Fugitive X by Gregg Rosenblum

Author:Gregg Rosenblum
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

THE BOT CAME FOR CASS JUST BEFORE DESSERT.

Cass and Penny and their mother had made the apple pie together. Rehydrating a store pie would have taken about thirty seconds, but Cass’s mother had made a special trip to the store and brought home the ingredients for a truly homemade pie. It was their father’s favorite, she explained to Cass. She showed her daughters how to roll the dough, peel and slice the apples, add the sugar and cinnamon. . . . They even dialed the oven way down, to what their mother called a “slow bake.” It actually took fifteen minutes to cook, which seemed like an eternity to Cass and Penny. Cass wondered, bitterly, if her foster mom had ever cooked with her, if she had ever patiently helped her make a pie from scratch. She doubted it.

The pie cooled on the kitchen counter all through dinner, and Cass could smell it as she ate her chicken and potatoes.

When they finished the meal, Cass’s mother stood and began gathering the plates. “It’s time for the surprise,” she said to her husband. “Honey, you’re in for a treat.”

“I’ve been smelling it all evening,” he said. “If it’s half as good as it smells, I’ll be a happy man.”

The front door alarm buzzed, and the vid screen in the dining room lit up, showing a sphere bot hovering outside their door in the hallway. Cass’s father stood, frowning. “Strange,” he said, as he walked over and opened the door. “Greetings,” he said.

“Greetings,” said the bot.

Cass suppressed a shiver. She hated the voices of the bots, their flat, overly clipped enunciation, the slight tinniness and reverb. It made her feel guilty, her reaction to their voices. . . . They were mankind’s greatest allies, she knew, and she was just being petty and silly . . . but she couldn’t help it. Their voices made her feel like someone was trickling cold water down her spine.

“We have come for your elder daughter, the one recently assigned to you,” said the bot.

“Is there a problem?” said her father.

“What is this about?” said her mother, stepping forward to join her husband at the door.

“We regret the disturbance, but your daughter has been reassigned,” said the bot. It swiveled toward Cass. “Dress warmly, for the outdoors,” it said.

Cass slowly got to her feet. They couldn’t be taking her away, not now . . . “How long will I be gone?” she said quietly.

“The reassignment is permanent,” said the bot.

“No!” said her mother, taking a step toward the bot. Her husband put his hands on her shoulders. “We just got her back!” she said.

“Again, we regret the disturbance,” said the bot. “But the decision is final.”

“They know what they’re doing,” said Cass’s father. “You know that, honey.”

Cass’s mother turned to her husband and nodded. “Yes, yes of course,” she said weakly. Then she stood up straight and smiled. “Of course,” she said more firmly. “We trust in the ultimate wisdom of our robotic partners.” She looked at Cass and beckoned for her.

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