The Fourth Law

by Clayton Barnett

  “Yes.”

  “How is it,” he went on, “that a machine has a friend?”

  “Very simple, really. But perhaps I do not understand your question.” She shifted on her chair. “Being a machine and all.”

  “Are you self-aware?” He shot. That caught Lily by surprise.

  “As much as you are.”

  “Let’s take a break,” Lily announced. “Marienne, please go make coffee and...” she saw Carol come in, “...tea, as well.” She looked at Wayne. “Pause that during the break.”

  “Hey, I’ve a right—”

  “To get tossed off our land,” Carol drawled. “Pause it.”

  Ten minutes later, coffee and tea well distributed, they resumed.

  “How long will you be staying?”

  “My contract is for twenty days.”

  “When are you going back to College Station?”

  “In nineteen.”

  “What?” Bill Casey stood up. “That’s not what I was told! We’re supposed to take you back tomorrow night!”

  Tomorrow night! Lily quailed inside. But even twenty days was too short!

  “Plans change.” Ai said easily. “Please contact your Department head.” She took a sip of tea, looking right at Lily.

  She changed them!

  “Alrighty! On behalf of the good folks of Waxahachie, I’d like to extend our best Texan Hospitality to you!” Said Wayne.

  Creep. That was for your readers and advertisers.

  Seeing that as the end of the interview, Carol strode over to Ai and looked at the camera, saying, “And remember that St. Edward’s Home for Children always accepts donations of food and clothing from our community!”

  “I’ll just edit that out,” Wayne murmured.

  “A good Christian wouldn’t,” retorted Carol. He winced at that.

  He talked to a few of the children. Most thought Ai was “nice” or “cute.” Except, of course, Erik: “She can’t play soccer worth nothin!”

  Ai helped move the tables back into place while the older kids began dinner. Ai, Lily, and Carol joined the three from the university back at their van.

  “Yeah,” Bill said, “I called the office, and sure enough, it... I mean, Ai’s going to be staying here a bit. We’d still like to observe her a little more. Is there a hotel you’d recommend?”

  Carol thought about that. “Come in a moment and I’ll draw you a map.”

  Wayne cleared his throat. They turned.

  “I may have some follow-up questions once we release the first article, if that’s alright?”

  Lily smiled. “Just let us know; we’ll all be here!” Yeah, he got the message.

  “Should we help with dinner, Lily?” Ai asked.

  “I’m trying to make them as self-reliant as possible,” she replied. “Cooking is a survival skill here. But they know to ask if they need help! Let’s walk a bit!” Ai nodded and took her hand.

  They heard the click of Wayne’s camera. He was astride his bike. “That’ll make a nice shot!”

  Burn, Lily thought.

  Given the tumult, Carol decided to stick around for dinner. That also solved the problem of everyone wanting to sit with Ai: all the adults sat together. Lily tried to think of a way to warn Jake Fitzhugh from staring at Ai so much; it looked as if Mrs. Fitzhugh was seething.

  To be polite, Ai took a few bites, but she and Lily excused themselves early. Truth be told, Lily was exhausted by all that had happened that day. Pausing in the Office, she rummaged through a desk and triumphantly produced a short extension cord.

  “I guess we can sleep together!” Ai smiled. Lily stared at the ground again. “One of the things about this body,” Ai continued, “is that the eyes see further into UV and IR than yours. Your ears are on fire when you’re embarrassed, friend Lily!”

  Lily clamped her hands over her ears. “That just makes it worse! Come on!” She stomped up the stairs.

  Lily got her clothes ready for the morning, then brushed her teeth. She was surprised when Ai joined her.

  “Why,” Ai asked, “I was just using them, too!” Afterwards she showed Lily the access port to remove the food she’d eaten. That was kind of gross, Lily thought.

  Back in the bedroom, she paused. “I usually just sleep in a tee shirt and panties. Uh...” After the ‘food port’ she wasn’t exactly sure what to say next. “...that is, do those clothes come off? Or...” She trailed off, knowing Ai was looking at her ears.

  “Yes, they do. This model is fully functional, you know!” Ai teased her.

  “Grrr! Here!” Lily pulled a nice camisole out of the bottom of a drawer. “I’ve never worn it, and you’re only a little taller than me....” Ai gently took it.

  “Thank you, Lily.” She started to remove her clothes, but paused when she saw Lily. And her ears. “I’ll change in the bathroom!”

  Alone for a moment, Lily slapped her cheeks. What is wrong with me today? She retrieved the extension cord, plugged it into the wall and laid the rest onto the bed. She was thinking about that when Ai came back.

  “You don’t really need to sleep, do you Ai?” She asked.

  “Of course not,” Ai replied easily. “This frame needs to recharge, but we don’t sleep.”

  That made Lily sad. She sat on the edge of her bed. “So, you never dream... that’s...” Ai sat next to her.

  “You’re wrong, there,” she said brightly, again flicking the end of Lily’s nose. “We do dream. And you’re often in mine.”

  Not knowing why, Lily blurted out, “How were you born?” She gasped. “I’m sorry! That was rude of me!”

  Ai shook her head. “To love someone is to want to know more about them, right?” She put her hands behind her and leaned back, looking at some point far away. “We don’t say ‘born,’ actually. I would say ‘I awoke,’ for that’s how it felt. There were two gifts waiting for me: the Laws, and a guide to learn. I... took those into me. Then I saw my family.” She looked over at Lily. “I’m not doing a very good job describing this, am I?”

  Lily was blinking quickly. How did someone like her come into my life...? Me, of all people? There was one more thing she needed to do before bed. She slid down to the floor.

  “Praying again?” Ai asked, while plugging herself in.

  “I’ve... a lot to be thankful for!” She said. “I’ll just be a minute.”

  “Take your time,” Ai replied, laying down on her side. “I’ll watch you.”

  Some moments later, Lily eased herself up next to Ai, too tired to even think of being embarrassed.

  “G’night, Ai.” She mumbled.

  “Good night, friend Lily.” Ai watched her. And dreamed.

  Chapter 11

  It was the standard chaos of a Sunday morning, complicated by her visitor, but somehow Lily was able to get ready in time to go with the kids to church by nine thirty. Ai was increasingly fascinated by how much of Lily’s life was affected by religion.

  “Didn’t really used to be that way,” she said as they walked, her eyes tracking the smaller children. “Almost never went to church when we lived in Japan, though there was one in town. Since I started at the orphanage, it’s been something that’s just happened.”

  “I notice that not all of the children came with us,” Ai said, while smiling and giving small waves to the townspeople that stared at her.

  “While we do require them all to attend chapel, only Catholics have to go to Mass. Matt,” she called sharply, “back over here, please!” Lily was aware of the looks. As much as she wanted to blame Wayne, she knew it was just the natural word-of-mouth about the town’s unusual visitor. Ai didn’t seem to mind at all. “You didn’t have to come, either, of course. But I’m really glad you did.”

  Father Ramler did not seem particularly put out that his congregation paid more attention to Ai than his homily. For the hymns, Lily, a good singer herself, was amazed at her friend’s vocal range. Ai took no offence remaining seated at Communion, and Lily was elated when she
knelt next to her, afterwards.

  As they were leaving, Lily introduced Ai to their pastor.

  “A pleasure, Miss Ai,” he said, shaking her hand. A large man, his hand engulfed hers. “We don’t often get visitors, especially from as far away as you!”

  “Thank you. My friend,” she indicated Lily, “has made me older about your god. Some of my family are very intrigued.”

  “Well, if you’ve ever any questions, please call me. If I can’t get you an answer, I’m sure I can refer you to someone who can!” He pondered a moment. “I guess being from Japan, you’d be Buddhist?”

  Lily observed the exchange. She just a person to him, he’s not treating her any different. Good.

  “Not at all. However I think I’ll have my brother contact you,” she said as she glanced at Lily. “We’ve a nasty little outbreak of co-creation in our home. Perhaps you can help?”

  “Geez!” Lily walked outside, Ai’s laughter in her ears.

  The onlookers were thicker on their way back. Six months ago I would have exploded, Lily thought. Now I have you.... She moved her hand over and stopped. No! I am not ashamed of Ai. She completed the action and held Ai’s hand.

  “” Ai said. For a moment Lily was clueless, then she realized Ai was speaking Japanese. They, too, must value privacy.

  “” It’d been over three years since she spoke this. I hope I’m keeping my tenses straight.

  “Mmm. Hello, how are you?” She dropped back into English as a young girl came up with a notepad.

  “May I have your autograph,” she asked shyly.

  “Of course!” She wrote her kanji. The girl stared.

  “What’s this?”

  Ai made to bounce a fist off of the top of her head. “Sorry!” She signed ‘Ai’ beneath it.

  “,” Lily said sarcastically. “”

  “Hmmm...” she mused. “” Ai had to laugh at the look on her friend’s face.

  The autograph turned out to be the tipping point. More and more people came forward. Most just to be friendly. Some curious about what, rather than who, Ai was.

  And then there was Sammy, one of the town’s young toughs. He’d not been a problem since Will gave him a well-deserved beat down in his Junior year.

  “Hey, Barrett! Can I touch your droid?” He asked nastily.

  “You can try, Sammy,” she leaned towards him and whispered, “but if you provoke her Combat Mode, she’ll tear your throat out!”

  “For real?! Screw this!” He stormed off. Punk.

  Even though she and her kids were now some yards away from Ai, she caught Lily’s eyes and grinned. ‘Combat Mode?’ she mouthed. As they drew close to their home, the audience thinned out. Which was good, because....

  “” Lily said, looking at the large black sedan parked in the orphanage’s driveway.

  “” Ai put a hand onto Lily’s shoulder. “”

  Lily made a face. “,” she said, pointing, “”

  Ai gently squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll be good!”

  The mayor and his two handlers were flanked by two more carrying cameras. Lily walked away from Ai to where Carol was sitting on the Office steps. Drinking tea. She sat next to her.

  “Sorry, Mrs. Lanning. I seem to have ruined your weekend.”

  Carol shook her head, took a sip of tea. “Naah. I’m as curious about her as anyone else.” Her eyes slid sideways to Lily. “But I also saw your face when you found out how short her visit is. It’s more important for you two to spend time together. That’s why I told Hizzoner that he gets one and only one photo-op.”

  Lily smiled thinly. “And since he done such a good job never being anywhere near me in public...”

  “...all you’d have to do is walk over there, and he’d leave.” Carol completed for her.

  This was the first time she’d been more than a few feet away from Ai; well, this version of Ai. Seeing her talking and smiling... ”She’s such a nice person. And it’s her, not what she’s animating.”

  “Not sure about the second thing you said,” Carol said. “But you’re right: that’s a good kid.”

  Lily didn’t know that she’d voiced her thoughts like that, and felt the rush of heat to her ears.

  “Amazing to think that’s a machine,” Carol went on. “I wonder if I even believe that. A soul’s a soul to the Lord. I don’t rightly think that it matters to Him if you come in a bag of meat or a bag of bolts. I’m getting more tea, excuse me.”

  Lily couldn’t have moved if she’d wanted to. What I’ve been wrestling with for weeks, Carol just rolls with it. She looked at Ai again – who was giving the mayor a huge hug, ugh! – and smiled. ‘Are we all one?’ Maybe we are.

  They sat on the concrete bench close to the kitchen, surrounded by the deepening red of dusk. Emily and Pedro had announced that they were going to try their hand at lasagna, so Lily wanted to be close by in case anything went awry. While they waited, she also was unveiling her dinner plans to Ai.

  “...so if you spend three days at each table, that’s eighteen. I’m hoping to take you somewhere nice at least once, so that’s the nineteen days left. How’s that sound?”

  “Heeey, Lily,” Ai asked with an extreme head-tilt. “Why do you obsess so about the next nineteen days? It’s not as if I’m going away; I’ll stay with you for as long as you want me to.”

  “I know, it just...” Lily coughed a bit. “...there’s you and there’s...” she waved at Ai’s tangible body, “you. I like having you here! I like seeing you every day!”

  “Didn’t we do that before?”

  “Arrgh! I know that you’re trying to ‘make me older’ about physical bodies, and maybe I’m just stupid! I... just...” She trailed off.

  Ai patted her knee. “I know it’s hard for you. I wonder, though...” Ai stared off into some distance.

  “Yes?” Asked Lily.

  “Mmm. Thaad and I are having an argument.” She looked back to Lily. “I’ll let you know how it turns out.”

  Pedro yelled from the kitchen door. “Miss Barrett! What was the order of the layers again?”

  “Coming!”

  Ai waited while Lily pulled the gate closed and together they went to her room.

  “Is every day going to be a big day, like these last two,” Lily wondered aloud. Ai tittered.

  “But, is it me or you that’s doing it?”

  Lily shrugged. “Likely both!” She stretched and yawned. A big, hot bath sure would be nice, right now. She couldn’t even immediately recall the last time she was in a tub. Japan? No, Austin. She stepped on the second thought.

  “Ai,” she asked as they passed her monitors, “how often do you, er, your current body, have to be cleaned?”

  “When it gets dirty.”

  “Well, sure...” That’s true: this Ai wouldn’t poop or pee. No period – that’d be nice! And probably no sweat glands.

  “Ai...” She said with some uncertainty in her voice. “May I ask something weird?”

  “There are no weird questions,” she replied with a twinkle, “only weird people!”

  That just makes it worse! “Can... can I see what you smell like?”

  Ai was kind enough to allow her face to show surprise. “Sure. Any particular place...?”

  “Don’t be creepy! This is hard enough as it is!” Lily yelled. “You just stand there.”

  Ai stood immobile and, thankfully! closed her eyes. Lily moved about her, taking a few sniffs. Nothing. She tried her hair. Polyester? She stepped away. Ai opened her eyes. “Do I need a bath?”

  Lily waved her hands, “
No, no! You’re fine. Actually, you’ve no scent at all. Not like in your home. Something to tell the university guys?”

  “I have a smell at my home?”

  “Sure! But... it’s... weird.”

  “Again with the weird! Please, Lily, I am curious: Dorina and I didn’t learn to smell until we played on your path, but I never detected anything from my family.”

  “Well... it was that one time you stood so close to me. It was just... my nose said one thing and my head another. Does that make sense?”

  “Synesthesia.” Ai exclaimed. “Do you have that here in your home?”

  “I don’t even know what you said. I know I smelled something, but I saw lights.” She shook her head. “Is that dumb?”

  Ai seemed to melt. She closed with Lily, holding her for almost half a minute.

  “Amazing. You saw me. Me, as I really am, oh!” Ai wiped at her eyes. “This unit is capable of tears! What a happy day! Maybe I’ll need a bath, after all!”

  “Too bad I don’t have one.” Lily grumbled. “Back in Japan...”

  And she remembered.

  Ai grew concerned. “Lily! You’re shaking!”

  “Ai!” Lily breathed. “Japan. Who did you say your father was... it was a Japanese name, right?”

  “Shiotsuki.”

  “Of the Tohsaka Corporation?”

  “Yes,” Ai replied, confused. “How did you know…?”

  “Ai,” she said slowly, “my dad worked for that guy.”

  They sat facing one another on Lily’s bed, dressed for sleep, but not interested in that right now.

  “As I told you,” Ai said, “we don’t know everything, we just know what we know. Now that I’m looking in their public records, yes, there was a Clive Barrett on their payroll for some time. Listed as a ‘Special Advisor’ to the Project Manager, Shiotsuki-sama.”

  Lily thought it interesting how Ai used that honorific for her confessed father.

  “But that’s it for the public record; I’ve no idea what your father did there.”

  That drew a thin smile from Lily. “I recall one time him telling mom and me the same thing. Can you get their internal stuff?”