Stanley Duncan's Robot: Genesis David III (english reading book .TXT) 📖

left the mega-tower?” asked Shannon, reddening. She imagined him processing every single one of her actions with his Cerebral Stitch, which every human-born cyborg from RaceX had.

“Years,” he said, looking around. “Is this where the ceremony will be? It’s beautiful.”

“It certainly can be,” said Evan.

“Good. I’d like that.”

When Shannon smiled, Evan refused to look at her. He never appreciated the good things that she did for him, everything she’d sacrificed.

“Shall we?”

Mr. Handsome nodded.

Evan led the way down the hall. “This complex houses sixty units, with twenty beds per unit.”

“Occupancy?”

“We’ve been full for years. Twelve hundred patients and six full-time staff, including three nurses, two security guards, and a receptionist. And that’s at this building alone. Altogether, there are more than ten thousand patients.”

They entered a former two-bedroom unit. There were four bunk beds in one bedroom, six in another, and ten in the living room. Tubes pierced the emaciated bodies lying motionless in every single bed. The walls were bare and skeleton-white, and the flooring was plain, cold concrete.

The buzzing nagged at Shannon. She wanted to rip off one of the tubes and jab it into her vein, squeezing the bag of fuse until she became lost in sweet, eternal delirium.

Evan wrapped his arm across the legs of one elderly man. “We’ve got most of the town living in our care and more coming every year. While we prefer our fellow man to lead meaningful lives, we’ll certainly accommodate those who choose not to.”

“Some of them,” said Shannon, beneath her breath.

Evan sneered at her.

“This is excellent,” said Mr. Handsome. “And the paperwork is in order?”

“Everyone is required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and sign a consent form authorizing us to permanently treat them, which is then co-signed by a psychiatrist. These are copied in triplicate and saved at different locations.”

“Have there been any deaths?”

Evan glanced at Shannon. “Yes.”

“Go on.”

“Many of our patients come diseased and in pain, choosing to end their suffering by blissing out until the sickness takes them. Others succumb to old age.”

“Is there any way of knowing they aren’t suffering?” asked Shannon. “That would be awful — like being stuck in a never-ending nightmare.”

“Suffering in this state is impossible,” said Mr. Handsome. “The pain receptors have been completely disengaged.”

She had been told to keep her mouth shut, but she didn’t care. “And what if they want to wake up? Aren’t we morally obligated to check on them every once in a while and see if they are doing well?”

Evan shook his head. “If you ever saw a person come off of fuse, you’d know the answer to that.” He spoke dismissively, as if she were an idiot for even asking the question.

“What does that mean?” she said.

“That’s enough, Shannon. Let’s not waste any more of the man’s time.”

“It’s fine, Evan. Listening to your words has impressed me.”

Shannon smirked until a sharp glance from Evan caused her to bite her cheek.

“I’ve seen dozens of people withdraw from fuse, mostly in the days before these safe resting places were established. The first thing you notice is the terror in their eyes. They look like a cornered animal. Then it’s the screaming. Awful, unending yells that rupture their own eardrums and rub their throats raw. If you’re going to survive after fuse, you’ll need an incredibly strong soul. Most people are weak, fusing up the first chance they get. Or they kill themselves.”

A chill crept up Shannon’s spine.

“And it is your work that has eliminated this. It’s no wonder the locals respect you so much.”

“As a deputy, I work hard to keep the streets safe. As a man, I do my best to give meaning to people. I offer all I can to my fellow man, and when that isn’t good enough, I make sure their final wishes are respected.”

“You sound like a politician.”

Evan shrugged.

“Which is something we certainly value. With the coming elections, Massachusetts could certainly use a man of your talent. A person of your ability will have no problem rising high in our organization.”

Shannon choked on her saliva, silencing the cough with her arm.

“I’ll continue to do my best in whatever position God grants me.”

Shannon wanted to roll her eyes, but there was truth there. Evan had helped many people. But he was a huge jerk and had hurt many others, including her.

“Tell me — have there been any issues with security?”

Evan puffed up his chest. “None at all. As you say, the people of Marshfield respect me.” Evan lowered his voice. “A little fear goes a long way.”

Shannon thought he was going to pound his chest and grunt like an ape.

“I see. You’ve done well. Mask will be very impressed.”

“First Marshfield, then Massachusetts, then the whole United States. All for the glory of mankind.”

The grin on Evan’s face was sickening. But it didn’t make sense. Mask was a leader of technology; she led an army of human-born cyborgs and was pioneering the union between man and machine. Evan hated high-technology. Shannon had once seen him go into a fast-food joint and pour boiling oil over the face and into the mouth of one of the androids there. The synthetic flesh blistered and tore off in chunks. The business had insurance, but the store didn’t make it. Everyone was too afraid after seeing and smelling the poor female android’s face. They all knew who’d done it.

To see Evan obey a representative from RaceX and act like everything was okay — well, he had to be plotting something. The ridiculousness of it all was too much, and Shannon chortled.

Evan shot her a look of death.

“RaceX appreciates your enthusiasm. I think we can all agree that the preservation of mankind is our top priority.” Mr. Handsome’s eyes focused. “And we are aware that you have had some problems lately with rogue AI.”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

Shannon could tell Evan was acting. He was definitely up to something.

“We are well informed of your capabilities.” Mr. Handsome turned to Shannon and scanned her. For the briefest of seconds — it felt like