The Shadow of Alpha by Charles L. Grant

Author:Charles L. Grant [Grant, Charles L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, apocalyptic
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Published: 2017-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

With the needled jabs of scrapes and bruises splitting into his remorse, he watched as Jessica brushed back a darkly matted strand of hair from Ike’s forehead and lifted from his belt the tricorder he hadn’t used. Her breath caught on the jagged edge of anguish, would have torn into keening if Peg hadn’t taken her by the shoulders and made her stand. Parric looked up and watched as they embraced, his thoughts running in search of a direction, focusing finally on the androids still weaving, seemingly drunkenly, in front of the clinic.

Standing, he dryly scrubbed his face and neck, knowing little time had passed, feeling years settle onto the hillside from the silver-gray glow of stars and moon. Too much, he thought, and picked up a severed charred beam. He walked down the street, his eyes seeing nothing but the demonic dance of the mecha­nisms he had once thought to equate with men; and in thinking, stopped, remembering on the crest of re­newed energy, the fourth android, the one he had ordered into the clinic. Skirting the helpless pair, he angled toward the front, trying to see into the black windows, but other than wind and whimpering, there were no signs that he and the women had further company. Cautiously he tapped aside the door with the beam, listening again until he pushed off the wall and stepped inside, suddenly blinded by the lack of light, then seeing only the square of the back room window through the connecting passage. He slid his feet along the bare floor, half crouching in expectation, the beam lightly balanced in both palms.

And still he was alone.

The examination room was empty, and he was puz­zled, refusing to allow himself to panic when he decided the android had only temporarily obeyed him. And immediately his body shouted protests against the beating it had taken, warning him he was mortal and not likely to win again.

Into the backyard, then, searching as he crossed the grass for shadows that moved against the wind. But once back on the main street, he relaxed and dragged his wooden weapon on the ground behind him.

“Frank?”

“It’s all right, Peg, it’s me,” he said loudly, and saw his mistake when the two androids in front turned toward him. He stepped into a trot. “Where’s Jess?”

“Here, Frank,” Jessica said, and he saw Peg’s out­line split in two.

“Let’s go,” he said, beckoning. “We can’t stay here.” He pointed. “Those two will be wandering around all night looking for us.”

“But what about—”

“Jess, we can’t stay.”

He took her arm and pulled, gently. Peg hurried ahead of them, her arms outstretched until they bent suddenly at the elbows.

“Here,” she said, and when Jessica only stood immobile, Parric fished in her breast pocket and pulled out the patchkey. Handing it to Peg, he turned to watch the androids, saw that the one he had brought to the ground was rounding the corner, still on its face, still hunching in a lopsided caterpillar crawl.

“Come on!” Peg said,

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