious stuff. To think I almost turned you down. Colin¡¯s going to be jealous as hell when he hears.¡±


    ¡°Maybe next time we¡¯ll bring him.¡±


    ¡°Mate, this place will cost a fortune later. We just got lucky, that¡¯s all. If he¡¯d asked to come, I might¡¯ve given him my invite.¡±


    ¡°No, Jasper. I wouldn¡¯t have let you two fight over it. I¡¯d have torn mine up first.¡±


    ¡°So none of us would¡¯ve come? Good thing it worked out this way. We¡¯ll grab him a souvenir.¡±


    ¡°What, a cowboy outfit?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    Snickering, Jasper turned back to the window, sneaking glances at the women nearby¡ªwho¡¯d turned out to have different inclinations. He¡¯d been wary of such encounters ever since an old incident only Daniel and Colin knew about. That offer he¡¯d just gotten had stirred up those memories.


    Their journey through the Stone Age lasted about twenty minutes¡ªa massive stretch, considering the train¡¯s speed. People donned iron armor, and more horses appeared in the fields. As the train pressed deeper, everything changed. Dirt turned to stone, huts to houses, houses to castles. Huge stone walls enclosed different settlements, and no one spared a glance at the train. No one cared about the big iron machine.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Jasper said, staring like they were in a bar and the hottest woman he¡¯d ever seen just walked in. ¡°Hope we didn¡¯t pick the wrong era, mate.¡±


    ¡°Wait till we get to ours.¡±


    The train stopped near a fortress labeled ¡°Middle Ages.¡± No one budged from the windows. Doors opened on another car, and many passengers started filing out. Some wore long ball gowns, others lightweight armor¡ªnothing like the real stuff that¡¯d immobilize you. There were people in rags, others in shirts with gold trim, and some in hooded robes holding staffs. The women seemed happiest¡ªtheir dresses were stunning, each more beautiful than the last.


    Two real knights¡ªor rather, robots dressed as knights, slightly larger than average men¡ªstood at the fortress entrance with spears in hand. They bowed to each passing guest, who returned the gesture. Through the iron slits of their helmets, lifelike eyes peered out. The robots were humanoid, just clad in knightly garb. They might even have real lives when they weren¡¯t playing knights.


    ¡°Never slept with a medieval woman,¡± Jasper said.


    A few people turned toward his burly friend. He¡¯d said it a bit too loud.


    ¡°How many times have you been to the Middle Ages?¡± Daniel teased.


    ¡°Dunno, mate, but I¡¯m kinda regretting it now.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what our era brings.¡±


    Jasper glanced around, and his eyes landed on the two women¡ªhis new ¡°friends.¡±


    ¡°Mate, so far, nothing good,¡± he said, eyeing them again.


    The dark-skinned one caught him and signaled she was watching. He shook his head and turned back to the window.


    The train didn¡¯t linger long before moving on slowly. The Middle Ages faded, and in the distance, arches and domes appeared alongside basilicas and aqueducts. They even passed ancient baths and amphitheaters the size of football stadiums.


    ¡°Dear guests,¡± the speakers crackled again, ¡°in the distance, you see the Roman and Greek eras. They¡¯re combined for now, but later they¡¯ll be split into separate zones. For now, enjoy the infrastructure as we head to the next stop: the Wild West.¡±


    The trip didn¡¯t feel long¡ªeverything around them was too fascinating.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even know where we are or if this place shows up on satellites or GPS,¡± Jasper said, serious for once.


    ¡°No idea, Jas. It¡¯s definitely well-secured. But we probably won¡¯t have access to tech. They¡¯ll keep us in line.¡±


    ¡°From robots?¡± Jasper laughed. ¡°Robots guarding us from robots.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s got to be some safety measures. These are machines¡ªanything could happen.¡±


    The woman on the speakers didn¡¯t talk long this time. After a little over twenty minutes, forests turned to plains, buildings became a mix of wood and stone, and houses lined the roadsides. From afar, it was a maze of paths with identical houses in size and color. People swapped armor and capes for wide-brimmed hats and leather boots. The women¡¯s fashion was similar¡ªbig, flowing dresses, just a bit dirtier here from the dry deserts and wind kicking up sand.


    The speakers crackled again. They¡¯d hear the unknown voice once more:


    ¡°Passengers in car two, prepare to disembark. Your adventure starts soon. Gentlemen, tighten your belts¡ªand if you¡¯ve got a gun, keep it loaded. Ladies, cinch those corsets. The men here like ¡®em curvy, but they won¡¯t overlook the slim ones either.¡±


    The train slowed and stopped in front of a one-story building labeled ¡°Wild West.¡± A man with a hat pulled low over his eyes and a rifle in hand waited for the guests. He chewed a blade of grass between his teeth. One leg rested against the wooden structure, the other firmly on the ground.


    Daniel and Jasper were among the last to step off.

 17

    ¡°Hey, mate,¡± Jasper said, turning to the man with the hat waiting for them.


    The man looked up, glancing at him from the corner of his eye. He pushed off the wooden wall with one foot and straightened, growing a bit taller.


    ¡°Watch it, friend,¡± he said, his voice deep and gravelly. ¡°You don¡¯t look local. Where you from?¡±


    ¡°Blimey, this guy¡¯s straight out of a movie,¡± Jasper said, pointing at him and looking at Daniel.


    ¡°Better answer him, Jasper. Don¡¯t forget¡ªthey¡¯re learning.¡±


    The local kept staring. His hand had moved from his belt to the pistol tucked in the brown holster at his waist. His gaze flicked between them and the others nearby.


    ¡°We¡¯re from another town, mate,¡± Jasper said. ¡°Came to see how you folks live.¡±


    The man glanced back at the train.


    ¡°Came by the railroad?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Our people are building a line through the village,¡± he said, gesturing toward it. ¡°Soon it¡¯ll stop right there.¡±


    ¡°You? You can see the train? I mean, the railroad?¡±


    The man looked up at them again. At least this time, he wasn¡¯t gripping his gun.


    ¡°Starting to think you¡¯re mocking me. What¡¯s that about, boys?¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Daniel cut in, nudging Jasper aside. ¡°Let¡¯s drop it, Jas. He¡¯s probably busy.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Jasper pressed on.


    ¡°Name¡¯s Jake,¡± the bearded man said, tapping the badge on his lapel. ¡°But you¡¯ll call me Sheriff Jake. Behave yourselves, and I might treat you to a drink at Victoria¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°At who¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Victoria¡¯s. Only bar in our little town. Might wanna check it out.¡±


    Daniel and Jasper exchanged a look.


    ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here, friend!¡± Jasper nearly shouted.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Sheriff Jake said, brushing past them toward the train. ¡°Now leave me be. Got work to do.¡±


    The train behind them started moving slowly. At the windows of the third car, passengers heading to the newest era waved. Some waved at the sheriff, but he didn¡¯t wave back. Maybe he didn¡¯t even see them.


    ¡°Makes sense he¡¯d notice us, Jas,¡± Daniel said. ¡°I think trains existed by this time¡ªor were just starting to be built.¡±


    ¡°So not all the robots are the same. They¡¯re programmed based on where they¡¯re at.¡±


    ¡°Guess so.¡± It seemed logical.


    They walked along a wooden bridge over the dirt. Jake led the way, the group trailing behind. Most were already well ahead. Women in dresses and men in 19th-century suits walked in pairs. Daniel and Jasper quickened their pace to catch up, though everything around them begged to be gawked at.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    A dog trotted alongside them, sticking close. It was brown with white patches around its eyes, tongue lolling out. It matched their pace but walked on the dry dirt instead of the wooden planks.


    ¡°Thinks it¡¯s one of us,¡± Jasper said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Give it a name.¡±


    ¡°Silver?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Silver a pirate thing?¡±


    ¡°So what? Hey, Silver!¡± Jasper called. The dog turned, more startled by his shout than its name.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to like it. Hey, Silver!¡± Jasper crouched, and the dog¡ªapparently now Silver¡ªambled over. It hesitated at first, sniffed his hand, gave it a light lick, then flopped at his feet.


    ¡°His snout¡¯s cold, mate.¡±


    ¡°Well, robot. Makes sense the animals are too.¡±


    ¡°Wow. Even the animals are robots. Who¡¯s got time to make all this?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear the owner? Forty years of work.¡±


    ¡°One robot takes a lot of time. Say he manages ten a year. Over forty years, that¡¯s four hundred. There¡¯s gotta be that many just in this park.¡±


    Jasper pointed ahead. They were nearing the town. The path led to what looked like the center¡ªa working fountain surrounded by people of all ages, from kids to the elderly. Silver the dog was still with them.


    ¡°Good thing there¡¯s the glove trick. Otherwise, no chance I¡¯d spot them. Look at that gal over there.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t point, Jas. They might take offense.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re robots, mate. Doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Jasper lowered his hand anyway and headed toward one of the women by the fountain. A black-haired little girl ran beside her.


    ¡°Milady?¡± Jasper extended his hand, offering to take hers.


    Daniel had never seen this gallant side of him. He fought hard not to laugh.


    The woman stood, placed her palm in Jasper¡¯s, and he kissed her black-gloved hand. She lowered her gaze and gave a slight curtsy.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name, beautiful?¡±


    ¡°Aria,¡± she said. Her curly black hair matched the little girl¡¯s perfectly, her skin smooth and slightly tanned. Her voice was a touch deep but still feminine. ¡°And yours?¡±


    ¡°Jasper. But you can call me Jas. Who¡¯s the kid next to you?¡±


    She glanced at the child, then back at Jasper.


    ¡°That¡¯s Tyler. She¡¯s my daughter. Tyler!¡± she called. The girl ran over and nestled into her skirt. Daniel marveled at how she shifted moods, tone, and focus so seamlessly. ¡°And you, sir¡ªdo you have children?¡±


    Jasper turned to Daniel with a grin¡ªthe kind Daniel knew meant things were getting serious, and Jasper wouldn¡¯t be heading back alone. His movie with the lifelike black-haired woman was rolling.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t had that luck, miss. Your husband must be a fortunate man with you and a kid like that.¡±


    ¡°Actually, Mr. Jas, my husband died on a bear hunt. All I have left of him is Tyler.¡± Her expression shifted. Robots might not feel emotions, but they sure knew how to play them. It was captivating even from the sidelines.


    ¡°My condolences, Aria. May I call you by name?¡±


    ¡°Please do, sir. Are you new here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Arrived today on the big railroad.¡±


    ¡°The railroad? They promised us it¡¯d run through town soon.¡±


    ¡°Hope so, Miss Aria. What do you say we meet again? Maybe you can tell me where¡ªI¡¯m new around here.¡±


    ¡°Meet again? You mean as man and woman?¡±


    Jasper paused, flashing the most charming smile Daniel had ever seen from him.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I mean, Miss Aria. If I¡¯m rushing things, just say so.¡±


    ¡°No, no. Quite the opposite. It¡¯d be a privilege to see you again, Jas. Here, perhaps? Tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°What about Victoria¡¯s bar? Sheriff Jake mentioned it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve met Sheriff Jake?¡± She leaned close to his ear and whispered something that made Jasper¡¯s expression shift.


    ¡°Oh, absolutely, Miss Aria. Me and my friend¡±¡ªhe pointed at Daniel¡ª¡°we¡¯re not just anybody.¡±


    The black-haired woman looked at Daniel and smiled too, then turned her full attention back to Jasper.


    ¡°Then I¡¯d be delighted to see you again, sir.¡±


    She stepped closer again¡ªnot to his ear this time, but to his broad face¡ªand kissed his fleshy cheek. Jasper tipped his hat, locked eyes with her, winked at her little daughter, and started back down the path.


    From the fountain, three roads branched off, each marked by a wooden post with a sign. Left led to Victoria¡¯s bar, straight ahead was the sheriff¡¯s office and jail, and right looped back to where they¡¯d come from¡ªthe farms.


    They headed for the bar. Silver the dog still tagged along.

 18

    ¡°I never suspected you could be so gallant,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°Mate, look at me. I¡¯m fat and ugly. How do you think I get women so easily? The answer¡¯s simple¡ªI¡¯ve got money and I talk a lot. Sometimes just the talking¡¯s enough to get them into bed.¡±


    ¡°Alright, but now you¡¯re working your charm on robots too,¡± Daniel replied, feeling odd even having this conversation.


    ¡°So what? She might be a robot, but her mind¡¯s programmed from a human one. A woman¡¯s, specifically. At least that¡¯s how I¡¯d do it. So whatever works on women out there works on this robot gal too.¡±


    ¡°So what now? My boy¡¯s got himself a date?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m not about to let the lady down. I¡¯ve got a whole plan for her in my head.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d she whisper in your ear?¡±


    ¡°Something about that Jake guy. Said he killed her husband. Which is weird to bring up right then¡ªlike I care.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t she mention something about a hunt?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, probably the bear hunt. It was him. Didn¡¯t you see her eyes when we mentioned his name? They went wide. And they said robots don¡¯t have emotions.¡±


    ¡°Could she be setting us up for some kind of game? You¡¯ve played video games¡ªevery character you meet gives you a quest. Maybe it¡¯s the same here.¡±


    ¡°Dunno, I don¡¯t play games. I¡¯m just going with the flow. I don¡¯t care who killed her husband. I just wanna see what¡¯s¡­ you know, down there.¡±


    ¡°So far, everyone¡¯s behaving well,¡± Daniel said, not bothering to ask what Jasper meant by ¡°down there.¡± He knew full well. ¡°Some try to act tough, but it doesn¡¯t quite work. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if in a few weeks they start getting aggressive. Hope that ban on using weapons against humans is legit.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all we need¡ªrobots pulling guns,¡± Jasper said, shaking his head. Then that familiar grin crept back. ¡°Mate, in my thirty-two years, this is shaping up to be the most interesting thing I¡¯ve ever done. These robots have some kind of history between them. It makes this place even better.¡±


    ¡°So you don¡¯t regret not picking the Middle Ages anymore?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯d have been fun there too, but another time. I¡¯m a serious man now¡ªI¡¯ve got a date.¡±


    Daniel laughed. Back when Jasper lived with them, he¡¯d fallen hard for someone¡ªmaybe one of his first big loves. He¡¯d brought the girl over a few times to what was then Daniel and Emma¡¯s home. She was pretty, sure, but unbelievably rude¡ªtalking with her mouth full, yelling, raising her voice, getting aggressive, and eventually passing out drunk. The night they¡¯d had sex in the next room, there¡¯d been screams and thumps. Come morning, Jasper was the one battered, yet he¡¯d swagger out bragging about how great the sex was. After the fourth night like that, Daniel couldn¡¯t take it anymore and gave him an ultimatum. Jasper wasn¡¯t happy¡ªblamed it all on Emma and stormed out. Less than a week later, he was back apologizing. Emma welcomed him like a repentant kid crying at her door. He¡¯d dumped that girl and vowed never to fall in love again. He¡¯d stuck to it so far, though his constant flirting got him kicked out a second time. After that, he blamed Emma again¡ªand he was right; she¡¯d been behind both evictions. But she¡¯d never admit it.


    The bar appeared before them like it¡¯d popped out of nowhere. Straight out of a movie¡ªstone base, wooden upper half, a few horses tied out front, dirt everywhere, and double swinging doors. It was three stories tall, taking up a good chunk of the town. The sign above was purple and simply read ¡°Victoria¡¯s Bar.¡±


    Neither said a word. Almost dazed, they moved as one, pushed through the not-so-tall doors, and it was like they¡¯d truly stepped into a new world. Time spun backward, and nothing outside mattered. This wasn¡¯t a movie. Barnes had invented a time machine¡ªnot like H.G. Wells¡¯ version, but something different.


    It was noon, and the bar wasn¡¯t packed, though the space was plenty big. The swinging doors creaked lightly, adding to the realism. The wooden floor inside was dirty with scattered sand. The walls were decked with artifacts¡ªbear and deer heads, weapons that looked more like prototypes. One section had wanted posters plastered up. To the right of the entrance, two older men at the bar glanced their way before returning to their drinks. A few women in the back chattered in high-pitched voices, while a man shouted somewhere about killing boars.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Wow, mate, it¡¯s like the movies,¡± Jasper said, pointing at the posters. ¡°Those are the wanted ones.¡±


    The massive bar counter was rough-hewn wood, and though the creators had aimed for authenticity, it still smelled faintly of fresh varnish. The bartender was a short man with a huge mustache and beard, dressed in a vest and shirt, looking like the Germans you¡¯d spot at Oktoberfest. Behind him, shelves held a mix of bottles¡ªmost empty, just there for show.


    ¡°Those are our people,¡± Daniel said, nodding at some tables. None of them wore gloves.


    ¡°And they¡¯re already drinking. Not a bad idea, come to think of it¡­ but check out that babe at the bar.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have a date later?¡± Daniel knew him too well. He just liked to poke at him.


    ¡°Mate, you gonna ruin my fun here too?¡±


    The woman at the bar had long black hair, skillfully braided from the crown of her head nearly to the end, with purple ribbons dangling from it that matched the purple streaks in her outfit. Her floor-length dress hugged her figure, lending her an air of elegance. The deep neckline stopped where her corset began. She wore short sleeves but had black gloves. One hand rested on the bar, the other hung loosely by her side. She watched them, waiting.


    ¡°Hey, handsome,¡± she said, turning to Daniel first. ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    Daniel froze. He didn¡¯t know what to say. It wasn¡¯t her closeness that threw him¡ªit was the idea of flirting with a robot. Right then, he envied Jasper¡¯s ability to roll with anything.


    ¡°Uh, we¡¯re visitors,¡± he stammered, at a loss.


    ¡°My friend means we¡¯re new here,¡± Jasper cut in, always ready to save him. ¡°And you, miss¡ªwhat¡¯s your name?¡±


    She smirked at Jasper¡ªmore mocking than polite.


    ¡°I¡¯m Violet, mister. This bar¡¯s mine. So are the rooms upstairs. But forgive me, I don¡¯t go for the burly type.¡± She brushed Jasper off with a wave and grabbed Daniel by the collar, pulling close. ¡°Tell me, pretty boy, you like it here?¡±


    Jasper stood stunned off to the side.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Daniel said, feeling like a kid about to taste someone else¡¯s lips for the first time. ¡°We¡¯re looking for a place to stay.¡±


    Violet pushed him back, her laughter growing louder.


    ¡°I¡¯m messing with you. Welcome to my bar. We¡¯ve got everything you need. Mr. Phil will quench your thirst for booze, and my girls¡±¡ªher tone slowed as she tracked their gazes¡ª¡°will take care of your other cravings.¡±


    Violet winked. Jasper stared like a starving man who hadn¡¯t eaten in days.


    ¡°Girls?¡± His eyes widened.


    ¡°Yep, sweetie. Whatever kind you want.¡±


    ¡°Actually, we¡¯d like to see our rooms first,¡± Daniel said, unable to keep up with Jasper¡¯s appetite.


    ¡°You¡¯re the better-looking one, but also the duller. Your rooms are on the second floor. Together?¡±


    The purple-clad woman sipped from a glass on the bar, setting it back down. Her lipstick left a mark on the rim.


    ¡°In what sense together?¡± Daniel asked.


    ¡°Do you sleep together?¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± Daniel said, glancing at Jasper briefly.


    ¡°Pity. I¡¯ve always wanted to bed two men at once.¡±


    ¡°Still can, miss,¡± Jasper jumped in. ¡°We won¡¯t touch each other¡ªjust you.¡±


    Violet chuckled softly.


    ¡°I cost more than my girls. A lot more. So you¡¯d better settle for them.¡±


    ¡°What if I ask you on a date?¡±


    ¡°Another one?¡± Daniel grabbed his sleeve. Jasper shook him off.


    ¡°Looks like your chubby friend doesn¡¯t mess around. You¡¯d have to work real hard to get me.¡±


    She leaned back fully against the counter now. She seemed about their age, with faint wrinkles starting to show¡ªor rather, whoever built her had added them. Her eyes were a deep blue, almost purple. Daniel had never seen that shade before and wasn¡¯t sure it even existed.


    ¡°Boys, keys are in the doors. Since you¡¯re not together, rooms 204 and 205 are yours. Any questions, find me here or in room 101.¡± She glanced at Jasper. ¡°But if you come to me, bring lots of money and flowers.¡±


    ¡°Flowers? This place is a desert. Where am I supposed to find flowers?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. I love flowers. But I love money more.¡±


    Violet walked off to other guests. Jasper grabbed Daniel¡¯s arm and shook it.


    ¡°Man, she¡¯s even fiercer. Gets my heart racing.¡±


    ¡°Another crush in less than an hour. Forgot they¡¯re robots?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, mate. A week here won¡¯t be enough.¡±


    Daniel was thinking the same.

 19

    The second floor was a long wooden corridor with a runner stretching from the top of the stairs to the end. At the far end, a window looked out onto the empty wasteland. Doors lined both sides, each with a number.


    They hadn¡¯t even stepped onto the floor when a door ahead creaked open. A short blonde girl, about twenty, with green eyes and pale skin, stepped out. She wore a pink dress that hit below her knees, with streaks in her hair matching the shade. Her hands were gloved. Her expression was serious at first, but when she saw them, a wide smile spread across her face.


    ¡°Hello, gentlemen!¡± She stopped in front of them and curtsied. Then her face shifted to something like fear before she brushed past.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Daniel said, hoping Jasper wouldn¡¯t engage her.


    Jasper greeted her too but let her go. Both fixed their eyes on the room she¡¯d come from. The door stayed open, revealing a young man lying on his back on the bed, pants off.


    ¡°Is this guy even alive?¡± Jasper said, taking a step inside.


    ¡°No, Jas. Stay here.¡±


    ¡°What if he¡¯s dead?¡±


    ¡°Doubt it. What¡¯d she kill him with¡ªher mouth?¡±


    ¡°Mate, it¡¯s possible. Once a girl sucked me dry so bad that after¡ª¡±


    ¡°Alright, Jas. Not now.¡±


    ¡°Mate, with that Emma of yours, besides telling each other you love her, what else do you do? Every time sex comes up, you change the subject. We¡¯re men, after all.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, we don¡¯t even say we love each other anymore.¡±


    ¡°Well, then, even better. They can love you here, and it won¡¯t count as cheating.¡±


    ¡°Not the time for this talk. This guy really isn¡¯t moving.¡±


    Jasper tugged Daniel lightly, leaving him at the door, and strode in confidently.


    ¡°Hey, buddy. Need any¡ª¡±


    Jasper stopped dead.


    ¡°Mate, this guy¡¯s a robot. He¡¯s got black gloves.¡±


    Daniel stepped in. It wasn¡¯t the most impressive sight he¡¯d ever seen. The man looked about thirty, with tanned skin and black hair, a scar on his forehead. His hands were tied to the wooden headboard. He was shirtless from the waist up, his shirt tossed aside. His pants were down to his boots, a rag stuffed in his mouth.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°Wow, mate, this guy¡¯s got one hell of a package.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the most interesting part to you?¡± Daniel couldn¡¯t believe the stuff Jasper said.


    ¡°Just wondered what their private parts would be like. Honestly, I¡¯d rather have seen a woman¡¯s first.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I wasn¡¯t exactly dying to see a naked male robot either, but here we are.¡±


    ¡°Should we touch him?¡±


    ¡°Well, in a real situation, we¡¯d help. So we should now too. Isn¡¯t that the point¡ªto help the park evolve by showing what the robots lack?¡±


    ¡°Well, this one¡¯s lacking clothes.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think robots would pleasure each other too. That¡¯s a surprise.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re practicing.¡±


    Jasper¡¯s loud laugh made the tied-up robot start thrashing, trying to break free.


    ¡°Hold on, buddy. We didn¡¯t do this¡ªyour lover left you like that. Wish she¡¯d done it to me.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re a couple, Jas.¡±


    ¡°Mate, I¡¯ll smack you, I swear. They¡¯re robots, end of story.¡±


    Daniel untied the man¡¯s hands, which flopped down like they had no muscle¡ªtechnically true. Jasper pulled the rag from his mouth.


    ¡°Speak, buddy. What happened?¡±


    The robot sat up, then stood and started dressing. His gloved fingers deftly handled every button and zipper. He didn¡¯t look at them¡ªnot Daniel, not Jasper. Once dressed, he moved to the corner of the room.


    ¡°Hello, gentlemen.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s your glitch¡ªno shame,¡± Jasper said, sounding like a programming professor.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Yann. Nice to meet you. I work as a stablehand at Mr. Reed¡¯s farm across the way.¡±


    ¡°Interesting. The blonde snagged herself a stablehand. Or did you pay her, stableboy?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, sir. What¡¯re your names?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t understand,¡± Jasper said, adjusting his belt. ¡°Should I ask Lady Violet if she understands you?¡±


    The boy flinched¡ªor so it seemed to Daniel.


    ¡°Not Lady Violet, sir, please. She doesn¡¯t let stablehands in her bar. Says we stink.¡±


    ¡°Listen, stableboy,¡± Jasper said, narrowing his eyes. Daniel knew that look¡ªhe was scheming. ¡°We won¡¯t tell Lady Violet, but you¡¯ll owe us.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you say, sir.¡±


    ¡°I want you to introduce us to your man tomorrow¡­ Reed, you said?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Reed. He¡¯s got a ranch.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t care what he¡¯s got. Tomorrow, I wanna talk to him.¡±


    The boy stared at the floor, then looked up.


    ¡°Deal, sir. Just don¡¯t tell Lady Violet I was here.¡±


    Jasper stepped closer and offered his hand. The boy shook it and bolted out of the room as fast as he could.


    ¡°Getting more interesting, Dan,¡± Jasper said. ¡°These folks have their own messes. No one told us that. The best part? We can be the main characters in ¡®em.¡±


    Jasper was right, and Daniel thought the same. This place wasn¡¯t just built¡ªevery robot had a story, a path they could step into.


    They left the room as they¡¯d found it and continued down the hall. At the far end, they found their rooms¡ªJasper in 204, Daniel in 205.


    The room was nice. One space with a big bed covered in soft rugs and a few pillows. Opposite the bed stood a hefty wardrobe¡ªmaybe not from this era, but it fit the vibe and could easily hold plenty of clothes. The window faced the door he¡¯d entered through, taking up most of the wall, with two tied-back curtains adding coziness.


    The house they were in sat near the desert¡¯s edge, and from this height, the distance was empty. Only behind one hill peeked a skyscraper, hinting at the modern era somewhere out there. It broke the mood a bit, but he could overlook it.


    He lay on the bed without undressing and, without noticing, found himself back home.

 20

    Ema was washing the dishes, occasionally glancing back at him. She smiled at him, and he returned the same. On the TV, some match was playing. He couldn¡¯t see which one it was, but his team was leading two to zero. Ema turned to him again. But something wasn¡¯t right.


    Her eye. It was there, but it wasn¡¯t human. Her eye was made of iron. With a red dot in front. Just like in the movie Terminator. It didn¡¯t seem to bother her, though¡ªshe kept washing the dishes. Even when there were no more dishes in the sink. Daniel tried to call out to her, but he couldn¡¯t. He tried to stand, but that didn¡¯t work either.


    Gradually, her hands slowly turned to iron too, and purple fabrics were woven into her hair. Daniel felt a chill creeping up his legs. He tried to warm them by rubbing them together, but the cold only grew stronger.


    He heard a dog barking.


    And then he woke up in room number 205.


    He had fallen asleep on the bed, his window slightly ajar, and outside it was starting to get dark. From the floor below, a clamor rose, shaking the entire second floor. Dogs were barking outside. Daniel got up, and the first thing he did was close the window. But the view made him linger there and watch. The setting sun seemed to reflect off the dry earth, their colors blending into one, making it hard to tell where the desert ended and the sky began. The skyscraper beyond the hills wasn¡¯t visible.


    Below his window, there were a few men. One of them looked up at him, then turned back to his conversation with the others. Daniel couldn¡¯t tell if they were wearing black gloves or not. Were they even human?


    He needed a shower. The problem was, there was only one shower, and it was at the end of the hallway. The toilet too. At least he was glad about that. When he thought of the Wild West, he imagined bathing outside on the sand with a stretched-out hose, and the toilet being just a hole in the ground somewhere. Well, he¡¯d been half-right about the latter. There was no toilet on the second floor here. The only place a person could relieve themselves was outside, in a few wooden outhouses with wooden floors and holes dug into them.


    He rushed through the shower, his main goal being to take care of his small need without having to go to the outdoor toilets. In doing so, he got a quick rinse too. The dirty water from the shower didn¡¯t drain into a sewer but spilled out through a gutter straight onto the dirt outside. The good thing was that no one walked there. Especially not robots. How did water affect robots, anyway? Did it reach their electronics? Did it bother them?


    He stepped out of the shower wrapped in just a towel. He didn¡¯t see anyone around, though he could hear sounds coming from the bar downstairs. He stopped at the door marked 204 and knocked once, but there was no answer. He tried to go in, but that didn¡¯t work either. Jasper was either asleep or out hunting for women again. Generally, that¡¯s all he ever did.


    Daniel went back to his room to get dressed and headed down the stairs. He put on his old clothes, though if he¡¯d known better, he would¡¯ve changed them. He stepped out and started descending toward the bar. The lower he went, the louder it got downstairs.


    On the last step, just before plunging into the bar, a redheaded woman in a long red dress leaned against the railing, blocking his way. She was propped up by her black-gloved hands and stood alone, scanning the people in the bar as if counting them. When she saw him, she turned and greeted him. Her gaze was playful. The redhead tried to grab his hand, but he managed to pull it back, and she apologized in a way that sounded rather rehearsed.


    The bar was overflowing with women. Daniel didn¡¯t know if it had been like this back in the day, but he understood the purpose here. The goal was to entertain the visitors¡ªespecially the men.


    The second woman he noticed was Violet. She stood at her usual spot at the bar, watching the crowd. Her drink was in front of her again. She sipped it mechanically, which made sense. What Daniel found strange was where all those liquids went.


    ¡°Daniel?¡±


    ¡°You remembered my name.¡±


    ¡°I always remember the handsome ones.¡± Violet made the same move as before, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and pulling him close. But this time, she pressed her lips to his white shirt, leaving a smear of lipstick behind.


    ¡°What was that for?¡±


    ¡°Marking you, handsome. And I hope if you¡¯ve got a wife, she¡¯ll ask about me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a wife, but she¡¯s not here.¡±


    ¡°Of course you¡¯d say that. No man walks in here if he¡¯s got a girlfriend.¡±


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Have you seen Jasper?¡±


    ¡°The fat guy? He was here earlier. No idea where he is now.¡±


    Daniel left her and melted into the crowd. Most of the men in the bar looked like outlaws and wore gloves. There were some without, who winked at him, and he winked back. He recognized most of them by face from the train. He also spotted the two women who¡¯d scared Jasper on the train with their offers of strange games. A woman with short black hair had joined them, and they were heatedly discussing something with her. Daniel nodded at them, and the dark-skinned one winked back.


    He stepped outside the bar, and the first thing he saw was the dog, Silver. It trotted over to his feet, sniffed him, then put its two front paws on his legs. Daniel petted it. The dog hopped down and started spinning in circles with joy.


    But Daniel had already spotted Jasper and left the pup behind. Jasper was talking to someone.


    ¡°Daniel!¡± Jasper saw him.


    Jasper stood in the dark. His bulky silhouette was unmistakable. He was speaking to someone leaning against the bar¡¯s wall. The figure wore a wide-brimmed hat and stared down at their feet.


    Daniel approached.


    ¡°You know our old friend, Jake.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Sheriff. What brings you here?¡± He tried to sound appropriate for the time they were in.


    ¡°You tell me.¡± The man¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on the ground.


    Daniel looked at Jasper. He didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Brother, the sheriff¡¯s looking for someone.¡±


    ¡°A killer!¡± Jake nearly shouted. ¡°I¡¯m hunting a killer!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a killer. He¡¯s asking if we can help him.¡± Jasper winked at Daniel.


    ¡°Sheriff, we¡¯ve only been here a day. We don¡¯t know the people.¡±


    Jake peeled himself off the wall, straightened up, and brushed off his vest. He took off his hat. His hair was a dirty brown, slicked back, though the hat had slightly mussed it. His beard was stubbly, and instead of a blade of grass, he had a cigarette in his mouth.


    ¡°Who¡¯ve you met?¡±


    ¡°Violet,¡± Daniel answered before Jasper could. ¡°And a few of her girls.¡±


    ¡°Girls? Any men?¡±


    The two exchanged a glance. Both were thinking of the same thing¡ªthe naked boy in the room.


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    ¡°Well, there was one lady,¡± Jasper chimed in, mentioning the dark-haired woman he¡¯d met. ¡°At the fountain. She was with her kid.¡±


    ¡°Curly, dark hair? Kid looks just like her?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a good woman.¡± Jake softened his tone. ¡°Lost her husband recently¡­ They suspected her of his murder for a while, but I don¡¯t think it was her.¡±


    ¡°Murdered her husband?¡± Jasper glanced at Daniel again and winked. He was playing the sheriff¡¯s game. ¡°That¡¯s a serious accusation.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Jasper. Her husband was my friend. The town¡¯s deputy sheriff.¡±


    ¡°Deputy sheriff?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It was a secret that he and Aria didn¡¯t get along. He¡¯d often complain to me that she¡¯d been eyeing other men.¡±


    ¡°No, Sheriff. I can¡¯t believe that. Aria seemed like an awfully nice lady to me.¡± Jasper was playing his part too well.


    Jake pulled the cigarette from his mouth and flicked it aside.


    ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out. In the meantime, I¡¯d advise you to steer clear of her. I can¡¯t guarantee your safety.¡±


    ¡°Our safety? But you¡¯re the sheriff.¡±


    Jake stepped menacingly close to Jasper. Daniel moved to intervene but stopped himself. This was just a game, after all¡ªno need to overact. Jasper was trying not to laugh.


    ¡°I am the sheriff. And if you think you¡¯re taking that from me, challenge me to a duel.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa!¡± Jasper stepped back. ¡°I don¡¯t want your badge, boss. But if you need deputies?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I do.¡± Jake suddenly calmed down, his aggression vanishing. He leaned back against the wall. The longer they interacted with an object in the park, the more they noticed its flaws and repetitive programmed movements, which eventually got a little boring. But their repertoire was slowly expanding. ¡°If you know anyone willing, I¡¯d like them to join me.¡±


    Jasper brushed off his shirt and vest, standing tall in front of Jake in all his glory. Daniel saw him like a puffed-up turkey, ready to fan out its feathers any second.


    ¡°My friend and I want to be sheriffs.¡±


    ¡°N-no.¡± Daniel barely got the word out. Jasper was trying to rope them into something again. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re ready, Jas.¡±


    ¡°Can you shoot?¡±


    ¡°Of course. My friend here¡¯s hit a bear from a hundred paces.¡±


    Daniel tried to protest, but Jasper waved a hand to silence him.


    ¡°A hundred paces? That¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s decent. Decent, yeah.¡± Jake pulled another cigarette from somewhere and lit it. The old one still lay on the ground. ¡°And you, fat man?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve wrestled a bear with my bare hands.¡±


    Jake tossed his cigarette again. It was something they needed to fix. His movements were starting to go from amusing to annoyingly repetitive. Silver barked beside them.


    ¡°Alright, fat man. That¡¯s worthy of respect. Come tomorrow morning, and we¡¯ll test your mettle.¡±


    Jasper tipped his hat in respect. Jake did the same. Daniel followed suit.


    ¡°And tell Violet she¡¯ll always have a place in my heart.¡±


    ¡°Why not tell her yourself?¡±


    Jake glanced at them, then strode off into the dark with a brisk pace, hands in his pockets, tipping his hat to everyone he passed.

 21

    The bar was loud. Every newcomer¡ªlike the two of them¡ªwas talking to one of the robots. Some were trying to pick up Violet¡¯s girls, others were chatting with the locals, discussing topics that seemed deeply serious and obviously important to them.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t those Sam and Ava?¡± Jasper pointed to a man and woman. The same ones they¡¯d first seen on the train. The man had been cold with them, but the woman had smiled. Now they sat together again at one of the tables. Each had a mug of beer in front of them. Across from them sat another man and woman, both with black gloves. The women talked among themselves, and so did the men.


    ¡°You remembered their names?¡±


    ¡°How could I not, brother? I remember everything. Especially that guy. Tomorrow, when I¡¯m sheriff, I¡¯ll have a word with him.¡±


    ¡°Just don¡¯t get too carried away. We¡¯re only here for a short while, and we¡¯re the outsiders.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I plan to live it up while we¡¯re here. And tomorrow we¡¯ve already got a visit lined up at Reed¡¯s farm with our guy¡ªthe horse wrangler¡ªthen to the sheriff to pick up our badges.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we become sheriffs first, then head to the farm? We¡¯d have more clout to enter his property.¡±


    ¡°You were always the smart one, brother.¡±


    The two of them went to the bar and sat on the high stools. Mr. Phil was wiping down a glass. Violet was nearby but busy talking to other guests.


    ¡°Hey, boys. What¡¯ll you have?¡± Mr. Phil slurred a little, maybe from his mustache. Rolled-up sleeves and a rag over his arm made him the perfect bartender for a place like this.


    ¡°A little whiskey.¡± Jasper indicated the amount with his fingers. ¡°For him too.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for Daniel to choose.


    ¡°Sorry, buddy. This week it¡¯s just beer.¡±


    ¡°Then why ask, Phil?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m friendly with you folks. So, what¡¯ll you have?¡±


    ¡°Some of them get on my nerves, brother,¡± Jasper said, pointing at the bartender. ¡°And this one¡¯s one of ¡¯em.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re in testing mode. Next time, I bet he¡¯ll be ready. And it¡¯s normal not to have all the drinks.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but aren¡¯t we supposed to be the VIPs here?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but if you pay, it¡¯s a different story. You know how it is.¡±


    ¡°Two beers, barman.¡±


    ¡°Coming right up.¡± Phil grabbed two empty mugs, filled them from the taps in front of him, carried them carefully, and set them down heavily in front of them.


    ¡°What do you think of Jake and this Aria business?¡±


    Daniel caught sight of Ava, the woman from the train, in the distance. She had short blonde hair and big brown eyes. Their gazes had met twice already, and while he¡¯d thought the first was a fluke, the second time she¡¯d smiled at him. The woman in front of her, with black gloves, looked a lot like Ava but had black hair and black eyes. She was saying something to her, and Ava nodded, pretending to listen. Her eyes wandered. Besides him, she also glanced at Jasper. He definitely hadn¡¯t noticed, or he¡¯d already be over there chatting her up.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, brother, but I can¡¯t wait to find out. It¡¯s obviously a story the creators set up. But it¡¯s something interesting. The lady at the fountain seemed super innocent¡ªyou saw her yourself. And now this Sheriff Jake comes along with some total nonsense. Said she killed her husband. Ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Jake?¡± Violet appeared behind Jasper. ¡°You boys talking about Sheriff Jake?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we had a run-in with him a little while ago. You know him, Violet?¡± Jasper either forgot or was playing his role perfectly.


    ¡°Did he do anything to you?¡± Violet asked in return.


    ¡°Nah, he¡¯s harmless.¡±


    She laughed.


    ¡°By the way, he sent his regards. Seems you two had a thing.¡±


    Jasper mostly led their conversations. Daniel had other business now. He wondered how many times his eyes would meet Ava¡¯s. And if he could¡¯ve chalked up all the glances so far to chance, now he was actively seeking hers out. But when Ava stood and started walking toward them, he got nervous. She wasn¡¯t wearing black gloves, and he knew she was one of the real ones. After all, she¡¯d come on the train like they had.


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    As she got closer, her husband stepped in front of her, took her hand, and they veered toward the stairs. Passing near them, Sam greeted Violet, and Ava smiled at her. She didn¡¯t look at him. That disappointed him a little. He followed her with his eyes as long as he could until she disappeared up to the higher floors.


    ¡°Those are some of the new ones, like you,¡± Violet said, clearly one of the sharper ones. ¡°The lady¡¯s pretty. I want her as one of my girls.¡±


    Neither of them responded to Violet. Jasper might not have even heard her. He was saying something to Phil. But Violet wasn¡¯t done and turned to Jasper:


    ¡°I had a thing with Jake, but he¡¯s an idiot. He slept with me but wanted my girls.¡±


    ¡°Normal guy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I told myself at first, and I really didn¡¯t mind. I know men, trust me. So many have come through here, each with their own story. I know why they come, what they want, and which girl they¡¯ll pick.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d he do that was so bad?¡±


    Violet went quiet and scanned the bar. She smiled at someone, leaning in slightly.


    ¡°See Beatrice?¡± Violet pointed. ¡°The redhead.¡±


    They saw her. Daniel had met her earlier on the stairs.


    ¡°She¡¯s my biggest slut. Been with more men than you¡¯ll see women in your whole lives. And every single one left a tip. Every one.¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± Jasper said, impressed.


    ¡°What¡¯d Jake do that was so bad?¡±


    ¡°He slept with her.¡±


    ¡°You just said you didn¡¯t mind that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t. But he forced her to work for him. One night he was sleeping with her, the next she was sleeping around for him, if you catch my drift.¡±


    Jasper laughed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not funny.¡± Violet¡¯s tone startled him.


    ¡°So you dumped him?¡± Daniel kept pressing her.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you? It¡¯s one thing for him to stick it in my girls, another to steal from me.¡±


    ¡°He talked like he¡¯s still in love with you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve banned him from coming in here.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s the sheriff. He¡¯s got the right to come in.¡±


    Violet stepped behind the bar, smiled at Mr. Phil, bent down under the counter, and came up with a shotgun in hand, aimed at them. A few people in the bar ducked¡ªmostly the ones with black gloves.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Jasper exclaimed. ¡°Dangerous bitch.¡±


    ¡°And I can take care of myself. I don¡¯t need that dog Jake. And I¡¯d advise you not to mention him to me again.¡±


    Violet lowered the shotgun back where she¡¯d gotten it and returned to them as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°So, boys, want any of my girls?¡± Her smile was wide again, like the conversation from a moment ago never existed.


    ¡°What can you offer us?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already heard about Beatrice. And before you ask for her, let me introduce Diana.¡± Violet pointed to a tall, slender woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail and a tight corset around her waist. She stood gracefully beside two gentlemen, smiling at their jokes. Both men wore black gloves. ¡°And that one with the pink hair is Grace¡ªone of my new girls. Eighteen, fresh in town, came looking for her fortune.¡±


    ¡°Looks like she found it.¡±


    Violet kept pointing.


    ¡°The curly chestnut hair with the round face is Clara. Her chest is small, but no one¡¯s seen an ass like hers, I guarantee it.¡± Violet turned back to them. ¡°Those are the best of my collection. There are others, of course, but you¡¯d have to lower your expectations¡ªand naturally, the price is lower too.¡±


    ¡°Price?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s free, boys. Well, sometimes, but you¡¯d really have to earn it. And so far, you haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°How much for Clara?¡±


    ¡°For Clara?¡± Violet snapped her fingers high in the air, and all her girls turned at once. She was looking at Clara. She approached. She was short, her face perfectly round, but her eyes soft like a child¡¯s. Her short, curly hair fell in ringlets around her face. Her blouse was unbuttoned, but her chest was indeed small.


    ¡°Spin around, darling.¡±


    Clara spun and glanced back at them. She looked at Daniel and smiled. Violet took Jasper¡¯s big hand and placed it on Clara¡¯s backside.


    ¡°Feel that?¡±


    ¡°Whoa, you weren¡¯t lying.¡±


    ¡°Violet never lies, boy. Clara, show the gentleman if he¡¯s made a good choice.¡±


    Clara stepped closer to Jasper, rested her hands on his knees, climbed onto the high stool, turned, and sat in his lap. She leaned her head back, resting it on his shoulder, and kissed his neck softly. Jasper¡¯s eyes nearly popped out from pleasure. Violet took his hands and placed them on her hips.


    ¡°Clara, where¡¯s your manners?¡±


    Clara heard those words and practically jumped out of Jasper¡¯s lap. She stood in front of him, pouting like a schoolgirl who¡¯d gotten a bad grade.


    ¡°So, Jasper, what¡¯s your decision?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes!¡±


    ¡°A hundred gold coins.¡±


    ¡°A hundred gold coins? I don¡¯t even have one. Daniel¡ª¡± He looked at him. ¡°You?¡±


    Daniel shook his head.


    ¡°Well, too bad for you, too bad for me. Good thing your rooms are paid for, at least.¡±


    Clara turned and walked off the way she¡¯d come.


    ¡°If you¡¯ve got any other questions, boys, I¡¯m here. And next time, come with money.¡±


    Violet turned and melted into the crowd.


    ¡°Brother, no one told us about these gold coins. Where do we get them?¡±


    ¡°Well, since it¡¯s a test period, I guess these things are off-limits.¡±


    ¡°Brother, that one really had an amazing ass. First time I¡¯ve gotten hard from a robot. God forgive me, I hope.¡±


    ¡°Since when do you believe in God? There¡¯s no God here, brother. We¡¯re in a place built entirely by man.¡±


    ¡°And we don¡¯t have a damn gold coin to our name¡­¡±

 22

    His waking came shortly after sunrise. Daniel had once again forgotten to close the window, which let the sounds of all sorts of birds and other animals filter in and rouse him. Down on the sand below, about twenty chickens scurried in every direction. Most of them repeated the same rehearsed movements. They¡¯d head one way, then switch directions and come back. Even their beak-digging into the sand was like clockwork. If they were real, they¡¯d have starved. There wasn¡¯t a blade of grass in sight down there. But they probably weren¡¯t real anyway.


    A knock came at his door¡ªfirst soft and rapid, then slowing down but growing louder with each strike.


    ¡°Dan¡­¡± It was Jasper¡¯s voice. ¡°Brother, open up, or I¡¯m coming in myself.¡±


    Daniel lifted the latch on the door. Jasper stood there in brown leather pants and a brown vest over a tattered shirt. The clothes fit him perfectly, somehow containing his bulky frame.


    ¡°You changed your clothes?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m about to become a sheriff, after all.¡±


    ¡°Deputy sheriff,¡± Daniel corrected him.


    ¡°Same difference. I¡¯ll climb the ranks quick. Jake¡¯s no competition. I was just in the shower. Did you see how the water runs outside and flows onto the sand?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a bit inconvenient for anyone passing underneath.¡±


    ¡°Hah, inconvenient¡ªI was hoping someone would walk by, but no one did, so I got out. I wonder if their electronics can get damaged if you douse them with water.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re incorrigible,¡± Daniel replied, though he didn¡¯t mention he¡¯d wondered the same thing yesterday.


    ¡°Put your hat on, and let¡¯s head down. I¡¯d love to see my Clara again.¡±


    ¡°Your Clara. What about Aria?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. We were supposed to meet. But she didn¡¯t show. I¡¯ll see her today. But first¡ªJake. We¡¯ve got to climb the ladder, after all.¡±


    The bar downstairs had turned into a breakfast spot. It smelled of toasted bread, tea, and melted butter. Violet was at her usual place at the bar, but instead of a glass of booze, she had a steaming cup in front of her. She lifted it and took a sip. It was a mystery where all that liquid went and how they got it out of them later. That was something he¡¯d ask Barnes when they got back.


    ¡°Good morning, boys. Pick a table. Breakfast¡¯s on the owner this morning.¡±


    ¡°Do we get a choice, or¡­?¡± Jasper leaned on the wooden counter too.


    ¡°Oh, the chubby charmer,¡± Violet exclaimed. ¡°The only choice here, boys, is from my ladies. But you don¡¯t have any money, as we¡¯ve already established.¡±


    ¡°One day we will¡­¡± Jasper vowed.


    ¡°And then you¡¯ll have every lady in here. Until then, you can settle for the common folk outside.¡±


    The breakfast wasn¡¯t bad, but it wasn¡¯t anything special either.


    ¡°Brother, if we eat toast all week, I might actually lose some weight,¡± Jasper said, already on his fourth slice.


    ¡°Looks like this is what¡¯s allotted for the guests. You heard Violet. She said it¡¯s from the owner.¡±


    ¡°Anyone could be the owner.¡±


    ¡°The owner¡¯s Barnes. Notice there¡¯s no alcohol either. I bet once the test period¡¯s over and they let in real clients, they¡¯ll bring in the money system.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already here. She asked me for a hundred gold coins for that whore. They just didn¡¯t give us any coins.¡±


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    ¡°Or maybe they want us to find them ourselves?¡±


    Jasper gave him a look. An idea was growing in his head. He stared out the window and fell silent.


    After his tenth slice with butter, he finally clutched his stomach and let out a groan.


    ¡°Well, the breakfast wasn¡¯t half bad. The tea was good too. Brother,¡± he leaned slightly toward Daniel, ¡°we¡¯ve got to figure out a way to come back once they officially open the park. This place is amazing.¡±


    ¡°We can come back if we¡¯ve got money.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got some stashed away, but we don¡¯t know the price.¡±


    ¡°Hold off, Jas. It¡¯s still day one. Who knows how it¡¯ll go. We might get bored in a week.¡±


    ¡°Those jerks from the train might be bored. There¡¯s so much story here. This Barnes guy¡¯s a genius. Just two conversations, and we¡¯ve already uncovered a few hidden tales. There¡¯s got to be at least two hundred robots¡ªI mean, characters¡ªin this town. If each one¡¯s tied to a story, it¡¯s like real life. Like we¡¯re in a game, and we¡¯re the main characters.¡±


    ¡°I think that¡¯s exactly what Hugo Barnes meant when he said to live the story.¡±


    ¡°Is it too early to head to the sheriff?¡±


    ¡°I doubt the robots sleep. Actually, do they? Maybe they recharge them at night.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to stop calling them robots. I want to dive even deeper into the movie. I say we treat them like real people.¡±


    Daniel shook his head in disbelief.


    ¡°Jas, I¡¯ve been trying from the start, but you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Jasper cut him off and raised his voice. ¡°Violet!¡±


    The lady approached with a smooth stride, walking slowly and glancing side to side. She placed her hands on the table and leaned in, her neckline hinting at her ample chest.


    ¡°Yes, boys?¡±


    ¡°Violet, have any of the other guests woken up yet?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re the first. Need anything?¡±


    ¡°I want you to tell every person who comes down here this morning that something interesting¡¯s happening at the sheriff¡¯s office. Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s going on with Jake? What¡¯s he gotten himself into?¡±


    Jasper glanced at Daniel. Daniel had no idea what he was talking about but pretended he did, nodding to back him up.


    ¡°We can¡¯t tell you, Violet. You¡¯ll find out. You always figure everything out. But Jake¡¯ll live¡ªhe¡¯s not in danger.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s good or bad news.¡± Violet might¡¯ve been joking. ¡°Ten gold coins, and I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Violet. We told you we don¡¯t have money.¡±


    She straightened up, reached out, grabbed Daniel¡¯s chin, and tilted his head up.


    ¡°Just because you¡¯re a handsome one, I¡¯ll do it. But this is the last favor for you two.¡±


    Jasper laughed. He liked what he was seeing.


    ¡°The breakfast was tasty.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, gorgeous.¡± Violet turned back to Daniel. ¡°I know it¡¯s not what you¡¯re expecting, but it¡¯s all we¡¯ve got right now. The boss said he¡¯ll stock up better next time.¡±


    ¡°And who¡¯s the owner? Isn¡¯t it you?¡± Jasper asked.


    ¡°I can¡¯t give you that information,¡± Violet said, standing tall. ¡°Any other questions or requests, gentlemen?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Mr. Reed?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Reed? A frequent guest of mine. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°We heard he¡¯s got a farm nearby.¡±


    ¡°Not a farm¡ªthe biggest farm.¡±


    ¡°Meaning?¡±


    ¡°Meaning I wouldn¡¯t advise you to even go near it. Mr. Reed has two daughters and guards them with his life.¡±


    ¡°And his stableboy¡­¡±


    ¡°Jas!¡± Daniel tried to stop him.


    ¡°Stableboy?¡±


    ¡°We saw one of his stableboys here yesterday. He was with one of your girls.¡±


    ¡°A stableboy with one of my girls? Impossible. You¡¯ve got it wrong. Mr. Reed has a few horses and takes care of them himself. One of my girls hooking up with someone penniless? Well, it¡¯s possible, but¡­¡±


    ¡°They were¡ª¡±


    ¡°Jasper¡¯s mixing it up with the last town, Violet.¡±


    Jasper looked at him, confused, then turned back to the lady with the purple ribbons in her hair.


    ¡°Actually, Daniel¡¯s right. My mistake. Sorry, Violet.¡±


    A wide smile spread across the dark-haired temptress¡¯s face.


    ¡°Anything else I can help you with, boys?¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Violet. That¡¯s all.¡±


    Violet turned and returned to her spot at the bar. The bartender, Phil, tipped his hat to her and swapped out the cups in front of her. Footsteps echoed from the upper floor. More guests were coming down. Daniel and Jasper put on their hats and left the bar.

 23

    Early in the morning, the fountain was deserted. Even the robots and non-living things knew when to go outside, their schedules ticking like clockwork.


    The only thing that caught their eye was a man sitting in a rocking chair, not too close to the fountain but noticeable enough. He was singing something and rocking back and forth.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go over to him.¡±


    Daniel wasn¡¯t sure if Jasper was asking or telling him, but he was already heading that way.


    ¡°Good morning, old man.¡±


    If he were real, the old man would¡¯ve been at least eighty. He had a mustache and a slightly stubbly beard. His hair was white and medium-length. The skin across most of his body sagged and drooped. His veins were wide, and Daniel could see the blood moving through them¡ªsomething typical in any elderly hand. But the fluid serving as blood in these ones moved oddly. That¡¯s why his vein was more reddish than the usual blue. The old man looked up at Jasper.


    ¡°Aaron?¡±


    ¡°Jasper. I¡¯m Jasper.¡±


    ¡°Aaron? Is that you?¡± The old man raised a hand toward Jasper.


    ¡°No, old man. My name¡¯s Jasper,¡± Jas repeated.


    The old man fell silent. A dog barked somewhere nearby. Daniel turned and saw Silver. He¡¯d forgotten about him, but the dog clearly remembered them. It came over and sat off to the side.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Aaron?¡± the old man went on. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him in a while.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know Aaron, old man. We¡¯re from another town.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you get here? With the big iron thing?¡±


    Jasper shot a quick glance at Daniel.


    ¡°Yes, old man. With the train,¡± Daniel chimed in to help.


    ¡°The big iron machine. He got on it and disappeared.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll come back, old man. That happens sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Aaron, is that you?¡± The old man grabbed Jasper¡¯s hand again.


    ¡°This one¡¯s a lost cause, brother. Let¡¯s head to the sheriff,¡± Jasper said.


    ¡°Aaron? You leaving?¡±


    Daniel and Jasper slowly walked away, occasionally glancing back at the old man, who watched them for a long time. The path from Violet¡¯s bar lay behind them. If the fountain was their central landmark and they¡¯d come from the bar¡¯s road, they now took the other fork leading to the sheriff¡¯s office.


    The house with a five-pointed golden badge hanging above it sat at the end of the road. Beyond it was nothing but wasteland. The farms were on the other side of town, and the closer you got to this end, the emptier it became. In the distance, past the sheriff¡¯s house, only sandy mountains were visible. If Daniel had his bearings right, beyond them lay the modern era where the train had last stopped.


    The windows on the ground floor of the house had bars, and behind them, a few wooden desks and chairs were visible. One table had a stack of papers, but it seemed empty otherwise. The second floor jutted out a bit more and looked like a normal house from afar. Up there, no bars were in sight, but the windows were boarded shut with wooden shutters.


    Jasper approached the door and knocked¡ªfirst lightly, then a bit more boldly, with a harder rap.


    ¡°Problem?¡±


    The voice came from behind them.


    They turned almost in unison. Standing before them was a big man, even bigger than Jasper. He had a large beard, rolled-up sleeves, and thick hair on his arms. He wore black gloves, and one hand held a revolver. His shirt was unbuttoned, most of the buttons missing. From where they stood, he reeked of alcohol.


    ¡°We¡¯re looking for Jake,¡± Daniel said, trying to get ahead of Jasper. He knew what¡¯d happen if Jas spoke first.


    ¡°Jake a friend of yours?¡±


    ¡°No. We met yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s Sheriff Jake to you. Only his friends call him Jake.¡±


    ¡°Brother, let me handle this,¡± Jasper said anyway, pushing him aside.


    ¡°Hey, fatso. Where¡¯s Jake?¡±


    The big stranger let out a booming laugh.


    ¡°Your mouth¡¯s too big, kid.¡± The stranger raised the revolver at Jas. Jas widened his eyes and threw his hands up. The hefty stranger slowly stepped closer. Daniel didn¡¯t know what to do, so he froze. The man reached out and pressed the barrel to Jasper¡¯s forehead.


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    ¡°Go ahead and pull it, tough guy,¡± Jas said, clearly unfazed.


    From the side, the scene was almost surreal. Two men over a hundred kilos, inches apart. One holding a revolver to the other¡¯s forehead, the other grinning in his face, daring him to shoot. And as the sun dipped behind clouds in the dim light of dawn, only their shadows remained, merging into one hulking figure that nearly filled the road.


    The stranger was sweating in his fury. It looked like he was straining with all his might to pull the trigger but couldn¡¯t. His face grew redder and redder. He was starting to look truly human. The veins in his arm bulged, and his skin began to crack in places. From the splits in his flesh, wires appeared first, followed by other strange components. The man kept trying to pull the trigger. His whole body shook.


    The dog Silver barked beside them.


    A loud bang sent Jasper stumbling back. His fall kicked up a cloud of dust on the sand. Daniel waved a hand to clear the dust from his eyes. When everything settled, the sight was worth it.


    The bang hadn¡¯t come from the gun but from the big robot¡¯s head, which had exploded into all sorts of pieces. Iron parts were scattered around him. Some of the debris had grazed Jasper too. Jas was screaming and clutching his head. Daniel rushed to his side.


    ¡°Just a few scratches.¡± He pulled Jasper¡¯s hand from his forehead. ¡°Can you open your eyes?¡±


    Jasper slowly opened them.


    ¡°You¡¯re fine. But I can¡¯t say the same for this guy.¡± Daniel pointed at the robot.


    ¡°Does everyone who picks up a gun blow up like that? Mr. Barnes dropped the ball here,¡± Jasper said, still holding his forehead. ¡°Screw that guy.¡±


    A loud blare of sirens echoed across the whole place. At first, Daniel ignored them, but they grew so loud no one could miss them. After the sirens came red lights. One of the lights flashed from the sheriff¡¯s house.


    Then everything stopped. Even Silver froze in place. The animals flying in the sky landed and stilled. The red light turned green, and the alarms ceased.


    Daniel and Jasper first exchanged a glance, then started looking around in every direction. In the distance, they could only see the fountain at the town¡¯s center. The old man was by his chair but had fallen to the ground.


    The door to the outhouse next to the sheriff¡¯s shack opened. Two people stepped out. Both were dressed in outfits that didn¡¯t fit the Wild West. Daniel wasn¡¯t sure if this was part of the game or if something had gone wrong. The newcomers wore goggles with big plastic visors. One was a woman, her black hair tucked into her suit. The other was a man.


    The woman went to the fallen big guy on the ground, while the man approached them.


    ¡°Stay where you are.¡± He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, holding it up in front of them. ¡°We¡¯re from FutureRobot. Please be patient.¡±


    ¡°El, this one¡¯s heavy. I¡¯ll need help,¡± the woman called.


    The man slipped the card back into his pocket and went to his colleague.


    ¡°Turn on his backup power.¡±


    ¡°Backup?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Right panel by the hip. You¡¯ll find the seam with tweezers. Open it, and you¡¯ll see a red switch.¡±


    The man glanced back at them. Daniel and Jasper stood still, almost in a daze.


    The woman pulled out something sharp, tugged down the fallen robot¡¯s pants, and started poking at him with the tool. After a few seconds, she jabbed the sharp metal in and yanked off a square patch of skin. Beneath it was a real panel. She opened it and pressed the red button.


    The big man opened his eyes¡ªor what was left of his face.


    ¡°Step back from him.¡±


    The woman listened to her colleague and stood up. The robot¡¯s one remaining eye stared blankly into the distance. His gaze was empty. He used his arms and legs to stand. The rest of his body seemed atrophied. His waist barely held, forcing him to stay slightly hunched forward with limp arms. Springs jutted from his face.


    ¡°Brother, this guy¡¯s done for,¡± Jasper said.


    The man from maintenance overheard.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be good as new. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Brother,¡± Jasper pointed at the big guy, ¡°this jerk wanted to kill me but couldn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°We figured. I mean, we saw.¡±


    ¡°You saw?¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s a team watching everything.¡± The man glanced at the dog beside them. ¡°You even named one of our cameras¡ªSilver.¡± The worker laughed.


    ¡°Ah, we should¡¯ve guessed,¡± Daniel said, raising a hand to the dog. ¡°Come here, Silver.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother trying to spot the camera. The mechanism¡¯s complex. And even if you manage to chase it off, we¡¯ve got at least a hundred other ways to track you just in this town.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s not total freedom here after all?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re completely free. No one¡¯s holding you here or getting in your way. The cameras are more to prevent stuff like this.¡± The technician pointed at the big robot.


    ¡°Was that a bug?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. And just in him. Most of the robots, especially the ones with weapons, can shoot at birds or inanimate objects.¡±


    ¡°Even at each other?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah. But don¡¯t pit them against each other. Let it happen on its own. Trust me, before your tests, we ran others¡ªus technicians. If you play right with them, you¡¯ll be more than impressed. The problem is, a week won¡¯t be enough for you. But they really are special.¡± The man glanced at the barely moving robot. ¡°Even this one. Just some glitch.¡±


    ¡°So this big shot was supposed to lower the gun?¡± Jasper pointed at the lifeless robot standing like a gorilla next to the female technician.


    ¡°No. Truth be told, he played the scene well. And so did you¡ªcongrats. We were hoping for people like you for their first interactions. But maybe he shouldn¡¯t have tried to shoot. His effort to pull the trigger clashed with the system blocking him, and this happened.¡± The technician gestured at the damaged robot.


    ¡°Did you shut down all the robots?¡± Daniel asked, looking at the old man¡¯s body sprawled on the ground in the distance.


    ¡°Exactly. We stopped them to retrieve this one. The other guests have been informed too and told to stay put.¡±


    ¡°Will you always step in like this for glitches?¡±


    ¡°No. So far, we haven¡¯t seen any major anomalies. I¡¯d say this is the only big one. Last night we almost came in, but¡­¡±


    ¡°El¡­ Time to go,¡± the woman behind him called.


    ¡°What happened last night?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve had a nice chat, boys, but we¡¯ve got to head out. Need to fix this troublemaker. Expect him back in the next few days.¡±


    ¡°El?¡± Jasper called after him. ¡°Can we tell Jake we killed this guy?¡±


    The technician turned, glanced at his colleague, and shrugged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just a tech. You¡¯re in the story. Live it.¡±

 24

    The green lights didn¡¯t linger long. The world seemed to reboot all at once. In the distance, the old man by the fountain stood up slowly. Jasper and Daniel followed him with their eyes. He went to his chair, grabbed it with one hand, turned the other way, and began trudging off in an unknown direction, dragging the chair behind him.


    The door behind the technicians closed and latched shut. The birds took flight again, their calls filling the air. Silver barked.


    ¡°Ah, you little traitor,¡± Jasper said, bending down to pet him. The dog flopped onto the ground and offered its belly. Jasper scratched it. ¡°It¡¯s a bit weirder now, knowing they¡¯re watching me all the time.¡±


    ¡°Enough, Jas. We should¡¯ve figured it out sooner. It¡¯s normal they wouldn¡¯t leave their creations to chance. If you were in their shoes¡­¡±


    ¡°I wonder what happened last night if they were ready to step in. One of ours must¡¯ve been involved in something.¡±


    ¡°It must¡¯ve blown over since they didn¡¯t come in.¡±


    Silver was still rolling around in the dirt, paws in the air. He reminded Daniel of the dog he¡¯d had before meeting Ema. Ema didn¡¯t like animals. Well, she liked them, but not in her house. She¡¯d always treated them kindly¡ªfed the strays, cried when she saw one standing alone in the rain. But when it came to bringing a cat or dog home, her attitude toward the critters shifted. Generally speaking, she didn¡¯t want to clean up after them or worry if they were hungry. Daniel was starting to think that might be why they still didn¡¯t have a kid, even after nearly ten years together.


    ¡°Hey, you two!¡±


    The voice was familiar. Jake stood at the door of his sheriff¡¯s house, leaning against the frame with one hand. He wore just a shirt and pants. His boots were missing, and his hat hung on the inside of the door. They¡¯d built a certain nonchalance and sloppiness into his character. Daniel had seen cowboy movies, and a real sheriff wouldn¡¯t let himself look like that. While the others were meticulous about their clothes and appearance, this one didn¡¯t care as much.


    ¡°Sheriff, we were looking for you,¡± Jasper said, slipping back into the town¡¯s movie vibe.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to wait for me, boys. Best head to the center.¡± Jake pointed toward the fountain. ¡°And pick yourselves some good weapons.¡±


    ¡°Weapons? We don¡¯t have weapons.¡±


    ¡°What kind of sheriffs are you gonna be without weapons? Ever shot anything at all?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we talk about this last night, Sheriff? My friend here¡¯s killed a bear from a hundred paces.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­ a bear. I remember. Still, you two seem fishy to me, boys. But I need young deputy sheriffs. Though you¡¯ll have to slim down.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t slim down¡ªI¡¯ve got big bones.¡±


    Sheriff Jake stared at them for a long moment. His system couldn¡¯t process Jasper¡¯s comment. Daniel couldn¡¯t hold it in and burst out laughing.


    ¡°Jake, you there?¡±


    ¡°Wait for me at the fountain, boys. And bring your revolvers,¡± he repeated.


    Jasper waved a hand dismissively.


    ¡°Jas, let it go. We¡¯ll figure something out.¡±


    ¡°Got any ideas, brother?¡±


    ¡°Nope. We¡¯ll wait for him at the fountain and see what happens. He can¡¯t kill us, which is the main thing.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. But we could end up a laughingstock in front of everyone.¡±


    ¡°In front of who, Jas? Just the guests. The others are¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say it. We agreed not to call them that.¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯re right. We¡¯ll be a joke.¡±


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    People were starting to gather around the fountain. Two middle-aged women with black gloves were chatting about something while a few kids ran around in front of them. Three gentlemen stood in a circle, talking quietly and eyeing their surroundings as if plotting something. They wore newer, fancier clothes than the usual rustic garb most folks around here had on. An older man with a dirty beard, peasant clothes, and a rifle sat on the porch of his house overlooking the fountain. Every so often, he¡¯d peer through the rifle barrel, aim it at someone, then pull back and shake his head as if threatening them. And he kept doing it, over and over. They really needed to mix up their movements a bit.


    Jasper and Daniel sat by the fountain where there were the fewest people.


    ¡°Have you noticed the robots rarely come up to start a conversation, Jas? Or if they do, it¡¯s because of something we¡¯ve already talked about.¡±


    ¡°But they remember every chat with every single person. That¡¯s what impresses me most.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. At first, I thought they¡¯d just be like chatbots. They¡¯d have rehearsed lines they¡¯d repeat until you got so fed up you¡¯d walk away.¡±


    ¡°Me too. But I came here to see what it¡¯s like to screw a robot.¡±


    ¡°And how was it?¡± Daniel teased him.


    ¡°Turns out you need money for that too.¡±


    The two women they¡¯d met on the train were heading their way, holding hands. The dark-skinned one walked a little ahead. She had blue earrings. The blonde smiled at every word she said, occasionally brushing her shoulder against hers. They didn¡¯t stop until they were standing right in front of them.


    ¡°We heard there¡¯s gonna be a party here. Know anything about it?¡± Both were grinning.


    ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    ¡°Madam Violet. She¡¯s telling all the guests something interesting¡¯s about to happen here. But she doesn¡¯t know what. That¡¯s the talk around town.¡±


    ¡°Well, if she said it¡­¡± Jasper glanced nervously toward the sheriff¡¯s house. ¡°How¡¯d you two enjoy last night?¡±


    The dark-skinned woman looked at her friend, and they gave each other a playful smile.


    ¡°We had some fun.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m talking about something more fun than what you usually get up to.¡±


    ¡°And what do you think we usually get up to?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never been with two at once. Though I¡¯ve wanted to.¡±


    ¡°We were three.¡±


    ¡°Three? Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Poor thing. This place offers endless possibilities.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I got that, but they asked me for a hundred gold coins. Where am I supposed to get those?¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t been paying close enough attention. Look around.¡±


    Jasper scanned the area.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything.¡±


    ¡°All these people are here for a reason. Everyone¡¯s got a story.¡±


    ¡°We figured that out ourselves.¡±


    ¡°So? Haven¡¯t you jumped into one?¡±


    ¡°Stick around a bit longer, and you¡¯ll see,¡± Daniel chimed into their conversation. ¡°But it¡¯s not exactly about gold coins.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your problem. No one¡¯s gonna hand you money just like that. You¡¯ve got to earn it.¡±


    ¡°And how¡¯d you do it?¡±


    The two exchanged another glance.


    ¡°Well, truth be told, through Madam Violet.¡±


    ¡°How? All she offered me was a chance to grope one of her girls.¡±


    ¡°Clara? I saw you. Clara¡¯s juicy, sure, but she¡¯s one of the priciest.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t even have a single gold coin.¡±


    ¡°We offered to work for Madam Violet, but I¡¯d only service women.¡±


    ¡°One of the guests?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not. The local women in town want special attention too. You¡¯re not paying close enough attention, like I said.¡± The two smiled at each other again. ¡°When one of the locals came in, we just chatted with her. And that was that.¡±


    ¡°And she slept with you?¡±


    ¡°With me. But then she joined in too,¡± the dark-skinned one said, pointing at her curly-haired friend, who grinned at every word.


    ¡°And the local didn¡¯t mind?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. Same-sex stuff isn¡¯t some new invention. And the tricks that local lady could do¡ªlike a magician.¡±


    ¡°I thought I¡¯d be the first¡­¡± Jasper actually sounded disappointed.


    ¡°Well, no such luck. But their parts feel real, I can assure you.¡±


    Jasper kept darting looks between Daniel and the two women. Daniel laughed at every glance. He knew his friend. He always acted like this when it came to bedroom antics. But the two women in front of them got him thinking. The gold coins weren¡¯t going to fall from the sky. They¡¯d have to earn them somehow. Up until now, he¡¯d assumed it was because of the test period they were in. But maybe they just needed to get more creative.


    ¡°Lazy bums!¡± Jake shouted from a distance.


    He was walking toward them, a revolver in each hand. This time, his hat and boots were in place, and dust kicked up behind him. The two women stepped back with smiles on their faces. Jasper and Daniel stood.


    ¡°Get up and get ready!¡±


    There were already quite a few people around the fountain.

 25

    ¡°Listen here, you good-for-nothings,¡± Sheriff Jake pointed at them, while the town¡¯s guests cheered. The rest of the locals didn¡¯t attach much importance to it, though they watched with interest.


    ¡°Brother, we¡¯re just standing here like those two from that book with the fat guy and the skinny one.¡±


    ¡°Of Mice and Men?¡±


    ¡°The very same. Except neither of us is holding the gun¡ª that lunatic over there is.¡±


    Someone nearby laughed. It wasn¡¯t one of the locals.


    ¡°When we get those badges, I¡¯ll show them.¡±


    ¡°Where are your weapons?¡± The sheriff¡¯s tone was serious.


    The two stayed silent, and Jake kept staring at them. It¡¯d be easy to trick him. After all, his mind wasn¡¯t entirely human, and these robots could be manipulated, but there were too many people around, and they had to play this out somehow.


    ¡°Why do we need weapons?¡± Jasper was clearly trying to buy them some time.


    ¡°We¡¯ll shoot. If you outshoot me, you win.¡±


    ¡°Shoot at what?¡±


    Jake turned toward his house in the distance and pointed upward. At the top of the house stood a piece of iron, and atop the iron was an arrow, spinning with the wind¡¯s force. Today, though, there was no wind, and it barely moved. Only a faint breeze nudged it gently in different directions.


    ¡°See that arrow? You need to hit it so it spins three full times.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s easy. My friend here¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. He¡¯s shot a bear from a hundred paces.¡± The sheriff cut in, repeating their own words. ¡°Spare me that story again. I don¡¯t want talk¡ªI want action.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Jake. You go first.¡±


    ¡°Whether I go first is my call,¡± Jake growled. A few locals let out sounds of admiration. The guests, meanwhile, chattered excitedly among themselves.


    Even so, the sheriff took a rehearsed step, planting one of his brown boot heels firmly, then spun around. Jasper glanced at Daniel and shrugged. Daniel got it. He didn¡¯t know what they were going to do either.


    The sheriff aimed at the sign, extending one arm with the revolver while steadying it with the other hand around the grip. His black gloves blended together, nearly swallowing the revolver in their darkness. Jake tilted his head slightly and raised his nose.


    ¡°Looks like he¡¯s gauging the wind.¡±


    ¡°Even if you told me which way it¡¯s blowing, I still wouldn¡¯t figure it out, brother.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever shot a gun?¡±


    ¡°Nope. My best shot was throwing a glass at some guy¡¯s head. Hit him from the bar while he was almost at the door.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something, at least. I¡¯ve only held a gun in video games.¡±


    ¡°And this is kinda like that.¡±


    Daniel glanced at the crowd. There were a lot of people. Even some he hadn¡¯t seen before. The whole town had come out. Just like in the movies.


    While he was distracted, scanning the crowd, a shot rang out. It sounded real enough. The gun in Jake¡¯s hands recoiled slightly, but he controlled it with ease. Everyone gasped and looked toward the sign. It had been hit. The arrow spun once, twice, and stopped just shy of a third full turn.


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    ¡°Two and a half,¡± the sheriff turned to them, holstering his revolver in his belt. ¡°Accurate as always.¡± Jake boasted about himself. ¡°You boys don¡¯t stand a chance. But don¡¯t worry¡ª¡± he chuckled¡ª¡°I can always find you work cleaning the jail.¡±


    A few locals laughed at his joke louder than seemed natural. One of three gentlemen standing side by side dropped his hat and had to bend down to pick it up.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn. Which one of you is shooting?¡±


    Daniel nudged Jasper¡¯s arm, hoping he¡¯d come up with something.


    ¡°And where are your weapons, for God¡¯s sake? Your belts don¡¯t even have holsters.¡±


    Daniel couldn¡¯t recall how long they stood there, but he remembered the voice that saved them.


    ¡°Here are your weapons, gentlemen.¡±


    Both turned around, as grateful as they were surprised. A boy, no older than twenty, stood before them holding two revolvers.


    He reached out and handed each of them a gun, then stepped back.


    ¡°Yann?¡± Daniel was as shocked as Jasper.


    ¡°We couldn¡¯t recognize you with clothes on,¡± Jasper¡¯s laugh cut in.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Jake drew his weapon and aimed it at the stable boy. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in my town.¡±


    ¡°I take care of Mr. Reed¡¯s horses.¡± The boy turned and scanned the crowd. His movements were sharper, smarter than the others¡¯. He was looking for someone.


    ¡°Mr. Reed¡¯s? I haven¡¯t seen you there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m mostly with his horses, Sheriff. I¡¯ve seen you, though. Especially that last time you were talking about the gold mine.¡±


    Jake flinched. Some locals gasped again and started whispering.


    ¡°Whoa, another story,¡± Jasper winked at Daniel.


    ¡°Alright, stable boy. Step back. These two need to prove themselves. Who¡¯s first, gentlemen? I¡¯ll give you a big chance¡ªboth of you can shoot. If the sign spins more than two and a half times combined, you win. Total. I don¡¯t even care about individual shots.¡±


    Jasper stepped forward. He looked confident. He examined the revolver, gripped it by the barrel, and balanced it in his palm. Then he tried to hold it the way the sheriff had. He shot Daniel a look, his eyes screaming for help. Daniel had nothing to offer. He was just as clueless.


    ¡°Is that how you hold a revolver?¡± Jake laughed, a bit forced but loud enough for everyone to hear.


    Daniel could see it was getting to Jasper, who tapped one foot nervously. Then he pulled the trigger.


    The sign twitched, but more from the breeze than anything. The bullet had sailed off into the sky somewhere.


    Jake roared with laughter. When he stopped, he approached them.


    ¡°Well, you said you fought a bear with your bare hands. Maybe guns aren¡¯t your strong suit. Now you¡¯re up,¡± he pointed at Daniel. ¡°I don¡¯t expect much, but at least we¡¯ll get a laugh.¡±


    As they passed each other, Daniel heard Jasper mutter, ¡°Just aim for his head, brother. He¡¯s starting to annoy me.¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t do that. Even if they lost this little game, the story would take them somewhere. Daniel glanced at Silver. The dog stood off to the side, watching with interest. It really didn¡¯t act much like a dog. How hadn¡¯t he noticed that before? Who was on the other side of the camera?


    He raised the revolver. It didn¡¯t seem hard. Line up the sights, wait for the wind to settle, and¡­ shoot.


    There was a clang against something, but the sign didn¡¯t budge. Instead, the second-floor window of Jake¡¯s house shattered. Laughter erupted. This time, it wasn¡¯t just Jake.


    ¡°Idiot!¡± someone¡ªmaybe Jake, maybe the crowd¡ªyelled. Daniel swallowed hard and slowly lowered the gun. He didn¡¯t care that they¡¯d failed to prove themselves, but he wasn¡¯t sure what to expect now.


    ¡°Brother, we blew it.¡±


    Sheriff Jake approached. He wasn¡¯t as amused as the others.


    ¡°Well, you failures. How am I supposed to hire you when you couldn¡¯t even hit the sign? I¡¯m starting to wonder how you killed that bear. Or if you lied to me.¡± Jake put his hands on his hips. ¡°You know what? For wasting my time, I¡¯ll lock you up for a night in the jail. With Big Bill.¡±


    ¡°Big Bill?¡± Daniel jolted. Someone behind them clapped.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll like Big Bill. He¡¯s bigger than you, fatty,¡± Jake said to Jasper. ¡°And hairier. You might even hit it off.¡±


    ¡°Rolled-up sleeves, big hairy arms?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. That¡¯s him. Already met him?¡±


    ¡°My friend killed him,¡± Daniel stepped forward. ¡°With his bare hands.¡±


    Jake¡¯s smile vanished. He took a step back.


    ¡°How¡¯d you kill Bill? He¡¯s massive. Liars!¡±


    Jasper raised his hands. They were big, but not as big as Bill¡¯s. He clenched them into fists and bared his teeth. It was Daniel¡¯s turn to speak.


    ¡°Jasper turned out stronger than him. We¡¯re not great with revolvers, but we¡¯ve got hands like steel.¡±


    Daniel clenched his own scrawny fists. Some of the guests laughed, while the locals stood silent.


    Jake stepped back further.

 26

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying you put Big Bill in the hospital?¡± Jake sat at his desk, scratching his head, glancing between Jasper and Daniel. They¡¯d left the crowd by the fountain and come to the sheriff¡¯s office. Jake had checked the jail and found no trace of Bill.


    ¡°Write him off if you ask me, brother,¡± Jasper said, pulling on his brown cowboy pants adorned with various patches.


    ¡°Brother? I¡¯m not your brother.¡±


    ¡°He talks like that,¡± Daniel said, also slipping into the pants only sheriffs wore. Every house in town had a machine for clothes like the one on the train, but the locals either didn¡¯t see it or weren¡¯t trained to use it. ¡°He calls every friend ¡®brother.¡¯ It¡¯s kind of a tradition between us.¡±


    ¡°A tradition, huh?¡± Jake pulled a cigarette from his cabinet and lit it. He leaned one arm on the desk, his eyes wide.


    ¡°Tell me how you took down Bill. I mean, he¡¯s huge.¡±


    ¡°We came looking for you. But instead of you, we found him. And he made the mistake of crossing Jasper.¡±


    ¡°Normally, I¡¯d have to arrest you for that,¡± Jake exhaled a cloud of smoke, filling the room. ¡°But I won¡¯t. I didn¡¯t like Bill anyway. Just so you know, though, you attacked a lawman.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re deputy sheriffs now, Jake. You can¡¯t arrest us for that.¡±


    Jake paused to think.


    ¡°You¡¯re actually right. You¡¯re my men now. I didn¡¯t like Bill anyway,¡± he repeated.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t seem too pleasant, honestly. I promise we¡¯ll do better.¡±


    ¡°He hinted a few times he wanted my spot. I¡¯ve been sheriff for three years. Before me, it was my father, and before him, my grandfather. Some nobody thinks he can meddle?¡±


    ¡°So no one outside your family can take your place?¡±


    ¡°They can. If they kill me or if I hand it over willingly. But that second one¡¯s not happening.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d your father die, Jake?¡±


    ¡°I shot him.¡±


    Jasper and Daniel froze for a moment, staring at him. Jake smoked and gazed out the window. For a second, he seemed genuinely human to Daniel. No matter how much he tried to pretend they were just robots, he kept catching glimpses that pulled him back to reality. Sometimes, mid-conversation, it felt awkward and absurd to be chatting with a pile of metal dressed in skin.


    ¡°You shot him? You shot your own father?¡±


    ¡°Look, being sheriff takes a lot. And it was a fair duel.¡±


    ¡°A fair duel?¡± Jasper spoke fast, as he always did when nervous. ¡°Like in the movies? Ten paces apart, turn, and¡­¡±


    Jake stared at him. Daniel realized the sheriff robot didn¡¯t understand what Jasper was saying but let him ponder it anyway.


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    ¡°Movies? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Forget it, brother,¡± Jasper holstered his revolver, completing his look. ¡°Is there a mirror around here so I can check myself out?¡±


    ¡°A mirror?¡± Jake nearly spat out his cigarette. ¡°Mirrors are for fancy ladies. We¡¯re men¡ªwhy do you need a mirror? If you¡¯re that desperate, go knock on some doors. You¡¯ll find one somewhere. Now that you¡¯re a deputy sheriff, those doors¡¯ll be open to you.¡±


    ¡°And the ladies¡¯ legs inside them?¡±


    Daniel didn¡¯t expect it, but Jake caught the joke and winked, laughing.


    The sheriff opened the drawer where he¡¯d gotten the cigarette and pulled out two badges. Both said ¡°Sheriff,¡± but they weren¡¯t gold like his¡ªthey were silver.


    ¡°These are your badges. I¡¯ve got one more, but if you¡¯re good enough, I won¡¯t need a third deputy.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you definitely won¡¯t need one. We were big shots in our towns.¡±


    ¡°Big shots?¡±


    ¡°Not sheriffs, but I sold¡­¡± Jasper turned to Daniel. ¡°I sold farms and houses.¡±


    ¡°And my friend¡­ well, he fixed stuff.¡±


    Jake didn¡¯t seem convinced.


    ¡°So what brought you here?¡±


    ¡°We wanted a fresh start. Plus, a bunch of villagers were after me over their farms. They didn¡¯t pay their taxes, so I had to take their homes and resell them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a straight shooter,¡± Jake pointed at him with the cigarette, squinting. ¡°And the sheriff? Wasn¡¯t there a sheriff to protect you?¡±


    ¡°We had one, but he was more interested in chasing skirts. Had a wife and kids, too.¡±


    ¡°Bad, real bad. I don¡¯t have a wife, don¡¯t know about kids,¡± Jake flicked his cigarette. ¡°But I had a love once¡­¡±


    ¡°Violet?¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡±


    ¡°You told us last night, don¡¯t you remember?¡±


    Jake froze, then jolted back to life, like something inside him clicked.


    ¡°Oh, I forgot. How¡¯s she doing? How¡¯s Violet?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s fine. We passed along your regards.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d she say?¡± The sheriff leaned forward on his hands.


    ¡°She said she¡¯s still mad at you.¡±


    That made him sit back and bury his face in his hands.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it, gentlemen. I messed up. But she was a fiery woman. And I needed money. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡±


    Jasper and Daniel exchanged a look. They¡¯d already heard the story.


    ¡°Jake, what¡¯ll we have to do as deputy sheriffs?¡±


    Jake, as if snapping out of his Violet trance, stood up, took off his hat, and peered out the window.


    ¡°Broadly speaking, you¡¯ll patrol the town and handle people¡¯s problems. If something¡¯s too big for you, you let me know.¡±


    ¡°And those who don¡¯t listen?¡±


    ¡°Warn them once. If you have to warn them twice¡ªshoot. Simple as that.¡±


    The sheriff stood still, as if waiting for a reaction. There wasn¡¯t one. They found him more interesting than his words. Then he went on:


    ¡°And since Bill¡¯s gone, you¡¯ll need to watch the jail, too. Someone¡¯s got to guard the prisoners.¡±


    ¡°Prisoners?¡±


    ¡°Ha! Don¡¯t think I¡¯m some sloppy sheriff. I¡¯ve got plenty of locked-up crooks. Caught ¡®em all myself!¡±


    ¡°When can we see them?¡± Jasper was eager.


    The sheriff grabbed a ring of keys and tossed it on the table. ¡°These unlock almost every important building in town. Even the jail and cells. Don¡¯t let anyone out, got it?¡±


    They nodded.


    ¡°Any other questions?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Daniel was about to leave the sheriff¡¯s office when he heard Jasper¡¯s voice behind him.


    ¡°Reed¡¯s farm, Sheriff. When are you introducing us to Reed?¡±

 27

    Jake walked slowly. One thing Daniel had noticed himself was that all the robots moved at the same speed, and no matter how urgent the situation or how desperately they¡¯d been called, they¡¯d keep that steady pace. Daniel hoped this would be fixed before the park¡¯s official opening.


    Jake led the way, with Daniel and Jasper trailing a little behind. Jake kept one hand on his revolver, walking with his chest slightly puffed out. He was designed to take pride in his work. Whenever they passed a local, the person would step back and, in most cases, greet him with a ¡°good day.¡± If it was a woman, she¡¯d curtsy; if a man, he¡¯d tip his hat lightly. Jake, in return, would either fully remove his hat or just nod and wink.


    They skirted the town center from a distance. Jake didn¡¯t want to deal with too many locals right now. Their path took them behind one of the houses near the center and continued along the third road¡ªthe one Daniel and Jasper had taken into town, where the locals¡¯ farms were.


    Daniel recalled Reed¡¯s house. He¡¯d seen it on their way in. It had a massive field out front, and up on the hill behind it stood a two-story house with plenty of rooms. It was the largest house of all, and he could¡¯ve guessed earlier that it belonged to Reed.


    The sheriff pushed open the latch on the iron gate leading to the field. Two big dogs blocked their path right at the start, startling Silver, who stayed outside. The dogs barked until they caught Jake¡¯s scent. Once they sniffed him, their tails went up, and they started to play.


    ¡°Get lost, mutts,¡± he shouted, but they didn¡¯t budge.


    The dogs approached Daniel and Jasper, sniffing them. One growled lightly, but Jasper stomped his foot harder, scaring it off. They kept walking with the dogs in tow.


    ¡°More cameras?¡± Daniel glanced at Jasper. He nodded.


    They had to trek along the path beside the field to reach the house on the hill. When they did, Jake bellowed:


    ¡°Reed!¡±


    He waited a moment and shouted again:


    ¡°Reed, you bastard! Come out!¡±


    Instead of a man, though, a woman appeared on the veranda. She was young, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. In her hands, she held a basket that looked full of wet laundry.


    ¡°Sheriff?¡± Her voice was thin and high-pitched.


    She seemed familiar to Daniel somehow.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for your father, Mia. Where is he?¡±


    ¡°With the animals, Sheriff.¡± The girl set the laundry on the ground, stood up, and brushed off her clothes.


    ¡°That¡¯s some fine craftsmanship,¡± Jasper leaned over to whisper in Daniel¡¯s ear. ¡°A real beauty. Mia, you say? How many daughters did Reed have?¡±


    ¡°Two, from what I heard.¡±


    ¡°If this one¡¯s that pretty, I wonder about the other.¡± Jasper adjusted his collar. ¡°Both in gloves. Easy pickings.¡±


    ¡°Keep your tongue in check, Jasper. You¡¯re acting wild.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll wait here,¡± Jake pointed to a bench on the veranda. He headed over without waiting for the girl¡¯s permission and sat down. Jasper and Daniel stayed standing. Mia watched them for a while, which felt odd, but apparently even robots needed time to process. Suddenly, she bent down sharply, grabbed her basket, and brushed past them with it.


    ¡°Are you two just gonna stand there?¡± Jake snapped at them.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± Daniel replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯re deputy sheriffs now. Nothing can stop you.¡±


    The blonde girl must¡¯ve overheard as she passed by.


    ¡°Sheriff? You¡¯ve got new helpers?¡±


    ¡°These two right here. A full pair. But don¡¯t hang around them too much. I know your father.¡± Jake wagged a finger at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m Jasper,¡± Jasper, of course, didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°And you are, miss?¡± He stepped closer, took her hand, and kissed it. Clearly his signature move here.


    ¡°Mia.¡± She smiled, her eyes sparkling. ¡°And your friend?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Daniel. He doesn¡¯t talk much, but I promise he¡¯s a good catch.¡±


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    Reed¡¯s blonde daughter offered her hand to Daniel too. He did his best to mimic Jasper¡¯s move, but he knew he looked a bit clumsier doing it.


    ¡°Mia, please get back to your work,¡± Jake lit another cigarette. ¡°I don¡¯t want trouble with your father.¡±


    Mia gave a slight curtsy and vanished behind the house with a smile.


    ¡°Sheriff?¡±


    Jake turned to Daniel.


    ¡°It seems like you¡¯re afraid of Reed.¡±


    Jake didn¡¯t react. He stared off in a different direction.


    ¡°Listen, kid. Reed¡¯s a serious man. The most serious in town. And he¡¯s got money.¡±


    ¡°And he pays the sheriff too. Got it.¡±


    ¡°Not just that. Reed puts up the bounties for every wanted man¡¯s head.¡±


    ¡°Like the ones posted in Violet¡¯s bar?¡±


    ¡°The very same. Catch one, and you¡¯ll get the cash.¡±


    ¡°So they¡¯re out there right now?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The answer didn¡¯t come from Jake. It came from behind them¡ªdeep, rough, and so loud it echoed off the wooden house.


    Daniel turned, and Jasper was already looking. An old man with a bristly white beard and white hair. Tall and lean, his face sagging slightly with age. He wore a cowboy hat and a cowboy outfit, holding a rifle in his hand. His eyes were small and sharp, lost in the weathered skin of his face.


    ¡°I¡¯ll reward you handsomely for each one. But are you bold enough? Got the guts?¡± The old man approached, brushing past them, and stopped in front of Jake. ¡°Sheriff? What brings you here?¡±


    Jake tossed his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out. He stood and offered Reed a handshake, but Reed didn¡¯t take it. Jake pulled his hand back and gestured toward them.


    ¡°I want to introduce you to my new deputies.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Introduce them. Then get lost.¡±


    ¡°Reed? Be so kind as to introduce yourself,¡± Jake raised his voice. ¡°These men will matter just as much as I do.¡±


    ¡°Will they, Jake? Will they? You think your job¡¯s on par with two greenhorns?¡± Reed set his rifle on the table in front of him and unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt. ¡°I told you, Sheriff. You didn¡¯t ask me about hiring new people, and I didn¡¯t approve it. But since you¡¯ve done it, you¡¯d better keep them low.¡± He said that last part while staring at Daniel.


    ¡°The town¡¯s growing, and so¡¯s the crime. I need men.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. But why bring them into my yard?¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯d hidden them from you, you¡¯d ask why I was hiding them.¡±


    ¡°Most likely, yeah.¡±


    Reed turned to Daniel and Jasper.


    ¡°Derek Reed. Owner of this farm and a damn honest farmer. That¡¯s all you need to know about me. Now scram.¡±


    ¡°Hey, brother,¡± Jasper couldn¡¯t hold back¡ªDaniel knew he¡¯d jump in, even expected it. ¡°How about you act a little nicer?¡±


    Reed grabbed his rifle and aimed it at Jasper. They¡¯d seen this before, and it hadn¡¯t ended well. There was no fear in Jasper¡¯s eyes. But unlike Bill, Reed wasn¡¯t nervous or itching to shoot.


    Still, he pulled the trigger. By the time he did, though, the barrel was far from Jasper¡¯s head. The bullet shattered somewhere in the roof tiles across the way.


    ¡°Next time, it¡¯ll be between your eyes¡­ pig,¡± Reed sneered at him.


    ¡°Mr. Moneybags,¡± Jasper didn¡¯t back down, ¡°if you¡¯re done with your little show, can we talk?¡±


    ¡°Jake!¡± Reed turned to the sheriff. ¡°Why are these two still here wasting my time?¡±


    ¡°They wanted to talk to you, Reed.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    Daniel saw the situation as hopeless. The sheriff stood calmly in one corner, doing nothing, just waiting. In a normal scenario, he¡¯d probably have been scared and left with them. The robots hadn¡¯t fully learned how to manage emotions based on experience yet. It wasn¡¯t a huge flaw, but it sometimes made scenes like this feel unrealistic. Jasper showed no fear, though he should have. In a real situation, anyone would be terrified with a rifle pointed at them. It threw off the story. Reed played his role perfectly, but after refusing twice to leave, he had no new moves except to repeat himself. Just as he raised the rifle again, a new female voice cut in.


    ¡°Father?¡±


    At the house¡¯s entrance stood a woman with slightly tanned skin and curly black hair. A little girl clung to her hand, looking just like her. It was Aria.


    ¡°Aria, get inside. This is men¡¯s talk.¡±


    Daniel couldn¡¯t look at Jasper but was sure he was grinning like an idiot.


    ¡°What¡¯s so manly about this talk? You¡¯re holding a rifle on two unarmed men.¡±


    ¡°Anyone who steps into my house better be armed. It¡¯s an unwritten rule. You never know what might happen.¡±


    Aria recognized Jasper. She stared at him the most. Reed, thankfully, didn¡¯t seem to know they¡¯d met. Jake, though, caught their glances¡ªhis narrowed eyes gave it away. Daniel loved picking up on small details. Even robots couldn¡¯t surprise him easily.


    The girl stepped closer to her father and yanked the rifle from his hands with force.


    ¡°Do you want your granddaughter to see you shoot strangers?¡±


    Reed bent down. The little girl was clearly his weakness. He took her from her mother¡¯s arms and lifted her high in his own.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky my daughters are kind. But one day, that luck¡¯ll run out.¡± Reed turned to the child. ¡°Wave to these two.¡± He took her tiny hand and helped her wave. Her black glove was a bit big, flopping around her fingers.


    Reed looked ugly and menacing even when he smiled.


    ¡°Ask what you came for or get out,¡± he said, his smile masking his harsh, gravelly voice. He either hated them or treated everyone this way.


    ¡°Actually, we¡¯ve seen what we wanted,¡± Jasper stepped back. ¡°See you around, Mr. Reed. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll meet again.¡±


    Jake shrugged at the farmer and started walking. Daniel and Jasper waited until old Reed went inside. Aria lingered behind him. She turned and smiled at Jasper.


    His friend¡¯s face lit up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dawdle!¡± Jake was already well ahead.

 28

    Their second night in the park found them back at Violet¡¯s bar. This time, they took a table in the corner to avoid drawing attention. They wore their sheriff badges proudly pinned to their lapels, earning them extra glances. Some locals congratulated them on their success; others stepped back respectfully. Even Jasper, never short on confidence, held his chin a little higher, as if he were above everyone else.


    Violet was at her usual spot behind the counter, watching all the guests. They tried slipping past without her noticing and succeeded. Her girls, though, kept sneaking looks their way. Now with sheriff badges, they were a notch more appealing. It was realistic, and Daniel had noticed it the moment they walked in.


    ¡°Listen, brother,¡± Jasper leaned back in his chair, picking meat from his teeth with a toothpick, ¡°we need to earn some coins somehow. I thought now that we¡¯re deputies, Jake would toss us a little extra, but nothing¡­¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear him? The money comes from Reed. And that Reed didn¡¯t seem to like us.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll handle Reed another way. Specifically, I¡¯m thinking of handling his daughter. Did you see how she smiled at me?¡±


    ¡°And how¡¯s that gonna help us?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, brother. She just seems so exotic. Plus, what those two lesbians at the fountain said¡ªdown there, they¡¯re just like the real thing. I¡¯m telling you, I haven¡¯t had sex in at least a week.¡±


    ¡°You realize we¡¯re talking about sex with robots, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve made peace with it. And with no real women around¡­ By the way,¡± Jasper leaned in, ¡°that idiot¡¯s wife from the train was checking you out. I¡¯ve seen her a few times now.¡±


    Daniel scanned the bar. It was noticeably quieter tonight, and the woman Jasper mentioned wasn¡¯t there.


    ¡°I saw it too. Probably just a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°Brother, you¡¯ve lost your edge since Emma. Ten years is a long time. You don¡¯t know women anymore.¡±


    ¡°One look¡ª¡±


    ¡°Look, when a woman¡¯s eyes start darting around¡­ something¡¯s up.¡±


    ¡°For me?¡±


    ¡°Not good for her husband,¡± Jasper laughed, drawing Violet¡¯s attention. She pushed off the bar and came over again. This time, she didn¡¯t lean in provocatively with her plunging neckline. Instead, she pulled up a chair and sat.


    ¡°Are those badges I see?¡± Violet put her hands to her mouth, feigning surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±


    ¡°Yep, your Jake made us his deputies.¡±


    ¡°My Jake? Boys, calm down. Jake hasn¡¯t been mine for a long time, nor I his. How¡¯d this happen?¡±


    ¡°Jasper killed Bill.¡±


    Violet¡¯s laugh echoed through the bar. Her mouth opened so wide that Daniel could¡¯ve sworn he saw the gears deep in her throat that let her jaw move like that.


    ¡°Fat Bill? The jail guard?¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± Jasper said, chewing and talking. ¡°He got in my way, so I put him down.¡±


    ¡°Poor thing,¡± Violet reached out and patted Jasper. ¡°That deserves one of my girls.¡±


    Jasper dropped his fork onto his plate and stared at her.


    ¡°Y-Yes! I deserve it!¡± His voice trembled.


    ¡°Just because you deserve it doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll get it.¡±


    Jasper went back to eating.


    ¡°By the way, Clara was asking about you.¡±


    ¡°My darling Clara¡­¡±


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    ¡°Yeah. She was a little sad you don¡¯t have any money.¡±


    ¡°You sure know how to sell your little whores, don¡¯t you, Violet?¡±


    Violet grabbed her glass and splashed it in Jasper¡¯s face. His expression turned red fast. Daniel dropped everything he was holding, ready to jump in and defend Violet. He knew his friend. But Jasper restrained himself and kept eating without another word.


    ¡°I like you, tubby, but you don¡¯t talk about my ladies like that.¡±


    ¡°He apologizes,¡± Daniel tried to redirect her attention. ¡°Where we¡¯re from, they¡¯re used to being called that, so Jasper didn¡¯t think twice.¡±


    ¡°I want him to think twice here,¡± Violet slapped her palm on the table, staring at Jasper, who barely acknowledged her. ¡°And one more thing¡ªfor the sheriff and his men, we¡¯ve got a discount. Means you¡¯ll need less money. But you¡¯ll still need some.¡±


    Violet stood and glided gracefully back to her favorite spot by the bartender. She threw them a final glance, then smiled at a man next to her who wasn¡¯t wearing black gloves.


    ¡°Why¡¯d you act like that with her, Jas?¡±


    ¡°I was testing her, brother. Plus, it¡¯s been a while since I riled up a woman. I missed it. Tomorrow, she¡¯ll want me more.¡±


    ¡°I doubt her mind¡¯s that advanced.¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see. That¡¯s what the test is for. They¡¯re probably tracking every move these robots make and already have a long list of upgrades. If even the dog had a camera, imagine the bigger ones.¡±


    The door behind Jasper swung open. A figure in a brown hooded cloak stepped into the bar. Daniel glanced outside. It wasn¡¯t raining. The figure wore a dress, so it was likely a woman. She froze at the entrance, looking around. Her face was hidden in the shadow of the hood. Her hands were in black gloves¡ªa robot, but with a hood. Bare, delicate arms emerged from under the cloak, touched the hood, and pulled it back.


    ¡°Look who just walked in.¡±


    Jasper turned and nearly stood up.


    ¡°Is that Aria?¡±


    The girl stood there. Violet gave her an odd look. Several men in black gloves started toward her. They must¡¯ve been programmed that way¡ªslowly approaching guests but heading straight for locals.


    Daniel didn¡¯t catch when Jasper got up and went to her.


    He shoved a man out of his way with his shoulder. The man stood and advanced threateningly toward Jasper, who now held his badge up. That seemed to work¡ªthe man backed off. Daniel was ready to help, but Violet stepped in. She slapped two men across the face, and when she reached Jasper, she shouted loud enough for the whole bar to hear:


    ¡°You bastard, I like you, but you¡¯re acting like a monkey!¡±


    Aria held her hands up in front of her, saying something to Jasper too.


    Daniel stood aside, feeling like he was in a movie now. A movie he was part of¡ªor rather, in this scene, more like an extra. Then he remembered he was a deputy sheriff too. In two strides, he was beside Jasper, unpinned his badge from his lapel, and showed it to the others.


    ¡°We¡¯re deputy sheriffs. Step back, please. We don¡¯t want trouble.¡±


    ¡°That one started it,¡± one of the fallen men pointed at Jasper.


    ¡°Shut it,¡± Jasper drove his boot into the man¡¯s face. Daniel wasn¡¯t sure if he imagined it, but the man¡¯s eyes seemed to flicker¡ªprobably short-circuited. Aria pulled her hood back up and slipped outside. Jasper followed. Daniel decided to let them be.


    ¡°What was that? What just happened?¡± Violet clutched her head. ¡°A fight in my bar. Boys?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Violet,¡± Daniel bent down to check on the fallen men but had no clue how to help. His first-aid courses didn¡¯t cover robots. ¡°Jasper gets a little intense sometimes. Especially when he takes things personally.¡±


    ¡°Who was that woman? She looked a lot like¡­¡±


    Daniel knew but didn¡¯t say her name.


    ¡°A friend of Jasper¡¯s. He got mad when those guys talked to her.¡±


    ¡°I love jealous types. I know how to handle them. Shame he¡¯s got nothing to pay me with.¡±


    ¡°Is everything about money?¡±


    ¡°No, darling. Just that part of my business. Otherwise, I can love you for free. Now, please, get these guys outside. Customers are coming. I don¡¯t want fallen bodies around.¡±


    It was a good idea. Though if the guy in the suit was done with his robotic life, red lights would probably flash any second. The other one¡ªshorter, with a mustache¡ªgot up on his own. He was fine but seemed to remember nothing. He just dusted himself off and blended back into the scene.


    Daniel bent down, grabbed the unconscious one, and dragged him outside. He hauled him nearly to the stables on the side. There, he heard Jasper¡¯s voice.


    He froze and listened. Their conversation was about Reed. He peeked and saw Jasper leaning against a beam. He was so big he blocked Aria from view. Even her voice was inaudible¡ªonly Jasper was talking.


    Daniel wondered if he should interrupt but decided to leave them alone. Jasper would tell him later anyway.


    Still, he was a little worried. If he could hear them, others might too. He backed away slowly and returned to the bar.


    Inside, Violet was chatting with the bartender, Phil. The mustached guy was fine, but their table was already taken. Some of Violet¡¯s girls waved at him. Jasper was right¡ªthis robot thing could just be a fun adventure Emma didn¡¯t need to know about. And honestly, did it even count as cheating? Either way, he had no coins. No way to find out.


    ¡°Hey, Sheriff?¡±


    The voice came from the bar, not Violet, but the woman next to her. Short blonde hair, light eyes. A nice blue dress showing her ankles and matching light shoes. She leaned on the bar, smiling at him.


    And most importantly, no black gloves.

 29

    As the evening wore on, the bar began to empty out. Even Violet¡¯s girls had retreated to their rooms¡ªmore often alone than with any of the guests. Violet was still at the bar but kept her distance from Daniel and Ava, as if she understood not to interfere. Every now and then, she¡¯d toss Daniel a sly smile or a wink.


    Ava wasn¡¯t drinking beer. She had a glass of water in front of her. Daniel, on the other hand, was already on his second pint.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like beer. I prefer gin or whiskey. But here, it seems¡­¡± She glanced at Phil. ¡°They don¡¯t have that kind of thing.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they will eventually. Look at the bottles behind Phil.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re empty.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, because we¡¯re the lucky ones who get to be here first.¡±


    ¡°If you call that luck, little sheriff¡­¡±


    ¡°Deputy sheriff!¡± Daniel raised a finger to his badge and laughed.


    He managed to make her smile.


    ¡°So how¡¯d you end up here? Invitation or¡­?¡±


    Daniel wondered whether to tell her the truth or stay in his movie.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Jasper might¡¯ve been right about him¡ªhe¡¯d gotten rusty at talking to women.


    ¡°I think someone richer than you gave you an invite, and by some happy accident, you landed here.¡±


    Daniel took a sip from his mug.


    ¡°And why do you think that?¡±


    ¡°You and your big friend are up to some pretty weird stuff. Especially that lap dance yesterday. It was hilarious from the sidelines.¡±


    ¡°Well, rich folks can have fun too.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. But trust me, you can tell when someone¡¯s guarding their reputation and when they¡¯re not. Especially in a place where we¡¯re probably being watched.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t agree. You don¡¯t know how reckless the rich can get when they¡¯re given a little freedom.¡±


    ¡°Freedom? Look at this place. They¡¯re watching us from everywhere.¡±


    ¡°And you know that because¡­?¡±


    ¡°Trust me. I know more about this place than you¡¯d guess.¡±


    Daniel glanced around, though the bar was nearly empty by now. He understood about the animals¡ªthose probably had cameras¡ªbut the people? It¡¯d be odd if their conversations with the robots were recorded too.


    ¡°I work with computers,¡± Daniel said, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. No lies.


    ¡°That¡¯s it? I thought they¡¯d hand out invites to bigger fish.¡±


    Daniel couldn¡¯t tell if she was teasing him or picking a fight.


    ¡°And you? How¡¯d you end up here?¡±


    ¡°That grumpy gentleman invited me.¡± Ava scanned the room as if looking for him. ¡°You saw him on the train.¡±


    ¡°Your husband?¡±


    The blonde laughed.


    ¡°Husband? No. That¡¯s my boss. Sam Hayes. Heard of him?¡±


    ¡°No. Someone famous?¡± The name rang a bell¡ªhe¡¯d heard it somewhere.


    ¡°Depends. If you¡¯re into architecture or building apartments, even selling them, you should know him. Otherwise, probably not.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re here with your boss on something like a business trip? From the outside, that looks¡­¡±


    ¡°I know how it looks, but it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°What¡¯d your boyfriend say about it?¡± He didn¡¯t care that much¡ªhe just wanted to know if there was one. He was sure she was sleeping with her boss. That¡¯s what secretaries did. Or so he¡¯d heard.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask him when I find one.¡± She smiled, though it felt a bit forced. ¡°We¡¯re here for work, Daniel. That¡¯s your name, right?¡±


    ¡°You remember my name?¡±


    ¡°No, I asked Violet.¡± She grinned. ¡°Do you remember mine?¡±


    He did. But he decided to take a step forward. So he shook his head.


    ¡°Ava.¡± She extended her hand. ¡°Nice to meet you again.¡±


    She smiled, looking at him with those blue eyes, making him feel slightly awkward.


    ¡°Ava. Your name¡¯s like the locals¡¯. Sure you¡¯re not from here? I don¡¯t see black gloves. And your hand¡¯s warm.¡±


    ¡°If I were a local, I¡¯d probably be one of Violet¡¯s girls.¡±


    Daniel¡¯s eyes widened. She burst out laughing.


    ¡°Kidding, Daniel. Just look at them.¡± Ava nodded toward Violet. ¡°The most carefree, cheerful people in this place.¡±


    ¡°And you?¡± Daniel couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°No boyfriend, but here with your boss¡ªthe grumpy guy¡ªand you¡¯re not sharing a room?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re starting to cross a line.¡±


    He knew it but decided to risk it. What¡¯s the harm? Emma wasn¡¯t here. And it¡¯d been ages since he¡¯d talked like this with a woman who wasn¡¯t one of Emma¡¯s friends¡ªnone of whom liked him anyway. He didn¡¯t like them either.


    ¡°Sorry, you just seemed really close on the train.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the head architect and owner of the firm. I¡¯m one of his best assistants. Mr. Barnes offered us a week here to give him ideas for the place afterward. We¡¯ve got plenty. If he likes them, he¡¯ll contract our firm to keep working on it.¡±


    ¡°Just here, or¡­?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter to me. I just know it¡¯s a big-money deal Sam wouldn¡¯t dare miss out on. So don¡¯t worry, buddy.¡± She patted his knee. ¡°Sam¡¯s the kind of guy who wouldn¡¯t let this slip¡ªit¡¯s more important to him than who he sleeps with. Though he might¡¯ve already tried one of Violet¡¯s girls. Yesterday, I saw the blonde leaving his room.¡± Ava whispered that last part.


    ¡°How¡¯d he manage that? Jasper¡¯s been trying for two days to scrape together coins for one. He¡¯s dying to¡­¡±


    ¡°No idea, but I caught them in the hallway. Sam was yelling after her, and she was screaming. He grabbed her wrist, but when he saw me, he let go and went back inside. He was half-naked, and the girl¡ªthe robot¡ªwas naked, with marks on her body like she¡¯d been hurt.¡±


    ¡°You know, we met with the techs earlier. They said yesterday they were this close to stepping in, but it blew over. Maybe that was why.¡±


    ¡°The techs? What were they doing here?¡±


    ¡°Long story about a murder.¡± Daniel tried to sound mysterious, but it didn¡¯t land.


    ¡°I think Sam tried to force that girl.¡±


    ¡°Force her? That¡¯s probably against park rules. Then again, they¡¯re robots¡­¡± He shrugged.


    Ava shoved him with one hand. Daniel wasn¡¯t expecting the push.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying you¡¯re fine with violence?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not. But that¡¯s the setting here.¡±


    ¡°What if this is all an experiment? Imagine they¡¯re watching us.¡±


    ¡°They are watching us.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a test of our real passions and desires.¡± She pressed on. ¡°Like, what we¡¯d actually do if we knew the thing in front of us wouldn¡¯t judge us or couldn¡¯t think.¡±


    She had a point, sort of. Daniel had thought about it too, but with Jasper around, there was no time for reflection. His friend had dived headfirst into the movie and wouldn¡¯t let anything else come up.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your friend, anyway?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a date with a local.¡±


    Ava¡¯s mouth dropped open in surprise.


    ¡°So, a date with¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah. And it¡¯s the daughter of a local farmer.¡±


    ¡°Farmer?¡±


    ¡°If you saw a big farm on the way in when we arrived, that was his. Mr. Reed. Derek Reed.¡±


    ¡°I know Derek Reed. Sam and I were there during the day.¡±


    ¡°You were there?¡±


    ¡°Sam wanted to talk to Reed about his farm. He wondered if he could strike up a conversation with a local about construction methods, prices, that sort of thing. Honestly, that Reed wasn¡¯t exactly welcoming. And he kept giving me looks that creeped me out.¡±


    ¡°Familiar feeling. We were there too.¡±


    ¡°Wait a sec. Reed had two daughters. One younger and blonde, the other older, dark-haired, with a kid. Which one?¡±


    ¡°Which one¡¯s with Jasper, you mean?¡±


    Ava¡¯s eyes widened, waiting for an answer.


    ¡°The dark-haired one with the kid. Love at first sight.¡±


    ¡°Ha! She was cute.¡± That made Ava laugh. ¡°But if Reed finds out¡­¡±


    ¡°Guess you forgot who the new sheriffs in town are.¡± Daniel tapped his badge again.


    ¡°Deputy sheriffs,¡± Ava corrected with a smile, then continued. ¡°Honestly, Daniel, these two days here have been magical. The showers are a bit tricky, but you get used to it.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think people back then bathed that often.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the men definitely didn¡¯t, but the ladies did.¡±


    ¡°And these dresses?¡±


    ¡°Gorgeous. If I could wear them in the real world¡ªour world¡ªI¡¯d do it in a heartbeat. They¡¯re elegant, freeing, and can be provocative if you undo a button or two.¡±


    Ava winked, and he instinctively glanced at her neckline. It wasn¡¯t as plunging as Violet¡¯s, but they were nice breasts. At least from what he could see. While staring, he thought of Emma.


    And, as often happened, the answer to a question could come from the most unexpected topic or sight.


    He¡¯d suspected it earlier in the conversation, but now it clicked fully in his head.


    Sam Hayes wasn¡¯t just Ava¡¯s boss. Sam Hayes was Emma¡¯s boss too. The one who¡¯d hired Emma as an intern. She¡¯d told him herself she was going with a woman from the firm.


    What a small world. Both the real one and this one¡­


    And he¡¯d figured it out just by staring at her chest¡­

 30

    Whether Ava liked him or it was just his imagination, Daniel never found out. But by the end of the night, he¡¯d gone back to his room alone. He lay in bed for a long time before falling asleep. At night, it seemed all the robots either recharged or shut down, because the silence was so thick he could hear his own thoughts. The only distraction was the rustling from the rooms next to his.


    He woke up the same way he¡¯d fallen asleep¡ªwith Ava on his mind. She¡¯d gotten under his skin. But every time he caught himself going too far, he pictured Emma nearby, watching the foolish things he was about to do, and chased the blonde beauty from his thoughts.


    He got up and quickly found Room 205.


    To his surprise, Jasper opened the door after just two knocks.


    ¡°You look awful,¡± Daniel said, leaning in to peek past him. ¡°Alone?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, brother.¡± Jasper glanced down the hall and let him in.


    Daniel stepped inside. Jasper¡¯s room was, to put it mildly, a mess. Clothes were strewn everywhere. Even his revolver was tossed in a corner, with the holster dumped on top of it.


    ¡°What happened here last night?¡±


    Jasper stayed quiet, trying to tidy up. Daniel rarely saw him like this.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Jas?¡±


    ¡°Brother, I talked to Aria in the stables. I wanted to go somewhere more public, but she wouldn¡¯t. She was scared. Especially after what happened in the bar. Speaking of, how¡¯re those guys I roughed up?¡±


    ¡°One got up and kept chatting with people inside like nothing happened. The other I dragged outside. I figured the techs would come for him like they did with Bill. He wasn¡¯t moving, and I swear I saw a spark flash from his eyes.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, brother. Aria was just telling me something about her dead husband. Get this¡ªher old man¡¯s mixed up in it too.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re starting to freak me out.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not even the wildest part. So, I¡¯m talking to her, working up the nerve to at least touch her hand.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the romantic Jasper,¡± Daniel cut in, interrupting him. Jasper didn¡¯t take it well.


    ¡°It¡¯s not funny, brother. Listen, I heard voices outside. Someone was passing by on the road.¡±


    ¡°Voices?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know whose. Didn¡¯t see them either.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d you hear?¡±


    ¡°Two guys. I think they were techs¡ªone had a flashlight, and the other told him to stop using it so they wouldn¡¯t raise suspicion.¡±


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    ¡°A flashlight? That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°Not quite. They passed us and went toward the bar. Probably picking up the guy I beat.


    ¡°Yeah. And I still don¡¯t get why you¡¯re so worked up.¡±


    ¡°I waited for them to move on and pressed Aria again. Tried to kiss her¡ªshe pulled back, but I could tell she wanted me. Second try, she would¡¯ve been mine. You know women¡ªthey play hard to get, don¡¯t want to seem easy. Robot or not, she¡¯s picked up those feminine tricks.¡±


    ¡°Jas, if you¡¯re about to describe how you hooked up with Aria, spare me, please.¡±


    ¡°No, brother. Listen¡ªthese guys were doing something to the robot, then started dragging it back to the jail. They were joking about their dumb tech stuff. I don¡¯t remember it, nothing special. But then¡­¡± Jasper sat close to Daniel, glanced around as if someone might overhear, and whispered, ¡°One of them said something about the locals that threw me off. His exact words were, ¡®Looks like no one¡¯s given themselves away yet¡­¡¯¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re stressing over nothing, Jas. That could mean anything.¡±


    ¡°Sure. But you know what I thought?¡± Jasper didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°What if some of the robots are real people? Slap on some gloves, and you¡¯re a robot.¡±


    ¡°And how do you see that working? What if I pull my revolver and shoot a real person?¡±


    ¡°Those revolvers aren¡¯t real. I mean, they can¡¯t do the damage a real one would. I don¡¯t know how they¡¯re made, but they can kill a robot and, at worst, hurt a person.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Jas. You¡¯re overthinking this. They¡¯d have to plan it out pretty damn well, and if there are that many¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say a lot, brother. Could be five people among all the robots. Or ten, say. It¡¯s a little creepy.¡±


    ¡°You know, I talked to Ava last night.¡±


    ¡°Ava?¡±


    ¡°The blonde from the train. The one with the standoffish guy. You remember.¡±


    ¡°Oh, the one who¡¯s into you,¡± Jasper grinned and gave him a light shove on the shoulder.


    ¡°Actually, that Sam guy isn¡¯t her husband, and I didn¡¯t see her liking me.¡± He hoped that last part wasn¡¯t true. ¡°She was talking about experiments too. Said how you treat a robot might be how you¡¯d treat a person if you weren¡¯t afraid of judgment or retaliation.¡±


    ¡°Makes some sense. In real life, I¡¯d never go for a woman with a kid. But with Aria here¡­¡±


    ¡°Or maybe you would. You¡¯re just scared of what people or your family would think. Here, you¡¯re free. You¡¯ve got the excuse that this is a fake world. Maybe we¡¯re not just here to test the robots. Maybe they¡¯re testing us too¡ªhow we¡¯d mesh with them. Think about it.¡±


    Jasper didn¡¯t think about it. He wasn¡¯t the type.


    ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve spooked you too much. Even if I¡¯m right and there are real people among the robots, it doesn¡¯t stop us from finishing the game.¡±


    ¡°Jas, you looked shaken when I walked in.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but now that I¡¯ve told you, it¡¯s easing up. The other thing I learned is that Reed, Aria¡¯s dad, might be tied to her husband¡¯s murder.¡±


    ¡°Not surprising. That guy¡¯s nuts.¡±


    ¡°So Aria blames Jake, Jake blames her, and you blame her dad? Did you question her?¡±


    ¡°I was going to, brother, but you know me¡ªI think more with my lower head than the upper one. I put my hand on Aria¡¯s thigh. Felt like she liked it. But when I slid it higher, she slapped me so hard my head¡¯s still ringing. Those leather gloves are brutal. Then she ran off.¡±


    ¡°Even here, you¡¯ve got women troubles, Jas. Nothing new. Colin would be proud.¡±


    ¡°For sure,¡± Jasper laughed. ¡°But I¡¯m not giving up on her.¡±


    Jasper stood and started dressing slowly. It was already light outside. Daniel watched through the window, waiting. It was a shame they didn¡¯t have more time to explore the town¡¯s houses. If there really were real people among the robots, they¡¯d likely live in homes. Like the farmhouses. And if some of the robots they¡¯d met were real, who could they be? Violet, Clara, Aria, Reed?


    Daniel nearly jumped and turned around. Jasper was adjusting his hat.


    ¡°Jas. I think we¡¯ve got someone who can help us.¡±

 31

    Violet was missing this time, which felt strange somehow. Daniel had grown used to seeing her constantly in this place. But Phil, the bartender, was there.


    ¡°Phil?¡± Daniel decided to take matters into his own hands.


    The mustached man turned toward them.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Violet?¡± Daniel sat on one of the stools. Jasper was right beside him.


    Phil glanced side to side, then leaned in slowly, still scanning around.


    ¡°With a client,¡± he whispered quietly.


    ¡°With a client?¡± Jasper nearly shouted, and Phil pressed a finger to his lips to hush him. ¡°Does everyone here have money? Brother, we¡¯re the only ones screwed.¡±


    ¡°Please, keep it down,¡± Phil said, almost yelling himself. ¡°The boss lady doesn¡¯t want people knowing when she¡¯s busy with a client. I only told you because you¡¯re her friends. I see you with her a lot.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s the client, Phil?¡±


    ¡°One of the new ones.¡± Phil looked around again. ¡°I don¡¯t know him. Tall guy with a rough, gloomy face. That¡¯s all I can tell you. Ask Violet if you want more.¡±


    ¡°No need. Will we see her tonight?¡±


    ¡°Oh, for sure. She¡¯s here every day. Just sometimes she¡¯s got clients. But not always.¡± Phil raised a finger. ¡°Not everyone can afford Miss Violet.¡±


    ¡°Phil?¡± Daniel was ready to leave, but he saw the bartender was chatty. ¡°Do you know Derek Reed and his daughters?¡±


    Phil recoiled, startled, and set the glass he was holding down on the counter. His reaction felt completely human.


    ¡°Mr. Reed? W-what do you want to know about him?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Reed has two daughters.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s right. Miss Aria and Miss Mia. Aria even has a daughter.¡±


    Jasper had already sat down and was quiet¡ª one of the rare times Daniel took the lead in a conversation while Jasper stayed silent.


    ¡°I want to ask you about Aria.¡±


    Phil froze. He looked almost offended and stepped back.


    ¡°Who killed her husband?¡± Daniel decided to be direct.


    ¡°Her husband? Topics like that in Miss Violet¡¯s bar? No, no. Forbidden.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    A man in black gloves approached the bar and raised a finger. Phil poured him a glass of water and handed it over. The scene felt entirely real, and if water weren¡¯t standing in for alcohol, Daniel might¡¯ve quickly forgotten they were in a fabricated world.


    The man left just as fast as he¡¯d come.


    Phil leaned toward them again.


    ¡°Ever since Miss Aria¡¯s husband died, strange things started happening in town.¡±


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    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°Violet split with Sheriff Jake. He was just Jake back then. Then he became sheriff.¡±


    ¡°So you think he¡¯s involved?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say more. Even this is too much. If Violet finds out I talked about this with you, she¡¯ll fire me.¡±


    ¡°Like you¡¯ve got somewhere to go,¡± Jasper said, picking at his teeth with a toothpick and smirking. ¡°Spill it, friend.¡±


    ¡°Jas!¡± Daniel cut him off. ¡°Don¡¯t act like that here.¡±


    ¡°That was your big move, brother? With how fired up you were, I thought we¡¯d hit the jackpot.¡± Jasper sounded disappointed.


    ¡°No, Jas. I¡¯ve got someone better. But I don¡¯t know how to find them.¡±


    ¡°Boys?¡±


    It was Violet, gliding toward them again with her graceful, doe-like stride.


    ¡°Hey, handsome,¡± she ran her palm along Daniel¡¯s chin. ¡°And you too, tubby.¡±


    ¡°Tubby? Learned a new word, huh?¡±


    ¡°Oh, my vocabulary¡¯s rich. I just don¡¯t want to offend you. Well, not you, sweetie,¡± she glanced at Daniel again. ¡°But your friend¡¯s been pushing it lately.¡±


    ¡°He apologized, Violet. He shouldn¡¯t have insulted your girls and regretted it right after.¡±


    ¡°And the two guys he beat up right after that? We don¡¯t count those?¡± Violet spun dramatically. ¡°Look, boys, I still like you. You¡¯re wild and young¡ªI love that. I adore the passion and life in men like you. But if you¡¯re gonna do things that aren¡¯t nice, do them outside. Out there, you¡¯re Jake¡¯s problem. In here, you¡¯re mine. And I won¡¯t tolerate it anymore.¡±


    Violet wagged her finger and delivered her speech like it was a movie scene, not a robot dressed as a human. Her graceful movements were mesmerizing. Barnes had every reason to be proud of her¡ªshe was one of the fastest-evolving robots. And she really had picked up new words since they¡¯d first met her. She just didn¡¯t realize it that way.


    Phil stood behind his bar, secretly watching them. Daniel caught his eye a few times. Whenever Phil noticed, he¡¯d quickly look away.


    ¡°So, boys,¡± Violet leaned against the bar and smiled, ¡°what¡¯s the plan today?¡±


    Daniel glanced at Jasper. He was waiting for their talk to end. Today was one of the few days he wasn¡¯t talking much. He was lost in thought, distracted. Daniel was glad he at least didn¡¯t bring up Violet and her client. He knew Jasper well enough to expect he wouldn¡¯t stay quiet about it.


    ¡°Can you keep a secret, Violet?¡±


    ¡°Brother, you sure about this?¡± Jasper sensed where this was going and tried to stop him. Daniel didn¡¯t reply.


    ¡°Of course, boys. You know bartenders and whores are a man¡¯s best friends. The bartender won¡¯t remember you in the morning, drowning in hundreds of customer stories, and the whores will listen, ease your troubles, and forget you.¡± She glanced at the short, mustached man behind the bar and winked.


    ¡°We¡¯re after Jake Reed.¡±


    Violet¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Jake Reed? No. Mr. Reed¡¯s a man I respect¡ªwhat¡¯s he done? If you¡¯re not sure, I don¡¯t want you dragging him into this in front of me.¡±


    ¡°You tell us, Violet.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about Reed except that he has two daughters and used to clash with my Jake, but then helped him become sheriff.¡±


    ¡°Jake told us he killed his father to become sheriff.¡±


    ¡°Jake?¡± Violet laughed. ¡°Jake¡¯s a liar and damn clever. But he wouldn¡¯t hurt a fly. Harmless. Sure, he¡¯s deadly accurate with a revolver, but the biggest thing he¡¯s ever killed was probably a dog¡ªand even that was an accident.¡±


    If she were human, Daniel might¡¯ve read her eyes to see if she was lying or hiding something. But those cold eyes held nothing. Maybe eyes and hearts were the one thing even the most advanced tech couldn¡¯t touch. No matter how brilliant Hugo Barnes was, he couldn¡¯t beat nature.


    ¡°So how¡¯d Jake become sheriff?¡±


    ¡°Boys, I think you¡¯d better stop grilling me. If you want more, ask Jake or Reed himself.¡±


    ¡°Reed won¡¯t talk to us. He brushes us off and gives us dirty looks.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been awful since his wife died. And he rarely comes here. Let¡¯s change the subject, please.¡± She turned to Jasper. ¡°Jas, darling, got the cash yet? Clara¡¯s still asking about you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t push that on me, Violet. I don¡¯t buy it. Your girls sleep with anyone for money¡ªthey don¡¯t pick and choose.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re on thin ice, sweetie. I thought we had an understanding?¡±


    ¡°We do, Violet. Thanks for the info,¡± Daniel said, standing and waving to Phil.


    Phil nodded back.


    Jasper followed him out.

 32

    ¡°I don¡¯t even recognize you, Jas. Feels like you¡¯re hiding something from last night. Did something happen I don¡¯t know about?¡±


    ¡°No, brother, honest. It¡¯s just¡­ this whole thing¡¯s starting to stink. I¡¯m not sure, of course. Part of me loves that we¡¯re deep in the locals¡¯ movie, but part of me¡¯s scared. Maybe it¡¯s the tension from the unexpected.¡±


    Jasper was odd when he wasn¡¯t cracking jokes or being cheerful.


    They walked along a path that alternated between haphazard wooden planks on the ground and hot dirt swallowing their steps. Houses lined both sides, with faces peeking through windows¡ªsome watching, some hiding. Daniel caught their shadows. He figured they might not all be robots. There could be techs or park staff watching them too. He didn¡¯t want to dwell on it, sensing Jasper was either angry or, more likely, afraid.


    ¡°Still think there are real people among the robots?¡± He couldn¡¯t resist asking.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to suspect everyone, brother. Back there, I wanted to jump Violet and rip off her gloves. Their hands are supposed to be cold, right? Fine, but are we sure?¡±


    ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, Jas, so what? The experience is intense. Look, we¡¯ve even got a mystery to solve now¡ªReed, his daughters¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not mad there might be real people among the robots, brother. I¡¯m mad they didn¡¯t tell us.¡±


    ¡°They said it¡¯s a test. Maybe we¡¯re supposed to expect anything.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t buy it,¡± Jasper kicked something on the ground. ¡°You can be whatever, but you¡¯ve got to be honest. Especially when so many lives are on the line.¡±


    ¡°Lives? You¡¯re exaggerating, Jas. We¡¯re pawns in a safe game. Nothing can happen to us here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about principle. Plus, I¡¯ve done so much dumb stuff since we got here¡ªI¡¯m starting to feel ashamed. Some chick danced in my lap, and I gawked like an animal, thinking we were surrounded by soulless things.¡±


    ¡°Ashamed?¡± Daniel barely held back a laugh. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d hear you say that word.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s one thing to act stupid knowing people are watching, another to find out later. But why am I explaining? These corporate clowns are capable of anything. Wouldn¡¯t surprise me if they¡¯re broadcasting us on national TV right now.¡± Jasper bent down to Silver, the dog trailing them again. He crouched to its level and shouted, ¡°Hey, hey, Barnes, you watching me, you old bastard?¡±


    ¡°Jas!¡± Daniel yelled, trying to pull him up. ¡°Get up, Jas. People are watching.¡±


    ¡°What people, brother? The robots?¡± Jasper stood. ¡°Screw you all, you jerks.¡± He flipped the middle finger and waved it at a few innocent locals. One mother had to cover her kid¡¯s eyes, while another shouted back with her own profanity. Jasper was pissed, but it helped reveal another side of the robots.


    They were almost at the fountain, and Daniel was glad there weren¡¯t many people around yet. An old woman in black gloves watched them from a distance, then waved, said something, and went back into her house. It was the kind of reaction a real woman might have.


    Jasper straightened up, calmer now. He looked down at Silver. The dog stared back. Daniel hadn¡¯t heard it make a sound.


    Until now.


    Jasper swung his leg and kicked Silver so hard the pup flew at least three meters forward. It let out a loud whimper and stayed down for a while. When it got up, it didn¡¯t come back. It paced around, barking at them angrily.


    ¡°You¡¯ve lost it, Jasper. What¡¯d Silver do to you now?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s so they know not to mess with me.¡±


    Daniel knelt and slowly approached Silver, touching its head. The dog¡¯s eyes were dark, then lit up again. It stuck out its tongue, pulled it back, and suddenly started barking and hopping. But when it saw Jasper, it barked at him.


    ¡°At least it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°And at least we know it¡¯s not real. Now we just need to find the others.¡±


    Daniel stood. He¡¯d seen Jasper riled up a few times since they¡¯d known each other, but never like this. Usually, his anger was over something small, passing quickly with a smile. But today, he¡¯d been in this mood all morning.


    ¡°You might be fifty kilos bigger than me, but I¡¯ll end up hitting you. You¡¯re ruining my fun too.¡±


    Jasper grabbed his head. Sweat dripped from his hair.


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    ¡°Sorry, brother. Something happened with that chick last night. With Aria. Something that broke me. I don¡¯t know if it was her shutting me down or hearing those techs.¡±


    ¡°Did you think Aria might be real?¡±


    ¡°Brother, did I? No, I don¡¯t think so. Look, I¡¯m still not sure about what I heard. But I¡¯ve been chewing on it since. I told you already¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you felt deceived. Try to calm down. We¡¯ve got work to do, and you need a clear head.¡±


    Jasper said nothing. They passed the fountain and turned toward the farms.


    The gate to Reed¡¯s farm was open. They slipped in quietly, checking first to see if the old man or his daughters were nearby. They saw nothing but a few cows grazing in the distance. The field was so vast that if Reed or anyone was near the house, they¡¯d be hard to spot. And vice versa.


    ¡°This way, Jas.¡± Daniel pointed to a path cutting across the main road to Reed¡¯s farm. ¡°To the stables.¡±


    ¡°The stable boy?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve got an idea.¡±


    ¡°What if he¡¯s not there?¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s not, we¡¯ll figure something out. But I think he¡¯ll be right there. Remember the girl he was with the day we arrived?¡±


    ¡°Blonde, hair tied back, petite. Don¡¯t remember her face much.¡±


    ¡°Me neither, but I think he¡¯s got answers.¡±


    The stables weren¡¯t far from the road but were a good distance from Reed¡¯s house. The smell of horses hit them as they approached. The wide space was fenced off. Two horses roamed calmly in the middle, their graceful movements so natural they didn¡¯t seem like robots¡ªthough Daniel was sure they were. In the stalls where they slept, he could see the tails of two more.


    They hopped the fence easily. No dogs around, which was odd, but their Silver was still trailing them. The two horses ignored them. Jasper walked a bit faster, while Daniel lagged slightly, trying to take in everything. Maybe that¡¯s why he and Jasper clicked so well as friends. Jasper was the drive¡ªhe¡¯d set his mind on something and do it. Daniel was the conscience, thinking things through for the best option. Together, they balanced each other. If there was a way for Daniel to talk sense into Jasper, he¡¯d do it so his friend could still pull off his antics, just a little calmer.


    Daniel caught up to Jasper at the stable entrance.


    ¡°Hey, stable boy,¡± Bad Jasper was back¡ªDaniel could hear it in his tone.


    The boy turned, looking at them with fear.


    ¡°You? How¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re deputy sheriffs, remember? Jake appointed us.¡±


    ¡°I remember. Just didn¡¯t expect you here. How¡¯d you get in?¡±


    ¡°Easy, Jas. He gave us the revolvers, remember?¡±


    ¡°So what? We didn¡¯t hit a damn thing with them anyway.¡± Jasper was set on squeezing everything out of the kid.


    ¡°But he tried to help us,¡± Daniel said, trying to calm things down.


    ¡°Maybe his guy Reed made him.¡±


    The boy stepped closer.


    ¡°Look, gentlemen, you helped me in the bar, I helped you with Jake. We¡¯re square. That¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°Say your name,¡± Jasper growled again.


    The boy paused, glancing between Daniel and Jasper, then answered.


    ¡°Yann. You already know it.¡±


    ¡°Fine, Yann. We¡¯re not square. Your problems would¡¯ve been way bigger if someone else had found you.¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah. You¡¯re kinda right. But Jake¡¯s no pushover either, just so you know.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll handle Jake. Tell me, your boss¡ªReed. Is he expected around here soon?¡±


    ¡°Reed? No. He usually comes to the horses if he¡¯s hunting. If he¡¯s not, he rarely shows up, mostly at night. No chance he¡¯s coming now.¡±


    ¡°I believe you, Yann. Now find us a place to sit. Daniel wants to talk to you.¡± Jasper glanced at Daniel and nodded, signaling it was his turn.


    Yann pulled out three small three-legged stools, likely used for tending the horses¡¯ hooves. He sat on one, while Daniel and Jasper took the other two across from him. Jasper looked comical, his bulky frame perched on the low stool. It clearly wasn¡¯t comfortable¡ªhis flesh spilled over the sides¡ªbut he kept up his tough-guy act, refusing to show any feeling. Sometimes, he was the robot.


    ¡°Yann,¡± Daniel started calmly. The boy looked at him. ¡°Take off your gloves.¡±


    Yann stared into his eyes, confused. Jasper smirked, finally catching on to Daniel¡¯s plan.


    ¡°Yann,¡± Daniel tried again. The boy looked at him once more. ¡°Do you know what gloves are?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Daniel pointed to his own palm. Yann looked at it, then down at his own.


    ¡°My hand? Honestly, I don¡¯t get you.¡±


    ¡°See my skin?¡± Daniel pinched the back of his hand lightly with two fingers.


    ¡°I can do it the fast way, brother. We¡¯re wasting time,¡± Jasper said.


    ¡°No, Jas. Hold off.¡±


    ¡°Gentlemen, you¡¯re starting to scare me.¡± Yann looked ready to stand. ¡°This is my hand.¡±


    ¡°No, Yann. That¡¯s a glove. Look. My color¡¯s pink. Yours is black.¡±


    Silver barked. Jasper stood and shooed it off. That was easy¡ªSilver was already scared of him.


    ¡°A glove?¡± Yann clearly didn¡¯t follow.


    ¡°Yes, Yann. Pinch it like this.¡± Daniel pinched his skin again. Yann mimicked him. ¡°And pull it aside.¡±


    The glove slid down Yann¡¯s hand until it fell to the ground. The hand underneath was perfectly normal, its skin tone matching theirs.


    Daniel offered his hand. Yann sat there for a few seconds before responding.


    It took him a moment to react. Just as he extended his own hand and stood¡ªsharper than the other robots moved¡ªhe spoke.


    ¡°When did you figure it out?¡± His voice was the same, but his eyes brimmed with life. The second glove was already on the ground too.


    Jasper was a big man but quick. Before Daniel could stop him, his right hand smashed into the boy¡¯s face.


    Daniel heard a crack and wasn¡¯t sure if it was a bone breaking¡ªwhose, he didn¡¯t know¡ªor the stool Yann fell onto.

 33

    ¡°Why Yann? Why didn¡¯t they tell us?¡±


    The young man had lifted the stool again and sat on it. The three-legged stool clearly wasn¡¯t broken. So the problem was either in his cheekbone, his nose, or some small bone in Jasper¡¯s hand. But Daniel couldn¡¯t forget the sound that had rung out.


    The boy¡¯s eye was shut, and blood was flowing from somewhere on his head, already covering half his face. Yann held a cloth to his head, which was slowly soaking with his blood. Jasper shook his hand, seated back in his spot. With his other hand, he propped up his head. Daniel was also seated, waiting for answers. The boy didn¡¯t seem worried. Nor did he show anything beyond pain. He sat with his head bowed, occasionally blinking with his good eye. He¡¯d lift his gaze, glance at one of them, and lower his head again. The eye closest to Jasper¡¯s blow had filled with blood, its white turning red. And the red ring around it was slowly turning blue.


    ¡°This is a test, boys,¡± Yann said calmly, though from time to time he took a deep, sharp breath. Daniel had expected things to worsen after the strike, but now both Jasper and the boy were calm. ¡°A test not just for the robots. A test for everything.¡±


    ¡°You mean they¡¯re testing us too?¡± Daniel asked.


    ¡°I told you, bro,¡± Jasper cut in. ¡°I was right. They¡¯re testing us.¡±


    ¡°Actually, there¡¯s nothing conspiratorial about it. Yes, you¡¯re right¡ªthey could¡¯ve told you,¡± Yann said, his speech pausing occasionally as he took another breath before continuing. ¡°But even if they didn¡¯t, they¡¯re not doing it to screw you over. Nor are they betraying you to someone. It all stays here.¡±


    ¡°And you know this because?¡± Daniel pressed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been with the company for years.¡± Yann lowered the cloth and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know Mr. Barnes personally, but I can assure you everything here was made with a lot of love. And when the first tests began, I applied right away. I was one of the first chosen.¡±


    ¡°What did you do at the company?¡±


    ¡°I worked with the blood. I was part of the team that developed the plasma we put into the robots.¡±


    ¡°Then why are their hands cold? Aren¡¯t you the blood guy?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s our biggest pain. The one problem we couldn¡¯t solve. But it¡¯s a long explanation, and it seems to me you¡¯ve got plenty more questions.¡±


    ¡°Bro, sorry I hit you,¡± Jasper said¡ªDaniel rarely heard him apologize to anyone. ¡°But I was pissed off all day. I overheard it by chance from some technicians.¡±


    ¡°So someone slipped up before me?¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t know I was there. I heard them talking and lost it. And when I realized I was right just now¡­¡±


    The boy didn¡¯t respond. He didn¡¯t seem aggressive. In fact, he took it all too calmly. As if he¡¯d expected it.


    ¡°Are there more like you?¡± Daniel asked, genuinely curious for more answers.


    ¡°There are, but not many.¡±


    ¡°Who are they?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°Bro¡­¡± Jasper started.


    ¡°I really can¡¯t. I only know about¡­¡± Yann stopped. He didn¡¯t want to talk.


    ¡°The blonde woman we saw you with?¡± Daniel guessed.


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    ¡°Yes,¡± Yann said reluctantly. ¡°She¡¯s like me. And like you. Real. Didn¡¯t you recognize her afterward?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve seen her again? We talked to Violet about her, but she didn¡¯t seem to know her.¡±


    ¡°Ha, of course. She knows her by name but hasn¡¯t seen her. Or at least hasn¡¯t remembered her.¡±


    ¡°Who is she?¡±


    Yann wiped his head with the cloth again, glanced at them, then looked aside.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want to say. There are cameras everywhere here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better spill it. Who is she? One of Violet¡¯s whores?¡± Jasper pressed.


    ¡°Reed¡¯s daughter,¡± Yann said with little enthusiasm.


    ¡°Mia?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ve been dating since the company days. We just thought it¡¯d be cool to meet up here too. That¡¯s why we applied together.¡±


    ¡°Bro, you two screwed up on day one,¡± Jasper said, almost laughing.


    ¡°And yet you found out from other people, not us.¡±


    ¡°Well, you played your part perfectly, I won¡¯t lie.¡±


    ¡°Look, when you¡¯ve got a girlfriend, sex gets boring after a while. You have to spice things up. You probably know how it is¡­¡±


    ¡°So you decided to do it in robot land. I get it, bro, but¡­¡±


    ¡°No. We didn¡¯t come here to screw like rabbits. I genuinely love the company, and this experience is perfect for me. I play a stablehand, but my real job¡ªand everyone like me¡ªis to observe the robots and how they interact with you.¡±


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t they just bring you in as guests?¡±


    ¡°I thought the same at first,¡± Yann said, holding his head. He was surely in pain but hid it from them. ¡°But then I realized I¡¯d do the same. Think about it. First off, you¡¯re from the top tiers of your professions. No one here is random. Sure, some bring in simpler folks with their second invite, but if they¡¯re friends with them, they¡¯re not random either. No one surrounds themselves with idiots. You¡¯re the perfect people to train the robots.¡±


    ¡°We heard that from Barnes too. And I agree with you,¡± Daniel said, not wanting to push him too hard but still craving answers. ¡°But why you? Why have people like you hiding like this?¡±


    ¡°Because we¡¯re testing you.¡±


    ¡°Us?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah. Not you specifically, but your interactions with the robots. For example, if I were a robot right now, we wouldn¡¯t be having this long conversation, and you¡¯d probably treat me arrogantly, from above, with a sense of owning me. That¡¯s normal. But when you realize I¡¯m human, you first talk to me normally, lower yourself to my level, and feel more empathy.¡±


    Daniel remembered his talk with Ava last night. She¡¯d said the same thing. Did she know more, or had she figured it out herself? He wanted to see her again.


    ¡°Bro, then why the cameras? We know you¡¯re watching us with cameras. Even Silver¡¯s got one,¡± Jasper said, pointing at the dog. His question was spot on.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the same. It¡¯s always better to be there. And the cameras aren¡¯t obvious. Most of the animals have them. The birds too. But you can always hide from them. You can¡¯t hide from a person. Take how you overheard the technicians last night. Would you have heard that from a robot? Maybe they¡¯ll develop human traits like intrigue, curiosity, gossip¡­ But it¡¯s too early. They¡¯re learning from you.¡±


    ¡°I want to keep talking, Yann, but you probably need a break. Just tell me¡ªhow do we tell who¡¯s a robot and who isn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°My advice? Don¡¯t try. Live the park. I¡¯ve been watching you since you got here. You¡¯re some of the most colorful characters. Exactly the kind of people we hoped for when we discussed launching it. In two days, you became deputy sheriffs. Would it be different if I told you, say, Jake¡¯s real? It¡¯d ruin the whole experience for you.¡±


    ¡°Is he real?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I only know Mia. I can¡¯t tell you about others, and even if I knew, I wouldn¡¯t. It¡¯d ruin the idea. The whole point is for you to treat everyone equally without knowing who¡¯s what.¡±


    ¡°Will it be like that when the park opens officially?¡±


    ¡°Probably not. But Barnes is the brains behind it all. And he¡¯s full of surprises. So the real answer is, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Jasper stood and offered Yann a hand. Yann took it back.


    ¡°Bro, I don¡¯t like what you¡¯re doing, but I¡¯ll listen to you. When you¡¯re better, come to the bar¡ªI¡¯ll buy you a drink. I¡¯ll treat you like a robot,¡± Jasper said with a grin. ¡°Sorry again about the eye. You¡¯ll probably be fine. But Mia might not like you like that.¡± His playful tone was creeping back.


    ¡°Doubt it, guys. This place is full of cameras. They¡¯ll probably pull me out of the park by the end of the day and fire me. This is one of the things that wasn¡¯t supposed to come out.¡±


    ¡°Can we talk to someone?¡± Daniel asked, feeling guilty. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean for this.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Like I tried to explain, this place runs on your choices. You chose to expose me. Now we¡¯ll see the consequences and play them out. Whether here or out there. Though sometimes I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s here and what¡¯s out there.¡±

 34

    ¡°Does he really not know, Jas?¡±


    Daniel and Jasper were leaving the farm. Jasper glanced a few times toward the path leading to the house.


    ¡°No, Jas. It¡¯s dangerous to go there,¡± Daniel sensed it. ¡°And with what we know¡­¡±


    ¡°I knew something was rotten, bro. I could feel it.¡±


    ¡°Realistically, if you hadn¡¯t overheard them talking, you wouldn¡¯t have figured it out. You were hooked. Like all of us.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. But still, everything was so nice. There¡¯s no way it could all be fine. It¡¯s just impossible for everything to be that perfect.¡±


    ¡°It still is for them. I mean the creators.¡±


    ¡°Screw the creators.¡±


    ¡°Want to check out the farms, Jas? There¡¯s still plenty of time till evening.¡±


    Jasper didn¡¯t reply but followed him. They didn¡¯t head toward the fountain but back the way they¡¯d come, toward the station.


    The other houses and yards were indeed far smaller than Reed¡¯s. Clearly, the best one had been given to the worst guy in town. It made sense. Jasper walked, occasionally adjusting his hat, drawing his revolver, holding it lightly, then holstering it. Daniel found it amusing just watching him.


    ¡°Bro,¡± Jasper said, staring ahead as he spoke, ¡°what do you think¡¯ll happen when the week¡¯s over?¡±


    ¡°Probably nothing. We¡¯ll take the train and head home. Me to Emma, you to¡­¡±


    ¡°The whores, I know what you were gonna say,¡± Jasper cut in, not as cheerful as before. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to go back, bro. It¡¯s work, work, and a little fun there. It¡¯s different here. I don¡¯t feel stressed. Yeah, I was pissed about the fake robot crap they pulled, but that¡¯s still part of the process. Part of their game. And Yann¡¯s right. We just gotta play it. But when I think about all this ending soon¡­¡±


    ¡°We could come back, Jas. Whatever it costs¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll find the money, but the free time? Who¡¯s got weeks and weeks of free time? I bet this place will fill up with rich guys banging the fake women and drinking, then leaving. The rest will be retirees coming for the same thing with more time, but then it¡¯ll just be full of them.¡±


    Daniel rarely saw him like this and let him talk. Jasper had been dead serious all day, nearly killed the stablehand, all to uncover the truth. He was so deep into this place.


    And now he was trying to find himself.


    Daniel had thought about these things too but hadn¡¯t brought them up with Jasper. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d get it. Maybe he¡¯d been wrong.


    ¡°Places like this make you realize how monotonous our lives are,¡± Jasper went on. ¡°In our world, we¡¯ve got two or three main duties, a little sleep, a little fun, and that¡¯s it. But here, something¡¯s always happening.¡±


    ¡°You think that, Jas. If someone from years ahead came back to our time in reality, they¡¯d say the same. We¡¯re just buried in work and can¡¯t enjoy it. Here, you¡¯re carefree.¡±


    ¡°No, bro. Every era¡¯s more fun than ours. I mean the real one.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll talk about ours later too. Like how someone invented a park like this. And the next ones will say the same¡ªthat we had interesting times.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right. Guess we just can¡¯t live them. Isn¡¯t that what Barnes keeps saying¡ª¡®Live your story¡¯? Or something like that. Probably doesn¡¯t just mean in the park.¡±


    Jasper paused for a moment, then continued more quietly.


    ¡°You see that?¡±


    Daniel stopped. Four riders were approaching. The horses were almost identical¡ªbrown with white around the eyes. Some had spots on their bellies. Jasper had already drawn his revolver; Daniel did the same. They didn¡¯t aim them, just held them low in their hands.


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    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Reed?¡± Jasper pointed with his gun.


    ¡°And the sheriff¡¯s next to him.¡±


    The riders moved almost in sync. The horses stared ahead blankly with empty eyes. Reed fixed his gaze on Daniel and Jasper, while Jake noticed them a bit later. All four wore black gloves.


    ¡°Bro, what did Yann say about Jake? Is he real?¡±


    ¡°No. It was just an example he gave.¡±


    ¡°Look at his reactions. He¡¯s worried. He senses what¡¯s coming. That¡¯s not very robot-like.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree not to care about that anymore?¡±


    The four riders drew closer and stopped in front of them. While Jake and Reed were familiar, the other two looked scarier, though neither Daniel nor Jasper knew them.


    One had red hair and a beard, no hat. He carried a rifle slung over his shoulder. The hair on his arms was red too, and he wore black gloves. The other was probably heavier than Jasper but solid and strong, with a big head and a big beard. His wide hat hung around his neck. He had no rifle, but his pistols gleamed at his waist, and between them was something like a stick¡ªdefinitely for blowing things up.


    Silver barked at the horses and started circling them.


    ¡°Get that dog away,¡± Reed growled.


    ¡°The only dog here is you, Reed,¡± Jasper shot back, unable to hold it in.


    If he wasn¡¯t mad before, he sure would be now.


    Reed stayed serious for a moment, then smirked and turned to Jake.


    ¡°Sheriff, care to explain why these two are still wearing your badges? And why you gave them to them in the first place?¡±


    ¡°They earned them, Reed. And I needed deputy sheriffs.¡±


    ¡°There are two guys to your right more deserving of deputy badges.¡±


    Jake turned right and looked at the two Daniel hadn¡¯t seen before. Reed shifted his gaze back to Daniel and Jasper.


    ¡°Meet them, you punks. The bald one¡¯s Wade. Wade Gage. Also known as the Smoke Killer. It¡¯s not your business why. And if you find out, it¡¯ll probably be the last moments of your lives¡ªbefore you see parts of your body scattered everywhere.¡± Reed laughed with his last words. ¡°And the redhead¡¯s Bart Bane. You don¡¯t want to know what he can do. Remember his hair and pray you never catch him in a bad mood. So what can you offer, you little worms?¡±


    Sheriff Jake raised a hand toward Reed.


    ¡°Please, Reed. Let¡¯s stop this while we can. I¡¯m happy with my new guys. Daniel and Jasper. People know them in town, and they¡¯re respected at Violet¡¯s bar.¡±


    ¡°At that whore Violet¡¯s bar? Is that what a sheriff and his men should be good for? Being recognized by the lowlifes at Violet¡¯s? Please, Jake.¡±


    Jake took a breath, glanced at them, then at Reed. The two new guys¡ªWade and Bart¡ªgrinned, showing their teeth.


    ¡°It¡¯s real easy on horseback, you dog,¡± Jasper went on. Daniel tried to stop him by tugging his sleeve, but he kept going. ¡°Come down here, and let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    Jake dismounted first.


    ¡°No, no. None of that in my town, gentlemen. Please.¡±


    ¡°Your town?¡± Reed said, now off his horse too. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, you¡¯d still be the kid hiding under that bar whore¡¯s skirt¡ªthe one who screws the whole town.¡±


    Jake grabbed his holster.


    ¡°What, Jake? Gonna shoot me? Without my money, you¡¯re nothing, and you know it. If you¡¯re pulling that revolver, aim it at those two instead.¡±


    Jasper stepped forward. The redhead Wade¡¯s rifle was in his hands. Bart rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists.


    ¡°Careful, fatso,¡± Reed said, standing tall and doing nothing but talking. His gaze was calm. ¡°One more step, and even your little sheriff buddy won¡¯t save you.¡±


    ¡°Hold up, Jas,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°They don¡¯t scare me.¡±


    ¡°Me neither,¡± Daniel whispered quietly. ¡°But let¡¯s see what they want. In a real situation, neither of us would take on three armed guys.¡±


    ¡°I still would¡­¡±


    ¡°Better not.¡±


    ¡°What are you cooing about, lovebirds?¡± Reed taunted.


    ¡°That you¡¯re a miserable bastard who hides in his farm all day,¡± Jasper snapped.


    Daniel had no strength left to stop him.


    ¡°I¡¯m miserable. You¡¯re right. But I¡¯ve got a good heart. So I¡¯ll give you a choice. Option one: toss your badges and guns on the ground, surrender, and spend the night in jail. Come morning, my good friend Sheriff Jake here will let you go, and you can live out your pathetic lives. If you refuse that, I¡¯ve got option two. We¡¯ll do it all for you. And if you¡¯re lucky enough to survive, you¡¯ll rot in jail.¡±


    Jasper looked at Daniel. Daniel could read his eyes. He knew him. Nothing good was coming. But Jasper surprised him. He grabbed his badge and threw it on the ground. Daniel followed with relief. Next came the revolvers.


    Daniel bent to set his down, but Jasper hesitated. Everyone in front of him drew their weapons and aimed at him. Jasper finally bent slowly and placed it on the ground.


    ¡°Hands up, you sorry excuses for humans,¡± Reed said, grabbing handcuffs from Jake¡¯s pocket and walking toward them. Daniel and Jasper raised their hands. Wade was right there too.


    They lifted their hands, but Jasper couldn¡¯t hold back. He slammed an elbow into Reed¡¯s face, but almost instantly, Wade¡¯s rifle smashed into his. That was the last thing Daniel remembered.


    Then came the darkness, and after it, they woke up in jail.

 35

    A strong light seemed to tear through his retina. Even though his eyes were closed, the light forced him to turn his head.


    Suddenly, it simply vanished. Daniel opened his eyes. It was dark. Only the moon, peeking through a small window outside the cell, illuminated the bars in front of him. He touched the floor with his hands and felt its coldness. His eyes slowly began to adjust to the darkness, recognizing more and more curves and shapes around him. He realized almost immediately that he was in a cell. He also heard Jasper still sleeping beside him, evident from his heavy snoring. What he couldn¡¯t understand, however, was why the robot had struck him when they weren¡¯t allowed to harm guests.


    He remembered everything up to the final blow and the butt of the gun swinging toward his eyes.


    ¡°Psst,¡± a voice came from the neighboring cell. Then the intense light that had woken him flared up again. ¡°Psst, Daniel.¡±


    He didn¡¯t recognize the voice and followed the light and sound instead. From what he could see, the prison was a long corridor. On one side were windows, positioned high enough to reveal only the sky, while the cells lined the other side. He didn¡¯t know how many there were, but they were separated by thin stone walls.


    ¡°Daniel!¡± He heard the voice call his name again. He moved closer to the wall. The light flashed once more. ¡°Take this,¡± it continued. A shadow of an object appeared from the other cell.


    Daniel hesitantly reached out. He felt iron in his hand, warmed by someone else¡¯s touch. He ran his fingers over it and quickly identified it as a lantern. He found the switch, and the cell lit up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t shine it outside!¡± the voice warned from the neighboring cell.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Daniel heard a male voice, but he wasn¡¯t sure who it belonged to. It didn¡¯t seem familiar.


    ¡°I¡¯m part of the team. I¡¯m in prison just like you.¡±


    ¡°But why¡­¡±


    ¡°To give you the lantern without breaking the story.¡±


    ¡°They attacked us¡­¡±


    For a moment, the man in the next cell fell silent. Then he spoke.


    ¡°Look, Daniel. This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. We¡¯ve taken steps. It did turn into quite a good story, though, but the blow that followed was an exception and beyond the robot¡¯s authority.¡±


    ¡°Will you get us out of here?¡±


    ¡°If you want, we¡¯ll get you out. But we¡¯ve assessed that you¡¯re fine to keep developing your story. Mr. Barnes is personally watching you. Believe me, it¡¯s a privilege for Barnes to be monitoring you specifically.¡±


    Daniel was taken aback. The words touched him, yet he was still angry that the robots had attacked him. He felt a mix of rage and pride. But he didn¡¯t want to imagine how Jasper would react when he woke up.


    ¡°Daniel, are you there?¡± The voice from the neighboring cell bounced off the opposite wall and returned to him. ¡°Is Jasper still asleep?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied to both questions.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re already aware of the company¡¯s little secret and the robots.¡±


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    He knew what the man meant, but he decided to ask anyway.


    ¡°What secret are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Come on, Daniel, we monitor everything. Your conversation with Jan was like something out of a movie. Though we had to pull Jan out of the park.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to hurt him. Jasper just lost it,¡± Daniel continued speaking to the voice without even considering whether someone might be toying with him. But that seemed unlikely; the man knew too much.


    ¡°We¡¯ll bring him back. We pulled him out so a doctor could check him. Your friend hit him hard. He was dizzy and throwing up. Turns out it was just a concussion. By the way, is he okay?¡±


    ¡°Jas?¡± Daniel turned in the cell and briefly shone the lantern toward Jasper. He mumbled something but kept sleeping. ¡°He¡¯s fine. I think he¡¯ll have a bruise. And who are you?¡±


    ¡°My name here is Patrick. But that doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m in prison because of you. Afterward, I¡¯ll return to the creative team. I wanted to make sure you¡¯re okay.¡±


    ¡°And the lantern?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll give it back when you get out of here. Our cameras can see in the dark, but it¡¯s not perfect, and for us to track you, you need to shine it every now and then.¡±


    ¡°What did you do with the robots that attacked us?¡±


    ¡°Reed is fine. He¡¯d never attack you. He¡¯s awful and one of the biggest jerks you¡¯ll meet here, but he wouldn¡¯t harm you. Something went wrong with Bart and Wade. They¡¯ve been pulled for now, but they¡¯re key to the story, and we¡¯ll bring them back soon if everything checks out.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope they don¡¯t kill us next time?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard for them to kill. The cartridges aren¡¯t designed for humans. At worst, they¡¯d scratch you.¡±


    ¡°And the blow?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the issue. Even the knives here aren¡¯t real, but a strong hit with something solid can be bad. I don¡¯t want to alarm you, though. Rest assured, you¡¯re under constant surveillance, and if anything happens, we have teams ready to pull the plug and get you out immediately.¡±


    ¡°Hey, who¡¯s talking over there?¡± A familiar voice rang out. Heavy footsteps shook the corridor.


    ¡°That guy in the other cell is bothering me.¡±


    The man he¡¯d just been speaking to snitched on him to the guard. It wasn¡¯t fair, but Daniel understood why he did it.


    ¡°Ah, what a snitch you are, Patrick.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a snitch, Bill. I¡¯m just doing my duty to the company I work for.¡±


    A massive shadow emerged from the corridor, blocking out every source of light.


    ¡°Bill?¡± Daniel exclaimed.


    ¡°You woke me up, you bastards,¡± the giant said, taking two more steps until he stood before their cell. He held something in his hands, banging it loudly against the bars. ¡°Hey, friends, remember me?¡± He grinned like a fool. Clearly, they¡¯d fixed him.


    ¡°Hello, Bill,¡± Daniel greeted him quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got scores to settle with you. I hear you¡¯ve been bragging that I¡¯m dead.¡±


    Daniel glanced back, trying to see Jasper. His friend still hadn¡¯t woken up.


    ¡°You were as good as dead, Bill. Jasper took you down good.¡±


    ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m whole and standing right here. Meanwhile, your friend¡¯s on the ground, nearly dead.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Jake, Bill?¡±


    ¡°Jake¡¯s probably sleeping. He wanted to talk to you too. He was shocked when he saw me. You fooled him good. But now the whole town will know what frauds you are.¡±


    ¡°Show ¡¯em, Billy,¡± came the voice from the other cell. Patrick was playing his role well.


    ¡°You shut up. We haven¡¯t decided what to do with you yet. Where are the two horses?¡±


    Patrick stayed silent.


    ¡°Just as I thought. You won¡¯t talk without a fight.¡±


    ¡°How long are you keeping us here, Bill?¡± Daniel redirected the big man¡¯s attention from the corridor.


    ¡°That¡¯s up to the sheriff. He¡¯ll decide in the morning. And from what I hear, Mr. Reed will be here too. Mr. Reed¡¯s good to us¡ªpays us well to guard you. And if we catch some big-shot criminal with the sheriff, he practically showers us in gold.¡±


    ¡°What are you gonna catch, huh?¡± Jasper had woken up. He was still lying or sitting¡ªDaniel couldn¡¯t tell, but he heard his voice from below. ¡°Fatso, who brought you back from the dead?¡±


    Bill¡¯s laughter filled the cell. He pointed at them and said:


    ¡°I hope Mr. Reed hangs you tomorrow. In front of the whole town. No one¡¯s gonna save you. No one. I¡¯ll even ask him if I can kick the stool myself.¡±


    The fat man turned abruptly and disappeared down the corridor. His laughter echoed long after he was gone. No matter how much they fixed him, this model was bound to stay dumb.

 36

    Morning found them still in the cell. It was unusually quiet. Daniel¡¯s head ached. This time, Jasper was awake before him, and when Daniel opened his eyes, he saw him staring up at the small window in the corridor¡ªthe only source of light reaching them.


    ¡°Where¡¯d you get this, bro?¡± Jasper asked, holding the lantern.


    ¡°Patrick gave it to me last night.¡±


    ¡°Patrick?¡±


    ¡°From the next cell. He¡¯s one of them.¡±


    ¡°One of who? The company or Reed¡¯s people? Bro, I¡¯m seriously starting to lose track of who¡¯s with us and who¡¯s against us.¡±


    ¡°Patrick¡¯s with the company. They put him in here to check on us.¡±


    ¡°And how are we?¡±


    ¡°You tell me how you¡¯re doing. I was fine, but then I fell asleep.¡±


    ¡°When Billy left, you passed out and slept like a rock. I couldn¡¯t catch a wink.¡±


    ¡°Did anything else happen?¡±


    ¡°Nah. That fatso was snoring so loud you could hear it all the way here. I didn¡¯t know robots could snore. Damn, they¡¯ve made them realistic. At least with him, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s a robot. All his parts were hanging out. He fell apart right in front of us, remember?¡±


    Daniel sat up a little. He tried to stand. It was their fourth day in the town, with plenty of time still ahead. Yet here they were, locked in a prison in a made-up town, held by robots and facing a death sentence¡ªalso from robots. It felt like Judgment Day. But he had the assurance of those who¡¯d built the robots that everything would be fine.


    His confusion was total.


    ¡°Did that Patrick guy say why they attacked us?¡±


    ¡°He said it wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. They¡¯ve pulled Reed¡¯s two helpers. If everything¡¯s okay, they¡¯ll bring them back.¡±


    ¡°To finish us off? Bro, at first, everything was amazing. Now we¡¯re in prison, facing death threats, with people hiding among the robots and nothing but lies.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re seeing the game through, Jas. That¡¯s what we agreed.¡±


    Jasper fell quiet. Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor again. Billy was coming their way. Daniel tried to sit up once more. It was a little tough, and his vision blurred with every sharp movement.


    ¡°Hey, idiots,¡± the fat man said, appearing before them in all his splendor. Daniel could see him better now. Where his parts had once protruded, there was now a fresh layer of skin, forming something like scars. His face was still as ugly and repulsive as ever, his walk clumsy due to the two massive thighs rubbing together through his pants.


    ¡°You¡¯re blocking my sun, you hulk,¡± Jasper shot back.


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    ¡°Excuse me, mister,¡± Billy said, stepping back unexpectedly. ¡°Enjoy the sun¡ªit might be the last day you see it. Or at least, I hope so.¡± More of his obnoxious laughter followed.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be waiting a while. Just let me out¡­¡±


    ¡°And then what? Gonna say you killed me again?¡± Billy laughed. ¡°Come on, animals!¡± His tone shifted. ¡°One at a time. You first, the skinny one,¡± he said, pointing at Daniel.


    Daniel stood and approached the bars.


    ¡°Hands forward.¡±


    Daniel extended his hands, and Billy snapped on the handcuffs.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything dumb. Let¡¯s play it out,¡± Daniel whispered to Jasper. There was no need for unnecessary moves.


    Jasper got up and mimicked Daniel¡¯s actions. A second pair of handcuffs clicked onto his wrists this time.


    ¡°Ah, you bastard!¡± Jasper couldn¡¯t hold back.


    Daniel had just settled down when he turned and saw Billy wiping his face. Jasper had spat on him.


    ¡°They won¡¯t let me beat you in here, but before you swing from the rope, I¡¯ll ask to give you a good thrashing. Just for my own fun,¡± Billy said, his face red.


    ¡°I¡¯ll beat you even with my hands tied, fatso.¡±


    Honestly, it amused Daniel a bit. In a real situation, he¡¯d probably be terrified. But this wasn¡¯t real. Before him stood Jasper and Billy, dressed in nineteenth-century clothes, equal in size and ready to brawl. It was downright funny.


    ¡°Back, you pig! Back!¡± Billy yelled. Jasper obeyed this time.


    The lock clicked, and the iron door creaked open slightly. Billy stepped back a safe distance and waited for them to exit on their own.


    ¡°Come on, I don¡¯t have all day. They¡¯re waiting.¡±


    Jasper stepped out first, followed by Daniel. As they passed the neighboring cell, Daniel glanced inside. A man, about forty, beardless with very short black hair, sat on one of the benches. He was dressed almost entirely in black, with no hat or accessories. His boots were too polished and clean for the setting. He stared sadly at the floor. Daniel tried to catch a glimpse of his face but couldn¡¯t. If this was the same Patrick, he was hiding well.


    ¡°Billy, what about me?¡± the man said softly, without looking up, playing a mysterious role. ¡°Jake said you¡¯d let me out today.¡±


    ¡°You know, Patrick,¡± Billy said, standing in front of his cell. ¡°Hands forward.¡±


    Billy cuffed Patrick and opened his cell, placing him third in their makeshift lineup.


    The darkness and the blows to their heads had thrown off both Daniel¡¯s and Jasper¡¯s coordination. Their eyes weren¡¯t used to the bright light, and as they stepped out of the small prison, they had to keep them shut for a few minutes.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you want the sun? Here, look!¡± Billy taunted from behind, deliberately tripping Daniel by kicking his heel every few steps, making him stumble. Daniel wondered who he hated more¡ªReed or Billy. They were equally loathsome.


    The prison was near the sheriff¡¯s house, separated only by a short alley that led mostly nowhere. On that street stood three tall poles, reaching nearly to the second story of the houses, each with a rope dangling from it.


    ¡°Stay here! You¡¯re tied up, so even if you run, you won¡¯t get far.¡±


    Billy went to the sheriff¡¯s house and knocked on the door, moving as slowly as ever, dragging his feet in the sand.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit much, Patrick? Gallows?¡±


    Daniel could finally see him. He had shoulder-length black hair, a clean face, and was handsome. His clothes didn¡¯t quite fit the era¡ªit was clear they¡¯d dressed him up at the last minute. But he stayed in character:


    ¡°Relax, boys,¡± Patrick said with a smile. ¡°Just enjoy the story. Play it out. That¡¯s why you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°You sure they won¡¯t hang us?¡± Jasper cut in. ¡°They weren¡¯t supposed to hit us either, in theory.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll try. But the company owes you compensation for yesterday¡¯s incident.¡±


    ¡°Meaning?¡±


    ¡°Just enjoy it. Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re here? To live the story.¡±

 37

    Slowly, people began filling the streets around the sheriff¡¯s house. News that something was happening spread quickly. As if on cue, men and women started streaming in from every direction. They were of all kinds¡ªyoung and old. Some of the guests, like Daniel and Jasper, also approached, stepping forward hesitantly. When they glanced at Daniel and Jasper, they began to chuckle quietly. To them, this was part of the performance. It was the same for Daniel and Jasper, though both still felt a slight unease.


    If there was one thing undeniably real, about which they had no doubt, it was the sun scorching Daniel¡¯s skin. It was a cloudless day, and the skin on his face had started to burn from all the waiting. The thirst was killing him.


    Jake and Billy stood off to the side, waiting for everyone to gather. Billy kept grinning, which irritated Daniel the most. Judging by Jasper¡¯s expression, he seemed no less annoyed. Only Patrick stood calmly, enjoying himself.


    ¡°Do you see any of your people among the robots, Patrick?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Who are they?¡±


    ¡°Nice try. You know I won¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°When we talked to Jan, he said he didn¡¯t know the others. Except for Mia.¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t lie to you. The ones we¡¯ve planted among the robots don¡¯t know each other. Well, except for Mia and Jan. But there, it couldn¡¯t be helped if they¡¯d kept their pants on.¡±


    ¡°They could¡¯ve just satisfied each other in the stables with Jan. Why were they at Violet¡¯s brothel?¡± Not that it mattered much to him, but he hoped Patrick might slip up.


    ¡°Oh, Daniel. They did it there plenty of times. In the house, in the stables. They knew we could see them, but they didn¡¯t care. Their mistake was doing it in the rooms above the bar. They¡¯re young, they wanted to experiment. But at least it made things more interesting.¡±


    ¡°Was it part of your plan for us to find out?¡±


    ¡°Yes and no. We had options prepared for both scenarios. But the park is a living organism. Every action changes the story. So we just gave you the pencils, and you¡¯re the ones drawing.¡±


    ¡°What are they going to do to us now?¡±


    ¡°I told you you¡¯re impatient. Look, Jasper¡¯s calmer.¡±


    Calmness and Jasper should never be in the same sentence, so Daniel tried to get inside his friend¡¯s head. He couldn¡¯t figure out why Jasper was so quiet. Whether he¡¯d made peace with the situation, Daniel didn¡¯t know.


    By now, there were over fifty people in front of them. Daniel spotted Ava, the blonde woman he¡¯d talked to at the bar the other day. Sam Hayes wasn¡¯t with her. Sam Hayes was next to Violet, who was also present but stood off to the side.


    Ava waved at him and smiled. In reality, in a situation like this, he¡¯d hope people would cry for him, not smile. He tried to scan the crowd one by one. Maybe that was it. The guests here would smile¡ªthey knew none of this was real. The locals, though, would be more worried.


    But even that didn¡¯t hold up. Many of the locals craved days like this. They wanted to see death, not caring who was guilty.


    Voices rose from the back of the crowd. People began parting to the sides until a path cleared.


    And down that path came Reed. Mounted on his horse, proudly holding the reins. He looked upward, casting fleeting glances at them. Behind him were two more horses. One was ridden by Mia, one of his daughters, and the other by Aria, his other daughter. In front of Aria sat her daughter, Tyler. Reed stopped in front of Billy and Jake, waiting for his daughters. He eyed the two men with disdain, not speaking to them. He didn¡¯t even glance at Patrick.


    Mia and Aria slowed their horses as they passed Daniel and Jasper. Daniel caught Mia¡¯s gaze as she rode by Patrick. She should¡¯ve known him. She tried to look serious, but Daniel could see a hint of surprise in her eyes. Maybe he was imagining it, but if he didn¡¯t know she was real, would he have noticed those looks?


    ¡°She seems to recognize you,¡± he said quietly to Patrick.


    ¡°Of course. She knows me from the company. And she knows I¡¯m not supposed to be here.¡±


    ¡°So the story¡¯s getting more interesting for her too right now.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, Daniel. That¡¯s what I was telling you earlier.¡±


    Aria glanced at them too, but specifically at Jasper. She kept shifting her gaze forward, then back to him. Jasper was restless. Daniel knew him too well¡ªhe wanted to snap at her.


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    ¡°Come on, girls,¡± Reed called, and they continued. They stopped behind their father. Aria dismounted first, followed by Mia. Aria¡¯s child was helped down last.


    The girls stayed off to the side with the crowd, while the three men¡ªJake, Billy, and Reed¡ªslowly moved in front of the three accused, positioning themselves between them and the people. They turned to face the crowd first.


    ¡°We all make mistakes,¡± Reed began, as if looking at every single person who¡¯d come to watch. ¡°Even your beloved Sheriff Jake.¡± Reed glanced at the sheriff. Jake lowered his head. ¡°Appointing two of these people, whom you might know, was his decision. A decision that was wrong.¡± Reed turned to them. He spoke deliberately and slowly. Everyone listened. ¡°And if these people had quietly followed my orders and your sheriff¡¯s to surrender, maybe today they¡¯d walk out of jail free and continue living among you.¡±


    ¡°Quite a speech. Did you write it?¡± Daniel turned to Patrick.


    ¡°Probably someone from the creative team. They promised they¡¯d put effort into this day.¡± Patrick had a smile on his face.


    Reed kept talking:


    ¡°But these people¡ª¡± Reed pointed at them again¡ª¡°these people tried to attack us. They attacked us just as we were peacefully riding down the main road to the farms. And not only did they attack and threaten us, they tried to rob us.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Most likely,¡± Patrick replied, still smiling. ¡°But that¡¯s Reed. He has to be like that.¡±


    The crowd gasped. Some shouted for the gallows, others called for death. A few hurled insults at Reed. He tried to spot them in the crowd but couldn¡¯t. Then he continued.


    ¡°The third one¡ª¡± Reed looked at Patrick too¡ª¡°is a proven horse thief. And not for the first time, stealing from you.¡±


    ¡°Proven thief?¡± Daniel nudged him.


    ¡°That¡¯s a surprise to me too. My colleagues apparently decided to make my day festive as well. And here I thought they put me in just to help.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why,¡± Reed went on, ¡°I suggest, to spare us future headaches with them, we simply hang them.¡±


    Jasper and Daniel exchanged a glance. The crowd roared. Daniel looked at Ava again. She was entertained and didn¡¯t believe it. He understood her. He¡¯d probably feel the same from the sidelines. He glanced at the gallows. The rope was a rope, no matter which reality they were in. He was starting to worry.


    Fat Billy¡¯s grin was so wide it could¡¯ve wrapped around his head if it were possible. Mia stood observing, but Aria was saying something to Jake. The sheriff seemed to hear her and approached her father, whispering something no one else caught.


    Reed raised a hand, and most of the shouting stopped.


    ¡°My friend, the sheriff, is right. He¡¯s the sheriff, after all, and I overstepped his role. He¡¯s right that I went a bit too far.¡± Reed spoke loudly. ¡°So I¡¯ll let him take the floor. He has another suggestion.¡±


    Jake stepped forward and waited for the crowd to quiet down again. He raised a hand, mimicking Reed, but the effect wasn¡¯t the same. Still, he began speaking:


    ¡°Since this place we live in was founded, everyone¡¯s had a right to justice. And everyone can determine their own fate. If they can¡¯t, they let the iron decide for them. So¡ª¡± Jake rushed through his words¡ª¡°we¡¯ll give these gentlemen a second chance.¡±


    The crowd erupted. Reed went to him, visibly angry. Clearly, he hadn¡¯t expected this from Jake. He held his revolver, pointing it nervously at them, then at the gallows. He waved Billy over and called him. The crowd was too loud for them to hear anything from the conversation, so they didn¡¯t try. Jake and Reed argued, while Billy stood aside, smirking greasily. He was an empty-headed fool¡ªnot just because he was a robot. Reed shoved Jake with both hands and said something to Billy. Billy nodded and headed toward Daniel, Jasper, and Patrick.


    Billy pulled Patrick first and led him to the gallows. He left him on the wooden platform and came back for Daniel, dragging him there too.


    ¡°Patrick?¡± Daniel and Patrick were the only ones on the platforms. ¡°Are you sure the robots won¡¯t hang us?¡± Daniel was genuinely starting to panic.


    ¡°Daniel, calm down. Everything¡¯s according to plan.¡±


    ¡°Plan?¡±


    Before he could ask more, he heard a loud curse and a shout. Jasper had somehow freed himself from the handcuffs, grabbed the hulking Billy from behind, and wrapped the cuffs around his throat. He squeezed tight, though Daniel wasn¡¯t sure if robots could even suffer from lack of air. Reed had already drawn his revolver and aimed it at them.


    ¡°Will he shoot?¡±


    ¡°No. And if he does, he won¡¯t hit. Or he¡¯ll hit Billy.¡± Patrick was still calm.


    ¡°Let him go, you bastard!¡± Reed yelled. Jake had drawn his weapon too.


    Jasper¡¯s whole face was red. Daniel had seen him fight in bars, but never under such pressure or with such ferocity. He didn¡¯t catch exactly what Jasper did, but Billy ended up on the ground. Then he took two kicks to the head. The robot didn¡¯t move.


    ¡°Big mistake, pig,¡± Reed said, advancing with his gun raised. ¡°Billy was your shield. What now?¡±


    Patrick was still smiling. Daniel wanted to do something but couldn¡¯t. He was too far and tied up. He felt like a condemned man in the front row of a show.


    Sheriff Jake stood behind Reed. He¡¯d drawn his pistol too, also aimed at Jasper. Jasper was slightly hunched, glaring fiercely and breathing heavily. He shifted his gaze between the two, like a bear choosing which one to charge.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you drop your guns, you bastards? Why not come at me with bare hands?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Reed laughed. ¡°Do we look like fools to you?¡± He kept advancing. When he got close, the barrel of his revolver pressed against Jasper¡¯s forehead. Jasper didn¡¯t look worried.


    A shot rang out across the wasteland.


    Frightened screams echoed around. Reed fell at Jasper¡¯s feet. He wasn¡¯t dead but clutched his shoulder, where some slime vaguely resembling blood oozed. A second shot took down Jake¡ªjust enough to wound him.


    Both struggled to shout, emitting odd snoring sounds instead.


    Daniel was among the first to see where the shots came from.


    Aria still held the rifle aimed at her father. Tears streamed down her face, and she looked ready to do it again. Little Tyler clung to her leg, sobbing loudly.


    Next to her, Violet seemed far more confident with her weapon.


    Sheriff Jake lay at her feet, his eyes asking ¡°Why?¡±


    And she looked surer of her actions than Aria.

 38

    Daniel and Patrick still stood tied up. Some of the people in the crowd had scattered¡ªas much as robots could scatter, of course. Jake was clutching his shoulder, and so was Reed. Aria had dropped the rifle on the ground and was crying, while Violet acted far more bravely than her, approaching the wounded. She stood over Jake, casting a shadow on him. He looked up at her with a gentle expression, more pleased to see her than angry that she¡¯d shot him. It was a strange sight for Daniel to see her outside the bar. He¡¯d thought she was programmed to never leave it.


    ¡°Violet?¡± Jake tried to stand.


    ¡°Stay down, Jake. Down! Where you belong.¡±


    ¡°Violet?¡± Jake repeated her name again. He didn¡¯t know what to say.


    No one paid attention to Reed. He had crawled off to the side, holding his arm as he slowly stood. A liquid¡ªresembling blood¡ªflowed from his wound, the substance he was filled with. His hat had fallen off, revealing his scalp, scorched by the sun.


    ¡°Who was it? Who?¡± His voice made everyone turn. Then his gaze fell on Aria. She still held the weapon, her little daughter clinging to her leg. ¡°Aria?¡±


    Aria was sobbing.


    ¡°How much longer will we stay locked up, Patrick?¡± Daniel and Patrick stood on the platforms, detached from the scene, watching it unfold like a theatrical performance¡ªwhich, to some extent, it was.


    ¡°For now, we¡¯re safe here.¡±


    ¡°I want to help.¡±


    ¡°Well, fine, but someone needs to remember us. Besides, our people are okay.¡±


    ¡°What will Reed do now?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll probably head toward his daughter. At least, that¡¯s what I¡¯d do.¡±


    Reed seemed to heed their words. With one hand, he covered the hole from his wound; with the other, he moved slowly. Daniel couldn¡¯t figure out why he was limping when the injury was in his arm, but he decided not to dwell on the detail. Aria still held the rifle and wept. So did her child.


    ¡°Daniel, did you like it?¡±


    ¡°It could¡¯ve been more interesting.¡±


    ¡°Well, this was something thrown together in one night. The other option was to hang you.¡±


    ¡°And can they do that? Let¡¯s say they can¡¯t shoot us, but can they harm us through a third object? Like this gallows, for example.¡±


    ¡°No. They¡¯d leave you under the gallows, and in their minds, you¡¯d remain as hanged. If they met you later, they¡¯d talk about the situation but wouldn¡¯t recall you¡¯re dead unless you brought it up.¡±


    Reed had reached Aria. No one stopped him, though Jasper was about to. Violet was arguing with Jake, who looked at her like a child who knows they¡¯re guilty and is trying not to cry in front of their mother.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see how ridiculous we look, tied up under a gallows, discussing serious situations in front of us?¡±


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    Patrick laughed and nodded toward Jasper. Jasper had nearly caught up to Reed. The few remaining in the crowd watched like them. No one intervened. Most were guests. They suspected it was staged, though some of their own were involved. Ava was still there too. Daniel kept searching for her gaze. But now, all eyes were on Jasper.


    ¡°Aria!¡± Reed shouted at his daughter as he approached slowly, unaware of Jasper closing in.


    ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Aria dropped the rifle. ¡°You¡­ you were going to kill him.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I was. He doesn¡¯t deserve to live. Why, Aria?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Daddy, I¡­¡±


    Aria couldn¡¯t finish and fell to her knees. Reed was beside her now. Someone shouted, or perhaps he sensed it himself, but he turned just as Jasper swung. Reed was too agile for a robot, but Jasper¡¯s swing was clumsy. Reed blocked it and struck back, making Jasper flush red again.


    ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m in the middle of some TV drama. If I could, I¡¯d grab my head.¡±


    ¡°If this were real life, Daniel, you wouldn¡¯t feel this way. You¡¯re still not used to it. Maybe a week isn¡¯t enough.¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t even reached the end of the week,¡± Daniel corrected him. ¡°What happens when this whole thing is over?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll take some serious cleanup. Though they might just leave it as is.¡±


    ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. But I don¡¯t regret it. I had some fun.¡±


    Aria was now at Jasper¡¯s feet, between him and her father. She cried. Both men alternated between looking at her and glaring at each other. Neither spoke nor made a move.


    Another gunshot rang out. This time, no one fell or was hurt. Mia was firing into the air, laughing. She looked deranged from the sidelines.


    ¡°Time to end this farce. Daddy,¡± she turned to her father, ¡°please step back.¡±


    ¡°Why, Mia? Are you going to shoot me too?¡±


    ¡°No, Daddy, but just in case, get away from them.¡±


    ¡°From them? I only care about my daughter.¡±


    Jasper had already stepped back, watching from the side. His expression was one of disbelief. Daniel knew that look. Jasper was wondering what he was doing there and why he¡¯d gotten himself into this mess. He was on the verge of cursing them all and bolting. He often did that.


    Reed was farther off now, and Aria was trying to stand. When she did, she started speaking. Her hair fell over her face, dirty and full of sand.


    ¡°You know, Daddy?¡± She turned to Reed. ¡°I shot you because I like this man.¡±


    Reed looked at Jasper. If he had a real heart, it might¡¯ve burst right then.


    ¡°A real melodrama,¡± Daniel repeated.


    ¡°Well, you can¡¯t have it without that. But the robots are handling it great.¡±


    ¡°Patrick, I¡¯m still not sure who¡¯s a robot and who isn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Stop thinking about it. It¡¯s simple. For the third time tonight, I¡¯m telling you to let it go.¡±


    Reed didn¡¯t speak. He turned and walked the other way. He stopped by his horse, grabbing the leather reins hanging beside it.


    ¡°Jake!¡± he called loudly. Jake stood and started toward him. Violet stopped him and looked at him. Jake paused.


    ¡°You¡¯re a sellout bastard too, Jake!¡±


    Reed grabbed the reins with his good hand and hoisted himself onto the horse. The horse didn¡¯t move. He put his foot in the leather stirrup, swung his leg over, and cracked the reins. The horse trotted through the crowd and disappeared into the distance.


    ¡°So, what now? Is that it?¡±


    ¡°I think so.¡± Patrick scanned the crowd for someone. ¡°When they free us, forget about me. I¡¯ll slip away and return to the company. I don¡¯t belong in this world. I think Hugo will be pleased.¡±


    ¡°What happened to Reed?¡±


    ¡°I could tell you, but it¡¯d spoil the fun. Just enjoy it.¡±


    Jasper approached them. He didn¡¯t speak. His eyes looked tired, and the bruise from yesterday seemed even bigger. He freed Daniel first, then Patrick.


    ¡°Bro¡­¡± He breathed heavily. ¡°That was epic.¡±


    Patrick had vanished.

 39

    ¡°For a while there, I really thought they¡¯d hang us, bro,¡± Jasper said, sipping his beer and scanning the people in the bar.


    ¡°Patrick said it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°It was also impossible for them to hit us. But look.¡± Jasper pointed to the bruise on his forehead.


    ¡°The story was made up to compensate us for that hit. Wade and Bart have been pulled from the park for inspection. The company was surprised they attacked us.¡±


    ¡°Good thing they did. It was starting to get boring. But this¡­ Man, it was awesome.¡±


    ¡°You were scared too, though. I¡¯ve never heard you stay quiet that long.¡±


    Jasper pretended not to hear him.


    The two sat at their favorite table at the back of the bar. Violet was leaning on her usual spot at the wooden counter in front of Phil, who was wiping another glass and holding it up to the light to ensure he hadn¡¯t missed a spot. The other tables were mostly occupied by locals with black gloves. Some glanced at Daniel and Jasper, whispering among themselves. Hardly any guests were around.


    ¡°Look, that jerk¡¯s here. Without his wife,¡± Jasper said, nodding toward the tall man they¡¯d met on the train.


    ¡°She¡¯s not his wife, Jas. I told you we talked. She¡¯s his subordinate. A secretary or something. They¡¯re here on business.¡±


    ¡°I know that kind of business. I¡¯ve gone on work trips with colleagues too. And it¡¯s never just about the job.¡±


    The bar door opened. Violet smiled at the newcomer but froze when she saw who it was.


    Jake stood at the entrance. His face was still dirty with sand, and he wore his cowboy hat, but his sheriff¡¯s badge was gone. His shoulder was bandaged, one arm hanging limp by his side. He wore his black gloves.


    ¡°Violet?¡±


    ¡°What are you doing here, Jake? You know you¡¯re not allowed in.¡±


    ¡°Violet¡­ I¡¯m not here as sheriff. I¡¯m here for you.¡±


    Violet turned away. Phil had stopped cleaning glasses and watched them with a gleam of delight in his eyes. Jake stepped closer to her.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in for another melodrama,¡± Daniel said, taking a sip and nodding at Jasper. He watched with interest too. The bar had gone almost silent.


    ¡°Get out, dog!¡± someone shouted from the bar. The crowd was clearly starting to dislike him.


    ¡°Yeah, out!¡± another yelled. A glass flew from somewhere, shattering near Jake.


    ¡°Stop breaking things!¡±


    Violet screamed at the men with black gloves, and they all stopped. Jake still looked at her tenderly. She went to him, took his hand, and led him toward Daniel and Jasper. She pulled out a chair and pointed to it without a word. Jake sat slowly, skillfully mimicking pain in his shoulder. Violet pulled another chair and sat with them.


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    ¡°If they forgive you, Jake, I¡¯ll forgive you too.¡±


    Jake lowered his head.


    ¡°No, Jake. Look them in the eyes.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not necessary¡­¡±


    ¡°It is, Daniel. Jake¡¯s a good man until he meets someone like Reed. With Reed, he¡¯s uncontrollable and rotten. Now that Reed¡¯s gone, he¡¯ll apologize.¡±


    ¡°We knew Reed had it out for us. We never had anything against Jake.¡±


    ¡°He nearly got you hanged. And he let that bastard Reed go. A real sheriff would¡¯ve shot him before he mounted his horse,¡± Violet scolded him like a mother.


    ¡°Actually, Reed¡­¡± Daniel still tried to defend him.


    ¡°She¡¯s right, boys,¡± Jake said, still looking down. ¡°I¡¯m guilty of being swayed. But Reed paid well. Now, without him¡­¡±


    ¡°Is Reed the only one with money in this town, Jake?¡± Violet was still furious. There was a charm in her face as her emotions shifted.


    ¡°No, Violet. I suppose not. But the sheriff job¡­¡±


    ¡°I want you to take your badge back,¡± Violet continued commanding him. ¡°Put it back on, then return the boys¡¯ badges.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Violet.¡±


    ¡°And do it by tomorrow. Look at the people here. They trust them.¡±


    ¡°But they don¡¯t trust me anymore,¡± Jake said, glancing nervously to either side.


    ¡°They will again if you do the right thing. They like Daniel and Jasper. Through them, they¡¯ll trust you too. Right?¡± She placed a hand under his chin, melting him. He tried to smile at her.


    Jake said nothing. He kept raising and lowering his gaze.


    ¡°Now, get out of my bar.¡± Violet pulled her hand back and pointed to the exit.


    ¡°But, Violet, I came here for you.¡±


    ¡°For me? You lost your chance long ago, Jake. Now leave¡ªyou¡¯re driving away my customers.¡±


    Jake stood, put on his hat, nodded to Daniel and Jasper, and walked out slowly, looking back at Violet the whole way.


    ¡°Well, look at that. He was so cocky at the start. Now he¡¯s a little puppy,¡± Jasper clicked his tongue.


    ¡°Love weakens everyone¡¯s knees, Jas. Only your love, Aria, doesn¡¯t fall at your feet.¡±


    ¡°But she knocked her dad off his.¡± Jasper grinned. ¡°She likes me, bro. Though when I remember she¡¯s just a robot, it kinda kills my vibe.¡±


    ¡°You talked differently at the beginning.¡±


    Jasper glanced at him.


    ¡°Maybe this place is changing me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not scared you¡¯ll hurt her, are you? She¡¯s still¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a robot, but in this world, she expects something from me. And in two or three days, we¡¯re gone. How do I give her what she wants?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re programmed to forget. And when the park officially opens, they¡¯ll probably reset everyone.¡±


    ¡°What if they don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°You know what Patrick told me? He said to live the story.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what Jan said too. And Barnes. Must be their rehearsed line.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t you get it, Jas? Stop thinking about the future or the real world we¡¯ll return to. Just live this place. We¡¯re writing our story here. And who knows¡­¡±


    Jasper fell silent. So did Daniel. One watched the people in the bar, the other gazed out the window. Violet was chatting with a guest, tossing him her mysterious, playful looks as he fell harder for her. She knew how to do it. Soon, the man left, visibly upset. She¡¯d brushed him off too. She smiled. She was the biggest figure in town¡ªabove the sheriff, above Reed. That was clear to Daniel. After all, whoever controls men¡¯s pleasure controls the town. Maybe it¡¯s always been that way. And a man¡¯s greatest pleasure is lying next to a beautiful woman¡ªeven if she¡¯s got iron insides.


    ¡°Speaking of stories, bro,¡± Jasper finished his beer noisily, set the empty glass on the table, and stood. ¡°Your blonde lady¡¯s heading this way.¡±


    Daniel turned and saw her. Ava. She¡¯d changed her dress and now wore black, fitting the era¡¯s style again. The upper part near the neckline was sheer, hinting at her chest. It tapered at the waist and flared around her hips, falling gracefully around her legs. Her blonde hair swayed with each step, the curled ends brushing her shoulder.


    Her light eyes locked onto him.

 40

    Jasper winked at him and disappeared. Ava sat down across from him.


    ¡°Your guy¡¯s over there,¡± Daniel said, pointing at Sam Hayes. ¡°Did you mix up the tables?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Ava replied, raising her hand. Phil gave her a thumbs-up from the bar. ¡°Things haven¡¯t been clicking with him lately.¡±


    ¡°Trouble in paradise?¡±


    ¡°Something like that. Though there was never any paradise. Just work.¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t believe you.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not here to convince you. And he¡¯s been acting a bit colder since we got here.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think that is?¡±


    Violet approached them with a mug of beer and leaned on the table.


    ¡°I¡¯m not your waitress, just so you know. But since I like you two, I figured I¡¯d do you this favor.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Violet,¡± Ava said with a smile. Violet winked at her and returned to the bar.


    Ava took a sip, her eyes fixed on Sam Hayes.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t drink beer?¡±


    ¡°Well, sometimes I¡¯m human too¡­ and sometimes I¡¯m not.¡± She held up her hands, revealing black gloves, waiting for his reaction. Then she laughed and took them off. ¡°Kidding. I just wanted to see how you¡¯d react.¡±


    ¡°Very funny.¡±


    ¡°This place has changed Sam, Daniel.¡± She quickly shifted the topic. ¡°Out there, he¡¯s warm, cracks jokes, gives gifts to his employees, loves his wife and kids. But here¡­¡± Ava leaned forward. ¡°Yesterday, before your little incident, he was talking to that Reed guy. He wanted to find him some people.¡±


    ¡°People for what?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t hear more. But I was there at the start of their conversation. His look changed¡ªhis expression, his attitude. He even yelled at me to back off. And that creep Reed just laughed from the sidelines, enjoying Sam¡¯s behavior.¡±


    ¡°We talked about this last time. This place really brings out people¡¯s true selves. Back then, it was just a hunch, but now I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°Give me more examples.¡±


    ¡°Well, take me and Jas, for instance. Were you at the square yesterday?¡±


    Ava gave him a slight squint.


    ¡°You know I was there. You saw me.¡±


    Of course he knew. His question was dumb, but he¡¯d asked it on purpose.


    ¡°Well, Jas and I would¡¯ve never shown that kind of courage if we didn¡¯t know we were facing robots.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but isn¡¯t that an example of something good? Courage you have but hadn¡¯t shown before?¡±


    ¡°No, because it shows up in bad ways too. Like, you¡¯d never just hit someone on the street. Or kick a dog?¡±


    ¡°Probably not.¡±


    ¡°Well, Jas and I did. Because there are no laws here. Or at least none that¡¯ll lock us up for life.¡±


    ¡°You kicked a dog? What kind of people¡­¡±


    ¡°It was a robot. Silver. And I was just giving an example¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. Silver. Still¡­¡±


    ¡°See? You got worried about the dog just because you thought it might be real.¡±


    Ava blushed slightly and glanced at her beer mug.


    Loud laughter erupted from the table where Sam Hayes sat. Both of them looked over. The three men with Sam were talking animatedly. Two wore black gloves; the third didn¡¯t. Sam himself was watching them. Daniel and Ava almost simultaneously shifted their gazes back to their table.


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame it¡¯s ending,¡± Ava said softly. ¡°I was starting to like it here. And today with the gallows¡ªthat was a powerful story.¡±


    ¡°But you were smiling.¡±


    ¡°Because I knew they couldn¡¯t do anything to you.¡±


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    ¡°There¡¯s another sign you don¡¯t fully grasp this place and think you¡¯re above the robots.¡±


    ¡°I am above them. I¡¯m human.¡±


    ¡°Sure. But here, we¡¯re equal. Even look at Violet¡ªshe¡¯s like the mayor of this town. Everyone respects her. In the real world, both of us would just lower our eyes in front of her. She¡¯s a commanding, strong woman.¡±


    ¡°I get where you¡¯re going, and I agree, but let¡¯s put that aside. Tell me how you got mixed up in that mess out there.¡±


    ¡°Two of the robots hit us.¡±


    ¡°Hit you?¡±


    ¡°Jasper got us into trouble again. He acted tough with two of Reed¡¯s guys, and they attacked us.¡±


    Ava¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°We thought so too, but it happened. Then we woke up in jail.¡±


    ¡°You were unconscious?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see Jasper¡¯s bruise? He didn¡¯t do that to himself. They got me in the temple. Lucky for me, no visible wound, but it knocked me out fast.¡±


    ¡°You should complain¡­¡±


    ¡°They already know¡­ and that¡¯s why they helped us.¡±


    ¡°So outsiders interfered in the park? Didn¡¯t they promise¡ª¡±


    Daniel took a sip and glanced around.


    ¡°Want me to tell you a secret you might already suspect?¡±


    ¡°No way¡ªyou mean I was right?¡± She smacked the table. ¡°I knew it from the start. Some of them just¡­¡±


    ¡°Right about what? I haven¡¯t even said it yet.¡±


    ¡°There are real people among the robots.¡±


    Daniel nodded.


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you more. Honestly, I don¡¯t even know many of them myself.¡±


    Ava lowered her voice to a whisper, scanning the room.


    ¡°How did you find out?¡±


    ¡°We caught them.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°You ask a lot of questions, Ava,¡± Daniel said, enjoying the control and her curious look.


    Ava leaned back, wrapping one arm around her stomach and resting the other on it, picking at her lips with her fingers. She didn¡¯t look at him; her eyes darted around the bar, as if tracking every person. The movement of her light eyes and her intrigued expression made Daniel smile as he watched her. She wasn¡¯t his type. He preferred dark-haired women, and dark eyes were more his thing. But Ava was beautiful. He couldn¡¯t deny it.


    ¡°Now I¡¯ll suspect everyone,¡± Ava said, still eyeing the crowd.


    ¡°I was like that at first too, but Patrick told me it¡¯s better not to.¡±


    ¡°Patrick?¡±


    ¡°The third guy from that day. One of the ones they caught. They were going to hang him with us.¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯s¡­ important?¡±


    ¡°Long story. You won¡¯t see him again anyway.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m jealous of you guys. You and Jasper are having a blast here. I just wander around talking to the locals.¡±


    ¡°If they were locals¡­¡±


    Ava¡¯s face flushed.


    ¡°If they weren¡¯t locals¡­ I said such things to them.¡±


    ¡°What did you say, Ava?¡±


    ¡°No, no. Better you don¡¯t know.¡± She took a sip, glancing at Daniel. ¡°But they seemed so real. I mean, like robots. Oh, I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m getting confused.¡±


    ¡°Stop thinking about it. That¡¯s the best advice. Just live the park.¡±


    ¡°What are your plans next?¡±


    ¡°No idea. Whatever the day brings. But I think we¡¯ll be helping the sheriff again. Violet threatened him.¡±


    ¡°Violet¡¯s a formidable woman. I wish I had her personality.¡± Ava smiled at Violet from afar. Daniel didn¡¯t catch if she smiled back. ¡°Do you think all the robots have real-world prototypes? Did Barnes design her with someone in mind?¡±


    ¡°Very likely. Though there are so many of them, I doubt every single one has a prototype.¡±


    ¡°Would you come back if you could? I mean, when they open it officially¡­¡±


    ¡°At first, no. It felt weird and boring. I saw it and wanted to leave.¡± Daniel tried to catch her eyes, but it was tough¡ªthey were darting all over the bar. ¡°But now, probably yes. Jasper and I even talked about how we¡¯d come back.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯d be easier for you guys. If they¡¯re watching us, you¡¯ve made an awesome story.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re watching, trust me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, if they¡¯re watching, they see you¡¯re having a good time. I bet they¡¯ll bring back the ones with ideas.¡±


    ¡°Will they?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯d pass up good players?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not players. The park¡¯s about money.¡±


    ¡°How old is Hugo Barnes? Over eighty, ninety? What does he need money for? He¡¯s having fun.¡±


    Ava might be right. The thought of returning here tempted him. He wanted it, but then he remembered Emma. She¡¯d been without him for a week now. It wasn¡¯t the first time they¡¯d been apart for long, but if he went back and told her he¡¯d return here again? Naturally, he could bring her. She wouldn¡¯t mind. But she¡¯d just started her internship. She couldn¡¯t risk losing her job for this place. And he felt calmer here without her. At least he did right now, talking to Ava without worrying about Emma or what she¡¯d think. Ava kept glancing at him, then away. Her lips were nice. He¡¯d kiss them if he were closer.


    He quickly shook that thought off, finished his beer, and prepared to get up from the table.


    ¡°Heading to bed?¡± Ava did the same.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long day. I¡¯ll find Jas, and we¡¯ll figure out tomorrow. They¡¯re putting us back to work, after all. As deputies.¡±


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re a deputy sheriff, will I need Sheriff Jake¡¯s permission to talk to you?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Daniel laughed. ¡°Being a sheriff is serious business.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you nearly ended up swinging from a rope last time. Definitely serious.¡±


    Daniel liked her humor. He was already standing when Ava got up too. He expected her to say goodbye or, in his best-case scenario, give him a hug. Sure, it was early for that, and he wasn¡¯t certain he wanted to take things further with her. She was real, after all, and he had a girlfriend. But this was another world¡ªa made-up one with robots. Nothing from this world would carry over to the real one.


    Ava brushed past him, her eyes on her boss, Sam Hayes. She stopped in front of Daniel, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the lips. Her breath smelled of beer. She looked into his eyes for a second and smiled.


    Then she vanished up the stairs.

 41

    He dreamed he was home. He sat on his bed, alone, staring out the window. It was slightly ajar. Rain fell, and drops splashed into his room. He didn¡¯t get up to close it. He let them flood the wall beneath the window a little. Emma walked in. She looked at the window and asked why it was open, but he didn¡¯t answer. In the dream, he couldn¡¯t speak. Or get up to close it. But how could he tell her? How could he convince her? Emma was mad at him. She marched to the window and tried to shut it. She couldn¡¯t either. The drops kept it jammed. The room grew damper, wetter. Soon, the whole floor was underwater. He looked at Emma. She was crying. Her tears fell from her eyes, mixing with the water at her feet. And he sat dry on the bed.


    He woke up scared.


    He was still in the park Hugo Barnes had created, and it was raining outside. The window was indeed open, but aside from a few small drops, nothing else had come in. There was no wind. The smell of rain quenching the hot earth was pleasant. He loved that scent. He got up to close the window. He didn¡¯t know what time it was. There were no clocks here. It had been hard to adjust to that at first, but now he didn¡¯t care. From what he could tell, and what his gut suggested, the first rays of dawn would appear soon. The earliest rooster crows hinted at it too. A few dogs roamed below, sniffing around.


    He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Nothing stirred. The silence was so deafening it was almost frightening. He couldn¡¯t remember if he¡¯d fallen back asleep, but when his door opened and Jasper walked in, it was already light outside.


    ¡°Bro?¡± Jasper was inside now. ¡°I thought I¡¯d catch you with the blonde.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s why you came in?¡±


    Jasper came over and sat by his feet.


    ¡°Well, yeah. I live for the looks on people¡¯s faces when I catch them together. I was hoping for something like that here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a girl, Jas. I wouldn¡¯t do it.¡±


    ¡°Come on, man. This is a different world. Emma doesn¡¯t exist here. And the blonde¡¯s cool, bro.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not my type.¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Daniel. We¡¯re men¡ªwhat types? Who even has time to be picky? You¡¯re just making excuses.¡±


    ¡°And you? What¡¯d you do last night?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, bro. Just stood outside smoking cigarettes.¡±


    ¡°Did you hear something again?¡±


    ¡°No, no. Nothing this time. But I was thinking about what you said. You¡¯re right¡ªI¡¯ll play out my story. I¡¯m thinking of finding Aria today, bro. I¡¯ll tell her how I feel.¡±


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    ¡°Feel?¡±


    ¡°You know what I mean. We¡¯re playing, right?¡±


    Daniel got up and started dressing. Jasper stayed in the room, lost in thought.


    ¡°You know, it was really quiet today.¡±


    ¡°I felt it too. If it weren¡¯t for some dog outside, I probably wouldn¡¯t have woken up. Other nights, it¡¯s noisy late, and someone¡¯s banging around early.¡±


    ¡°Put on your cowboy pants, bro. We¡¯re back on duty today.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s in the room next to yours?¡± Daniel asked, pulling them on.


    ¡°That jerk, your rival for the blonde chick.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not my rival. They¡¯re colleagues.¡±


    ¡°I told you, that crap doesn¡¯t fool me. Why do you think he¡¯s not hanging with her anymore? He wanted to sleep with her, but she didn¡¯t let him. I can spot these things. Trust me.¡±


    Was that why she¡¯d kissed him in front of him?


    Daniel remembered her kiss. Her lips pressed against his. She smelled of beer, which usually wasn¡¯t pleasant, but it was worth it coming from a beautiful woman. Then he saw Sam Hayes¡¯s stare. He¡¯d looked at him for a long time. Had Ava wanted that¡ªto make him jealous? Then Jasper wouldn¡¯t be right. If she didn¡¯t care about Hayes, she wouldn¡¯t bother making him jealous. The other option was she wanted to show him she¡¯d be with anyone but him.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, bro? The blonde? I told you¡ªgo get her. Do whatever you do here, then go back to your Emma after the park. Tell her you banged a robot, but it wasn¡¯t a big deal.¡±


    ¡°Ava¡¯s her colleague.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Jasper tried to stay serious but couldn¡¯t help laughing. ¡°Sam Hayes is Emma¡¯s boss? When did you figure that out?¡±


    ¡°When Ava told me about their company, Sam Hayes, their work here¡ªit clicked.¡±


    ¡°Does Ava know?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Good. But now it¡¯s really risky. Man, you¡¯ve got some luck¡­¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have done anything anyway, Jas. I told you¡­¡±


    ¡°Bro, this Emma¡­¡± Jasper waved it off.


    Daniel shot him a look. He knew Jasper didn¡¯t like Emma, but he didn¡¯t want it to ruin their friendship. His friend had a big mouth, but on this topic, he never spoke. And that was for the best. If he did, it might force Daniel to choose. And he didn¡¯t want to make that choice.


    ¡°Still,¡± Jasper went on, ¡°bang her if you can. ¡®Cause that¡¯s what I¡¯m planning with Aria.¡±


    ¡°Want me to list the differences?¡±


    ¡°No. Shut up. Don¡¯t ruin it for me.¡±


    Daniel was ready. They left the room and headed down the corridor. No noise, no chatter came from anywhere. Jasper dramatically pressed his ear to the door where Ava was supposed to be, one room over from his. Daniel laughed at the joke, and they kept going.


    It was morning, and the bar downstairs was always emptier then. Now, too, there was almost no one. Or rather, there was truly no one down there.


    Jasper walked ahead, and when he stepped off the last stair, he turned.


    ¡°Bro, where is everyone?¡±


    Daniel came down and passed him, looking around. No Phil, no Violet, none of her girls. No one with black gloves. Not even any guests were there.


    ¡°This went from an action movie to a horror flick. Are they messing with us?¡±


    Daniel didn¡¯t have an answer.

 42

    They sat at one of the tables in the empty bar. When they weren¡¯t talking, it was deathly quiet. Unnaturally quiet. Even Silver wasn¡¯t outside waiting for them. They glanced around, waiting for someone to show up. Or for some sound to break the silence. But nothing.


    The bar, Phil, Violeta¡ªnobody was there.


    ¡°What do you think, Jas?¡±


    ¡°Something happened last night. I told you it was too quiet.¡±


    ¡°Forget the locals¡ªI mean, the robots. But none of our people are here either.¡±


    ¡°Ours sleep in late. And maybe they¡¯re at their houses. I heard not everyone sleeps here.¡±


    ¡°Not everyone? I thought they were all upstairs?¡±


    ¡°Nah, bro. They¡¯ve figured out how to move around. Like that guy, your man¡ª¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not my man.¡±


    ¡°Right, whatever. That Sam guy¡¯s in a house.¡± Jasper pointed out the window.


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Daniel sounded surprised.


    ¡°Bro, these ears of mine aren¡¯t just thick¡ªthey pick up a lot. I overhear stuff, even when I don¡¯t mean to.¡±


    ¡°So there¡¯s a chance it¡¯s just the locals who¡¯ve gone somewhere?¡±


    ¡°Well, unless you wanna check for yourself, you could pop into Ava¡¯s room.¡± Jasper winked at him. ¡°That¡¯s her name, right? Your new sweetheart?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go in there?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d love to, but she¡¯s got her eye on you. I don¡¯t mess with that.¡± Jasper grinned. Daniel didn¡¯t find it particularly funny. ¡°Look, bro,¡± Jasper said, calming down, ¡°maybe they¡¯re recharging their batteries or something, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°If they¡¯re recharging every four or five days, that doesn¡¯t make sense. And if they do it, it¡¯d be at night, not in the morning. It kills the realism. Plus, it wastes our time waiting around for them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but I can¡¯t tell you what¡¯s up. Only thing I can suggest is we take a walk outside. Maybe head to the sheriff¡¯s place. Sheriff Jake might know something.¡±


    Footsteps echoed down the upstairs hallway¡ªsoft, small steps. They stood out sharply against the silence. Daniel and Jasper exchanged a look and fell quiet. In such stillness, even those tiny steps sounded like an elephant stomping through.


    One of the stairs creaked, and soon a pair of nice, feminine legs appeared descending the steps.


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s your other half,¡± Jasper said.


    Ava glanced around, just like they had. She clearly had the same questions they did.


    ¡°Why¡¯s there no one here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re wondering too,¡± Jasper took the lead.


    Ava pulled up a chair and sat with them. She didn¡¯t pay Daniel any mind, speaking only to Jasper. Was it bothering him?


    ¡°How long have you guys been here? Where¡¯s Violet? The bartender?¡±


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    ¡°We were just talking about that. It¡¯s empty outside too. Feels like the world¡¯s ended¡ªif you can even call this a world,¡± Jasper said.


    Ava glanced back again, her eyes sweeping the bar as if she¡¯d heard something. Her gaze went everywhere except to Daniel.


    ¡°No, this is pretty creepy. How long have you been here?¡±


    ¡°We came down a little while ago,¡± Jasper said, rubbing his stomach. ¡°And I¡¯m starving. Even the ready-made food¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s weird,¡± Ava said, still not looking at Daniel. He stayed quiet too.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your guy?¡± Jasper tried to poke at her now.


    ¡°My guy? I don¡¯t have a guy.¡±


    ¡°That skinny weirdo. The oddball.¡±


    ¡°My boss? I don¡¯t care where he is. Why are you so worried about him?¡±


    ¡°You and him¡­?¡±


    ¡°Are you starting this too?¡± Ava finally turned to Daniel, but only to show she¡¯d had this conversation with him before. ¡°He¡¯s my boss, and he¡¯s got a wife. We¡¯re here for work. I know how it looks from the outside, but I¡¯m not doing this argument again. Seriously.¡±


    She was annoyed.


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Jasper raised a hand to calm her. ¡°So when¡¯s the last time he was in the bar?¡±


    ¡°The first night. Actually, he was here that first night, said he didn¡¯t like sleeping in dives like this, and found a way to move to the house across the street. No idea how. He¡¯s totally different here¡ªnothing like he is in the real world.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all like that. Take Daniel, for example,¡± Jasper pointed at him. Daniel had a bad feeling Jasper was about to say something he shouldn¡¯t. ¡°He¡¯s got a wife back in the real world who can¡¯t stand him. But he sticks with her.¡±


    He was right¡ªnot about Emma, but about saying something dumb.


    Ava perked up and gave Daniel a squinting, amused look.


    ¡°Jasper?¡±


    ¡°What, bro? Am I lying?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll stop. But just so you know,¡± Jasper turned to Ava, ¡°you¡¯re cooler than his girlfriend. She¡¯s¡­¡±


    Daniel drummed his fingers on the table.


    ¡°Jasper, stop.¡±


    Jasper stopped, but the smirk lingered on his face.


    ¡°Look,¡± Ava cut in, ¡°I don¡¯t care about your little dramas. I¡¯m more worried about where everyone¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°Us too, even if it doesn¡¯t look like it,¡± Jasper said. ¡°But I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s another one of the creators¡¯ games.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it getting a bit much, Jas?¡± Daniel said. ¡°And it¡¯s not realistic for everyone to vanish all at once.¡±


    ¡°It happens in movies sometimes.¡±


    ¡°In reality, though?¡±


    ¡°Depends where you are. If you walk into a bar, get wasted, and wake up on some old, booze-soaked chair, there¡¯s a good chance no one¡¯s around.¡±


    Ava laughed. Daniel couldn¡¯t tell if she genuinely found it funny or was just humoring Jasper, but the comparison was pretty lame.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here and check the town,¡± Daniel said. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll see something.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Jasper agreed. ¡°We¡¯ve got business at the sheriff¡¯s anyway.¡±


    A noise came from the bar. All three of them turned toward it at once.


    Little Phil, the bartender, shuffled in and started wiping down the counter with a rag. His black gloves were gone, and his hands looked perfectly normal. His sleeves were rolled up. He grabbed a glass, put it in the sink, then gathered a few more.


    ¡°Phil?¡±


    The bartender flinched, nearly dropping a glass.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Violet, Phil? Where¡¯s everyone? Why¡¯s it empty?¡±


    He looked around like he didn¡¯t want to be there. His eyes darted over the three of them, one by one. He tried to speak but stammered, stepping back as if he weren¡¯t facing three people but the devil himself.


    ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be here.¡±


    ¡°Well, we are,¡± Jasper shot back. ¡°Got anything to eat?¡±


    ¡°Last night, they pulled everyone out. They found a bug in the robots and had to recall them. Well, actually, a bug in us. In us. Most of them are gone now.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not a robot,¡± Ava pointed at him and laughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t see that coming. You played it so well, Phil.¡± She got up and walked toward him, mouth agape. ¡°You¡¯re amazing!¡±


    Phil hid his hands behind his back and took another step away.


    He didn¡¯t say anything else.

 43

    Red lights flashed on almost instantly. Daniel couldn¡¯t tell if Phil had hit a panic button under the counter or if someone had spotted people still in the bar. The same red lights that had gone off when Bill died. Well, the first time he died.


    Ava jumped.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen these before?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°They went off a few days ago. A robot blew up right in front of us.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything. I¡¯ve barely been around town. The bar and the area around it. A few trips to the fountain, that¡¯s it.¡±


    Along with the lights, deafening alarms blared from somewhere. Even Phil covered his ears.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming in!¡± he shouted.


    ¡°Who¡¯s coming in?¡± Ava asked, her voice rushed.


    ¡°The techs and the company people. Looks like they¡¯ve still got work to do.¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah, we¡¯re still here,¡± Jasper said.


    The bar door swung open. A man and a woman stepped inside. The man looked like the one who¡¯d come the first time Bill died.


    He studied them for a long moment before speaking.


    ¡°You? You¡¯re still here? Didn¡¯t anyone tell you?¡± The man glanced at his colleague and set a toolbox down on the floor.


    ¡°Guess you kinda forgot to let us know,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°Name¡¯s Wesley, by the way. We didn¡¯t meet properly last time.¡± The man raised a hand with a faint smile, looking at them all. ¡°So, after midnight, there was an incident. Someone apparently tried to hack the robots¡¯ system. Or, more precisely, their minds.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Nothing major, thankfully. But most of the robots started acting weird. Some couldn¡¯t handle it and just collapsed, while others tried to hurt themselves.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡±


    ¡°We shut down all the systems and alerted everyone. The sirens and lights went off too.¡±


    ¡°So how did we miss it?¡±


    Wesley glanced at his colleague. She shrugged.


    ¡°No idea,¡± he said. ¡°We went through all the houses, explained it to people, and they were understanding. We got them out, then rounded up the robots.¡±


    ¡°You collected the robots that fast?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve got an emergency mode. When it¡¯s triggered, everything shuts down except their basic movement. Remember when we took Billy? He looked like a zombie, just shambling after us. All the robots have that.¡±


    ¡°And they travel like that all the way to the company?¡±


    ¡°No. Under the town¡ªevery town¡ªthere¡¯s a hub with techs and a lab. The robots know the secret houses and rooms to head to and get themselves back. It was Barnes¡¯ requirement. Like emergency plans in big buildings. Picture every robot with a map in their head¡ªwhen we activate it, they just take the shortest route. So yeah, they¡¯re all accounted for, and the guests are on the train.¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°You talk too much, Wesley,¡± his colleague cut in.


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Jasper said. ¡°Everyone¡¯s on the train?¡±


    Wesley looked to his colleague for confirmation. She shrugged again, her face screaming she didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°Were you living here?¡±


    ¡°Where else?¡± Daniel said, sensing Jasper¡¯s irritation flaring up again.


    ¡°Well, most people found houses around town. That was the idea.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell us.¡±


    ¡°We figured you¡¯d work it out. But you two were too busy.¡± Wesley grinned. ¡°Congrats, by the way. The whole team was watching you guys especially. We were betting on how many people Jas would kill.¡±


    ¡°You were betting?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah.¡±


    His colleague elbowed him.


    ¡°But he didn¡¯t kill anyone,¡± Wesley added. ¡°Still, we¡¯re fans.¡±


    ¡°We were the most interesting?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much. The medieval group was playing kings and queens. A few got hurt in sword fights¡ªtwo even tried jousting, charging at each other with long poles. They got banged up. It was fun, honestly, but no one stood out with a long game. The modern era folks were boring¡ªnothing different from real life. Your game wasn¡¯t super long either, but you were on the right track. The park¡¯s huge and has a lot to offer. Keep that in mind for next time.¡±


    ¡°And with all that watching, you forgot to tell us we needed to leave?¡±


    Wesley shrugged this time.


    ¡°Guess we did.¡±


    ¡°What about the train?¡± Jasper pressed. ¡°How do we get to it?¡±


    Wesley glanced at his watch.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m afraid you missed it.¡±


    ¡°When¡¯s the next one?¡±


    ¡°The next one¡¯s for us, the techs. But it¡¯s not till tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow? What are we supposed to do alone till then?¡±


    ¡°No clue. I¡¯d have to ask the bosses. You could explore the park if you want. Tough luck staying in this dive, but it¡¯s our bad for not putting alarms upstairs. Oh well, bonus day for you. A day like that¡¯ll cost a fortune in a few weeks.¡±


    Jasper slumped into a chair. He looked like someone who¡¯d had enough. He didn¡¯t speak¡ªjust sat there, leaning back, staring ahead.


    ¡°Phil?¡± Wesley turned to the bartender. ¡°You¡¯re free too. You can head downstairs.¡±


    ¡°I was gonna clean up the bar,¡± Phil said, walking confidently but a bit clumsily. He wasn¡¯t very tall, and it didn¡¯t show much behind the counter. ¡°Wanted to use today since no one¡¯s around. How¡¯s Violet?¡±


    ¡°Violet? Is she human too?¡± Ava nearly shouted.


    ¡°Nope. Violet¡¯s a robot. A prototype, but a robot,¡± Wesley said, then turned to Phil. ¡°She¡¯s fine, Phil. I know you two got close.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s awesome. I get along with her better than with humans. She didn¡¯t talk much at first, but thanks to the guests, she loosened up. And the way she shot Jake¡­¡±


    ¡°That was an epic scene, Daniel,¡± Wesley said. ¡°The whole team gathered downstairs to watch. The creative department wrote it¡ªserious people who don¡¯t bother with anything dull. You guys played it perfectly. No one knew how you¡¯d react.¡±


    ¡°Patrick and I didn¡¯t do much anyway.¡±


    ¡°You were hilarious,¡± Wesley said, clearly entertained. ¡°Standing there tied up under the gallows, commenting like it was a football match.¡±


    ¡°Jasper was the hero then.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Wesley said, turning to Jas. ¡°Bro, you and Aria would¡¯ve had a killer storyline too. Everyone was waiting to see what¡¯d happen there.¡±


    ¡°Look, Wesley,¡± Jasper lifted his head, a little pissed off, ¡°all this stuff with cameras, bets, robots, non-robots¡ªit¡¯s starting to get on my nerves. Couldn¡¯t you just let us live without watching us from every angle?¡±


    ¡°Trust me, Jas,¡± Wesley said, thrown off by Jasper¡¯s tone, ¡°there aren¡¯t as many cameras as you think.¡±


    ¡°So if I took one of Violet¡¯s girls up to my room, you wouldn¡¯t track my every move?¡±


    ¡°There are cameras in most of the animals and on the main streets. One here in the bar too, but no audio¡ªjust for monitoring. We need them, bro,¡± Wesley said, mimicking Jasper¡¯s vibe. ¡°Without control, something like last night could happen, and we wouldn¡¯t catch it in time. Believe me, this test you¡¯re doing now? We¡¯ve rehearsed it at least fifty times. We¡¯re ready for anything. When the park opens, we want it flawless.¡±


    ¡°I promise you, Wesley, I¡¯ll come back when it¡¯s live. And I¡¯ll keep an eye on what you¡¯re up to.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll definitely be back, Jas. The whole company¡¯s hoping you will.¡±


    Jasper rubbed his face with his hand, looking exhausted. Wesley¡¯s colleague nudged him, and he nearly jumped. They brushed past the bar and slipped through a door behind it. Phil kept cleaning, while Jasper, Daniel, and Ava sat there in silence for a long time.

 44

    ¡°One hell of a crazy week, bro,¡± Jasper said. ¡°But honestly, I can¡¯t wait to get back home a little. There was so much more to see here, damn it.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll come back,¡± Daniel replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know when, but we¡¯ll be back.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, bro. I wish we could¡¯ve fleshed out a few more stories. It felt a bit flat. Though that bit with the gallows and the jail? That was gold. Straight out of a movie.¡±


    Ava had gone upstairs to change. Jasper and Daniel stayed downstairs, keeping an eye on Phil while they talked. Phil, meanwhile, was taking everything off the bar shelves, wiping away the dust.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been a bartender,¡± Jasper said, watching Phil. ¡°That cleaning was the most annoying part of the whole gig.¡±


    Phil overheard him. He turned and flashed a smile. Sometimes he didn¡¯t look like a bartender at all¡ªmore like a geography teacher. All he needed was a chalkboard and a long pointer.


    ¡°Guess we¡¯re not becoming deputy sheriffs now, huh?¡± Daniel said.


    Jasper tried to muster something like a smile but quickly hid it.


    Ava came down the stairs slowly. She wore simple jeans and a pink T-shirt. Her hair was tied back in a short ponytail, with a few strands falling loosely around her face. Instead of boots, she had on sneakers now.


    ¡°You look like you just stepped out of the future,¡± Daniel couldn¡¯t resist. The joke felt right.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m heading back to the future,¡± Ava said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t wait to ditch those dresses.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me you liked them?¡±


    ¡°I did while I was here. Seriously, this place isn¡¯t made for jeans or pants¡ªthey just don¡¯t fit. But now that we¡¯re leaving¡­¡±


    ¡°Not a bad idea, bro,¡± Jasper chimed in. ¡°I¡¯m sick of these baggy clothes too. If Colin saw us like this, he¡¯d laugh at us for a week straight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d forgotten about Colin, Jas,¡± Daniel said. ¡°This place totally took over.¡±


    ¡°Now imagine having to face him¡­¡± Jasper paused. ¡°Should we just stay here instead?¡±


    The two of them laughed. Ava didn¡¯t join in¡ªshe didn¡¯t know what they were talking about.


    ¡°What do you guys do?¡± she asked. ¡°I mean, not here. Here you¡¯re sheriffs.¡± She stifled a laugh. ¡°In reality.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a broker,¡± Jasper said quickly, burying his face in his hands on the table. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡±


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    ¡°And you?¡± She looked at Daniel.


    ¡°I¡¯m almost a director at a software company.¡±


    ¡°Almost a director? That¡¯s a new one¡ªI¡¯ve never heard of that job title. Which one of you got the invites?¡±


    ¡°Me,¡± Daniel said, raising his hand slightly.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring your girlfriend?¡± Ava asked, her tone a little hesitant.


    Daniel glanced at Jasper, whose head was still planted on the table. He was the reason Ava even knew about Emma.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t want to come,¡± Daniel said. ¡°She figured it¡¯d be boring, some kind of game.¡±


    ¡°I thought the same at first,¡± Ava admitted. ¡°But when my boss said it was for work, I agreed.¡±


    ¡°And he really just wanted to get you into bed,¡± Jasper said, sitting up.


    ¡°Even if he did,¡± Ava shot him a dark look, ¡°that was never going to happen.¡±


    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s not like there aren¡¯t cases where¡ª¡±


    ¡°Please stop this topic,¡± Ava cut him off. Tears welled in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. I haven¡¯t slept with Sam Hayes, and I never will.¡±


    Even Phil turned at her shout. An awkward silence settled in. Jasper raised a hand and looked at her.


    ¡°Okay, sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m like that sometimes. You¡¯ll get used to it.¡±


    ¡°Get used to it? In a day, this might be the last time we ever see each other.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that,¡± Jasper said, his grin returning as he glanced between her and Daniel. ¡°I¡¯d bet you two will come back here together next time.¡±


    Classic Jasper. He said whatever popped into his head, no filter. Most of the time, it was for his own amusement¡ªespecially in moments like this. He loved putting everyone on the spot.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Ava said. ¡°That kiss was just to mess with my boss.¡±


    ¡°Kiss?¡± Jasper¡¯s eyes lit up like a cartoon character¡¯s.


    Ava looked at Daniel.


    ¡°I thought he told you?¡± Her cheeks flushed.


    ¡°We¡¯re not girls who gossip about that stuff,¡± Daniel said. ¡°If we¡¯d hooked up, maybe I¡¯d brag to him.¡± It was his turn to be blunt.


    Ava went speechless.


    ¡°I kissed him,¡± she said, turning to Jasper. ¡°I wanted my boss to see¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not judging,¡± Jasper interrupted again. ¡°Do what you want. Daniel¡¯s cool, and that other one doesn¡¯t deserve him.¡±


    ¡°Jasper?¡±


    ¡°Come on, bro, enough,¡± Jasper said. ¡°She doesn¡¯t let you hang out with us, doesn¡¯t let you do anything. You think I don¡¯t see how you two look at each other? You¡¯re all googly-eyed for her, and she¡¯s looking for any excuse to stay away.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure, it¡¯s not¡­¡± Jasper rolled his eyes. ¡°You just need to see yourself from the outside. You¡¯re pathetic when you¡¯re with Emma.¡±


    The bar door swung open again. Daniel felt a flicker of d¨¦j¨¤ vu with all these people constantly barging in.


    This time, it was Wesley.


    ¡°So, what do you think of my offer from earlier?¡± he asked.


    ¡°To shoot ourselves? Bring it here,¡± Jasper said, sounding bored out of his mind.


    ¡°To come down to the lab with us,¡± Wesley clarified. ¡°We got the okay from the bosses. You¡¯ll see things from the inside. Could be interesting.¡±


    Ava¡¯s face lit up. Daniel was happier seeing her reaction than he was about the prospect of seeing the robots again.

 45

    The tour through the underground wasn¡¯t as exciting as they¡¯d imagined. Mostly, it was just robots¡ªmany of them broken and lined up for repairs. The only interesting parts were the tracks the robots moved on, disappearing into various tunnels¡ªWesley said they led all the way to Barnes¡¯ labs¡ªand the entrances. Most were hidden trapdoors in the outdoor toilets of the fake town, with a few tucked into the wells.


    It was neat, but the evening was better. Their last night in this place. At the bar.


    Phil had scrounged up some beer and food for them, wished them a good night, and headed off to sleep. Jasper had been unusually quiet the past few days. Ava stared dreamily out the window. And Daniel stared at her.


    Until she suddenly turned to him.


    ¡°What are you guys thinking about?¡±


    ¡°That I¡¯ve got to go back to work,¡± Jasper said, sounding grim. ¡°And everything¡¯s going to start repeating again.¡±


    ¡°Repeating?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Same clients, same deals, same apartments.¡±


    ¡°Our jobs are kinda related,¡± Daniel said. ¡°We build homes; you sell them.¡±


    ¡°Probably,¡± Jasper shrugged. ¡°It makes money¡ªI can¡¯t complain¡ªbut I miss the thrill. A thrill like we had here this past week.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ava said. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go back to work too. And Sam Hayes probably hates me now.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you find another job?¡± Jasper asked. ¡°There are tons of architects out there.¡±


    ¡°I just started with him. He¡¯s super picky about who he hires. Until recently, I was the only newbie in years. But now there¡¯s this other girl.¡±


    She was talking about Emma. And Daniel could tell from Jasper¡¯s look that he¡¯d caught it too.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Ava said, brushing it off. ¡°I won¡¯t bore you with my stuff. Tell me about you guys. We barely know each other.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Jasper, a broker,¡± he said, pointing at himself. ¡°I love hitting bars every night and going home with women who¡¯ve got no morals. That¡¯s my whole life.¡± He gestured at Daniel. ¡°This is Daniel. He¡¯s got a girlfriend of ten years who¡­¡± He caught Daniel¡¯s glare and switched gears. ¡°And he¡¯s some kind of software chemist.¡±


    ¡°Engineer,¡± Daniel corrected.


    ¡°Same thing. Makes programs. But he¡¯s damn good. They gave him invites here, after all.¡±


    ¡°He could¡¯ve introduced himself,¡± Ava said.


    ¡°We¡¯re not at an addicts¡¯ meeting,¡± Jasper shot back. ¡°And he¡¯d just lie anyway. It¡¯s better when a friend says it.¡±


    ¡°Would he say the same about you?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Daniel jumped in. ¡°Couldn¡¯t describe him better. A slacker with a cushy job.¡± He turned to Ava. ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Ava,¡± she said, giving a playful wave like at a support group. ¡°Not just a nickname¡ªit¡¯s my full name. I was in university until recently, graduated, and started an architecture internship. It ended not long ago, and they took me on full-time. Nothing else interesting about me.¡±


    ¡°No husband, kids, divorces?¡± Jasper couldn¡¯t help himself.


    ¡°Nope,¡± Ava laughed. ¡°I had a long-term relationship¡ªmy first high school love, actually. We were together eight years. Then he cheated, I got mad and cheated back, and that was that.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t cheat with me, did you?¡± Jasper couldn¡¯t resist. Daniel was annoyed he was steering the conversation, but he made it fun. ¡°Blondes are my type, unlike this guy here.¡± He kicked Daniel under the table.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t even remember the guy I slept with,¡± Ava said. ¡°I was so pissed I went to a bar, downed a few shots, and got wasted. I was pretty aggressive. I remember the bartender¡¯s face when I started ordering¡ªthat¡¯s about all I recall from that night.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s totally possible it was me,¡± Jasper said, snapping out of his slump.


    Ava smiled at him.


    ¡°Nah. I saw the guy in the morning. We were in some hotel room. He was about forty, with a scruffy beard and hair, lying naked next to me. I was naked too. I don¡¯t even know what we did¡ªor if we did anything. I grabbed my stuff and bolted. Not exactly something to brag about.¡±


    ¡°But you did,¡± Jasper said.


    ¡°We¡¯re spilling everything, right? And after tomorrow, we might never see each other again. What¡¯s better than telling your most embarrassing story to a stranger?¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll go next,¡± Jasper said, planting both hands on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t even know if Daniel and Colin know this one.¡±


    ¡°Colin?¡±


    ¡°The third guy in our crew,¡± Jasper said, winking at Daniel. ¡°So, listen. I fell in love.¡±


    ¡°Unheard of,¡± Daniel said, taking a sip and cutting in. Jasper glared at him and went on.


    ¡°When a guy falls in love, it¡¯s intense. Nothing like it is for women.¡±


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    ¡°I¡¯d agree with that,¡± Ava said.


    ¡°Yeah. So, I did everything for this girl. I think she liked me too¡ªat least from the signals she gave. But we hadn¡¯t done it yet. I wanted it to be special.¡± Jasper paused for a moment. ¡°I snuck into her room late one night. I figured she was eating with her family since she wasn¡¯t there, and the big room in their house was lit up.¡±


    Daniel knew this story. Jasper had told it before.


    ¡°¡­And I stripped naked,¡± Jasper continued.


    Now Ava was laughing too.


    ¡°But I brought a rose. Naked, with a rose in my hand. She lived on the first floor, it was warm out, the windows were open. Easy for someone to climb in. I don¡¯t know how long I stood there¡ªit felt like forever. Then I heard movement in the hallway. I thought it was her. I stood up straight, posed and everything.¡± Jasper clutched his head. ¡°Even telling it now, I¡¯m embarrassed.¡±


    ¡°Keep going,¡± Ava urged. ¡°Was it her mom who walked in?¡±


    ¡°If only it¡¯d been her mom. Or her dad. It was her boyfriend. Turns out she had one and was introducing him to her parents that night.¡±


    Ava tried not to laugh but failed. Daniel had heard it before, but it still cracked him up.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Well, nothing. He yelled for her, she screamed, her mom and dad came running. I bolted out the way I came¡ªthrough the window.¡±


    ¡°What happened after?¡±


    ¡°You know what happened?¡± Jasper took a swig of beer. ¡°Later, I hooked up with her mom. She was cooler than her anyway. Older, but cooler. I don¡¯t know if the daughter ever found out. Probably not. I¡¯m good with it.¡±


    Ava didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°Did you talk about it while you were with her mom?¡± Daniel asked, knowing the answer.


    ¡°That¡¯s how it started. She told me to wait in her room the same way.¡±


    Ava hid her flushed, embarrassed face in her hands.


    ¡°Stop, stop. I can¡¯t listen to this.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Jasper said. ¡°The only loser here is Daniel. He¡¯s got nothing. Virgin ¡®til Emma, and he¡¯ll stay that way after her. She¡¯s¡ª¡±


    ¡°Jas! Stop.¡±


    ¡°Bro, I¡¯m fed up,¡± Jasper said. ¡°I want the best for you. Either be with a normal girl or ditch Emma and come drink with me every night. You¡¯re doing neither.¡±


    ¡°You two have secrets from each other, huh?¡± Ava said, glancing between them.


    ¡°Nah,¡± Jasper said. ¡°He knows what I think of Emma. Not just ¡®cause she kicked me out of their place. She¡¯s just way below his level.¡±


    The three fell quiet for a while. The topic seemed exhausted, though their faces showed they all had more questions.


    Jasper downed the rest of his beer and stood.


    ¡°Chicks, I¡¯m off to bed. Let tomorrow come quick and get this over with. Don¡¯t forget your rooms are on either side of mine. If you end up in the same bed, keep it down¡ªI want to sleep.¡±


    ¡°We might call you in,¡± Ava shouted after him.


    ¡°Yes! Great idea,¡± Jasper said, raising a hand as he headed for the stairs.


    They watched him go until he disappeared, singing some tune that stopped when he shut his door.


    ¡°So?¡± Ava looked at Daniel, her eyes darting between his and somewhere behind him. ¡°Is what he says about you and¡­ Emma true?¡±


    Daniel paused. People didn¡¯t usually grill him about his relationship. It irked him a bit, but Emma had been right earlier¡ªwhat better than spilling to a stranger?


    ¡°Actually, everything¡¯s fine for me,¡± he lied. ¡°But from the outside, maybe there¡¯s some kind of problem.¡±


    ¡°Maybe?¡±


    ¡°Look, since she started her job, Emma¡¯s been busier, and we barely see each other. It was better at first¡ªI brought in the money, she took care of me and the house. Now we see each other at night just long enough to figure out dinner. That¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°What about the sex?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you pushing it?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree?¡± Ava said. ¡°We¡¯re strangers. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll probably forget each other¡¯s stories. Think of me as someone to confess to, to lighten the load. Then I¡¯ll share something.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Daniel said. ¡°Sex with her is amazing.¡± He glanced for her reaction, but she gave none, so he went on. ¡°When it happens.¡±


    Ava burst out laughing, then quickly stopped.


    ¡°Sorry. That was good.¡±


    ¡°Your turn.¡±


    ¡°I lied earlier,¡± she said. ¡°I cheated on my boyfriend first.¡±


    ¡°With who?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s not the interesting question. Ask why. I¡¯ll tell you¡ªit was over. He just didn¡¯t know it. We weren¡¯t doing anything different from what you¡¯re describing with your relationship.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to get me to break up with Emma?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not,¡± she said. ¡°I just know that feeling when two people have run out of steam. Look, I hope things go back to how they were for you at the start. But if there¡¯s nothing holding you together, the better option is¡­¡±


    ¡°To cheat?¡±


    ¡°What would you do if someone told you they cheated on you?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ she cheated on me early on.¡±


    Ava leaned back, staring at him for a long moment.


    ¡°That¡¯s when your relationship should¡¯ve ended. Sorry to say it, but that¡¯s disrespect. And I¡¯m saying this as someone who¡¯s cheated.¡±


    ¡°I know, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no excuse,¡± she said. ¡°She must¡¯ve really been worth it. But hearing you talk about her now¡­ your relationship¡¯s not even working.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you an architect? Since when are you a relationship expert? From what I gather, we¡¯ve had the same number of relationships.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re being honest,¡± Daniel said, puffing up a bit¡ªshe was smiling back at him¡ª¡°would you sleep with someone on a first meeting? Like you and me right now?¡±


    Ava kept smiling. She pushed her chair back and stood. Her pink T-shirt had come untucked from her jeans, hanging loose around her hips¡ªlonger than it needed to be. She walked over to him, lifted one leg over his, and sat in his lap. Her lips pressed against his, her tongue slipping between them. This time, she didn¡¯t smell of beer. It was delicious.


    She pulled back and leaned toward his ear.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a first meeting,¡± she whispered, kissing him again before pulling away. ¡°We¡¯ve kissed before, don¡¯t you remember?¡±


    Ava stood and left him there alone. She walked slowly to the stairs and climbed up.


    He waited until she was out of sight, then got up too.


    He lingered a moment before approaching her room. Standing at her door, he rested his hand on the knob.


    If he turned it, there¡¯d be no going back. Tomorrow, he¡¯d go home to Emma¡ªEmma, who he¡¯d been with for over ten years, who knew everything about him. Emma, who he hadn¡¯t seen in a week and who probably missed him. Emma, who he¡¯d forgiven and would forgive for anything.


    He¡¯d told Jasper sleeping with a robot wasn¡¯t cheating. But would sleeping with a real girl in a robot world be infidelity?


    He took a few steps and turned the knob to Room 204.


    It was cool inside.


    He barely blinked all night.

 46

    The train started from the same spot it had dropped them off less than a week ago. Only this time, Sheriff Jake wasn¡¯t there to see them off like he¡¯d welcomed them. No one was¡ªjust a handful of company staff and people from the other parks.


    On the train, Jasper claimed two seats for himself and sprawled across them. He and Ava had walked side by side the whole way there, but they hadn¡¯t said a word. Jasper must¡¯ve sensed something was up¡ªhe didn¡¯t crack a single dumb joke. When they boarded, Ava went to the far end of the car and sat by the window.


    Yeah, maybe it was a mistake not going to her last night. Did he regret it? Maybe a little. But if he had, his conscience would be weighing him down now. Did Ava want something more from him? Probably. Did he like her? Absolutely. And if her story was true, she didn¡¯t sleep around. Their connection might¡¯ve carried on outside. But was that what he really wanted? And Emma¡ªwhat would she say?


    He couldn¡¯t wait to get home to Emma. To scoop her up and carry her straight to bed. He¡¯d do it without a shred of guilt because he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. And after a night with her, he¡¯d tell her everything about this place. Maybe even about Ava. Why not?


    Wesley sat next to him, dressed in normal civilian clothes. Daniel barely recognized him. Wesley nodded, but they didn¡¯t talk. Daniel didn¡¯t feel like talking to anyone. He glanced at Ava a few times, hoping to catch her eye, but she stared out the window. He felt guilty about her, but he hoped she¡¯d understand. After all, starting tomorrow, they¡¯d just be strangers. She¡¯d said it herself. Did she have feelings for him? Probably not. Maybe a fleeting crush. He liked her too¡ªif he weren¡¯t with Emma, maybe something could¡¯ve happened.


    Jasper was asleep again, like the whole night hadn¡¯t been enough.


    The ride back to the hub felt shorter this time, and the park looked deserted. Even the workers they¡¯d seen on the way in were gone.


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    ¡°They¡¯re prepping it for the opening,¡± Wesley said, clearly picking up on Daniel¡¯s thoughts. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s empty. The robots come last.¡±


    Daniel pretended to listen, staring out the window again. He was looking, but his mind was elsewhere. He faced a dilemma¡ªwould he come back if they offered? He decided probably not. What he¡¯d experienced was enough to tell stories about. Once the rich folks showed up, this place would be totally different. Nothing would be the same.


    The train stopped at the makeshift station outside the hub. Daniel felt like he¡¯d actually traveled through time. He¡¯d crossed so many eras that holding his phone again felt strange. He didn¡¯t need this thing. What was he supposed to do with it? He knew, of course¡ªfirst, he checked for missed calls. There were a bunch, mostly from his mom and work. He scrolled for Emma¡¯s name. And there it was.


    ¡°We need to talk. Call me when you get back.¡±


    There it was¡ªshe¡¯d missed him. They¡¯d talk, of course. But first, they¡¯d enjoy each other.


    The shift from sand and wooden houses to marble walls and asphalt streets jolted him at first. Moving from that era to this one was tough.


    No one was there to greet them at the station. Everyone got off the train and scattered. He didn¡¯t even notice when Ava disappeared. He and Jasper agreed to catch up later¡ªboth were too drained to talk. They got in their cars and drove off without a word.


    Traffic lights, towering buildings, giant screens, phones, wires, hurried people, stylish and tacky clothes, dolled-up and surgically enhanced women¡ªdid the world really need all this? Back in that era, they got by just fine with one pair of pants and a revolver strapped to it.


    He found his car and drove home in a daze, thinking about the park the whole way.


    When he got out, he stood in front of his house. He knocked, but no one answered. He pulled out his key and opened the door. The house was empty and dark. He called Emma¡¯s name¡ªno response. He stepped into the kitchen, the last place he¡¯d seen her, the place he¡¯d dreamed of her.


    There was a note on the table. Handwritten.


    He didn¡¯t need to read it to know what it said.

 47

    ¡°Daniel,


    I tried to reach you, but I couldn¡¯t. And maybe it¡¯s better this way. I¡¯m not good at long explanations, so I¡¯ll get straight to the point. I can¡¯t take it anymore, Daniel. Something¡¯s missing. Maybe I¡¯m not giving you what you deserve, or maybe we just can¡¯t complete each other. Our relationship is held together by understanding, but inside, it¡¯s rotten. I¡¯m sorry, Dani. I¡¯m going back to my parents¡¯ place for a while. And after that¡­ I don¡¯t know. Don¡¯t look for me. I love you, but I don¡¯t want to see you. I don¡¯t know how to explain it¡­¡±


    And that was it. He was both disappointed that it was so short and relieved he couldn¡¯t read more. And somehow, he¡¯d been expecting this ever since he stepped off the train. The idea that he and Emma might break up had planted itself like a seed in his mind, and throughout the entire journey, it was all he could think about. He wondered how he could win her back, how he could reignite the spark in their relationship.


    Finding the house empty only confirmed it. She was nowhere to be found. He noticed her luggage was gone too. And then he read the letter.


    But none of that was the worst part.


    The worst part was that he actually felt relief.


    He picked up his phone and scrolled to her number. During their time together, he¡¯d often wondered what he¡¯d do if he lost her. And he¡¯d never found an answer.


    Well, here it was now. He didn¡¯t want to call her, but it felt like the right thing to do. Because that¡¯s what grown-ups do, isn¡¯t it? They don¡¯t write letters. Especially not in times when you can build a real person out of metal.


    He swiped his finger across the phone and found her number. He lingered on it for a few seconds. Then he deleted it.


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    It might not have been manly, but she¡¯d made her choice. And if he¡¯d kept it, he risked texting or calling her again one day.


    The lonely days of a man pass a little differently. Especially for a man recently abandoned. He¡¯d seen it in his friends. And every one of them had told him to do exactly this¡ªto erase all contact with the girl he¡¯d broken up with. So he did. And to some extent, he felt relieved by it. Maybe it would¡¯ve happened sooner or later anyway. And it was better that Emma had ended it first.


    From the fridge, he could tell Emma had been here not long ago. The vegetables, which she mostly ate, were still fresh. So she¡¯d decided this in the last two days. No, he shouldn¡¯t fool himself. Emma had probably decided this months ago. She¡¯d just found the right moment to act on it now.


    Daniel opened the small liquor cabinet. A few bottles were missing. Clearly, Emma had been drinking. He grabbed one¡ªa gift from Jasper¡ªopened it, and sat at the table. He downed the first glass in one gulp. The second, he savored.


    When he finished the second glass, he picked up the letter again. Had she thought about it for long? He didn¡¯t believe so. She hadn¡¯t put in much effort. She¡¯d scribbled down the most obvious nonsense someone might write and then vanished.


    He drank a third glass and went to bed. He lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling. He remembered a dream about an open window and rain. Did it mean something? He didn¡¯t believe in dreams or fortune-tellers, but why not? He¡¯d had that dream about two days ago. In it, Emma had been crying. Had she cried when she left?


    He grabbed his phone and dialed Jasper.


    ¡°Hey, bro?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Jas?¡±


    ¡°Honestly? I¡¯m lying here staring at the ceiling. It¡¯s so boring here. And knowing I¡¯ve got work tomorrow¡­ I just want to die.¡±


    ¡°Feel like drinking?¡±


    ¡°Always.¡±


    ¡°Grab Colin and meet me at our spot.¡±


    ¡°Tonight? We just got back¡­¡±


    Daniel hung up. He didn¡¯t feel like explaining more. Jasper didn¡¯t need much convincing. Daniel was sure he¡¯d be there.


    And he was.

 48

    The last time he¡¯d seen Jasper and Colin in this bar was when they¡¯d chatted up that girl Daniel was certain was a prostitute. Not that it bothered them.


    They always met here when they wanted to hang out and catch up, but hadn¡¯t planned anything more exciting. Or they came when something urgent needed to be discussed. Like now.


    When Daniel walked in, Colin and Jasper had already claimed a table with just one empty seat left. Daniel took it quickly. Colin flashed him a smile, but Jasper looked annoyed¡ªor maybe just tired. Still, he spoke first:


    ¡°I¡¯m exhausted, I¡¯m not in the mood, and I¡¯m telling you, by the time this beer¡¯s gone, you better have said what you need to say.¡± Jasper waved his bottle, already half-empty.


    Jasper¡¯s eyes confirmed he wasn¡¯t keen on sticking around. Colin, on the other hand, was more cheerful, genuinely happy to see them. It showed. But he rarely spoke up. And that made sense¡ªhe didn¡¯t know what they¡¯d been through.


    ¡°Man, you both look wrecked,¡± Colin¡¯s rough voice cut through the music. ¡°What were you up to out there? Did they torture you or something?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, bro,¡± Daniel said. ¡°Just a bit messed up. The place¡ªthe park¡ªwas awesome, though. We had a blast. And we almost got hanged.¡±


    Colin¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Hanged?¡±


    Daniel noticed Jasper glancing at him, but he wasn¡¯t in the mood to recount park stories. He wanted to tell them about Emma. He was waiting for the right moment¡ªone that might never come if Jasper kept talking.


    ¡°Yeah, bro. Long story. We turned that park upside down. Me and this troublemaker here.¡± Jasper pointed at Daniel.


    ¡°I knew you would,¡± Colin said. ¡°You two monkeys¡­ By the way, they¡¯ve started advertising that place. Billboards, TV ads, online. They¡¯re calling it revolutionary.¡±


    ¡°And it is,¡± Jasper replied. ¡°Imagine it like time travel. You go back to whatever era you want.¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t it boring with robots?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t even realize they¡¯re robots. Turns out, there were real people mixed in with them. They were testing us or something. They explained it differently, but I don¡¯t buy it. There was some hidden reason for including real people. That was the only annoying part. Otherwise¡­ it was like a miracle.¡±


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t spot the real people? No way. Are the robots that realistic?¡±


    ¡°Bro¡­¡± Jasper leaned in. ¡°Ask Daniel if you want. I only figured it out because I overheard two technicians talking. Without that, I¡¯d never have known. Once you know there are real people, it¡¯s a bit easier to spot them, but before that? No chance.¡±


    ¡°When it opens to the public, will there be real people? The ads don¡¯t mention it.¡±


    ¡°Nah, they said there won¡¯t be. I don¡¯t fully trust them, but I don¡¯t fully doubt it either. The robots wear gloves. The blood doesn¡¯t reach their hands.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Blood in robots? Can¡¯t they fix that?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get it exactly. Daniel¡ª¡± Both turned to him. ¡°Where¡¯s your head at? You called us here, and you¡¯re just sitting there quiet. My beer¡¯s almost done.¡±


    Daniel straightened up. He looked at them one by one, glanced around as if searching for help, and somehow found the strength:


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    ¡°Emma left me.¡±


    Their first reaction was shock. The second was wide grins, like they¡¯d rehearsed it. Jasper raised his glass.


    ¡°Let¡¯s drink. Finally. My mood¡¯s back.¡±


    Colin did the same, clinking bottles with Jasper as they drank.


    ¡°Bro, that¡¯s the best news I¡¯ve heard in a while,¡± Jasper said.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment for at least four years,¡± Colin added.


    ¡°But you¡¯ve only known him for three,¡± Jasper shot back.


    ¡°Exactly, Jas. He¡¯s finally free.¡±


    ¡°And these are my friends,¡± Daniel muttered, frowning. ¡°I expected you to comfort me. Say she doesn¡¯t deserve me or something.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been comforting you since you got with Emma, bro,¡± Jasper said. ¡°Now you¡¯re free! Free!¡±


    Jasper raised his hand, and a waitress came over. His grin was back. She was petite, with tied-back black hair. Jasper whispered something in her ear and winked at Daniel. She went to the bar and returned with a full bottle. Jasper took it and set three fresh glasses in front of them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s better news this week¡ªthat you took me to the park or that Emma finally left. I¡¯m buying.¡± Jasper poured each of them a glass.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡± Colin didn¡¯t lift his glass. The others didn¡¯t get it.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t apologized for not taking me.¡±


    ¡°Come on, bro¡­ I was ready to give you my ticket, but you didn¡¯t want it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m kidding. I¡¯ve got the cash, I¡¯ll go myself. The ads hooked me. And you guys rave about it¡­¡±


    The others laughed. When the laughter died down, Daniel tried to steer the conversation back.


    ¡°Emma left me a letter.¡±


    ¡°Did you burn it?¡±


    ¡°The letter? No. It¡¯s at home. But I deleted her number.¡±


    He knew they¡¯d like that.


    ¡°Good move. You learn fast. Throw all her stuff out in front of the house. Let her pick it up outside. Don¡¯t let her back in.¡±


    ¡°She already took her luggage.¡±


    ¡°Ha. She¡¯s quick. That bitch has been planning this for a while, you know.¡±


    ¡°I figured as much.¡±


    ¡°Even better. Next weekend, we¡¯re at your place. I¡¯ll bring girls and booze. This calls for a celebration.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it too soon, Jas? I¡¯m not in the mood to celebrate.¡±


    ¡°Too soon? You sound like we buried someone and need to wait forty days. Come on. You¡¯ll see it¡¯s for your own good.¡±


    Jasper downed his glass, poured another, wiped his mouth, and went on:


    ¡°You could bring that Russian chick. Ava, right? What a babe.¡± He turned to Colin. ¡°Our buddy here hooked up with a blonde with dark eyes. Just my type. But I¡¯m a good guy, so I let him have her.¡±


    ¡°So you ditched Emma first, huh, Daniel?¡± Colin jumped in. ¡°You naughty boy. Did you at least sleep with her?¡±


    ¡°She probably wouldn¡¯t want to see me again. And I don¡¯t have her contact.¡±


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t want to see you? Are you that bad in bed? Sure, sleeping with Emma¡¯s no picnic, but I thought you still had some game.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t sleep together, Jas. She went to her room, I went to mine.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re pathetic,¡± Jasper said, nearly crushing the glass in his hand. ¡°She was looking at you like she¡¯d jump you if I wasn¡¯t there. That¡¯s why I left you two alone. And you chickened out¡­ Little Danny boy¡­¡±


    ¡°I had a girlfriend, Jas.¡±


    ¡°Had! And what did she do? She left you. And now you¡¯re probably regretting it. Instead of hooking up with that blonde temptation¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait a sec,¡± Colin interrupted. ¡°Are we talking about a robot or what? I¡¯m getting confused. You fell for a robot?¡± He looked at Daniel.


    ¡°No, the blonde was one of the guests there. She wasn¡¯t getting along with her boss. I think he wanted to sleep with her, but she turned him down.¡±


    ¡°Typical story,¡± Colin said, throwing his hands up. ¡°What did she expect, going with her boss?¡±


    ¡°I said the same thing, bro, and she got a bit offended,¡± Jasper replied. ¡°So she set her sights on our Daniel, but he¡­ Hey, Dani¡ª¡± Jasper rarely called him that. ¡°You didn¡¯t turn gay, did you?¡±


    Colin burst out laughing.


    ¡°No, seriously,¡± Jasper continued. ¡°Living with that girl might¡¯ve rewired you. And speaking of her¡ª¡± He raised his glass. ¡°To her health. May she live long and well, far away from our friend.¡±


    Colin lifted his glass too, nudging Daniel to join. When he did, the two cheered in excitement.

 49

    ¡°So, Daniel, how¡¯d it go?¡±


    His boss, Max Scott, looked at him from the comfort of his chair, on the other side of the large desk that took up most of his office. This time, he hadn¡¯t called him to the big conference room like before, where others were expected and where his blonde secretary had eyed him with her greasy stare. Now they were in Max¡¯s office.


    It wasn¡¯t a huge space, but it was arranged so Max could do everything without moving much or bumping into unnecessary objects. Behind him was a window with the blinds drawn to keep the sun off his screen. In front of him sat a laptop and a wide, mostly empty desk. Across from him were chairs, one of which Daniel occupied. Near the door was a small sofa, where Daniel imagined the secretary had sat more than once¡ªprobably without underwear.


    ¡°At the park, Mr. Scott?¡±


    ¡°Please, just call me Max or Scott. Drop the ¡®mister.¡¯ We know each other.¡± He smiled, satisfied. And that was never a good sign. ¡°Yeah, the park. Which part were you in?¡±


    ¡°The Wild West one. You got off after us in the modern section, right?¡± Daniel preempted him.


    ¡°Oh, yeah, you saw. It was great. I didn¡¯t believe the robots would feel so real. But after the first day, it got a bit boring. There wasn¡¯t much to do. And the robots started getting pushy, sticking their noses where they didn¡¯t belong. Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t go back.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Daniel replied, not eager to recount his experience or discuss the park. He was waiting for the real reason Max had called him here.


    Max leaned forward.


    ¡°I want to ask you, man to man, not as a colleague¡­ Did you try anything with one of the robots?¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Daniel knew what he meant but played dumb. He wanted to be sure.


    ¡°You know what.¡± Max grinned and winked. ¡°Look, I¡¯ll tell you¡ª¡± He glanced around as if worried someone might overhear in his tiny office. ¡°I slept with one of the robots. It felt¡­ How do I put it? Weird, but damn close to the real thing.¡±


    ¡°What about the one you were with?¡± Daniel knew it wasn¡¯t polite to ask, but he did anyway.


    ¡°Brooke? Please. It¡¯s like going to the beach in summer with your wife. Pointless. Brooke was¡­¡± Max paused to think. ¡°A backup, just in case.¡±


    ¡°But you were with her.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. She had a good time too. Spent all day lounging by some pool while robots brought her cocktails. From what I hear, she took one¡ªor sometimes two¡ªof those robots back to her room. She enjoyed herself.¡± Max looked down, then up again with his sly grin. ¡°By the way, it was weird seeing robots in swimsuits with black gloves. They need to figure out how to fix that. It¡¯s¡­ illogical. With those big ball gowns in your section, it might¡¯ve been less noticeable, but in ours, it stood out. Especially in spots where there wasn¡¯t much clothing. The robots aren¡¯t perfect yet. Maybe Barnes is working on it. I hope he is.¡±


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    Max Scott might not have realized it, but Daniel had zero interest in listening. If Max thought they were buddies, Daniel was far from that idea. But he doubted this was why he¡¯d been called in. There was something else. So he nodded and waited for Max to get to the point.


    ¡°Daniel, I¡¯m not mad at you.¡±


    Daniel looked up, confused.


    ¡°For the tickets.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t give them to you.¡±


    ¡°You could¡¯ve. You just shouldn¡¯t have asked the company. But it¡¯s done now. I¡¯m really not mad. I think you wanted to, but they wouldn¡¯t let you. That¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I even asked.¡±


    ¡°Right, right. Listen, Daniel, there¡¯s something else.¡± Max pulled some papers toward him and started folding their edges with his finger. ¡°While you were gone this week¡ªand me too, I guess¡ªsome changes happened at the firm.¡±


    Here it comes. Daniel didn¡¯t even want to hear it.


    He¡¯d either double his workload, chew him out for something, or dock his pay. Max Scott was that kind of person and boss. He always played the friend card with everyone. Daniel had seen through him long ago.


    ¡°Do you know Stella McIntyre?¡±


    ¡°Stella? She¡¯s in my department.¡± Of course he knew her. He¡¯d been gone a week, not years. Though a lot had happened in that week.


    Max studied him.


    ¡°Well, Stella found a firm somewhere that¡¯s willing to trust our services. A very serious firm. They talked to my partners, and it all seemed legit.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she mentioned that to me before I left. But she didn¡¯t call it a firm¡ªjust some friends of hers.¡±


    ¡°Right, right. Same thing, pretty much. They¡¯re her friends, but they¡¯re also a serious company ready to invest big in a mobile app. And they want us to handle everything.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll talk to Stella about getting her a team.¡±


    Max smiled and leaned back. His look wasn¡¯t friendly anymore. He was pleased about something, and Daniel was about to find out why.


    ¡°Stella¡¯s already been spoken to last week. I know it¡¯s over your head, but things have to move even when you¡¯re not around. No one can wait for the team leader to finish his fun, right?¡±


    Daniel wished Jasper were here. He always had the right words for moments like this¡ªusually not the kindest ones. Max Scott¡¯s arrogance deserved a response, but Daniel couldn¡¯t deliver it.


    ¡°So now what?¡± he asked, though he knew the answer.


    ¡°Well, I tried to help you, Daniel. But Stella¡¯s friendly firm wants to work mainly with her.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re promoting her.¡±


    Max shook his head.


    ¡°For now, just on this project. Which means you need to step aside.¡±


    If he could compare this to the moment he read Emma¡¯s letter saying she was leaving him, this hurt more. Not because of Stella¡ªhe respected her; she¡¯d never wronged him¡ªbut because of Max Scott. He was sure Max had a hand in it. And it definitely tied back to not giving him those tickets.


    ¡°I know this sucks for you,¡± Max said calmly. ¡°So I can offer to move you to another team.¡±


    ¡°As what?¡±


    ¡°As a team member. Sorry, Daniel, but I can¡¯t replace another team leader with you.¡±


    ¡°But you can make Stella take my spot.¡±


    ¡°We can. The company comes first, above all of us. Tomorrow, this could happen to me. The client¡¯s always right.¡± Max sat back, hands clasped over his chest. ¡°To show you I¡¯m still good to you, I¡¯ll raise your pay. Not by much, but it¡¯s something.¡±


    ¡°In exchange for going back to where I was five years ago?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah, if you put it that way. But with a better salary.¡± He spread his palms.


    Max Scott¡¯s smile was one of the things that stuck in Daniel¡¯s mind long after that conversation.

 50

    ¡°Everything¡¯s going downhill, Jas.¡±


    Daniel sat in Jasper¡¯s car. It was late afternoon. He¡¯d eagerly waited to finish work so he could call Jasper. He knew Jasper always had something to say. Jasper drove him to a nearby hill overlooking the city, a spot accessible by car, and parked where the entire town stretched out below them. Daniel knew this was where Jasper usually brought the women he dated¡ªthe ones he didn¡¯t plan to see again afterward. No, he didn¡¯t kill them. They¡¯d look at the city, talk, Jasper would make a move, see how they reacted, and they usually knew why he¡¯d brought them there and did their part. Daniel hadn¡¯t been there for it, but that¡¯s how Jasper described it.


    Now, instead of a woman, Jasper had brought him. But they weren¡¯t here for Jasper¡¯s usual games. They just sat with non-alcoholic beers in hand, watching the city.


    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about Emma, bro, that¡¯s not downhill. That¡¯s a straight-up launch.¡±


    ¡°And still, getting dumped by your wife and demoted at work in the same week sounds like some serious bad luck.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, bro, but don¡¯t take it so hard. You¡¯re a pro. If even Hugo Barnes singled you out as one of the most promising in the field, who am I to doubt him? I¡¯ve got no clue what you do or who¡¯s in your circles, but that¡¯s an achievement.¡±


    Daniel couldn¡¯t tell if Jasper was just saying this to cheer him up or if he meant it, but the words made him feel less like a failure.


    ¡°And look, bro, with a bit of luck, you could¡¯ve left the park with a new girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t start that again.¡±


    ¡°Fine. So what are you going to do now?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m thinking of staying and waiting for them to put me back. I¡¯m better than the one replacing me. They¡¯ll probably realize their mistake.¡±


    ¡°I believe you, but if you let them see you¡¯re okay being under them once, they¡¯ll keep stepping on you. You can¡¯t let them do that.¡±


    ¡°And what do you suggest?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Either find a way up or leave. But don¡¯t let yourself stay under people you were bossing around not long ago.¡±


    ¡°Leave? I¡¯ve been here over ten years. The company helped me grow.¡±


    ¡°And now it¡¯s sliding you right back down. Please, stop embarrassing yourself. I don¡¯t want friends who just roll over for some corporate jerks. I¡¯m telling you, bro, Hugo Barnes saw something in you. And you¡¯re scared of some¡­ I don¡¯t even remember their names.¡±


    ¡°I was one of those jerks¡­ until today.¡±


    ¡°Not a jerk in how you dress. I mean jerks in how they act. You know what I mean.¡±


    Jasper could be serious. And when he had these kinds of talks with him, Daniel felt calmer. That¡¯s why he sought him out more. Colin was a great friend too, and Daniel could count on him just as much, but Jasper knew what to say.


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    ¡°My head¡¯s killing me from last night, bro,¡± Jasper said, leaning against his jeep. ¡°If you get us drunk after every life change, I won¡¯t survive.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who wanted to treat us yesterday. You were so happy about Emma¡­¡±


    ¡°How could I not be? Anyone would celebrate getting out of a relationship like yours. I¡¯m even surprised you didn¡¯t treat us.¡± Jasper pressed the bottle to his lips and took a sip.


    ¡°Enough, let¡¯s get back to the point.¡±


    ¡°The points are connected, bro. You¡¯re cleansing yourself. And cleansing hurts. Don¡¯t see it as a big loss. Remember what they told us at the park? Just enjoy and live the story. How¡¯s the park any different from real life?¡± Jasper gestured wildly as he explained. ¡°Sure, the stories there were fake, and here they come naturally. But in both places, you¡¯ve got to keep going. Nothing good happens unless you¡¯ve been through something bad first. So I¡¯ll tell you what they told us there: just live it.¡±


    ¡°Hell of a speech.¡± Daniel looked at him, surprised.


    Jasper slapped his shoulder and laughed.


    ¡°Well, sometimes I¡¯ve got to be serious. But if you¡¯re planning to cry on my shoulder after every failure, it¡¯s not happening. I¡¯ve got a life too. Yesterday your wife left you, today work¡¯s stressing you out. What¡¯s tomorrow? You¡¯ll call me to sleep with some girl because you¡¯re too lazy? That I¡¯d do, by the way.¡±


    Daniel raised his eyebrows. Jasper made a gesture showing he was ready.


    ¡°Alright, how was your day? Did you get back into work?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re starting to sound like an old married couple who¡¯ve been together a hundred years, only talking about how their day went.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, you¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m kidding, man. I missed these hangouts with you. The last few years were hell. That woman wouldn¡¯t let you go¡ª¡± Jasper caught his look. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll stop talking about her. My day was like any first day back from vacation. You¡¯re glad to be at work, but by afternoon, you¡¯re dying to leave.¡±


    ¡°Familiar feeling.¡±


    ¡°Three properties are about to get occupancy permits, and they asked us to find buyers. That¡¯s at least forty apartments.¡±


    ¡°Wow. Good money?¡±


    ¡°Well, we agreed with the builder not to take a commission from them. He¡¯ll pay me later.¡±


    ¡°You trust him?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve worked with him for years. He¡¯s solid. Pays well. Inspections start tomorrow. Those builders make a ton of cash, you know. Architects, contractors¡­ it¡¯s a mafia. In a good way, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Can you imagine how much they made off Barnes to build the park?¡±


    ¡°Insane amounts. But Barnes will make it back. The park¡¯s got potential. Once visitors start paying, it¡¯ll blow up.¡±


    ¡°My boss said it didn¡¯t impress him much,¡± Daniel said, bringing up Max Scott again. ¡°Said it was missing something.¡±


    ¡°Your boss is an idiot. And he only went there to screw the robot whores.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you went too,¡± Daniel reminded him with a grin.


    ¡°Yeah, well¡­ I struck out. But you know what, Daniel? One friend didn¡¯t have to strike out.¡± He pointed at him with his pinky.


    ¡°Oh, not again.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to talk about Emma, don¡¯t want to talk about Ava. Let¡¯s just talk about shitty corporate rats then. You make me sick sometimes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just in a phase where I¡¯m not up for women.¡±


    ¡°And when will you be? When you¡¯re forty? You¡¯re hopeless, I¡¯m telling you.¡±


    Daniel took two steps forward and tossed his bottle down the hill.


    Someone below cursed at him, and Jasper shouted back.


    It wasn¡¯t okay, but that was Jasper.

 51

    He¡¯d made a decision. And it hadn¡¯t come easily.


    He barely slept after his talk with Jasper. Now he was driving to work. The documents were prepared and sat on the passenger seat beside him. Max Scott had been decent enough not to insult him. But because of Max Scott, he¡¯d forgotten about Emma. He wondered what would have to happen now to make him forget about work.


    He parked in the spot someone else would soon take, grabbed the folder, and got out. He greeted the security guard, passed by him, and took the elevator. Normally, he arrived at work earlier, but today he came just after the workday had started. Not to mess with anyone or make a scene¡ªhe wanted his meeting with Max Scott to be the first thing of the day.


    Again.


    Max usually showed up at a normal time, but he¡¯d vanish at lunch and only return in the afternoon if something urgent came up. Daniel hoped today¡¯s urgency would be the morning. He was ready for Max¡¯s offers and promises. He¡¯d turn them down. Jasper was right¡ªif fate was handing him a story, he had to live it. And fate was Max Scott.


    Daniel went into his office and lingered there for about ten minutes. At least they hadn¡¯t taken his little room yet.


    He couldn¡¯t focus on any work. All he could think about was the meeting with Max. Everyone he greeted or passed looked at him like they knew something. Only Stella wasn¡¯t around. Maybe they¡¯d moved her to a higher floor. Or they were grooming her to fully take his place.


    He decided he¡¯d waited long enough, went to the elevator, pressed the button, and waited. The elevator felt like it took years. Or at least it seemed that way to him. When the doors opened, it was empty. He stepped in and pressed one of the top buttons. The ride up was slow.


    The doors opened again. The hallway stretched out before him¡ªthe same one he¡¯d walked down yesterday. At the end was Max¡¯s office. One door before it was the office of his blonde secretary, whose name he¡¯d only learned yesterday: Brooke.


    He knocked on her door first. Hearing no response, he knocked again and pushed it open.


    The woman was flipping through papers, stamping every second or third one. She wore black glasses, and there was no trace of the smile she¡¯d had last time. Her otherwise pretty lips were once again smeared with lipstick.


    ¡°Yes?¡± she asked without looking up.


    ¡°Is Scott here?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Scott just went into his office.¡±


    ¡°Can you tell him I¡¯d like to see him?¡±


    Brooke held his gaze for a moment, then picked up one of the office phones and dialed a short number.


    ¡°This Daniel wants to talk to you.¡±


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    She was too casual with her boss. But Max had asked the same of him, so it didn¡¯t seem too bad.


    The blonde pulled the phone from her ear, pressed a button, and kept looking at Daniel.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°He says you can go in. He¡¯s expecting you.¡±


    Daniel turned the handle and relived everything from yesterday. The office, the chairs, Max¡¯s looks, that smug grin, his dumb stare. Everything about this guy irritated him. He wished Jasper were here again.


    He held the folder in his hands. He pointed to the chair in front of Max, and Max gestured for him to sit. He wasn¡¯t as chipper as yesterday, but he didn¡¯t seem too surprised either.


    Daniel sat. Max kept fidgeting. Finally, he hurried up and took his own seat. He smiled at Daniel and didn¡¯t let him speak first:


    ¡°I can guess why you¡¯re here. I won¡¯t waste your time.¡±


    Quitting went better than he¡¯d expected. Part of him felt relieved it was over, but another part was annoyed. Max Scott didn¡¯t lift a finger to keep him. He could¡¯ve offered another position at the same level or said he¡¯d talk to the directors. Maybe even recommend him to another company. Not that Daniel would¡¯ve accepted, but wasn¡¯t that how it usually worked?


    Max pulled out a pen and signed his resignation letter. The other request Daniel had was to leave immediately, not wait until the end date on the form. He didn¡¯t want to stay in the company. His confidence was shattered. He kept meeting people¡¯s eyes. He had no motivation to work.


    How had things changed so much in just a week? From the top, invited to the park as one of the most promising in his field, to out on the street. Well, not literally on the street, but close enough.


    Max was kind enough to let him go right away. He said they¡¯d pay him through last week, minus this week¡¯s days. Daniel agreed. He¡¯d expected it, and it was standard. He didn¡¯t care about the money. He just didn¡¯t want to show up here anymore. He¡¯d figure out the rest later.


    He was already driving away from the company building. The resignation had been quick. He wasn¡¯t sure, but it couldn¡¯t have taken more than an hour from walking in to getting the signature.


    He didn¡¯t know where he was going. He¡¯d decided to just drive and get out of the city. His house reminded him of Emma, the city of work. Over the years, he¡¯d saved money, so finances weren¡¯t an issue. With his portfolio, he¡¯d find a job fast. But he wasn¡¯t ready yet. He wanted to be alone with himself.


    He drove. He stopped only at traffic lights. He took turns without checking where they led. And he ended up outside the city. Ahead was just road, flanked by vast, empty fields. He sped up¡ªfirst a little, then more. He felt the car beneath him. He knew it could handle more. He pressed the pedal harder. The road allowed it anyway.


    He hit the car¡¯s max speed. His phone pinged.


    He slowed down and glanced at it. A message.


    ¡°I heard you quit your job. Hope it¡¯s not because of me.¡±


    It was from an unknown number, but he guessed who it was. Especially since he recognized the last two digits. Emma.


    How had she found out so fast? Someone must¡¯ve told her. There were people who could¡¯ve, but he didn¡¯t know rumors spread that quickly.


    He stared at her number for a long time. He could call her, or he could delete the message. Why was she texting now? Did she want to come back? No, he couldn¡¯t live with her again. He missed her, but that was it. He couldn¡¯t imagine her back in their home. Passing her coldly in the halls again. Wondering what to say. Sleeping in separate rooms.


    He slowed down more and hovered his finger over her number. He had options to save it or delete it.


    His story was offering him a new choice. Just like in the park. Two paths. In one, he¡¯d chosen to quit. He¡¯d already made that choice once. And deleted her number.


    Now he did the same.

 52

    He drove slower now, with no regrets. He stopped to refuel. He wanted to keep going as long as he could. To travel at least a day. Driving felt good. Maybe that¡¯s all he¡¯d been missing at that place with the robots.


    The gas station attendant was an old man, about sixty. He moved slowly, hands in the pockets of his red jumpsuit, which matched the brand colors of the station. It was odd that there were still people manually fueling cars just a few kilometers from the most high-tech park humanity could create. Logically, robots should¡¯ve replaced this little guy, who struck up a conversation as he approached Daniel¡¯s car:


    ¡°How¡¯s it going, kid?¡± he asked, starting to fill the tank. ¡°To the top, right?¡±


    Daniel gave a thumbs-up.


    ¡°Just by looking at the car, I can tell what the owner wants,¡± the old man said, glancing at the pump¡¯s numbers. ¡°Man, she¡¯s thirsty. Don¡¯t worry¡ª¡± He patted the car¡¯s roof. ¡°We¡¯ll feed her now.¡±


    All he was missing was a cigarette and a condescending look.


    Daniel went inside the station, waited for the car to fill up, and paid. At the counter was a cute, short girl with a slightly big, crooked nose, chewing gum and barely noticing him.


    ¡°Boss, want me to clean your windows?¡± he heard as he stepped outside.


    The old man outside was clearly fishing for a tip. Daniel waved him off but slipped a bill into his hand anyway.


    ¡°Is that a motel over there?¡± Daniel pointed to a small hotel in the distance, where only the top floor was visible from here.


    ¡°Yeah. The Old Oak. That¡¯s what they call it. Two floors, nothing fancy. Perfect if you just need a place to crash. Otherwise, it¡¯s not for you.¡±


    Daniel wasn¡¯t sure what he meant by ¡°not for you,¡± but he thanked him and slipped another bill into his hand.


    At the first turn, he veered right. The road to the motel was bumpy, with potholes in spots, so he had to drive carefully. The ¡°Old Oak¡± sign made him turn right again and park in a nearly empty lot. Besides him, there were four other cars¡ªall older models¡ªand a garbage truck parked off to the side.


    He entered through the first door he saw and found himself in an empty lobby. He stood there for a while before a woman, about fifty, with curly red hair, appeared. She looked surprised to see him.


    ¡°Do you have a reservation?¡±


    ¡°No. I saw the motel from the road and decided to spend the night.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± She seemed annoyed that he was making her work. ¡°Alright. How many nights do you want a room for?¡±


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°One. Just tonight.¡±


    The woman tried to peek behind him.


    ¡°Are you alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Strange.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Well, people usually come here with girls. Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have said it like that. It¡¯s a nice place. Good choice.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, there wasn¡¯t anything else around.¡±


    ¡°I get it. Would you like breakfast?¡±


    That caught him off guard.


    ¡°Breakfast? You offer that?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah. We¡¯re not as low-class as we look from the outside.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that.¡±


    ¡°Please, sweetie. I¡¯ve got eyes. We¡¯re not a five-star hotel, but we try.¡±


    She shoved a key into his hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ve included breakfast at eight.¡± She winked. ¡°Don¡¯t come later than eight-thirty, or I can¡¯t wait for you.¡±


    ¡°How many people are here?¡±


    ¡°About ten. But they¡¯re all older guys with prostitutes. They probably won¡¯t last the night. You¡¯re the only lucky one.¡± She winked again.


    Daniel stepped back and went outside. The key was for room 204. The same number as in Barnes¡¯ tech park. He found the outdoor stairs and climbed up. The last step creaked just like the one in the bar at the park.


    The rooms here started at 200 and went up to around 211. His was in the middle. He leaned on the handle, turned the key, and went in.


    The room wasn¡¯t bad. A bed stretched across its length, with a narrow bathroom and toilet at the far end. The window faced the stairs, and the bedding at least looked clean. And it wasn¡¯t too pricey.


    He lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d fallen asleep, but his phone jolted him awake.


    It was Jasper.


    ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°The Old Oak.¡±


    ¡°Daniel, are you insane? Where¡¯s that?¡± Jasper was practically yelling through the phone.


    ¡°I need a break, Jas. I went for a drive and¡­ Honestly, I have no idea where I am. I just let the road take me.¡±


    ¡°Are you alone? I mean, if you¡¯re with a woman, I¡¯d get it¡­¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m alone.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy. Give them the key back and come home. I¡¯ll take you to the sleaziest bar tonight.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like it, really. Just resting.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a surprise planned for you on Friday. It was supposed to be a surprise, but now I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ll come back. So I¡¯m telling you now. Grab your stuff and get back here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back tomorrow, Jas. I needed to clear my head. The last few days were too much.¡±


    ¡°Normal people go to a spa or hit bars, get drunk, find new women. And you¡¯ve holed up at the edge of the world in a cockroach-infested dump.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s how I felt, Jas. I didn¡¯t plan to come here, but I saw the motel on the road and turned. It¡¯s not bad, honestly.¡±


    ¡°Listen, I¡¯m calling about something else, bro. Something weird happened today. Got time?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got time,¡± Daniel said, thinking if he smoked, he¡¯d light up now. Maybe not one cigarette, but a whole pack.


    Jasper went quiet on the other end.


    ¡°No, bro. Not over the phone. Can you send me your location?¡±

 53

    He heard Jasper¡¯s jeep from a distance. His car was one of those you just recognized by the sound. It hadn¡¯t been more than two hours since their conversation. He¡¯d just taken a hot shower and stretched out. He didn¡¯t want to turn on the TV. He just wanted to sit and stare. His brain needed a break.


    Jasper slammed his car door hard. That was the signal for Daniel to get up and greet him. He stepped out onto the balcony, which doubled as a sort of outdoor corridor. Standing there in his robe, he waited for Jasper to spot him.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t find a shittier hole, huh?¡± his friend yelled from below.


    ¡°There was one, but I picked this one.¡±


    ¡°Your taste in hotels is the same as your taste in women.¡±


    Jasper figured out how to climb the stairs and started making his way up. His weight pressed down on the iron steps, each one creaking and bouncing as he lifted his foot off it.


    ¡°Your room¡¯s decent at least. How much did you pay for this place?¡±


    ¡°Not much, but if you think we¡¯re sharing a bed, you¡¯re out of luck.¡±


    ¡°Bro, sit down, I¡¯ve got stuff to tell you. I¡¯m not sleeping here for anything in the world.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so important you had to come in person?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve hidden yourself well. I thought you were near the city, but I drove for at least an hour, maybe more. What are you doing here? Actually, don¡¯t tell me. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    Daniel sat on his bed and leaned against the wall. Jasper took the armchair between the bed and the grimy window.


    ¡°Listen, bro,¡± Jasper said, breathless, firing words like bullets. ¡°You know how I told you about the new properties? The big buildings up for sale.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you said you¡¯ve already got a lot of work and weren¡¯t gonna chase commissions. Something like that.¡±


    ¡°Right. And today was my first day meeting clients. I went to check out the apartments first, describe them, you know, the usual stuff I have to deal with. And on the very first day, I get calls from clients.¡±


    ¡°Which is probably normal?¡±


    ¡°Not quite. Sometimes it happens, but not with this kind of interest. Usually, they just call to ask about the price, the location, that sort of thing. These people wanted to view the places right away. And if it was just one apartment, fine, but for the whole first building? That¡¯s too much.¡±


    ¡°And you drove all the way here because of that?¡±


    ¡°No, bro, stop interrupting me,¡± Jasper shouted. Daniel was sure they could hear him three rooms over. ¡°So, I¡¯ve got three properties to sell¡ªby ¡®property,¡¯ I mean whole buildings.¡±


    Daniel nodded.


    ¡°And they started calling me within hours. Literal hours. Different phones. Like I¡¯m not selling apartments but giving them away for free.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Well, I set up meetings with most of them. All of them, actually. Even took some together because I wouldn¡¯t have enough time otherwise. Most of the apartments are the same anyway. Not much different to say to each one. Got any water?¡±


    Daniel handed him his bottle, and Jasper took a sip.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to worry about you, Jas,¡± Daniel said. ¡°You¡¯re sweating and talking all jittery. I don¡¯t want to have to call an ambulance.¡±


    ¡°Relax, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just when I think back to it now, the horror I went through¡­¡±


    ¡°You went through horror?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. The first clients showed up in the morning. One was a couple¡ªtwo guys. Look, I don¡¯t get the gay stuff, I just accept it. With them was another family for a different apartment¡ªthe typical kind, two kids, mom, and dad. Nothing weird so far. I met them out front, all neat and tidy. They¡¯d dressed up nice too. The two guys even smelled good.¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t make you do anything with them, did they?¡±


    ¡°No, bro, I¡¯m not in the mood for jokes. Listen,¡± Jasper took another sip. ¡°I¡¯ve got this habit from the park of checking everyone¡¯s hands. You know, who¡¯s got gloves, who doesn¡¯t, that kind of thing.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got it too,¡± Daniel said, not lying. ¡°The other day at the store, I was watching the cashiers, thinking how easily they could be replaced by robots.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. You see where I¡¯m going.¡±


    ¡°Actually, no.¡±


    ¡°Well, these people didn¡¯t have gloves.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So we shook hands. Like people do when they meet for the first time. And their hands were ice-cold. Ice-cold!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re imagining things, Jas. Something¡¯s stuck with you from the park. Maybe it was a mistake we went there.¡±


    ¡°Fine, maybe I¡¯m imagining it. Or maybe their hands really were like that. Some people have cold extremities.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. And even if someone¡¯s pranking you by sending robots, don¡¯t you think they¡¯d put gloves on them?¡±


    ¡°With gloves, it¡¯d be even more obvious. I think they were hoping we wouldn¡¯t shake hands.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s say you imagined it. Was there anything weird while you were showing them around?¡±


    ¡°No. They acted totally normal. Though I don¡¯t know how sharp I was. I kept thinking about it the whole time.¡±


    ¡°Did they ask you questions? The usual ones¡ªsquare footage, price, that stuff?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, everything was normal, bro. Even the kids were running around while the adults asked questions. Like usual.¡±


    ¡°Then what are you worried about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not done yet, hold on. I told you I had viewings all day. Guess how the next ones showed up?¡±


    ¡°With gloves?¡±


    ¡°You got it. But they took them off before we shook hands.¡±


    ¡°Well, your theory¡¯s getting a bit shaky here. Robots don¡¯t know what gloves are. We figured that out ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Robots are just puppets with consciousness coded by humans. You¡¯re the tech guy. That kind of code could probably be written in minutes.¡±


    He was right about that. Daniel wanted to believe him but couldn¡¯t take it seriously. So he decided to let him finish his story.


    ¡°Their hands were cold too. Like gripping metal, bro. That cold.¡±


    ¡°What if yours were just really warm?¡±


    ¡°I thought that too, but there shouldn¡¯t be that big a difference.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re crazy, but I think you¡¯re exaggerating a little.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it all day, bro. And finally, I told myself I¡¯d call you. I had to tell someone.¡±


    ¡°You said you know the builder, right? Is he at least human?¡±


    Jasper¡¯s eyes widened. He¡¯d been staring off somewhere while sipping water, but now he turned back to Daniel.


    ¡°Good thing you reminded me. Yeah, I know the builder. But this property changed ownership after it was built. Some company bought the whole thing from him and had him assign me to sell the apartments.¡±


    ¡°Jas, now you¡¯re giving me the creeps too. Are they gonna buy the apartments?¡±


    ¡°They showed interest. No one buys right away. Usually, they say they¡¯ll think about it. These did too.¡± Jasper glanced at the bed. ¡°Bro, looks like you¡¯ll have to make some room for me to crash. I don¡¯t feel like driving back.¡±

 54

    He woke up twice during the night. The first time was because of the thumping and shouting coming from the next room. Someone was clearly getting busy in there, because some woman was screaming her lungs out. It didn¡¯t bother Jasper at all¡ªhis snoring even drowned them out at times. But it kept Daniel awake, and it took him a while to fall back asleep. The woman next door had apparently decided to earn every penny she¡¯d been paid, going at it full throttle, banging against the wall so hard it shook his room too. He was kind of glad Jasper didn¡¯t wake up, because he¡¯d have definitely gone over to give them a piece of his mind.


    The second time, he woke up from a dream he¡¯d had. He couldn¡¯t remember much, except that he was wearing black gloves. And when he took them off, he had no hands. His arms ended somewhere above the wrists, where the gloves should¡¯ve been. He didn¡¯t know why it freaked him out, but it woke him up. Jasper wasn¡¯t snoring anymore, and the noise from the other room had finally stopped. The first rays of sunlight were creeping in, but he still felt sleepy. And he fell back asleep.


    The third time he opened his eyes, Jasper was standing over the bed, looming over him and staring. It took him a moment to realize Jasper was actually talking.


    ¡°Bro? How long¡¯s it been since you slept? I can¡¯t wake you up.¡±


    ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Eight-ten.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got breakfast¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve got that here too?¡±


    They walked along the outdoor corridor. It was quiet. Daniel glanced at the room next door. The curtains were pulled back, windows open. Those people must¡¯ve gotten pretty heated. On one side lay a hefty man, maybe fifty or older, and on the other, a dark-skinned woman with black hair and a slightly stocky build. They were sprawled on opposite sides of the bed, lying like figures in a Rembrandt painting. Jasper didn¡¯t notice them. Otherwise, he¡¯d have come up with some way to wake them up.


    As soon as they stepped into the so-called restaurant of the motel¡ªwhich was really just part of the kitchen the place had¡ªit smelled like fried toast. Jasper put a hand on his stomach to signal how hungry he was and found a spot at one of the two tables. Daniel sat next to him. A moment later, the redheaded woman from yesterday appeared.


    ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d be alone, sweetie?¡± He¡¯d forgotten to mention it to her.


    ¡°Yeah, but a friend had to stop by. I¡¯ll pay extra later.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t seem like that type yesterday. Sorry if I offended you. I¡¯m totally tolerant of all kinds. Everyone can sleep with whoever they want. Especially at the motel.¡± She patted his head and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the money, sweetie.¡±


    ¡°Bro¡­¡± Jasper tried to cut in, but Daniel ignored him.


    ¡°No, no. We¡¯re not like that. He was just passing through.¡±


    ¡°No problem if you were. I was just saying I¡¯m tolerant.¡±


    ¡°We really aren¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Bro¡­¡± Jasper¡¯s voice got louder, but still not enough to interrupt.


    ¡°Sweetie, you don¡¯t have to explain. Even if you don¡¯t have the cash, I don¡¯t want you to pay extra.¡±


    ¡°I insist. And we didn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s your business.¡±


    ¡°Bro!¡± Jasper yelled the third time. The woman jumped.


    Daniel looked at him. Jasper was staring at her hands. They were in black gloves.


    ¡°Oh, sir? Why are you upset?¡±


    Jasper kept looking at Daniel.


    ¡°Sorry, why are you wearing gloves?¡± Daniel decided to ask her straight up. Jasper was starting to get paranoid.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The woman glanced at her hands.


    ¡°Oh? The gloves? What a question! I¡¯m cooking, aren¡¯t I? I can¡¯t cook with bare hands. It¡¯s not hygienic. The motel might not be the cleanest, but we at least try with the food. If they bother you, I¡¯ll take them off.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We want you to,¡± Jasper cut in. He was harsh.


    The woman grabbed one glove and pulled it off. Then the other, crumpling them in her hands. She didn¡¯t look thrilled, but she tried to keep smiling.


    ¡°Sorry about my friend,¡± Daniel said, trying to smooth things over. ¡°He¡¯s been a bit on edge lately. We¡¯ll pay for the gloves too.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no need. If I can put on the others, though, I¡¯ve got to finish breakfast. I¡¯ve got two more rooms waiting for theirs.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Jasper interrupted again. ¡°I want to touch your hands.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him? Please, if you keep this up¡­¡±


    Jasper stretched his hand out.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to, Jas.¡±


    ¡°I want to. I¡¯ll pay triple for the room. Just shake my hand.¡±


    The woman didn¡¯t hesitate. She reached out and grabbed his hand. Jasper¡¯s eyes shifted from angry to slightly confused.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s warm,¡± he said, looking at Daniel.


    ¡°Are you two some kind of fetishists? Not that I mind, it¡¯s just a bit weird.¡±


    ¡°Sorry again. He¡¯s just a little odd sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s your business. If you¡¯ll excuse me, I need to get back to the kitchen. Your toast¡¯ll burn.¡±


    The woman turned, watching them almost the whole way. With slow steps, she dragged her plump backside to a wooden door with no lock, pushed it open, and disappeared behind it.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Jasper held his head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, bro. I¡¯m really getting paranoid. I¡¯m starting to think maybe those apartment people didn¡¯t have cold hands either. Something¡¯s wrong with me.¡±


    ¡°I want to get out of here.¡±


    They didn¡¯t stay to finish eating. The woman was kind enough to pack their sandwiches in a box. Jasper insisted on paying extra for the room and leaving a tip. He only managed the latter. They stood in the parking lot¡ªJasper by his jeep, Daniel leaning against his car.


    ¡°Emma texted me yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Emma? Didn¡¯t you say you deleted her number?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It was from an unknown number, but I recognized it. I remember the last two digits.¡±


    ¡°And? Don¡¯t tell me you¡­¡±


    ¡°Deleted it.¡±


    ¡°Good job, bro. You¡¯re healing fast.¡±


    ¡°Now what?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, now what?¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    Jasper looked off to the side.


    ¡°We head back, and life goes on. That¡¯s it. I¡¯ve got more viewings this afternoon. A guy and another family. The good thing is, there¡¯s interest. I think I can sell everything within a month.¡±


    ¡°High goals.¡±


    ¡°Well, sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don¡¯t. You know how it is.¡±


    ¡°What about Friday?¡±


    ¡°Friday? I lied, I didn¡¯t plan anything. And now I don¡¯t have the time. Or the desire, bro. What about you? Looking for a new job?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. I think I¡¯ll go with the flow for a while. All this has been too much. I¡¯m thinking of traveling a bit.¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°No idea. I need to clear my head. It works when I¡¯m driving. I don¡¯t know how to explain it. When I speed up, I outrun the memories. Leave them behind.¡±


    ¡°Ever thought about going back to the park when it reopens?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, yeah. I think about the park all the time. We didn¡¯t get to enjoy it enough. There were stories left untold.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Same here. And you see how I¡¯m imagining robots everywhere. It¡¯s messed up. That Barnes guy¡­¡±


    ¡°Just like you got fooled about the woman here, you might¡¯ve been wrong about those people. At work,¡± Daniel reminded him.


    Jasper sighed and looked around. The parking lot was empty. The rooms upstairs were starting to wake up. From one, loud voices argued about money.


    ¡°Well, bro, I¡¯m off,¡± Jasper said, putting a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Call me if you need anything. I¡¯ve got your back.¡±


    Daniel nodded and watched Jasper¡¯s whole journey¡ªfrom getting into the jeep to pulling out of the lot until he vanished in the distance.


    Daniel went back up to grab the few clothes left in his room. The window in the next room was still open, and the couple who¡¯d woken him during the night were still asleep. The guy he¡¯d thought looked old had shifted. Now he didn¡¯t seem that old. It was just his patchy beard adding years. Probably a truck driver, judging by his sun-reddened face. But what Daniel didn¡¯t like was the girl next to him. Only one of her hands was visible. And unless he was imagining it or it was some trick of the light, that hand was wearing a glove.


    He practically ran to drop the keys off with the redheaded woman. He didn¡¯t want to see her. He was starting to doubt her too. He left a big tip. The money he ended up leaving was triple what the room normally cost. He got in his car and peeled out. He didn¡¯t remember how long or where he drove. But he was starting to feel like Jasper. He saw black gloves everywhere. No, he couldn¡¯t be losing it that badly.


    He¡¯d definitely call Jasper tonight. He wanted to tell him. And he regretted not taking a picture.


    He didn¡¯t know who else he could share it with.


    But Jasper beat him to it.

 55

    When Jasper called him, Daniel had already covered quite a distance from the motel and had even stopped to grab a bite at a roadside diner, where he first carefully scanned everyone inside. There were two men wolfing down their food, glancing around. Their hands looked normal. A child and its mother were also eating. The kid was chattering about something, swinging its legs in rhythm. Suddenly, the child pointed at Daniel. The mother turned and started saying something to the kid. It turned out there was some children¡¯s poster behind Daniel, and that¡¯s what they¡¯d been looking at. There was no waitress, but the woman behind what passed for a bar handled everything¡ªfrom cleaning to serving. She wore a white apron with little flowers on it. She wasn¡¯t wearing gloves either. Even when she handed Daniel his coffee with her bare hands, he carefully felt the cup for any trace of coldness.


    There wasn¡¯t any.


    Daniel had already left the diner and was sitting in his car. He was wondering how to start the conversation with Jasper when his phone rang:


    ¡°Brother, it¡¯s over,¡± Jasper said.


    ¡°What? What¡¯s going on, Jas?¡±


    His friend sounded awful.


    ¡°I killed him.¡±


    ¡°What? Who did you kill?¡± Daniel¡¯s heart leapt.


    ¡°That guy from the viewing.¡± Jasper was stammering, struggling to catch his breath. ¡°I told you I had viewings, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Jas, calm down.¡± Daniel had already started the car, turned it around, and was pressing the gas pedal, heading back. ¡°I¡¯m coming to you. Tell me from the beginning.¡±


    He heard a deep breath from Jasper¡¯s end. Daniel was worried about him. Anything could¡¯ve happened. A killer? He didn¡¯t believe it. But the last time he¡¯d seen Jasper, he¡¯d been on edge.


    ¡°Listen, brother,¡± Jasper began. ¡°I told you I had this guy coming for a viewing, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and?¡±


    ¡°Well, I was running a bit late. I¡¯m never late, but this time it happened. He was waiting for me out front of the building. Tall, dark-haired, wearing a shirt and trousers. You could tell he had money. Stood there all proud, spoke smartly, that sort of thing. I¡¯ve got experience¡ªI can usually tell right away if someone¡¯s going to buy the apartment. And with this guy, I was sure.¡±


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Jas?¡± Daniel interrupted. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°In the car, brother. The guy¡¯s up in the apartment. I don¡¯t know what to do.¡±


    Daniel floored it.


    ¡°But what? How did you kill him? Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Well, listen. First off, he wasn¡¯t wearing gloves. I decided not to shake his hand. I¡¯m scared that paranoia might come back if his hand¡¯s even a little colder than mine. So I just patted him on the shoulder. He didn¡¯t seem to like it, but we were there to do business, right?¡±


    Jasper was breathing heavily again. Daniel had just passed the gas station where he¡¯d filled up the day before, still listening.


    ¡°I¡¯d picked out an apartment for him on the second-to-last floor. Nice view, three rooms, bathroom, toilet¡ªthe works. And we¡¯re talking. The usual questions. First some personal stuff to get a feel for the guy, then about the apartment. What he¡¯s looking for, what he can afford, that kind of thing. He was cool. He laughed at my jokes, and so on. And at the end, I always ask if they¡¯ve got any questions for me¡ªabout the apartment or the payment. So I asked him too, naturally.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Daniel chimed in, just to show he was still there.


    ¡°Guess what his question was, brother?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re starting to freak me out, Jas. What did he ask that made you kill him?¡± Even as he asked, it sounded absurd.


    ¡°As much as we killed Fat Bill, that¡¯s how much I killed this guy. That¡¯s all I¡¯ll say.¡±


    Bill? Was Jasper talking about Fat Bill from the park?


    ¡°What happened, Jas? Please, take a breath and tell me. I¡¯m on my way to you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Barnes sends his regards.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what he said. And he grinned with the widest smile. He was looking somewhere behind me. He wasn¡¯t even looking at me anymore.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding. Mr. Barnes?¡±


    ¡°Dead serious. Are you on your way already?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll be there in an hour.¡±


    ¡°The workers hadn¡¯t cleared out all their tools from the apartment yet, brother. I grabbed one of the big wrenches and smashed it into his head.¡±


    ¡°Jasper? Are you sure?¡± Daniel lost track of how many times he¡¯d asked that.


    ¡°Just parts, brother. Bits and metal flew everywhere. The guy started short-circuiting. He was cursing, making weird noises. I went and locked the door, then came back to finish him off.¡±


    ¡°Where is he now?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t finish him. I walked out, locked it from the outside, and got in the car. Then I called you.¡±


    ¡°Stay there, Jas.¡±

 56

    Daniel barely remembered how he got to Jasper. The last time he¡¯d seen Jasper this scared was in the park, right after they¡¯d found out there were real people inside some of the robots. He¡¯d stood there like that almost until they left. There¡¯d been moments like that before, but they were rarer. One was when Jasper found out he was going to be a father. He¡¯d gone through that phase too. Finally, he¡¯d slept with a woman more than twice, and she¡¯d gotten pregnant. He¡¯d lost it. Stopped laughing, stopped going out. Wondered where he could hide and called Daniel all day long. What advice could Daniel give him? None. He didn¡¯t have any experience either. He just listened.


    Later, it turned out the woman wasn¡¯t pregnant after all. Daniel didn¡¯t know what happened between them, but he never heard about her again. Only once, years later, did Jasper mention her. He showed Daniel a picture of her with a real kid. But it¡¯d been years, and it definitely wasn¡¯t Jasper¡¯s.


    He spotted Jasper¡¯s Jeep from a distance. Jasper was still in the driver¡¯s seat, scrolling through his phone. The light from the screen lit up his face. Daniel pulled up beside him and opened his car door. Jasper didn¡¯t see him. He knocked on the window, and Jasper jumped. His face looked terrible.


    Jasper got out of the car, and without much talk, they headed up the stairs.


    ¡°Brother, how are we going to move him later?¡± Jasper asked, walking slowly behind.


    ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s worrying you right now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that. I¡¯ve got a reputation. I can¡¯t let people see me dragging a body out of there.¡±


    ¡°A robot. If we believe what you¡¯re saying.¡±


    ¡°And still? How do I explain to someone that it¡¯s a body?¡±


    They had one floor left to the apartment.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do it, brother.¡±


    ¡°Jas, I don¡¯t even recognize you.¡±


    He really didn¡¯t.


    ¡°Brother, this whole thing¡­ I don¡¯t know what to think.¡±


    ¡°Is this it?¡± Daniel pointed at the door, and Jasper nodded, handing him the key.


    ¡°You go in first. I can¡¯t.¡±


    The apartment echoed. The walls were plastered, but the floor was still bare cement¡ªno flooring yet. Usually, new owners picked and installed their own. The rooms were empty, and only the windows across the way let in some light. They entered through a short hallway, and just before the living room, they exchanged a glance. Jasper looked like he¡¯d seen a ghost.


    Daniel took a step forward, though his courage was fading too. He felt like a kid again, like when they¡¯d dared each other to sneak into abandoned houses. They¡¯d draw straws to see who went in first, and somehow Daniel always lost. They never stayed long in those houses. The first creak of a floorboard would send them running for their lives. And if they lingered for some reason, a neighbor would call it in, saying kids were breaking into the house. The police sirens ended up scarier than the house itself. The cops never gave them trouble¡ªjust laughed as they watched the kids scatter in all directions. They were used to it.


    Now, he felt the same way. He trusted Jasper, but he didn¡¯t want to deal with the police. Especially if Jasper had killed a person. He hoped it really was a robot.


    ¡°Where?¡± He looked at Jasper and asked quietly.


    Jasper pointed, and Daniel turned left.


    And there he was.


    The ¡°guy¡± was a full-grown man. Young, sure, but a man. About two meters tall and well-dressed. He stood upright in front of them, waving with an idiotic grin. Though he was thin, his frame was broad, taking up most of the hallway. His smile was both amusing and creepy. On the right side of his neck were the marks from Jasper¡¯s wrench. Buttons were scattered on the floor, and two wires poked out from his neck. And yet, he smiled and looked at them. Looked at them like a living person.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you killed him?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. He fell. Short-circuited. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± Jasper was holding a tool again. ¡°Bastard.¡± He swung the wrench from a distance.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Daniel asked first, motioning for Jasper to stop.


    ¡°Martin.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Martin. Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m an economist, and I¡¯m looking for a place to live.¡± After the last word, one of his eyes spun wildly in all directions before settling back into place.


    ¡°Who sent you, Martin?¡±


    The robot kept smiling.


    ¡°I¡¯m an economist, and I¡¯m looking for a place to live.¡± He raised his right hand and extended it toward them, wanting to shake hands. He kept repeating himself.


    ¡°Martin, this apartment¡¯s taken.¡±


    Jasper nudged him lightly. Daniel turned.


    ¡°Oh, then I must¡¯ve gotten mixed up,¡± the robot said, his smile unwavering.


    ¡°Yeah, Martin. You got mixed up.¡±


    The robot started moving forward with slow steps. He didn¡¯t move his left arm and stepped better with his right leg, using the left just to prop himself up. He headed straight toward them. They stepped aside to let him pass. But instead of heading for the exit, he turned toward the living room they were standing at the edge of. He took no more than three steps, stopped in the middle, and turned around. His eyes flickered again and settled.


    His smile vanished.


    ¡°Hello,¡± he said, as if seeing them for the first time.


    ¡°You seriously scrambled his circuits, Jas. He¡¯s completely lost it.¡±


    The robot¡ªor Martin, as he¡¯d been named¡ªhad no intention of leaving. He started over with the same script.


    ¡°Daniel, Jasper. I¡¯m Hugo Barnes.¡±


    That was new.


    The robot spoke in the same voice but with a different tone. And he wasn¡¯t smiling. The two of them froze. Daniel didn¡¯t know what Jasper was thinking, but he could guess it was the same as him. They were in some kind of movie. There was no other explanation.


    The robot waited a moment for them to process it and continued.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it had to happen this way, but it had to happen.¡±


    Jasper lunged at him with the tool. Daniel stopped him.


    ¡°Please, hear me out,¡± the robot said. He looked normal¡ªif you ignored the fact that he was a little banged up.


    It was a strange sight. He was like a real person, with real emotions and mannerisms. Not that they were seeing something like this for the first time. They¡¯d spent time in the park, after all. But in the real world, things like this didn¡¯t happen. At least, that¡¯s what they¡¯d thought until now.


    The robot saw they were silent and went on.


    ¡°I want to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Jasper couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Because I can¡¯t wait to see you either, you old son of a bitch.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. Things had to unfold this way.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the tests end, so now you¡¯re sending robots out here too?¡±


    ¡°Well, not exactly. But I¡¯ll explain it all in detail somewhere else. Let¡¯s meet tomorrow at the caf¨¦ on Liss Street. I want both of you to come.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve lost your damn mind, you old bastard!¡± Jasper was yelling now, swinging the tool in his hand. ¡°We¡¯re not going anywhere. How many more robots like this are out there?¡±


    ¡°Not many. But they¡¯re out there. Look, what I¡¯m doing is revolutionary, and you two played a huge part in making it happen.¡±


    ¡°A part?¡± Daniel stepped forward now.


    ¡°In a good way. I was looking for people exactly like you to test the robots. The tests couldn¡¯t just end in the park.¡±


    ¡°So you decided to send robots here?¡±


    ¡°My robots have been in the real world longer than you think, boys.¡±


    Jasper charged again. Daniel couldn¡¯t stop him this time. He swung and slammed the tool into Martin¡¯s head. The robot fell backward, making all sorts of noises. His face stayed unchanged, but he kept talking.


    ¡°I understand your reaction, and I don¡¯t blame you.¡± It was bizarre¡ªhe was lying on his back, staring up, still speaking. ¡°But I¡¯ll be waiting for you tomorrow afternoon, and I¡¯ll explain everything.¡±


    Jasper started toward him again, but Daniel got there first.


    ¡°What do we do with this one? Martin.¡±


    ¡°Leave him where he is and lock the door from the outside. My people will come by and take care of him.¡±


    The robot made a sound, closed his eyes, and his face relaxed. From where Jasper had hit him, a reddish slime oozed out, trickling down his body.


    Jasper clutched his head. He was emotionally wrecked. They stared at each other for a few seconds. Neither spoke.


    In the end, they did what Hugo Barnes had told them through the robot. They locked the door from the outside and went downstairs.


    Each got into his own car. They sat there for a long time.

 57

    There was only one caf¨¦ on Liss Street. Neither of them had ever been there. They agreed to meet out front just before going in, and that¡¯s what they did. Daniel was the first to arrive.


    His night had been long again. He¡¯d decided to spend his days driving and sleeping in different places, but by the end of the day, he¡¯d found himself back in the house he once shared with Emma. The moment he stepped inside, memories flooded his mind. In a way, it was better that his last few months with Emma had been cold¡ªnow he didn¡¯t suffer as much, though there were moments when he truly missed her. Like when he sat at the living room table, scrolling through his tablet, still half-expecting her to be at the kitchen counter, chopping something or washing her vegetables. In the past, she¡¯d turn around and smile at him, or sometimes pretend he wasn¡¯t even there.


    Jasper¡¯s Jeep pulled up nearby. He was in jeans and a loud, patterned shirt. No way he¡¯d been to work¡ªhe¡¯d come straight from home. It showed not just in his wrinkled shirt but in the two unbuttoned top buttons and the rough look on his face.


    ¡°You been drinking?¡± Daniel asked.


    ¡°A little,¡± Jasper replied, not even glancing at him. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go see what this old bastard wants.¡±


    ¡°Jas?¡±


    Jasper turned to him.


    ¡°Try to act normal. Let¡¯s see why he¡¯s called us here.¡±


    Jasper ignored him, strode forward, and pushed open the caf¨¦ door.


    Inside, only one table was occupied¡ªby Hugo Barnes.


    Hugo Barnes looked somehow younger than the last time they¡¯d seen him. His hair and mustache were still jet-black despite his age¡ªprobably dyed. He wore a suit, a cup of something hot sat in front of him, and his gaze wandered outside.


    The caf¨¦ was empty, which wasn¡¯t typical for that time of day. At the bar stood a young woman with short black hair. She gave them a quick glance as they entered, then returned to her tasks. A hefty older woman mopped the floor at the far end, while a young girl¡ªDaniel wasn¡¯t sure if she was even eighteen¡ªleaned against the counter, watching them.


    Hugo Barnes looked up, saw them, and stood.


    ¡°Gentlemen!¡± He waved a hand, looking like the fun uncle you always expect to say something amusing.


    They walked over to him.


    ¡°Hello, gentlemen,¡± he said, offering his hand first to Daniel, then to Jasper. Both shook it. Daniel worried Jasper might react aggressively, but he didn¡¯t. ¡°Please, sit.¡±


    Hugo snapped his fingers, and the young girl came over.


    ¡°For you?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Tea for me,¡± Daniel said first.


    Jasper didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°And one for him, please,¡± Daniel ordered for him. Jasper¡¯s eyes were fixed on Hugo Barnes.


    ¡°They¡¯re robots, aren¡¯t they?¡± Jasper cut straight to it.


    Barnes placed both palms on the table and smiled at him.


    ¡°Yes, Jasper. The waitress, the bartender, and the lady with the rag over there.¡±


    Jasper sighed.


    ¡°And you?¡± It was a fair question, though it caught Daniel off guard.


    Hugo Barnes extended his hand. Jasper touched it and quickly pulled back.


    ¡°Do you have a robot of yourself? I mean, one made in your likeness?¡± Jasper asked.


    ¡°Of course. Wouldn¡¯t you, if you could? At that presentation you attended, it was my robot. Naturally, I was controlling it. All my robots are like TV transmitters¡ªthey can be controlled.¡±


    ¡°So this is the first time you¡¯re showing up in person. Flesh and blood. Real flesh and blood,¡± Jasper corrected himself.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good deduction.¡± Hugo smiled.


    ¡°What about the ones in the park?¡±


    ¡°Also controllable, but I never did it. I want the park to be as realistic as possible, with the robots acting out the stories on their own. We only intervened once during your stay¡ªwith Wade and Bart. Otherwise, they would¡¯ve killed you.¡±


    ¡°Killed us?¡±


    ¡°Well, okay, I exaggerated. But I didn¡¯t know what might happen. So I stepped into them and diverted them, at least until my techs could get in.¡±


    ¡°So you can intervene even when¡ª¡±


    ¡°I can always intervene, but I don¡¯t, Jasper. Trust me. I want this to be an escape from reality. I don¡¯t even watch the cameras the animals have.¡±


    ¡°Wesley said you were pleased with us.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that Wesley,¡± Hugo laughed. ¡°Talks too much. But he¡¯s right. You two were my favorites. Not for any other reason, but because you jumped right into the park¡¯s concept. I expected the test week to be uneventful. My team and I predicted the most we¡¯d get out of it was training the robots to interact with people and choose their words better. You guys were a huge bonus for me and my idea. You didn¡¯t stay in one place¡ªyou even became deputy sheriffs. I¡¯ll give you credit,¡± Hugo wagged a finger at them, ¡°we added the deputy badges, but their functions weren¡¯t even programmed. Even Jake didn¡¯t know what they did.¡±


    ¡°Listen, Barnes,¡± Jasper snapped, visibly irritated, ¡°it all sounds wonderful when you put it like that, but the cameras, the real people inside robots, the robots in the real world, the attempted murder? Those aren¡¯t small things. And they all happened without us knowing.¡±


    ¡°Put yourself in my shoes. Wouldn¡¯t you have installed cameras?¡±


    ¡°We would¡¯ve, but we¡¯d have told people.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on. Anyone would¡¯ve figured that out. As for the real people inside robots¡ªthat was entirely my idea. My team didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°They had to have known. I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve got data on every single robot.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. We know everything about every robot at all times. Their emotional stability, aggression, desires, intelligence, current thoughts¡ªeverything. I just slipped some interns in there. Told them to wear black gloves like the robots to see what would happen.¡±


    ¡°Well, two of them screwed up right away. Not the smartest move to hook up in the bar¡¯s rooms.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. But first off, I don¡¯t have cameras in the rooms. And those two weren¡¯t robots, so I had no idea what was going on in there. I only found out when you started talking about it in the stables. But it worked out fine. The motto of my idea is to live the story¡ªyou know that, several people told you through me. So what they did was bad for my concept, but it put you in new situations. You found Reed, his daughters¡­ You stormed the stables, which was a bold move. Very few people would¡¯ve done that after getting to know Reed.¡±


    The young waitress brought their teas and set them down. She smiled at Hugo and went back.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t she wearing gloves?¡± Jasper asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s not dangerous here. She¡¯s not shaking hands or touching anyone. In the parks, it¡¯s riskier¡ªit ruins the fun if an iron hand brushes you.¡±


    ¡°Why not just fix that?¡±


    Hugo sighed.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ¡°That¡¯s my biggest headache, boys. So many years, and nothing. The blood just takes its own path and pools in the body. Even if we pump it through the palms, it doesn¡¯t stay there¡ªor it does until the robot raises its hands. Human bodies are a natural marvel. I¡¯ve got the confidence to call myself the best inventor out there, and I still can¡¯t come close to replicating a human body. What a magnificent creation a person is.¡±


    ¡°Even though I don¡¯t like you,¡± Jasper took a sip, ¡°that¡¯s not true. The robots were perfect.¡±


    ¡°I think we¡¯re starting to get along.¡±


    ¡°But the lies¡ªor rather, the hidden truths¡ªpissed me off.¡±


    ¡°I owe you an apology for that. It was necessary to get the tests rolling. I wanted everything to work out. That¡¯s why I brought the robots here too.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Daniel cut in. ¡°That¡¯s what interests me more. What are the robots doing in our world?¡±


    Hugo Barnes leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°Boys, the robots have been among you for a long time.¡± He watched their reactions. ¡°How do you think I funded my park? I¡¯m just one guy who knows how to wire electronics together, to put it simply. Institutions, corporations, and the government pay me for robots. Look, it¡¯s easy to stick a smart computer in someone¡¯s job and have it take their place. But people start complaining. How can computers replace humans? It¡¯s not the same¡ªno human factor, no thrill of interacting with a person. When you go to a bar, everyone wants to be served by a pretty girl, not a robot.¡± Hugo gestured as he spoke. ¡°And they¡¯re right. I agree with them. So we put robots into humans¡ªor rather, we made humans. Not genetically¡ªthat¡¯d be mocking nature. The robots are metal, their minds are computers. Does it show?¡± He pointed at the bartender, who waved back.


    Daniel and Jasper didn¡¯t know what to say. To Daniel, it all felt so unreal. He started feeling uneasy, and anger was rising in him too.


    ¡°How long has it been like this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Years. We started with supermarkets. Instead of self-checkout machines where you scan your stuff and pay with a card, we made robots. The robot was friendly, smiled, always said hello. And it didn¡¯t demand a salary. You pay for it once, and that¡¯s it. Even maintenance is free, handled by one of our people.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°Look, it doesn¡¯t happen fast. First, we waited a few months to see how the robots would do. And keep in mind, not everyone in the companies using them knows. For example, the cleaner in the supermarket doesn¡¯t know her favorite coworker and friend is a robot. Probably not even her direct supervisor knows. Only the people high up in the chain know. Otherwise, word would get out.¡±


    ¡°But it hasn¡¯t gotten out.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Everything went according to plan. Soon we replaced the cleaners, receptionists, and got rid of their supervisors. Why need a boss when you can just program the robot¡¯s schedule for the day and it gets it done?¡±


    ¡°Look, Hugo,¡± Jasper spoke up after a long silence, ¡°I believe you¡¯re working for the good of the world, but that still doesn¡¯t answer my questions. First and most important¡ªwhy are we here? Second¡ªwhy are you telling us all this? And third, a personal one¡ªwhy are you messing with my job?¡±


    Hugo signaled the waitress. She locked the caf¨¦ door and lowered the blinds. Daniel and Jasper watched, slightly nervous, as things unfolded around them. The cleaner, clearly a robot too, disappeared through a door, while the bartender started washing glasses. The caf¨¦ grew dim, lit only by the soft glow of the lamps.


    ¡°It¡¯s for our safety,¡± Hugo said, noticing the fear in their eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone interrupting us. I¡¯ll start from the last question. The builder¡¯s a friend of mine. He was the first in the guild brave enough to seek my services.¡±


    ¡°For construction, that makes sense,¡± Daniel said, glancing at Jasper, who was fiddling with a lighter. ¡°I assume robots can do a lot of work and cut down on deaths at construction sites.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re on the right track, Danny. It¡¯s a happy coincidence that the broker he trusted most turned out to be the one I got to know in my park. When I realized that, I was certain Jasper was the guy to keep the tests going. I wanted him for myself.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t work for anyone,¡± Jasper shot back.


    ¡°No, no, I phrased that wrong,¡± Hugo said, staying calm despite every jab. ¡°I meant you and Daniel are the perfect fit for this.¡±


    ¡°So you sent me fake apartment buyers.¡±


    ¡°Actually, the robots were genuinely looking for apartments. They posed as families or singles, and through you, they¡¯d learn how to pick the right places to live. Then the skills they gained from thousands of viewings would help me create the ultimate broker and turn their minds into brokers for my park.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯d get nothing out of it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no. Every apartment would¡¯ve been bought with real money that¡¯d end up in your account. I¡¯m not a blackmailer, Jasper. I¡¯m an honest man with talent. But sometimes I have to do things that aren¡¯t entirely moral. Without them, there¡¯s no progress. No one¡¯s ever gotten rich or succeeded with a completely honest business. Or are you saying every deal you¡¯ve made in your life was perfectly fair to all sides?¡±


    Jasper took a breath, about to speak, but let it out and left Hugo to continue.


    ¡°Now, onto the other questions¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, Mr. Barnes,¡± Daniel interrupted. ¡°If you can bring robots into our world and you¡¯ve already done it, why bother with the park?¡±


    Hugo Barnes chuckled softly, looking down at his feet.


    ¡°I was waiting for that one. The park¡¯s a place for entertainment and time travel. Here, you might see a robot selling in a store or building your house, but you wouldn¡¯t know it. I don¡¯t want my robots to become slaves. If everyone in the world found out they could have one, every home would have a robot. Every robot in my company is protected against that. I don¡¯t create slaves¡ªI create conveniences for life. I build engines for the economy, helpers. Not human slaves. And here, life has rules. Robots can make it easier, but they can¡¯t break the rules. In the park, you make the rules and write the stories.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the point of technology? To serve humans?¡±


    ¡°No. Technology helps humans become greater, not serve them. If everyone embraced that idea, humans and robots could achieve incredible things together. And so I don¡¯t sound even weirder, I still believe humans are nature¡¯s miracle, not robots.¡±


    ¡°So the robots in the world are here to help humans, and the park¡¯s just for fun?¡±


    ¡°Something like that. Actually, the park was my first idea. And you haven¡¯t even seen the half of it.¡±


    Daniel listened, half-believing, half-doubting his words. But one thing still gnawed at him, and he wanted answers.


    ¡°Mr. Barnes, I¡¯ve got one more question¡­ Did you get me fired?¡±


    Barnes pointed at him with his index finger.


    ¡°Max Scott¡¯s a robot. His secretary too.¡± He was blunt. ¡°Is that what you wanted to hear? There, you heard it.¡±


    Daniel leaned back. He was confused, betrayed. He felt contempt for Hugo Barnes. And now he fully understood how Jasper felt.


    ¡°By the way, the redheaded lady at the motel was a robot too, along with the gas station guy,¡± Hugo added.


    ¡°Wait, wait. Her hands were warm¡ªI checked,¡± Jasper interjected.


    ¡°The reason¡¯s pretty trivial, and I got lucky there. She¡¯d been cooking. That warmed her hands.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re completely insane, Barnes.¡±


    ¡°I know. If I weren¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t have created all this.¡± Barnes gestured around him.


    ¡°I clawed my way to that level for years,¡± Daniel said, trying not to show how angry he was. ¡°Years.¡±


    ¡°So what? It was just a toxic place, Danny. Which brings me back to Jasper¡¯s first questions¡ªspecifically, why I called you here.¡±


    Jasper leaned back too. Hugo made sure they were both listening and continued.


    ¡°I¡¯ve laid it all out for you. Most of this stuff, only I and a few of my closest people in the company know. With this, I wanted to show you I trust you. You could walk out right now and tell the world. I don¡¯t know if anyone would believe you, but I wouldn¡¯t come after you. Or¡­ or you could work for me.¡±


    ¡°No. You¡¯ve already done enough damage.¡±


    ¡°Jasper, hear me out. You¡¯re a broker. Do you love your job?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡±


    ¡°I know you do. Now imagine taking it up a notch. The park¡¯s opening soon. All sorts of loaded people will start coming as guests. A lot of them will love the place. They¡¯ll want to live there. Trust me, rich people are miserable¡ªtheir lives aren¡¯t as exciting as others think. Soon, the wealthy will come more and more often. I expect within a few months they¡¯ll start asking if they can live there. Believe me, the parks hold a lot of secrets and can be used in all kinds of ways. That¡¯s where you come in. Every property will be yours to handle. All of them! Naturally, you¡¯ll hire people or train robots to help you. That¡¯s your business.¡±


    ¡°And the money?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that next time. I know there¡¯ll be a next time.¡±


    ¡°And Daniel?¡±


    ¡°Danny?¡± Barnes turned to him. Daniel¡¯s mouth was dry. He didn¡¯t know what to say, so he just nodded. ¡°Ever worked with artificial intelligence?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Recently. Since it entered people¡¯s lives.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a huge team in that field. I think they¡¯re the best in the world. You¡¯ll start something like an internship with them.¡±


    ¡°An internship? I was¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know where you were. With your skills, you¡¯ll move up fast. They won¡¯t teach you the basics¡ªthey¡¯ll teach you to work with the robots. The rest is up to you. I¡¯m grooming you to lead the team. I see the potential in you. But you¡¯ll have to outshine everyone else while they try to train you.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little unethical?¡±


    ¡°Like I said earlier, sometimes you have to veer off the path to succeed. The road up isn¡¯t a straight line. There are challenges, dips, and rocks you¡¯ve got to kick out of the way to move forward.¡±


    Jasper rested his arms on the table, head buried in them. Daniel stayed silent too, staring through a gap in the blinds. Everything Barnes had said was too much, even for his head. In about an hour, they¡¯d learned things some people couldn¡¯t process in a lifetime. His mind was pounding.


    The waitress got a signal from Hugo and raised the blinds. Light flooded the caf¨¦ aggressively, forcing them to squint. When they opened their eyes, Hugo was still there. It wasn¡¯t a dream.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you time, boys. I know this was a lot. I¡¯ll expect you at headquarters in two days. If you show up, I¡¯ll know you¡¯re in, and we¡¯ll talk details. If you don¡¯t¡­ well, at least you¡¯ll know a secret very few people in the world do.¡±


    Daniel watched as Hugo stood, walked to the bartender, and handed her a bill. She smiled and thanked him. He came back, shook each of their hands, and walked off slowly, a little stiffly. His years weighed on him, though his energy was unreal.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Daniel called after him. ¡°Did you have anything to do with Emma? She left me while I was in the park.¡±


    Hugo laughed but answered anyway.


    ¡°Emma¡¯s not a robot. Emma¡¯s human. So she¡¯s your problem.¡±

 58

    Colin stood across from them, watching. This time, they weren¡¯t at the bar¡ªthey were in Daniel¡¯s house. Jasper and Daniel sat on the couch, staring into nothing, while Colin perched on a high stool in front of them, studying their faces like a scientist.


    ¡°You two look like you¡¯ve lost it, and if you don¡¯t tell me why soon, I¡¯m outta here, and you won¡¯t see me again. What¡¯s going on? Is it because of that Emma?¡±


    ¡°No, brother,¡± Jasper said, not even looking at him.


    ¡°Then what?¡± Colin threw his hands up. ¡°Why¡¯d you call me here? Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°We just wanted to talk to someone, Colin. That¡¯s it,¡± Daniel replied.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve at least grabbed some drinks.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s booze in the cabinet. Listen, Colin, something weird happened today.¡±


    ¡°How serious is it? Gonna need cash?¡±


    ¡°You remember the park we went to?¡±


    ¡°The one with the robots? Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Jas, you think it¡¯s okay to tell him? Isn¡¯t it too soon?¡±


    ¡°No, brother. Colin¡¯s one of us. He needs to know everything. Something might happen tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get what you¡¯re talking about, but now I¡¯m worried about you guys. Are you sure everything¡¯s okay? Should we call the cops?¡± Colin glanced between them. ¡°Unless you¡¯re running from them? Did you do something?¡±


    Jasper waited for Daniel to answer, but he didn¡¯t. So Jasper took over.


    ¡°Brother, you know about the park, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I got that. What about it?¡±


    ¡°With the robots.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Turns out they¡¯ve been set loose.¡±


    ¡°Set loose what? Speak clearly!¡± Colin was getting agitated. ¡°What¡¯s been set loose?¡±


    ¡°In our world, brother. There are robots.¡±


    ¡°Robots? That¡¯s not surprising.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not? We¡¯re talking real robots, Colin. Flesh and blood on the outside, iron guts on the inside. Look at me. This is what a robot looks like. Like me. But inside, it¡¯s metal. And you can¡¯t tell except for¡­¡±


    ¡°Except for what?¡±


    ¡°Except for the black gloves. Their hands are cold. The fluid doesn¡¯t reach there.¡±


    ¡°Interesting. And you¡¯re saying there are robots like that among us already? That¡¯s awesome.¡±


    Both of them stared at him. Daniel picked up the thread.


    ¡°Not many, but there are some. And they¡¯re creeping in more and more.¡±


    ¡°The world¡¯s moving forward, guys. That¡¯s normal.¡±


    ¡°Normal? You just don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah. What¡¯d you expect? Sure, it¡¯s a bit shocking to hear it like this, but in the end, humanity¡¯s always known it¡¯d get to this point. And if we believe the movies, they¡¯ll take over eventually.¡±


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    Colin tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but neither Daniel nor Jasper bit. His smile faded too.


    ¡°Okay, boys, I¡¯m getting fed up. Time to cheer this place up.¡± Colin made his way to the cabinet where he knew Daniel kept the alcohol and pulled out a bottle. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s pretty dry in here,¡± he said, eyeing the shelves. ¡°You¡¯ll need to restock soon.¡±


    He grabbed two glasses and set them in front of them, pouring carefully with a wide grin. He poured one for himself too.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    Neither reached for their glass.


    ¡°I¡¯ll smash this bottle on the floor and leave if you don¡¯t start talking. You¡¯re wasting my time. There¡¯s something you¡¯re hiding.¡±


    ¡°No, brother. We¡¯re not hiding anything. It¡¯s just¡­ there¡¯s more,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°I can tell that from your faces.¡±


    ¡°Barnes wants us to work for him.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell is Barnes?¡±


    Jasper leaned forward, grabbed his glass from the table, and downed it in one go.


    ¡°Now we¡¯re talking,¡± Colin said, perking up. He refilled Jasper¡¯s glass and topped off his own.


    ¡°Hugo Barnes owns the company with the robots. He wants us to work for him,¡± Daniel explained.


    ¡°Doing what? As robots?¡± For Colin, it was still a joke.


    They both glared at him.


    ¡°Okay, clearly you¡¯re not laughing, but I really don¡¯t get it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about what we¡¯d do there, Colin,¡± Daniel said. ¡°It¡¯s whether we should accept. If we do, it¡¯s like signing a deal with the devil.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think this Barnes guy¡¯s the devil?¡±


    ¡°Because he wants to replace people with robots,¡± Jasper said.


    ¡°That¡¯s not exactly it, Jas,¡± Daniel cut in. ¡°Barnes said companies come to him and pay for it themselves.¡±


    ¡°If they¡¯re seeking him out, they must need it,¡± Colin added. ¡°Take my two offices, for example. If I could replace the package loaders with robots instead of people, I wouldn¡¯t even think twice. Half my staff complain about the lifting.¡±


    ¡°But would you replace the people at the front desks? The ones meeting clients and handing over packages? Would you swap them for robots?¡±


    Colin paused, then answered.


    ¡°Maybe not yet. I prefer the personal touch, honestly. But if they guaranteed it¡¯d save me money, why not? And obviously, if they guaranteed they¡¯d do the same job.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯d do it, Colin. Even more work. And they wouldn¡¯t whine about salaries, insurance, vacations, sick days, all that,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°Well, boys, then I¡¯m all in. No point pretending otherwise, sorry. That¡¯s the future. Yeah, it¡¯s not great for people, but what¡¯s so great about working the same job for thirty years? Anyone who thinks that way deserves their fate.¡±


    ¡°Jas, Colin¡¯s right,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°Brother, I could tell from the start you were ready to jump on board. I¡¯m the one still figuring it out. I get you, and I won¡¯t judge. But a broker in a park?¡±


    ¡°A broker? What are you selling? Dreams?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already doing that, Colin,¡± Jasper said with a smirk. ¡°But Barnes wants me to sell properties in the park.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, is this place so big you¡¯re selling real estate there?¡±


    ¡°Just the part we were in was the size of our town, Colin. And beyond that, you could see dozens more like it. Barnes has got a massive chunk of land.¡±


    Colin hesitated before continuing, his eyes widening as something clicked.


    ¡°I remember seeing him in articles before, but I never imagined he was that rich. Yeah, a nice guy. Short, chubby, cheerful face.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got money, but I got the sense he lacks power,¡± Daniel said. ¡°Corporations work with him, maybe even the government. But they see him as just a manufacturer. They could take him out tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Take him out?¡± Colin was slightly stunned.


    ¡°Yeah. Call it an accident. But first, they¡¯d take his people, then all his designs. Anyone could build a robot with the right parts. He¡¯s got them. It¡¯s only a matter of time before someone steals them.¡±


    Jasper¡¯s logic made sense. It wasn¡¯t common, but it happened to successful people.


    ¡°What about the artificial intelligence in the robots?¡± Colin was clearly paying attention.


    ¡°I reckon Barnes doesn¡¯t trust his own people handling the robots¡¯ intellect,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°That¡¯s the most interesting part, from what I¡¯m hearing,¡± Colin replied.


    ¡°Exactly. And for the most crucial part¡ªthe intelligence¡ªhe wants Daniel. Not just to follow his team, but to be above them.¡±


    Colin set his glass down and clapped his hands.


    ¡°And you¡¯re sitting here mulling it over? Are you guys insane? When you see him, ask if he needs a shipping guy. I¡¯d sell my soul¡ªor whatever he wants¡ªon the spot.¡±

 59

    Hugo Barnes was waiting for them at the company headquarters, where the trains departed.


    They drove there in Jasper¡¯s car. This time, he was behind the wheel. Their mood was slightly better, though they still weren¡¯t sure what to expect.


    The headquarters felt emptier this time, despite robots bustling around the building, frantically preparing for the park¡¯s launch. Billboards and posters for the opening were already everywhere, yet the parking lot stood deserted. Most of the figures inside were robots.


    ¡°Hello, gentlemen. We¡¯ve been expecting them,¡± a pleasant blonde woman greeted them. She was different from the one who¡¯d welcomed them last time. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    She walked ahead with a confident stride, and they trailed behind. Daniel was glad to see Jasper¡¯s smile creeping back¡ªand that familiar look he gave every woman, including this one.


    Daniel recalled that last time, they¡¯d taken escalators to the lower floors for their tests. But now, they bypassed those and went behind them. There, hidden, were more escalators¡ªalso leading underground.


    The ¡°underground¡± here was an abstract concept. It wasn¡¯t some dank basement but modern white corridors with glossy gray tiles so polished you could see your reflection. On either side, two actual robots¡ªno human bodies¡ªrolled along on spinning wheels, looking like oversized vacuum cleaners. Unlike vacuums, though, they didn¡¯t bump into walls to change direction. Their sensors detected obstacles a millimeter away and glided along the edges.


    This section had just one corridor, relatively long¡ªlikely dug out by Barnes¡¯s robots ages ago. While people built aquariums for fish or plants, Hugo Barnes had crafted an entire world capable of anything.


    They walked down the corridor: the blonde woman leading with her tablet, the two of them behind. Each door they passed had a name and title¡ªsome worked on robot behavior, others on motor functions, and plenty dealt with intellectual capacity. The deeper they went, the higher the ranks got, until they reached the far door¡ªnaturally, Barnes¡¯s office.


    The woman knocked and, without waiting for a reply, opened it.


    ¡°Mr. Barnes, they¡¯re here.¡±


    They didn¡¯t hear his response, but she stood at the door, smiled, and they stepped inside.


    Barnes¡¯s room wasn¡¯t what you¡¯d expect from an inventor. It looked more like an accountant¡¯s office¡ªdesk, chair, a computer that probably didn¡¯t work. A couch stretched across one side, and under the windows sat pots overflowing with flowers.


    Barnes was at his desk, leaning back in his chair, looking like he wasn¡¯t doing a thing.


    ¡°Where do these windows face?¡± Jasper asked, the first thing that popped into his head.


    ¡°Oh, the windows? My lab. We¡¯re underground, but I insisted on having windows.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like a place an inventor would hang out.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Hugo said, still lounging in his chair with no intention of moving. ¡°That was the point, Jasper. I come here to rest. I lean back like this and just do nothing.¡±


    ¡°I figured we¡¯d walk in and find you hunched over some new robot, soldering wires.¡±


    Barnes grinned and finally pushed himself up.


    ¡°No, boys. My team handles most of the robots now. I only step in for the robot projects.¡±


    ¡°So everyone here knows how to build robots?¡±


    ¡°Yes and no. Some know how to craft the metal plates, others how to solder the cables, a third group builds the circuits and systems. Making one robot takes over fifteen departments. When each one¡¯s done their part perfectly, that¡¯s when I show up.¡±


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    ¡°And no one sees how it all comes together?¡±


    ¡°They know. I think anyone¡¯s smart enough to assemble a robot with ready parts. But I¡¯ve got the experience to judge if a robot¡¯s fit for its purpose.¡±


    ¡°And if it¡¯s not?¡±


    ¡°Then we bump it down the hierarchy. Just like people. Take Billy from the park you were at¡ªhe was supposed to be the sheriff. But you saw how defective Billy was.¡±


    ¡°So you knew he was messed up?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Instead of sheriff, he became the jail guard, where there weren¡¯t supposed to be any stories. Then you two showed up.¡±


    Hugo was beside them now. He was short¡ªshorter than both of them¡ªand patted their shoulders.


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you something.¡±


    The lab entrance was a door they hadn¡¯t noticed coming in¡ªso white it blended with the wall.


    What they saw on the other side made them feel like they¡¯d stepped into another reality. The space was massive, lined with glass cases. Each case held a pedestal, and on each pedestal sat a lifeless robot. Some twitched or waved, but most stayed still, only their eyes moving.


    Hugo led the way like a proud owner. At the far end was his workspace¡ªa huge area surrounded by cabinets and tools, with a tall pedestal in the center. On it stood a man¡ªbig, strong, with long black hair and burn marks across his body. He looked imposing.


    ¡°Can this one kill us?¡± Daniel couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s still got no safeguards, so yeah, he could.¡±


    Jasper took a step back.


    ¡°But don¡¯t worry. Hotol¡¯s peaceful. And I haven¡¯t turned him on.¡±


    ¡°Hotol? You¡¯re naming them already?¡±


    ¡°Depends. Sometimes a robot comes with its name. When I sketched him on paper, ¡®Hotol¡¯ popped into my head, and it stuck. If someone else suggests a name, we discuss it and decide. But that¡¯s the dullest part. No one likes dealing with it. With the early robots, it was more exciting. The women on my team especially¡ªthey¡¯d show up daily with lists of suggestions, drawings, names, clothes. Now I¡¯ve got professionals. And professionals are like robots¡ªthey do their job without emotion.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Jasper cut in, grabbing a stool and sitting down. ¡°So there are real people on your team too?¡±


    ¡°Of course! What are you two? Robots? I want you on my team too. Robots can be perfect sometimes. I don¡¯t want perfect people. I want people who can think outside logic, who can break perfection and head in a new direction.¡±


    ¡°So you hire people dumber than robots?¡±


    ¡°A human made the robot, so I don¡¯t know who¡¯s smarter. Look.¡±


    Hugo Barnes opened a panel in the big man¡¯s neck, fiddled with something inside, and closed it. He grabbed a tablet from his workbench and aimed its screen at the robot¡¯s eyes. The two devices¡ªthe tablet and the human-shaped robot¡ªsynced somehow, and the tablet lit up. Barnes tapped two buttons, and the robot¡¯s eyes started moving. Then its legs twitched.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there¡¯s nothing to worry about?¡± Jasper asked.


    ¡°There isn¡¯t. His intelligence isn¡¯t installed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen people with no brains cause plenty of chaos.¡±


    ¡°When I say he¡¯s got no mind, I mean it. He¡¯s a newborn¡ªblank slate, ready to be written.¡±


    Jasper waved a hand in front of its eyes. The big man tracked it but did nothing. Barnes tapped the tablet again, making him move.


    ¡°You can control him?¡±


    ¡°The dumber they are, the easier it is. Once they start learning, it gets tricky. Take that Martin I sent to your viewing¡ªif you hadn¡¯t whacked him so hard, I couldn¡¯t have jumped in. He was one of the smarter ones. Studied him for two years at university, by the way.¡±


    ¡°You sent him to school?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah. Even lived in a dorm with other students.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that risky?¡±


    ¡°It is, but I wanted to see how far he¡¯d go.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t learn much if I caught him.¡±


    ¡°He greeted you, Jasper. I made him do it. But that was supposed to happen later. Something glitched. Anyway, it wasn¡¯t a disaster¡ªfor us. He¡¯s in repair now.¡± Barnes chuckled.


    ¡°What are you trying to show us with this big guy, Barnes?¡± Jasper asked, lightly kicking the huge man, who jerked his leg like a fly had bitten him.


    ¡°That humans still command robots. That¡¯s it. Speaking of which, enough robot talk.¡± Barnes shut off the giant Hotol and set the device down. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about you.¡±


    His smile widened. Daniel found a stool and sat too. Barnes stayed standing.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, I say we get moving.¡±


    ¡°Get moving with what?¡± Daniel asked, taking over Jasper¡¯s role of questioning.


    ¡°Getting you back in the park.¡±

 60

    The two of them stared at Barnes. Then they stood up, almost in unison. Barnes just watched them, his expression suggesting he¡¯d anticipated this reaction.


    ¡°Well?¡± he said.


    ¡°Back to the park?¡± Daniel asked. ¡°Last time, at the caf¨¦, you offered us jobs. You didn¡¯t mention anything about the park.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here, so you¡¯ve got the jobs. Paperwork¡¯s just a formality. I don¡¯t care about contracts.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Jasper said, raising his hands. ¡°I¡¯ve got another job right now. I can¡¯t afford a whole week in the park.¡±


    ¡°How about a whole lifetime?¡±


    Jasper went silent. Daniel stepped in.


    ¡°What do you mean, a lifetime?¡±


    ¡°Boys, are we really having this talk again? Do I look like I¡¯m joking? You want papers proving you work for me? Fine, I¡¯ll call my accountant this afternoon. But that stuff doesn¡¯t matter to me. Need money? Tell me how much. I¡¯ve got cash and nothing to spend it on. I¡¯ll give you whatever you want. Daniel,¡± Barnes turned to him, ¡°you don¡¯t have a job. No girlfriend either, from what I gather. What¡¯s stopping you from jumping in? And Jasper? Those two properties you¡¯re brokering¡ªthey¡¯re being bought as we speak. My people are handling it. Those viewings weren¡¯t random. We¡¯re really going to populate the place with robots. I want to see how they handle a civilian setting. Any other problems we need to sort out?¡±


    Both of them stood there, staring at him.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Jasper¡¯s tone softened. ¡°You want us to work for you, but you¡¯re sending us to the park?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Your job, Jas, is to sell the apartments or houses there. You¡¯ll go back to where you were. But this time, no one¡¯s just settling the houses from the outside like before.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t even realize that last time,¡± Daniel said.


    ¡°Yeah, that was a mistake. Everyone will live in the bar this time. There are enough rooms. Anyone who wants a house can buy one.¡±


    ¡°With what money?¡±


    ¡°Local currency. Naturally, it¡¯ll be exchangeable for real money. And you can earn it there too. We¡¯ve set up plenty of ways for that to happen.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Barnes, that actually sounds interesting,¡± Jasper said, looking intrigued. He never called Hugo Barnes ¡°sir¡± or anything formal¡ªalways just by name. ¡°Can I buy properties too?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ve got enough money? You¡¯re not homeless here, are you?¡±


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    ¡°And I¡¯d have to travel around all the parks?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the toughest part, actually. There¡¯s a month until the park opens.¡±


    ¡°A month? Wasn¡¯t it a week?¡±


    ¡°It was, but we pushed it back a bit. Some projects didn¡¯t come together, and it worked out better this way.¡± Barnes took off his jacket, leaving just his shirt. ¡°So, I¡¯ve got five robots ready for you. Smart ones¡ªnot like this guy.¡± He gave Hotol a light shove. ¡°They know they¡¯ll be brokers, and they roughly understand what that means. The idea is for you to finish training them. The ones you get ready, we¡¯ll send to the other parks. And ¡®broker¡¯ isn¡¯t even a term in most eras. You¡¯ll just be the property owners. If an owner decides to sell, you step in as the middleman and find the next buyer.¡±


    ¡°So me and the robots get the same pay?¡±


    ¡°No, Jasper. You get sixty percent of every property you sell. And fifty percent of every sale one of your trained robots makes.¡±


    ¡°And if an owner sells to someone else later?¡±


    ¡°Ten percent goes to the state¡ªwhich, in this case, is the company. So we get ten percent of the total. Five of that¡¯s yours. Fair, I think. Of course, owners can come to you for resales. Then you negotiate your cut with them, and ten percent of what you earn goes to us.¡±


    Jasper stared at the floor, like he was calculating. But his eyes betrayed him¡ªhe was burning for this idea. Daniel knew him well enough to see he wouldn¡¯t show excitement even if he loved it. Daniel, though, still didn¡¯t get why he was there. The offer to Jasper was beyond perfect¡ªDaniel would¡¯ve taken it in his shoes. But now he waited for his own.


    ¡°Daniel,¡± Barnes turned to him right on cue, ¡°you¡¯re going into the park with Jasper too.¡±


    ¡°Which I don¡¯t see as a great idea, Mr. Barnes. From what I understood, my job¡¯s about the machines¡¯ intelligence.¡±


    ¡°First off, call me just Barnes or Hugo¡ªlike Jasper does. I like it better. Makes me feel younger.¡±


    Barnes paused to make sure Daniel was okay with that, then went on.


    ¡°First, I want you both in there to finish your stories. Trust me, the park¡¯s got more surprises for you. Last time, you got pretty far. Jasper can start selling if anyone wants to buy. And you, Daniel, will stick with Jasper for now and help him out.¡±


    ¡°That feels a little degrading,¡± Daniel said, genuinely stung. ¡°You got me fired from my job just so I could help Jasper in the park? Jasper¡¯s my friend, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Trust me, Daniel, there¡¯s a reason I¡¯m sending you in. And about the other stuff¡­ remember what we talked about? Just keep an eye on the robots¡¯ intelligence¡ªtrack what they¡¯re missing. Look for bugs, situations they can¡¯t handle, that sort of thing. It¡¯s like being a programmer, except your code isn¡¯t spread across files and thousands of lines. Your code¡¯s compiled right in front of you, and your job is to keep the program¡ªor in this case, the robot¡ªfrom crashing. I could stash some tech for you in the park, but I think modern gadgets would ruin the place¡¯s charm.¡±


    Daniel didn¡¯t know what to say. The offer didn¡¯t sound as good as Jasper¡¯s, but at least he¡¯d get to spend time in the park again. He¡¯d be lying if he said he didn¡¯t miss it¡ªhe did, a lot. He wanted to escape reality again. And what reality was it anyway? Robots were starting to swarm around them, all thanks to Barnes¡ªthe guy they were about to work for.


    ***


    That evening, Daniel was at home. As far as he knew, Jasper was too. Daniel was lying on his bed, trying to be alone with his thoughts. It was dark. Only the window was open, and the rustling of leaves could be heard from outside. There was a slight breeze. His phone screen lit up and distracted him. He had received a notification.


    He opened it and froze.


    And then he called Jasper.


    ¡°Jas? You asleep?¡±


    ¡°Nah, bro. I got it too.¡±

 61

    A month had passed quickly.


    And now they were back on the train. The same train where, more than a month ago, they had first touched the park. But now it somehow felt different. The excitement was gone, the thrill was missing. They were going as a part of it. Part of the team, not just as guests. They were probably like those who had pretended to be robots last time. Did they feel the same way back then?


    The other difference was the train itself. Daniel remembered the chaos from the last time. The people¡­ even those two women who turned out to be together and, for a moment, had fooled Jasper.


    Now, there was no one. The entire train was theirs alone. No one else. No guests, no technicians.


    The last month in the park had been intense. Jasper had completely set aside his old job and focused entirely on the work in the park. Hugo Barnes kept his word and provided Jasper with five people to train. Of the five, two were women. And to make him fully comfortable, Barnes had told Jasper to model them to his liking. And more than that¡ªhe had chosen how they would look himself. Hugo wasn¡¯t random; he carefully picked his people. And he researched them. He knew Jasper¡¯s weak spot. And he took advantage of it. Jasper went to his new job with pleasure.


    But not everything was smooth sailing. Especially for Jasper. They went together, but for his friend, there wasn¡¯t much work. Hugo and his team had a lot to catch up on with the robots, spending all day constructing and designing new ones. The finished robots came to Hugo¡¯s lab, where Jasper and Daniel often stayed. Hugo would place them on the robot platform and begin a long tuning process. Stu, a young guy who was something like Hugo¡¯s assistant, came to his aid, following his every move. Stu carried out orders and sometimes seemed more like Barnes¡¯ slave than his helper.


    Hugo would place a finished robot on the platform, call Stu, and the two of them would grab a tablet each, starting the lengthy setup. First, they checked if every part of the body worked. They started from the bottom¡ªtesting the toes, ankles, thighs, and up to the eyebrow movements. Then a dark-haired woman would come in, monitoring the robots¡¯ behavior and facial reflexes in different situations.


    Finally, together with two physiotherapists, they¡¯d exercise the robot¡ªor rather, their task was to see if every muscle adapted correctly to movement.


    All this happened separately with each robot, and Hugo never called the same people from the same department twice. Only Stu was always there.


    Daniel stayed there, mostly watching. Hugo didn¡¯t give him any tasks. Sometimes he¡¯d ask him to talk to the robot once it was activated and ask if he thought it was functioning well. Daniel loved chatting with the ones from the medieval park. They had interesting stories crafted by the creative team and implemented by the AI specialists. One of the robots was going to be the king of the place. He was majestic, and once they dressed him in royal garments, he seemed even grander. Hugo put more effort into some robots than others. He had his favorites too.


    The finished robots didn¡¯t travel on the train like them. They went down one more level and were loaded onto a special underground rail line. They had their own sort of metro. While traveling along that line, they could only stand, walk, and sit. Their conversation functions and any attempts at something more complex were disabled. And in each park, their functions would be automatically activated via the company¡¯s tablets.


    At first, Daniel regretted agreeing to this. Hugo had made him stay by his side and do nothing. It was killing him, in a way.


    Jasper, on the other hand, was at the opposite extreme. After a slow start at the company with no work, Hugo suddenly began paying him more and more attention. When he gave him the ready assistants, Jasper was in his element. He dove headfirst into training the robots that would assist him, taking them to imaginary locations. He even convinced Hugo to provide ten more robots to act as people wanting to buy apartments. They rarely saw him over the last month, but according to Hugo, Jasper was doing well.


    By the second week, Daniel started getting into the work too. Hugo slowly began to value his opinion and introduced him to the AI technicians. The team¡¯s lead director was a tall Black man named Luke, bald and clean-shaven. At first, he was a bit standoffish, but then he realized they spoke the same language and loosened up. Daniel wasn¡¯t too far off from what they were doing with their projects. It was more complex and labor-intensive, but at its core, it was something he¡¯d been working on for years. A few days before the park officially opened, Luke quit. He didn¡¯t say anything to Daniel or call him, despite how close they¡¯d become. Daniel just found out from Hugo that he¡¯d left.


    And all of this led them to the train. Where they were no longer going as outsiders. They were going as part of the company.


    Jasper and Daniel stared out the train window, barely speaking. Where there had been emptiness last time, now there were new buildings matching the era¡ªtrees, forests, roads, street lamps, mysterious caves, huge animals, and smaller ones too. He felt what he had felt before. As if they were moving through time.


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    "Bro, I was skeptical, but now I can¡¯t wait," Jasper broke the silence first.


    "Do you think it¡¯ll be like last time? I¡¯m still not sure."


    "There¡¯s no reason it won¡¯t be. Yeah, we¡¯ve got other tasks now, but Hugo said to play it like before."


    "Have you thought about what the guests will be like?"


    "Oh, if last time there were some who thought they were above everyone else, I expect they¡¯ll be even worse now. They¡¯ll have paid a fortune to be here and will demand the best."


    "Then I don¡¯t envy you with the sales," Daniel tried to be funny.


    "Bro, I can¡¯t wait. I¡¯ve sold apartments to plenty of rich people. These guys won¡¯t bring me down. And we¡¯re people with money now too."


    Jasper had never brought up the topic. Neither had Daniel. They¡¯d agreed on it with a single message. And yes, Hugo had sent them two hundred thousand dollars each. Just like that. Just because they¡¯d agreed to help. Sure, it wasn¡¯t a massive amount, but it wasn¡¯t something anyone just handed over. Had Hugo tried to bribe them? Daniel thought so at first. But then he realized he¡¯d have accepted anyway. And the experience he¡¯d gained there in a month was immense. Watching hundreds of robots being assembled before his eyes and having their AI integrated with Luke¡¯s help, in theory, Daniel could assemble a robot himself. In practice, though, things weren¡¯t quite that simple.


    "It¡¯s going to be tough for us once they figure out we¡¯re part of the park."


    "Isn¡¯t it a bit weird for humans to be part of the park? I mean, we reacted pretty strongly to that when we were there. Now we¡¯re on the other side."


    "The difference is we¡¯ll tell them we¡¯re human and just have authority."


    "You¡¯ve got authority with the houses. I don¡¯t."


    "You¡¯re an important part, bro. Don¡¯t you see that Barnes keeps you close? Along with that¡­ Stu guy."


    "Yeah, but this trip to the park¡­ I don¡¯t know. People pay for robots, not for us."


    "He¡¯s got something in mind, trust me. I can tell I know the old man by now. He never does anything he hasn¡¯t thought through. And of course, he won¡¯t tell us everything. He¡¯ll let us¡­ what was it? Live the story." Jasper smiled.


    The train approached and stopped at the familiar station. And in front of it stood an even more familiar figure¡ªSheriff Jake.


    He was standing the same way as last time when he¡¯d greeted the guests for the first time. Leaning against the wall of the house where the train stopped, looking down, chewing on a hand-rolled cigarette.


    The two of them stepped off and headed straight toward him. The sheriff raised his head and smiled:


    "Daniel? Jasper? Where¡¯d you boys disappear to?"


    It surprised them both that he recognized them. Jasper turned to Daniel:


    "This is Hugo¡¯s doing, no doubt."


    No one had told them the robots would remember them. Hugo was surely sitting somewhere, laughing.


    "Come on, boys, the others are here. You¡¯re the last ones."


    Jake started walking with the brisk stride of a true sheriff, and they followed him toward the town center.


    The farms along the road were the same, except now at least one person peeked out from each one. Except at Reed¡¯s.


    Reed¡¯s house stood empty in the distance.


    "Reed¡¯s gone, boys," Jake said, as if reading their thoughts. "He hasn¡¯t come back since he ran off. I knew you¡¯d ask about him."


    "He hasn¡¯t come back? No one¡¯s heard from him?"


    "Nope."


    "What about his daughters?"


    "They¡¯re here. But they¡¯ve got some troubles."


    "Troubles?" Jasper nearly jumped. Daniel was amazed at how quickly his friend slipped back into character.


    "What about Violet?"


    "Violet? Violet¡­ she¡¯s in the village, but she doesn¡¯t live at the bar anymore."


    "What? What happened?"


    Jake didn¡¯t answer. He kept walking. The two followed. They passed the fountain too. The place was empty, which slightly worried Daniel. If everyone had arrived, why wasn¡¯t it bustling with people? Last time, this had been one of the busiest spots.


    Another new thing was the signs. Now there were signs for every path. They saw the one for the bar and headed that way. Not that they needed it, since they were following Jake, but at least they were sure he wasn¡¯t pulling some trick on them.


    But something still bothered Daniel. It was too quiet.


    Violet¡¯s bar was still in its place. And its name was the same. Violet¡¯s name stood proudly above it.


    Daniel caught Jasper¡¯s questioning look a few times. He was sure Jasper had a hundred questions too. But neither of them spoke.


    Jake entered the bar first. Daniel could¡¯ve guessed earlier that Violet didn¡¯t let Jake inside. At least not the last time they were here. And if they remembered them, the stories were probably unchanged too.


    The bar was empty and seemed dustier. Only two men sat on two chairs, holding rifles. Rifles pointed at the entrance where they now stood. Both wore wide-brimmed hats and big grins.


    Daniel recognized them. It was Wade and Bart.


    "Jake?" Jasper turned to the sheriff. "Got something to tell us?"


    Jake didn¡¯t respond. He walked forward and sat on a third chair next to the two men.


    "We meet again, fools. And this time, you won¡¯t get off so easy."


    It was one of them. Jake didn¡¯t draw his weapon. But he looked more scared than anything.

 62

    Everything happened so fast. Before they knew it, Wade and Bart had tied them to the two chairs they¡¯d just been sitting on, while the two of them stood in front of them, upright, with their greasiest smirks. Jake was there too, off to the side, trying to distance himself. Daniel sought his gaze a few times. He had questions. He wasn¡¯t scared. More annoyed. Annoyed at Barnes. Were they being tested again?


    "Jake? You too? Where¡¯s everyone else?"


    "Who¡¯s everyone else?" Jake tried to sound as cold as Wade and Bart. But it didn¡¯t suit him.


    "You said they¡¯re all here, waiting for us."


    "Well, our pal Jake told a little lie," Wade raised one hand while holding his rifle with the other. "He lies sometimes, doesn¡¯t he, Jake?"


    Jake looked at him and nodded.


    "Why are we tied up?" Jasper was getting agitated.


    "One thing at a time, buddies. First, let¡¯s answer your question about where the others are. If you¡¯re asking about the bartender Phil and Violet, well, I assure you Violet¡¯s alive." Wade glanced at Bart and winked. "As for the rest¡­ the locals are in their homes. They¡¯re under a slight curfew."


    Jake stood off to the side. His expression was more frightened and slightly confused.


    "Bart, you said we wouldn¡¯t hurt them," the sheriff tried to speak up.


    Daniel was now certain Jake was involved but not entirely on board.


    Wade took three quick steps to reach Jake, clenched his fist, and hit him. Daniel was surprised there was no sound of metal clashing against metal. Jake fell to the ground, clutching the spot where he¡¯d been struck. His face turned blue. Daniel smirked. This was one of the things Barnes had improved over the last month. Daniel had been there, though he didn¡¯t understand electronics. He only dealt with their minds. So Barnes had changed the robots here after all. Strange that he hadn¡¯t seen them in the labs.


    The ropes binding them weren¡¯t particularly tight. Jasper probably felt it too. The robots didn¡¯t have the strength to tie them securely. But neither of them moved. Daniel hoped they weren¡¯t in mortal danger and that there was no way they¡¯d be killed, but Hugo kept surprising him.


    "Bro, Hugo set us up again, didn¡¯t he?" Jasper whispered to him.


    "Most likely¡­" Daniel wasn¡¯t sure whether to laugh or not.


    "That old bastard¡­"


    "I¡¯d forgotten how clever he is. Still, it¡¯s weird. Aren¡¯t more guests coming soon? What¡¯s he expecting to happen here when they arrive? Chaos in the bar, two gangsters, two guys tied up or¡­ dead?"


    "They won¡¯t kill us, that¡¯s obvious. But I think Hugo wants to throw the newbies straight into the adventure. He won¡¯t give them a break."


    "Hey, you two," Wade came over and kicked their chairs. "What are you whispering about?"


    "Talking about your mom," Jasper snapped back. "I¡¯d make you a little brother if I got my hands on her."


    Wade lowered his rifle and aimed it at his face.


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    "Feeling brave now, fatso?"


    Jake approached Wade and carefully pushed the barrel of the rifle down.


    "We¡¯ve got no use for them if we kill them, Wade."


    "Oh, Jake¡­" Wade grabbed him by the shirt. There was fear in Jake¡¯s eyes. "I knew you¡¯d go soft, you bastard." Wade shoved him back to the ground.


    "So what do you want from us?" Daniel cut in. "We haven¡¯t done anything."


    "Nothing? Where¡¯s Reed? Where¡¯s Reed?"


    "Didn¡¯t Jake tell you?" Daniel glanced at him. "Reed got on his horse and bolted. If he¡¯d stayed¡­"


    "If he¡¯d stayed, what? You¡¯d have killed him?"


    "Not us, but his daughters might have."


    Wade burst out laughing.


    "Not to me, buddy. Reed loved his daughters. And they loved him. That can¡¯t be true."


    Jake was back on his feet, standing farther away.


    "The funny thing is, Jake told the same story," Wade pointed his rifle at Jake again. "Did you two cook this up, sheriff? Are you one of them?"


    Bart stepped over, grabbed Jake¡¯s badge, and ripped it off his lapel.


    "What kind of sheriff are you? Everyone mocks you, Jake. Everyone!"


    Jake stared at the ground. He didn¡¯t even try to resist. Wade and Bart laughed. Jake was different. Daniel remembered the first time he saw him. He¡¯d seemed confident, a real sheriff. Little by little, his confidence had faded. Especially when people like Reed or these two showed up.


    "So we¡¯ll stay tied up until you find Reed?"


    "Yeah, fatso. We suspect you two," Wade grabbed a chair, placed it in front of them, and sat down, trying to lock eyes with both at once. "Remember our last meeting? You attacked us."


    "Us?" Daniel jolted. "As far as I recall, you attacked us, and then we ended up in jail."


    "You¡¯ve got it wrong, kid. You attacked us first. Said some nasty words. Our souls are sensitive. We don¡¯t take kindly to people talking bad about us. Believe me, jail was the least of what you got off with back then."


    "And since you¡¯re asking about Reed," Daniel jumped in too, "why weren¡¯t you at our trial? Reed had dragged us to the gallows. If you¡¯d been there, maybe you¡¯d have seen it with your own eyes."


    Daniel knew what had happened. The technicians had sent them for testing, and he wasn¡¯t sure if he should bring it up¡ªwhether it might damage the robot or ruin the story¡ªbut he did it anyway. If Hugo wanted to test them, he¡¯d play along too.


    "Reed made us run, smartass. The town trusted him, not us. If Reed said he¡¯d caught the deputy sheriffs, no one would bat an eye. But if two of the most wanted men did it¡­ well, then we¡¯d have a problem."


    "Two of the most wanted?"


    Wade glanced at Bart.


    "Guess they¡¯re pretty dumb."


    "And blind," Bart added, pointing to one of the wanted posters hanging on the wall. Wade and Bart were right in the middle. They really hadn¡¯t noticed.


    "So Reed works with thieves and crooks. You seemed the type, but hiding like rats is new."


    Wade swung and slapped Jasper across the face. Jasper was both shocked and furious. He looked at Daniel first. His glare screamed the same thing Daniel was thinking. These guys had hit them again. But this time, no one barged in, and the park¡¯s red lights didn¡¯t flash. Hugo was probably watching. A red mark appeared on Jasper¡¯s face. Bart laughed.


    "Got anything else to say, fatso?"


    Jasper was fuming. His leg was shaking. But he held it together. Daniel knew he could easily untie himself, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he spat at Wade.


    Wade wiped his face with his hand, stood up, and swung again. This time, Jake didn¡¯t stop him. Bart did.


    "Stop, Wade. We can¡¯t kill them yet, not until we find Reed. I bet the boss will want to deal with them himself."


    Wade stepped aside. Jake stood there, watching. Bart continued.


    "Let¡¯s show them the other surprise." Bart went to the door behind the bar and opened it. He stepped inside and disappeared for a moment. There was a noise. Bart came back almost immediately. But he wasn¡¯t alone. A woman walked in front of him. Her dark red hair was dirty and matted, with wet patches¡ªprobably blood. Her dress was muddy, and one side of her face bore a wound stretching from near her forehead down to the middle of her cheek.


    Daniel recognized her. It was Violet.

 63

    At the sight of Violet, Jake lunged toward Bart. He wasn¡¯t holding anything. He just ran at him. The space was tight, and it only took him a few steps. Bart laughed, holding Violet. Just before reaching them, Jake tripped and fell. As he lay on the ground, he turned and saw Wade¡¯s leg, which he¡¯d stumbled over. Bart laughed, followed by Wade. Wade quickly hid his smile, stood up from the chair, bent down, and almost single-handedly lifted Jake off the ground. Jake steadied himself and stood. Wade swung his rifle and knocked him down a second time.


    "I knew you were no good, sheriff," Wade said, kicking him again. "But you did your job. Now I could kill you if I wanted to. But I won¡¯t. I want you to see what we¡¯re going to do to your precious Violet first."


    Jake lay on the ground. He couldn¡¯t get up a second time. He was clearly in pain¡ªas much pain as a robot could feel. He dragged himself across the floor, one eye shut, a trickle of blood running down the side of his face.


    Bart pushed Violet forward roughly, and she walked slowly. He held her by the shoulder with one hand while pressing a pistol to her head with the other. She didn¡¯t resist. He sat her on the chair in front of Daniel and Jasper, and Wade stood behind her. He leaned forward slightly from behind, ran a finger across her face, and brushed away the wet strands of hair falling over it. He smiled. But Violet didn¡¯t look scared. Daniel might even say she seemed pleased. He saw a spark of joy in her eyes. She was looking at him. And smiling.


    "What do you think of this beauty?" Wade bent down and buried his nose in her hair. "She doesn¡¯t smell as nice as she used to, but I¡¯m sure she wants me."


    Violet tried to pull away, which clearly caused her pain. The wound on her face hadn¡¯t healed yet and was swollen. Daniel had been involved in everything at the park over the past month, but some things still surprised him. He looked at Violet¡¯s wound not as something Wade and Bart had done to her, but as a marvel of Hugo¡¯s design. He was impressed.


    But they had to keep playing this so-called story. Clearly, old Hugo was still enjoying their free performance from somewhere. And the whole theater was set up just for them.


    Whether it was a gift or some kind of punishment, Daniel couldn¡¯t decide. And in front of him, the movie went on.


    "Bart, I see you¡¯re the boss here," Jasper said, looking at Bart. "What do you want from us?"


    "Those little games won¡¯t work, fatso," Bart replied, his fingers digging into Violet¡¯s shoulder. "There¡¯s no boss between me and Wade. The only boss is Reed. And when he gets back, he¡¯ll tell you himself."


    "If he gets back."


    "Oh, he¡¯ll be back. And until then, you¡¯re staying here."


    "Why not just give us a gun and face us in a fair duel? Or are you scared?"


    Both of them laughed almost in unison.


    "Your tricks won¡¯t work, and you¡¯d better stop trying. We¡¯ve got one more guest who can¡¯t wait to see you. Especially to meet Violet."


    Violet looked up at them. Pain was evident in her eyes.


    "Wade, pick up that bastard and tie him next to his sweetheart," Bart said, pointing at Jake.


    Wade bent down, pressed his rifle to Jake¡¯s head, and helped him stand. He grabbed his hands, tied them behind his back, and shoved him to sit on the ground near the bar. Bart waited for Jake to be secured and smirked at him. Then he whistled.


    Soft footsteps sounded on the wooden floor upstairs. Gradually, the steps grew closer to the stairs, and soon a pair of legs appeared. Red shoes and a woman¡¯s legs in black stockings. Behind them came another pair of legs. Smaller, almost childlike.


    "Introducing the new leading lady of the bar¡ªBeatrice," Bart announced.


    They knew Beatrice. She was one of the most secretive girls at Violet¡¯s bar and one of the prettier ones. With long, curly red hair, a pale face, and green eyes. Just like before, she wore a red buttoned vest that strained over her ample chest beneath a white shirt. Below, she had a dark red skirt. Daniel saw uncertainty in her eyes, and definitely a hint of fear. But she wasn¡¯t injured like Violet¡ªher face was clean. She wasn¡¯t the interesting one, though. The boy behind her was. No more than twelve years old. And in his hands, he held a rifle. A rifle pointed at Beatrice. It looked unnatural in his hands, too big for him. But the boy was smiling. He had dark hair, wore a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and kept the rifle aimed at Beatrice¡¯s head or back, chuckling softly. Wade and Bart seemed pleased too.


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    "Meet my son, Troy," Bart said, presenting him as if he weren¡¯t a child with a weapon but a circus performer. "Troy¡¯s a great shot. He definitely wouldn¡¯t miss from that distance."


    "Beatrice?" Violet said her name with great effort, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.


    "Yes, Beatrice. You know her, Violet," Bart turned to her. "One of your trusted girls."


    "Why Beatrice?"


    "I¡¯ll answer that."


    Bart stepped in front of Violet, blocking Beatrice from her view. He crouched down. His back was to Jasper and Daniel. One sharp tug of their hands could free them from the ropes and take Bart down. But Wade was still behind them. And now there was a third person to worry about, even if he was a kid. Bart continued:


    "With that wound, you can¡¯t be the face of the bar anymore, darling," Bart said, touching Violet¡¯s wound again. She flinched. "You¡¯re only good for a cheap whore now. The kind your whores service¡ªthe most desperate men."


    Violet tried to kick Bart but failed. He grabbed her thighs and grinned, sliding his hands along them.


    "Want one last fuck, sweetheart?" he said. "I heard you used to charge a lot for yourself. Can you pay with your life now? Trade a fuck for your life?" He laughed.


    She tried to kick him again, and this time she succeeded, though it was too weak. Bart pulled out his pistol and pressed the barrel into her wound. Violet was in pain, and blood ran down her face. Bart savored it.


    "Leave her alone, you bastard!" Daniel shouted, feeling like he was in one of those movies where that line was a clich¨¦. But it worked.


    Bart pulled away from her. But now he was looking at him.


    "Want the same wound, you bastard?" Bart said, striking him with the pistol¡ªbut lightly. Either he lacked strength, or their safety measures were loosened but not entirely gone.


    "Troy!" Bart called to the kid, who was still grinning while holding Beatrice at gunpoint. "Bring that beauty over here."


    Beatrice started walking on her own, and Troy followed, careful not to let her out of his sight.


    "Redheaded love," Bart said, grabbing a handful of her locks and inhaling them. It seemed to be a habit of his. "Ready to take this hag¡¯s place?" He pointed at Violet.


    Beatrice didn¡¯t answer. Her eyes filled with tears. Bart slapped her.


    "I asked you something."


    "Y-yes."


    "Good girl. Troy!" He turned to the kid again. "Lower that gun off the lady. Can¡¯t you see she¡¯s nervous, you little bastard?"


    Troy lowered the rifle, though with slight reluctance, and leaned on it like a cane. The rifle was half his size. He looked just as smug as his father, Bart.


    Bart grabbed Beatrice by the neck and gently led her in front of Violet.


    "Want to avoid ending up like her?"


    Beatrice was crying.


    "Beatrice, darling," Bart kept talking to her. "I asked you something."


    "N-no."


    "Good. Then you only have to do one thing." Bart took one of his revolvers and placed it in her hands. "To take someone¡¯s throne, you have to kill them. That¡¯s how it¡¯s always been." He leaned close to her face and kissed her softly.


    Beatrice¡¯s hands trembled. Daniel was sure she¡¯d drop the revolver any second. Tears streamed down her face. Violet looked at her calmly. She saw something in her eyes that the others didn¡¯t. And she gave her a slight nod. She was ready to die. Daniel glanced at Jasper. Jasper was looking at him too. He could tell from his expression that they didn¡¯t need to intervene. The story was written for them, and they had to watch it play out.


    "So, Beatrice? Want the spot?" Bart said. "Because if you don¡¯t, I don¡¯t need you. What about you, Wade?" He turned to his friend.


    "I see Beatrice as a good mother to the rest of the whores," Wade replied.


    "And if she doesn¡¯t want it?"


    "If she doesn¡¯t, she¡¯s got nothing else to live for," Wade said, twirling his revolver on his finger while leaning against the bar.


    Little Troy picked up his rifle again.


    Beatrice raised the revolver to Violet¡¯s face. She was unsteady¡ªthe gun shook, as did half her body. She was too close to miss, though even that seemed possible. She looked like she¡¯d never held a gun before. And she¡¯d certainly never killed.


    "Come on, Beatrice," Violet said, unafraid, looking her in the eyes. "If there¡¯s one thing these bastards are right about, it¡¯s that with this scar, I can¡¯t work the bar anymore. Just take care of this place. Change the name if you want. Change the prices, change the staff. But look after the girls. They deserve someone to protect them."


    Beatrice didn¡¯t move. She held the gun and cried.


    But then a gun barrel appeared at her forehead too. And Bart whispered something to her that no one else heard.


    Beatrice pulled the trigger, and the revolver¡¯s song echoed through the bar.

 64

    The first moments were silent. Only the sound of the shot still reverberated in the empty bar. Little Troy had stepped back, his face briefly serious, but he quickly flashed his smile again.


    Wade didn¡¯t move, and the silence was broken by Bart¡¯s laughter. Beatrice¡¯s sobs, as she collapsed to the floor, were even louder. Drops of Violet¡¯s blood had even splattered onto Daniel and Jasper¡¯s clothes. Jasper bared his teeth and cursed, while Daniel stared in disbelief.


    The only sharp movement came from Jake. He¡¯d gotten to his feet and was shouting something. He charged at the first person he saw¡ªWade. With his hands tied behind his back, he had to lead with his head. Daniel didn¡¯t know what he was thinking, but he knew it was a mistake.


    A second shot rang out in the bar. This time from Bart¡¯s revolver.


    Jake fell to the ground in a pool of blood. His face met Violet¡¯s. They lay side by side. Both lifeless. Both dead.


    Troy bounced with joy, expressing his delight in some strange, childish way as he looked at the two dead bodies. Daniel glanced at the hole in Violet¡¯s face. He could see parts of her metal insides, though they were now being covered by blood. He was sure he heard something inside her¡ªlike the sound of electronics shorting out as the liquid used for blood made contact. One of her eyes opened and closed a few times before staying shut for good.


    Beatrice sobbed uncontrollably at her feet. Daniel kept marveling at all the extras on these robots. It slightly ruined the theater he¡¯d been drawn into, but he¡¯d never seen Hugo add something like water to produce tears. Yet there they were in Beatrice¡¯s eyes.


    "Bro, this is pure art," Jasper said, his voice more full of admiration than anything else.


    "What are you two chirping about, little birds?"


    Bart lightly kicked Beatrice¡¯s shoe, and she fell sideways, drenched in tears. She was alive, but it seemed she didn¡¯t want to be. Bart sat on the chair, splattered with Violet¡¯s blood.


    "Women these days are so weepy, don¡¯t you think?" He looked at Beatrice. "Actually, Violet was tough, but she ended up with a bullet between her eyes. And from one of her own. What irony, huh, Wade?"


    Wade had found an apple somewhere and was biting into it with teeth too white for this place.


    "Dad, what about these guys?" Daniel heard Troy¡¯s voice for the first time. "When do we shoot them? Can I kill one?"


    "No, Troy. You already killed that peasant Owen. He hadn¡¯t done anything to you."


    "He had. He had a pear, and he yelled at me for taking one without asking."


    "And that¡¯s why you had to kill him?"


    "You¡¯d have done the same."


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    "I¡¯d have beaten him first. And if he still didn¡¯t give it to me, then I¡¯d kill him."


    "Well¡­" The boy felt guilty. "Whatever. At least his wife¡¯s still alive."


    "Yeah," Wade chimed in from behind them. "See, Troy¡¯s compassionate. He could¡¯ve killed her too, but he didn¡¯t."


    "We¡¯ll deal with it later, Troy. We¡¯re not killing these two yet. We¡¯re saving them for Reed."


    "Reed? Bart, why do we have to wait for that old man?" Wade said. "Don¡¯t you think we can run this place ourselves? Look, the sheriff¡¯s dead. Violet too. No one¡¯s stopping us. Let¡¯s put a bullet in each of these two, get Beatrice to put the whores back to work, and take over the village." He took another bite of his apple and continued, "Speaking of Owen¡¯s wife, I¡¯ve had my eye on her for a while. The kid did me a favor by killing her husband."


    "Keep your pants on, Wade," Bart replied. "You¡¯re forgetting what Reed did for us. We¡¯re men of honor. We owe it to him to help him now. Plus, I want to see his face when he sees Jake hanging from the gallows."


    "With that head wound, he¡¯ll hardly believe we hanged him," Bart laughed.


    "By then, the birds will probably have pecked him clean. Troy," he turned to the kid, "how are the girls upstairs?"


    "Quiet. They started yelling a bit when I took this one, but when they see the barrel of the rifle, they shut up."


    "You trained him well, Bart," Wade said, standing off to the side, seeming to enjoy it more than help. "What do we do with these two?"


    "I heard there¡¯ll be guests soon, Wade," Bart said, pulling a hand-rolled cigarette from his back pocket and putting it in his mouth. "The iron machine¡¯s supposed to come tomorrow with more like them. Everything needs to be ready by then. Beatrice will make sure this place is clean and all the women feel good. It¡¯s time to start making money."


    "Should I get Phil?"


    "The bartender? I completely forgot about him. Yeah, call him."


    Wade went into the room where he¡¯d brought Violet from and returned with Phil. Daniel studied him. It was Phil, the same as before. There was fear in his eyes, but Daniel and Jasper knew Phil was human. They¡¯d figured it out in one of their last days here. And yet, Hugo was supposed to have removed the humans this time.


    "Phil?" Jasper didn¡¯t hold back. "What the hell are you doing here, you bastard? Did Barnes lie to us again?"


    Daniel tried to kick Jasper but couldn¡¯t reach him. Jasper turned to him. He saw the fury in his eyes.


    "The old man screwed us again."


    "Who¡¯s Barnes?" Bart asked, holding his revolver. "Little birds, should we expect someone else from your crew?"


    "Jasper got confused," Daniel said, trying to smooth things over.


    "Let¡¯s hope so. Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re going to die soon either way. So sing whatever you¡¯ve got."


    Jasper didn¡¯t say anything more. And that was for the best.


    Phil walked in slowly. He didn¡¯t look as battered as Violet, but his expression was fearful. At first, it seemed he didn¡¯t see Violet, but when his gaze fell on the bar¡¯s owner lying in a pool of blood, he froze and his mouth dropped open.


    "What¡¯s wrong, four-eyes, lost your mind?" Bart said.


    "V-Violet?"


    "Yeah. Nothing¡¯s left of Violet. Too bad sweet Beatrice shot her. But that¡¯s how it goes¡ªwhen you¡¯ve got big ambitions, sometimes it leads to killings like this. We can¡¯t blame the poor girl."


    "Beatrice? Why?" Phil seemed to have more questions but only managed those.


    "I¡­ I didn¡¯t want to," Beatrice said, still crying.


    "She¡¯s lying, lying," Bart cut in. "She begged me for a gun. Violet was pleading for mercy."


    Phil fainted.


    He played it perfectly.

 65

    Phil had quickly come to and was standing behind the bar. He pretended to clean. Daniel could see his trembling hands and his gaze, which kept shifting¡ªsometimes toward them with all its helplessness, sometimes toward the dead Violet on the floor and the slain Jake beside her.


    "Troy? Where¡¯s your rifle?" Bart¡¯s voice broke the silence again.


    Troy grabbed his rifle and stood like a soldier awaiting orders.


    "Be so kind as to take these gentlemen to the rooms upstairs," Bart said.


    Troy pointed the rifle at them and positioned himself at a safe distance.


    "Get up, fools," he said. His childish voice hadn¡¯t even begun to break¡ªthat¡¯s how young he was. A rifle in a child¡¯s hands was something you didn¡¯t see every day.


    Daniel stood first, followed by Jasper. Now that they were upright, little Troy only came up to their waists. But he had a weapon, and they didn¡¯t. That made him much taller than them. Troy gestured with the rifle, indicating where they should go, and they obeyed. Daniel wondered which twisted mind at the company had decided to include a child¡ªand one with a gun, no less.


    They followed Troy¡¯s lead and walked around the chairs. As they turned their backs to him, they heard his name.


    "Troy?" It was his father¡¯s voice. Jasper and Daniel turned around. Troy had turned too.


    "Don¡¯t do anything stupid, Beatrice," Bart said.


    Beatrice had somehow gotten hold of Bart¡¯s revolver and was pointing it at his head. Bart had his hands raised, but he looked calm. Beatrice, despite being the one with the gun, seemed even more nervous.


    The scene was strange, like something straight out of a Western. Sure, they were in a place like that, but this level of realism felt almost unreal.


    Wade wasn¡¯t fazed either. He even found it amusing.


    Troy, with the butt of his rifle pressed to his shoulder, shouted:


    "Drop the gun, you whore! Let my dad go!"


    "Troy?" Bart looked at his son. "How can you use language like that, son? Is that how I raised you? Beatrice is a very refined young lady."


    "She needs to drop the gun!" Troy was unrelenting.


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    Daniel couldn¡¯t tell whether Bart was more worried about Beatrice or his son.


    "Troy, there¡¯s no need for rash decisions," Bart said. "Our dear Beatrice is confused. She¡¯ll realize her mistake soon and drop the gun. Right, darling?" Bart slowly turned. The barrel of the pistol was now pressed to his forehead.


    Beatrice¡¯s hand trembled. But there was anger in her eyes.


    Troy, however, wouldn¡¯t budge. He took a step forward. Daniel was certain the kid would shoot.


    And he was right.


    Everyone hit the ground. The sound of shattering glass rang out. A second shot followed, splintering the wooden bar.


    Beatrice was on the floor, hands over the back of her head, and the revolver was back in Bart¡¯s possession.


    Wade had been faster than Troy and snatched the rifle from his hands.


    Beatrice was crying again.


    "Didn¡¯t I tell you not to shoot?" Bart slapped Troy so hard that the boy fell to the ground.


    "It¡¯s like we¡¯re part of some theater, bro," Jasper whispered so only Daniel could hear. "It¡¯s even starting to get a little funny. But I¡¯ve got to admit, it¡¯s damn good. I¡¯m curious what else Barnes has cooked up for us."


    "Seems like those things he promised us are going to be delayed," Daniel replied. "I¡¯m pissed at him too, but we¡¯ve got to give it to him¡ªhe hid his intentions well."


    "You were around him for a whole month, bro. Didn¡¯t you see anything?"


    "Honestly, no. All the robots we worked on were for the other parks. He must¡¯ve kept all the ones for this one hidden."


    "Hey, you two," Bart stood up and approached them. "What are you whispering about now?"


    "We¡¯re talking about how disgusting you are, Bart," Jasper goaded him. "And how you¡¯re no leader. Daniel could tell this wouldn¡¯t end well. "Your one helper is Wade, who just stands there grinning, and you¡¯re relying on some kid. You¡¯re pathetic, Bart."


    At first, Bart seemed calm, but then his face reddened, the flush creeping up his head to his bald scalp, where a few wrinkles appeared. He stepped closer to Jasper. His hands grabbed Jasper¡¯s shirt and shoved him back slightly. He¡¯d placed a foot behind Jasper, and as he pushed, Jasper tripped and fell. Daniel was surprised that Jasper, who usually flared up over less, stayed calm this time.


    "That¡¯s where you belong, you ox," Bart said, giving him a light kick in the legs before returning to Troy. He took the rifle and went to Beatrice.


    "Move," he ordered.


    The redhead stood and walked ahead of the rifle¡¯s barrel. She reached Daniel and Jasper.


    "Go. All three of you," Bart said. The smirk was gone from his face.


    The three obeyed. They walked ahead, with Beatrice behind them. All three guided by Bart¡¯s gun.


    They climbed to the upper floor. Nothing had changed up there. The hallway, the doors¡­ even the room numbers were the same.


    "To the right. Beatrice, show them," Bart instructed.


    Beatrice slowly moved ahead of them and opened the first door. She stepped inside, paused for a moment, then continued. Daniel followed right behind her. The room¡¯s layout was the same as the one he¡¯d slept in last time. Only back then, he¡¯d been alone. Now, there were several other girls here. Some he recognized.


    Jasper entered too. Bart stood behind them, keeping them at gunpoint as he untied their hands. Then he stepped out and closed the door.


    The click of a lock followed.

 66

    "Aria?"


    "Jasper!" Aria nearly shouted and hugged him. Then she greeted Daniel too. Her little daughter was in the room as well, but instead of staying with her, she was with Mia¡ªthe other daughter of Reed.


    "Mia?" Jasper was the first to point out the obvious.


    "Yes. My sister," Aria interjected. "Wade and Bart locked us in here."


    Jasper glanced at Daniel. Daniel knew what that look meant. Last time, Mia had turned out to be human. Actually, he couldn¡¯t quite recall what she looked like or whether they¡¯d replaced her with a prototype this time¡ªor if she was still real.


    Jasper sat on the bed, and Aria sat beside him. Daniel found a spot in the room too. Besides the two of them and Beatrice, there was Clara, who now looked far less charming than the last time Violet had introduced her at the bar. Her curls and chestnut hair were still there, but her face was puffy from crying, and her eyes were red. No matter how hard he tried not to, Daniel kept noting every little detail about the robots. The last girl in the room was blonde, her hair tied in a ponytail. Daniel had seen her before at Violet¡¯s bar. And it seemed the bar wouldn¡¯t be called that much longer.


    "What happened downstairs?" Aria asked, sitting close to Jasper. He seemed almost cheerful.


    Beatrice started crying again and looked at Daniel. She couldn¡¯t speak, and clearly didn¡¯t want to. Daniel decided to step in:


    "They killed Violet."


    "Violet?" All the girls in the room reacted almost the same way, covering their mouths with their hands. "But how?"


    "Bart killed her," Daniel said, looking at Beatrice. She seemed to thank him with her eyes.


    "Jake¡¯s dead too," Jasper added.


    "No," one of the girls gasped.


    "I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s true."


    "They want me to run the bar," Beatrice said, wiping her eyes. "They didn¡¯t let me speak."


    "Beatrice isn¡¯t to blame," Daniel defended her. "It wasn¡¯t her choice. The two of them forced her."


    "And the little one? Troy?" Clara asked, still holding a hand over her mouth, her legs crossed tightly.


    "He¡¯s downstairs too," Daniel said. "He nearly shot Beatrice and his dad. If someone doesn¡¯t stop him, he¡¯ll turn out worse than them."


    "Yes," Beatrice said slowly. "On the stairs, he said things I¡¯ve only heard from the grown drunks at the bar. The kid, sadly¡­ he¡¯s still a child. How can he¡­"


    "Apparently, he can."


    "And what are they going to do with us?" the blonde girl asked. She seemed to be holding herself together the best. Daniel tried to recall if he¡¯d seen her before. She felt more like a newcomer.


    "With you, probably nothing," Daniel said. "If Beatrice really takes over the bar, you¡¯ll do what you did before. But from what I know of Bart and Wade," he looked at all of them, "you won¡¯t see much of the money."


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    "Then we¡¯ll leave. Like the other girls did," the blonde replied.


    "What happened to the others? There were a lot of you," Daniel asked.


    "Most of them left after Reed¡¯s shootout," she said. "They got scared of the town, and one morning, they were just gone."


    Daniel knew what had happened. Back during the park¡¯s preparation, he and Hugo had discussed how there were too many girls. The number they¡¯d decided to keep was actually higher than what was here now. But they needed variety for all the men¡¯s tastes. The bar downstairs would run normally, but upstairs, anyone who paid would experience pleasures unavailable in the real world. Or at least, that¡¯s how they¡¯d planned it.


    "What about Phil?" Clara spoke up again. "How¡¯s he doing?"


    "The little bartender¡¯s fine," Jasper said, sitting on the bed with Aria leaning on his shoulder. They looked as if they¡¯d never been apart, despite their romance being short-lived. Jasper continued:


    "They even told him to work. Wade and Bart mentioned some guests. Do you know anything?"


    "Yes," Beatrice lifted her head. "Jake said the town got popular because of Violet¡¯s bar. I don¡¯t know if that was true¡ªhe loved her, after all. But he said soon a lot of people would be coming here. He heard it from the train conductor too."


    Daniel and Jasper knew what kind of people she meant, and their exchanged glance confirmed it. The guests were coming soon. And this place was still a mess. He wanted to talk to Jasper alone. But with Aria around, he seemed happier.


    Mia stood and went to the window. She faced away from them. It was odd that she wasn¡¯t wearing her black gloves or any sign of her robot disguise. Daniel tried to remember if Phil had been wearing his. He couldn¡¯t recall.


    "And why are you here?" Daniel asked, looking at her as he spoke. She turned around.


    "Us?"


    "Yes. You and Aria. You¡¯re Reed¡¯s daughters, right? And all Wade and Bart talk about is him. They worship him. Isn¡¯t it strange they¡¯d lock you up?"


    Mia glanced at her sister and began to speak.


    "For a few days, we lived without our father. Yan, the stable boy, had left too," she said, looking shyly aside before continuing. "We managed somehow. It was more important to deal with Taylor. The kid can be wild sometimes, and she¡¯s still a child, after all. Until one day, another kid showed up at our door. He wanted to play with Taylor. It was Troy." Mia paused for a moment, then went on. "We didn¡¯t know him then. We let them play in the garden. Taylor¡¯s a few years younger than Troy, so we didn¡¯t leave them alone. We stayed with them the whole time."


    "Then Bart showed up," Aria cut in.


    "Yes. Bart came down the road," Mia continued. "We didn¡¯t know him until then. He seemed normal. He waved and smiled. We didn¡¯t know who he was until he introduced himself as Troy¡¯s father. We invited him in. We even offered him something to drink. He seemed really nice."


    "I never thought he was nice," Aria interrupted. Mia gave her a look and went on.


    "He was nice, at least to me. Until he pulled out a pistol and set it on the table, still smiling. That¡¯s when I knew something was wrong."


    "And then?"


    "He said it was for our own good to come to the bar until our father got back."


    "That doesn¡¯t make sense," Jasper said, raising his big hands. "If Reed¡ªyour father¡ªfinds out he threatened you with a gun¡­"


    "Well, I shot Reed. My father, I mean. You remember. But they knew that. Bart, specifically, knew it. I don¡¯t know how, because they weren¡¯t there then. But they knew. Bart brought us here. We came on our own, but under the threat of his gun."


    "And you¡¯ve been here since?"


    "That happened yesterday. The two of them have only been at it for a short while. Before that, everything was fine. Well, almost fine. Without our father, it¡¯s a bit harder."


    Shouts came from downstairs. Everyone fell silent and listened. Then something broke. There was a brief silence, followed by the creaking of floorboards in the hallway outside. A noise came from the lock. The door opened, and Wade stepped in. His eyes were furious, but he masked it with his dumb grin.


    "You and you," he said, pointing at Daniel and the blonde girl. "You¡¯re officially invited to a dating downstairs."

 67

    Daniel and the blonde girl slowly stood up, passed by Wade, and he locked the door behind them again, leaving the others inside. The blonde girl was petite but not scared. Neither was he.


    "I won¡¯t tie your hands," Wade said. "But I want you to stay still."


    Daniel had no intention of moving. If he¡¯d wanted, he could have freed himself much earlier, but he waited for them to play out their theater. Or rather, Barnes¡¯ theater. Before leaving, he turned to Jasper and winked. Jasper looked calm too.


    The blonde girl and Daniel descended the stairs slowly. She walked slightly ahead of him. She wore a long blue dress cinched with a white belt. Her back was slightly visible. It was small. She herself was dainty, walking with tiny steps, while Daniel stayed close behind her. Wade followed, holding a weapon in his hands.


    Downstairs, everything was the same, but Jake and Violet¡¯s bodies were gone. Only the bloodstain from Violet¡¯s head remained. The bartender, Phil, was still in his spot, doing what he always did¡ªtrying to stay unnoticed. He held a glass in his hands, carefully wiping it on all sides and occasionally glancing toward the bar.


    Bart stood by the bar¡¯s door, laughing as he watched them. Troy was nowhere to be seen.


    "Hello again, lovebirds," Bart began. "Your friends Violet and Jake are in a better place, don¡¯t worry. I even sent Troy to make sure they¡¯re okay."


    "What did you do with their bodies?" Daniel asked.


    "Oh, Daniel, nothing too bad," Bart replied. "I left them for the dogs to eat outside. Troy has three hounds that only listen to him. Honestly, even I¡¯m scared of them sometimes. He¡¯s feeding them now."


    "He¡¯s just a kid?"


    "So what? Other kids his age are spoiled brats, but he¡¯s already a man."


    "Show them, Bart," Wade said from behind them. "Invite them."


    "Yes!" Bart nearly exclaimed. "To prove I¡¯m a good guy, I¡¯ll give you a little entertainment. You didn¡¯t think I¡¯d let you nap in that room, did you?"


    "What are you up to, Bart?"


    He didn¡¯t answer, just glanced at one of the clean tables nearby, far from the blood that had practically flooded the bar.


    "You two are a pair of lovebirds, aren¡¯t you?"


    Daniel looked at the blonde girl.


    "We don¡¯t even know each other."


    "Wrong answer. You¡¯re in love, and now you¡¯ll sit across from each other." Bart raised his revolver and pointed it at them.


    Daniel sat on one chair, and the girl took the one opposite him.


    "Bravo. A real love-struck couple," Bart said, whistling and turning to Phil. "Phil, the drinks, please. Wade, be a good sport."


    Phil pulled out two glasses and filled them to the brim with wine. This time, his shelves were much better stocked than before, when there¡¯d only been beer. He had a new wooden barrel by the bar from which he poured the wine. Wade set his rifle on the bar, took a glass in each hand, and headed toward them, laughing. He placed one in front of Daniel and the other in front of the girl.


    "Bravo," Bart said, pleased. "Now, each of you pick up your glass and clink them together. Even lovebirds need to toast. Sure, the setting¡¯s a bit rowdy and hardly romantic, but oh well."


    Daniel took his glass, and the girl did the same. They lightly clinked them together. She seemed a little shy, while Daniel wondered what Bart had in mind.


    "Bravo, now get to know each other," Bart said. "Daniel, what do you want to know about her, huh?"


    "Bart, don¡¯t you think this is too much?"


    "There¡¯s no Bart here. It¡¯s just you and Lily."


    Lily. So that¡¯s what her name was.


    "Lily," Bart turned to her, and she looked at him with her big brown eyes, "Daniel wants to know something about your family. Your mom? Your dad? Sisters?"


    Daniel could see she wasn¡¯t sure how or what to answer. She stayed silent, hoping it would all blow over. Bart standing next to her wasn¡¯t helping.


    "I have a father and a mother, but they¡¯re from another town," she said.


    "Bravo, good girl. Anything else?"


    "I have two more sisters?"


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    "Bravo. Daniel," Bart looked at him again, "you should be pleased. Your date¡¯s going wonderfully."


    Daniel didn¡¯t respond. He took a sip of the wine.


    "Now it¡¯s your turn, Daniel," Bart said. "This question¡¯s from me. Do you like Lily?"


    Did he like her? She was nice enough. But he still didn¡¯t understand what Bart was planning. So he answered what Bart wanted to hear:


    "Yes."


    "Fantastic. When you two become husband and wife, you can track down her family. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll want to know what their daughter¡¯s been up to."


    "Why are you doing this, Bart?"


    "Because I¡¯m bored, Daniel. And I think we¡¯re doing Lily a favor. For the first time, she¡¯ll sleep with someone she knows more about than just their name. Actually, Lily, do you even know your clients¡¯ names?"


    Lily looked down, doing everything she could to keep from crying.


    "Don¡¯t cry," Bart said. "Let¡¯s keep the date going. Please, Lily, take a sip of your wine. You haven¡¯t drunk anything. You¡¯ll offend Phil."


    Phil heard his name and glanced over, then turned away again. Lily took a slow sip. Her hand trembled slightly.


    "Bravo, good girl," Bart said.


    "Now let¡¯s ask Lily again," Bart continued, smiling. Something amusing had crossed his mind. "Daniel wants to know how many men you¡¯ve slept with."


    "I don¡¯t want to know," Daniel said.


    "Quiet, Daniel. Every man wants to know that about his wife. You¡¯ll be married soon."


    Lily didn¡¯t answer. She stood there, searching for somewhere to look.


    "Lily? Will you answer?" Bart was close to her now. "You¡¯re one of Violet¡¯s whores. I know it¡¯s hard to count them all, but give us a rough guess. Ten? Twenty? A hundred?"


    "I don¡¯t know," she tried to answer, barely whispering. "Really. Leave me alone. I don¡¯t know."


    "Poor thing," Bart said, feigning pity. "She doesn¡¯t know. Can¡¯t count that high, huh?"


    "I didn¡¯t have a choice?"


    "No choice? Plenty of women don¡¯t have a choice. But they take care of kids, a husband, scrape by somehow. And you?"


    "Leave her alone, Bart! It¡¯s none of your business," Daniel interjected.


    Wade stepped closer too, pulling out his rifle but not aiming it.


    "Back off, Wade. Everything¡¯s fine," Bart said. "Lily," he went behind her and gently grabbed her hair. She tensed. "Would you sleep with your new friend?"


    Lily was crying now, her hair still in his hands.


    "Bart?"


    Daniel held the glass in his hand. When Bart looked at him, he stood up quickly and smashed the glass into Wade¡¯s head. Wade staggered and stumbled back. Daniel lunged at him, grabbing the gun from his hands while Wade was still dazed. Bart already had his revolver out too, but it was pointed at Lily¡¯s head.


    "Daniel, my friend," Bart said. "You¡¯ve got two choices now. Either you give up and we kill you, or I kill Lily. Sorry, pal. You brought this on yourself."


    "And then I¡¯ll kill you," Daniel said, not backing down.


    "Let¡¯s not kid ourselves, friend. You¡¯re not as good with guns as you¡¯d like to be."


    Bart was right. Daniel had never held a gun before. Even now, Wade¡¯s pistol felt odd in his hands. The metal was heavy, and the only thing he knew was how to pull the trigger.


    But Bart knew how to shoot. And Daniel could see in his eyes that he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do it.


    "Last chance, Daniel," Bart said. "You don¡¯t want Lily¡¯s blonde locks to turn red, do you? Haven¡¯t we seen enough killing today?"


    Daniel lowered the gun. Wade was still dazed, sitting on the floor.


    "Good boy," Bart said. "Now put it down next to Wade and stand up. Go back to your chair slowly."


    Daniel obeyed. He had no idea what he was doing and decided it was better to stop while he could. He could¡¯ve killed Wade, but would that ruin the story? So he held back.


    He pulled his chair out and sat back down. Bart still had his gun aimed at Lily¡¯s head.


    "Bravo," Bart said, lowering the weapon. "Lily, be a dear and stand up."


    Lily obeyed. Bart set the pistol on the table behind her, reached out, and grabbed her by the waist. He lifted her and placed her on the table. She didn¡¯t resist. Even if she had, she was far weaker than him.


    "Daniel," Bart said, looking at him. Lily was like a doll in front of him. "Sorry you have to see this on your first date with your lady, but you brought it on yourselves. And she asked for it."


    Daniel heard Wade¡¯s laughter from somewhere in the back of the bar.


    Bart held Lily by the shoulder with one hand while unbuckling his pants with the other. Lily didn¡¯t resist, but she cried. Wade was on his feet now, holding a gun to Daniel¡¯s head. He wouldn¡¯t shoot¡ªthat much was clear¡ªbut should Daniel intervene? That question nagged at him constantly.


    Lily didn¡¯t make a sound, just whimpered softly. Bart lifted her dress and pressed himself against her. Then he leaned in and kissed her. She didn¡¯t pull away, though her expression showed none of the pleasure Bart wanted from her.


    "Bart, you bastard¡­ you¡¯ll pay for this," Daniel said.


    "Oh, sure. I know. They always say that. And I¡¯ve never paid," Bart replied, looking at Lily and brushing a strand of hair from her face with his finger. "And I won¡¯t pay you now either, sweetheart."


    Barnes must¡¯ve lost his mind to approve this. Daniel tried not to look, but he couldn¡¯t avoid hearing the sounds, mostly from Lily. Wade laughed from the side, sipping wine and watching. Phil was no longer behind the bar.


    Bart stepped back from Lily and pulled his pants back up. She didn¡¯t make a sound. She lay on her side on the table, crying quietly. Bart was satisfied, and Wade congratulated him. Daniel felt guilt gnawing at him. He wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d done the right thing. But he remembered Barnes¡¯ words: everything that happens is dictated by a prior action.


    He¡¯d been too late to save Lily from Bart¡¯s rape, but could he do something now?


    He stood up slowly so both of them could see him. And they noticed. Bart grabbed his gun, and Wade raised his higher.


    "What¡¯re you planning, you bastard?" Bart asked.


    He didn¡¯t know. He hadn¡¯t planned anything. He¡¯d improvise. His goal was to kill them both. He didn¡¯t know how.


    But the bar door swung open, ruining his already flimsy plans. Everyone looked that way. Bart and Wade too. A tall man in a cowboy hat stood at the entrance of the bar, which still bore Violet¡¯s name. He held a rifle. Daniel thought this might be their salvation.


    But it was Reed.