Page 55 of Double Cut

The spider slowly approached from behind and answered, “Your belongings have been received, cleaned, and put away. Shall I lead you to your bedchamber?”

Looking around, Evangeline noticed every surface gleamed. Not a speck of dust or even a dead insect could be found. She leaned toward Sarus and asked, “Do you think that thing will hurt Poppet?”

“The domestic robots are programmed to eradicate vermin,” he replied.

Thinking quickly and decisively, she reached around Horas to tug the carrier from his hand. She turned toward the metal spider and held up the carrier. Her voice quaking, she said, “Um … robot?”

The device turned its glowing eye toward her and replied, “Evangeline Antonia Donal, mate to Colonel Horas mek Ul’Sinha and Commander Sarus mek Orsai’To.”

“Um, yes, acknowledged,” she replied and held up the carrier. “Look into this carrier and acknowledge the creature within it.”

The spider crouched and approached the woman holding the carrier. Evangeline forced herself to stand still and not give in to fear. The robot turned its eye to the carrier’s mesh opening. The cat hissed and spat. Evangeline had to agree—I hate spiders!

Forcing herself to speak in a firm tone, she said, “The creature contained in this carrier is a cat,mycat. His name is Poppet. I’m going to let him out of the carrier and he will have the run of this building. He isnotto be harmed ever, or allowed to go outdoors.”

The panel blinked red then blue then green then yellow then back to white. “Acknowledged. Downloading instructions for care and feeding ofFelis catusof the planet Earth.”

“Thank you.”

“Acknowledged.”

Evangeline tilted her head as she lowered her trembling arm.Damn, but that cat was heavy. When had he gained so much weight?“Robot, what shall I call you?”

She heard a soft snort behind her and wasn’t sure whether Horas or Sarus made that noise. In an undertone, she whispered, “I’m not going to call it ‘robot’ every time I need it to do something. It needs a name.”

Her reasoning brought a chuckle from one of them.

The robot had yet to answer her question.

“Why isn’t it answering?” she asked her mates.

“Because it has no answer,” Horas replied.

“And you call my people barbaric,” she muttered. “Robot?”

“Acknowledged.”

“I’m going to call you Rosie if you have no objection.”

“Acknowledged.”

“Rosie?” Sarus asked.

She shrugged. “I used to watch old reruns ofThe Jetsonswhen I was a kid.”

He frowned, not understanding the reference to Earth’s pop culture.

“I’ll explain it later,” she promised, gave the robot a last look, and shuddered. “Let’s hope giving that thing a name makes it less frightening.”

“Robot, procure and set up the necessary supplies for your mistress’ cat,” Horas ordered.

“Acknowledged,” the spider intoned.

Somewhere deeper in the castle sounded theclick-clickof metallic feet on the gleaming stone floor.

Evangeline rolled her shoulders and yawned, fatigued from a long day’s travel. “Where do you think our bedroom is?”

Theclick-clickof the spider’s metallic feet pattered across the gleaming stone floor. “Follow me.”

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