by DRK
3-S held the cue stick and then demonstrated his technique of how to knock about the balls on the pool table. "Like so, ma'm."
"Okay, now I see," said Sheila. She told 3-S to set up the table again, then mimicked the technique and got the same result. "Yay, I did it! Thanks, 3-S, I think I mastered that." She never saw a robot that could play pool as well as 3-S.
Nor had Nina. She had never taken billiard lessons from a robot, ever, until now, but she had to admit, she admired 3-S's talent. But this game in the rec hall of Xavier's mansion failed to distract her from her worries and forebodings. Oh, why did George not listen to her? Why did he go with the governor and his security leader to the mines? And why, why didn't they come back already? What kept them so long? George left early this morning, and at this time the sun descended, and the first moon poked above the sea.
Sheila sensed Nina's anxiousness about some matter, but she didn't pry. Instead, she mentioned, "My uncle said you and my mom were good friends at one time long ago."
"It's true. Except some times it doesn't really seem so long ago. We were very good and close friends, before you were born. We were still friends up until her accident, but since she mostly lived here, and we were on Earth, we seldom saw much of each other..."
"I really miss her," Sheila sighed.
"So do I. She had introduced me to your uncle, and later, I met George, thanks to them... Where can George be? How long does it take to check out mines, for crying out loud?"
"Is that what distracts you? Relax, Mrs. McCleer. The mines are very large. He is with Uncle Xavier. I know the mine is filled with criminals and I know the Eaters, which patrol the mine, are deadly. But Mr. McCleer is in no better company to look out for him if there is going to be trouble ."
Nina reserved comment. She hoped Xavier wouldn't be so wicked as to harm her husband for his public rebuke of Xavier. She prayed he was better than that. And yet, she felt uneasy, as though she could not trust the man.
They continued the pool game, and 3-S stood ready to offer any advice if anyone asked. They played up until the time Xavier arrived, entering the hall alone and with a grave, grave expression upon his face. The governor's clothes were all dusty, as if he hadn't taken the time to clean himself, but rushed here for some reason.
Nina involuntarily gasped. "George- Where's George? Why isn't he with you, Xavier? Look at your face- what's wrong?!"
Xavier quietly asked Sheila to please leave them. A bit concerned, intuiting the situation, his young niece left the hall without a word.
"Where is he, Xavier?" Nina demanded a second time.
Gently, his eyes moist from grief, Xavier reluctantly forced out the words. "Nina, there's been... an accident. A bad accident."
Nina, in shock, stood there silently, listening.
"It all happened so fast. There was a cave-in. We couldn't do anything about it. So sudden, no warning. Clyden and I had just gotten onto the lift to take us back up to ground level, and George lagged only a few yards behind us because he talked to the miners, he asked them about conditions at the mines. To the end, he worried about their health, and he asked about their working hours per shift. Then- there was an explosion down the shaft! I don't know if somebody hit a gas pocket, or if a blasting cap blew up prematurely, or somebody inadvertently detonated a chunk of pure fuel. I just don't know what happened- and then the whole roof caved in, tons of rock falling all around. For some reason we survived- barely- the cave-in stopped short of me and Sec. Ldr. Clyden by mere yards. By yards, Nina! But George had not kept up with us. He- he had walked behind us, and was still under the shaft roof where it collapsed- Why were we saved, but poor George- why did George have to be caught in that accident?!" Xavier's voice choked. He took in a deep breath to steady himself.
Listening to his story, Nina narrowed her eyes. A hot blaze roared to life in her stare.
If Xavier noticed, he continued without reacting. "Clyden and I were very shaken. Immediately, the rescue team showed up on the site. I commanded them to dig harder than they had ever dug before. Furiously the miners worked at uncovering their fellow_miners- and George. One miner was pulled out, amazingly alive. Another, crushed under the rock, was too far gone even for a miner to be able to recuperate. So much rubble. Oh, Nina, we never did find George!"
Xavier shook his head, trying even now to comprehend that whole, horrible tragedy. He placed a hand upon Nina's shaking shoulder, declaring, "We won't give up, Nina. We won't stop digging, searching for George. I won't rest until we recover his- until we find him, and I hope it is alive! But... I don't want to give you false hope. To tell you the truth, it looks bad."
"You- you scheming liar!" Nina burst out. "I feared you might do something like this! How could you?" She swung her cue stick at his head, but in a flash 3-S caught it in mid-swing and yanked it from her grip. He set it on the table and resumed his at-ease position.
Nina ran at Xavier, pounding his chest with her fists. Quickly the robot again moved to protect his leader, restraining her without hurting her. Xavier ordered 3-S from the rec hall.
Nina wailed out more accusation. "He isn't some political enemy of yours, Xavier. He's my husband! You did this- How could you? How dare you lie to me?"
"No, Nina, I am innocent. I swear! I would never do anything to harm George, if only because I value your happiness, and I would never do anything to destroy that. You know that. Surely you sense that I still care about you, and what happens to you. You also know I wouldn't hurt someone whom you love."
She sobbed and he put comforting arms about her. "Oh, Nina, I am so sorry to have to tell you such miserable news!" He held her closely in a warm, sympathetic embrace.
Coming to her senses, Nina pulled free, breaking away from his loving arms. "You find him, then, Xavier. You find his body. I won't return to Earth without him, at least not without his body!"
"Yes, of course. And I will do whatever it takes to see that he's found. In the meantime I will also do whatever I can to help you through this time of terrible tragedy- And I will find George, Nina. I promise you that. And then you will know that every word I have spoken is the truth. You'll see."
She wiped her eyes and leaned weakly against the pool table. She struggled to control her sobbing. "Xavier, I- I want to be alone. Please."
He nodded. "I understand." He gently kissed her forehead and turned toward the door. "If you need me, I will be making a report to Earth about this awful mess..." He departed, leaving Nina alone.
Nina sat on the floor, brooding. She didn't know what to do, what to make of these evil tidings. She needed to figure out what to do. Oh, George! she voicelessly groaned.
Number 317
