“I honestly don’t think he would—”
“It doesn’t matter. We won’t name names, or point fingers. Just say that the program has enemies, enemies that chose to take lives in an attempt to halt the good work the program is doing. It wasn’t a problem with your program, or your bots. It will show a weakness though, and we need to act quickly on it. Up security at all facilities hosting the C-bots. We take swift action against this and show we’re intolerant of flippant behavior with the technology. We pull the program completely from CSMC, and we blame them for negligence.” She talked a mile a minute, as if plotting out her plan step by step as she spoke.
Ashby remained silent as she planned out the future of his public persona. “This is important, Ashby. If you want to keep working, we have to do some damage control.”
“Shouldn’t they bring criminal charges against someone if that’s the case? We don’t even know for sure it was anyone, let alone Mendi,” Ashby argued.
“Not necessarily. We’re just speculating. If they don’t have any evidence, no one will be formally charged. If they do, the responsible party, and I’m not saying that’s Dr. Mendelsohn, will be held accountable. And in this case, they should be.”
Ashby didn’t respond as he took the time to digest all of this. What was the harm in letting some mystery scapegoat take the fall? Someone had to have opened the containment room, whether deliberately or by mistake. And as a result, ten people were dead. It was right that they should have consequences for that, right? He worked hard to convince himself that it was, in fact, right.
“Fine. This is how we proceed. I’ll call you with an update.” She disconnected the line abruptly.
He could tell by Hope’s face she didn’t entirely approve of the direction the conversation had gone.
“What?” Ashby asked.
“A scapegoat?”
“Well. Someone had to have opened the room,” Ashby insisted. And every time he said it, it became more and more true in his mind.
“Did they really though?” Hope argued.
He shrugged. “Look, the woman’s right. If we want to keep working, we need to keep the media’s eyes off us. We can’t afford to take the fall for this.”
“And if it’s right that we should? If it was a malfunction?”
“Then God help us all.”
12.
Approximate year, 2346
The doctor returned and started the transfusion almost immediately. It felt weird, and it looked even weirder. It was a bit of a medieval set up with tiny hoses and red goo going out of her and into Mason. But the longer she sat there, the more color seemed to go to his cheeks. His breathing got stronger. She started feeling a bit lightheaded, but that was to be expected. Or so the doctor said. He’d talked during the procedure non-stop about how he’d read about this kind of thing in what was now Mattli’s library. He seemed almost excited at the chance to do such an advanced procedure. Lehman didn’t share in his excitement.
After about a half hour of Mattli pacing around, the doctor finally said it was enough. Any more and Lehman wouldn’t recover so easily.
“We need her in full form today. We should already be on our way to the pyre,” Mattli said, looking out at the completely risen sun.
Lehman had almost forgotten Alkoff and his funeral. So much had happened overnight. It seemed like weeks ago that Alkoff had passed, not days—hours really.
She sighed heavily, feeling overwhelmed by the day ahead.
“Eat something sweet and drink a glass of water. You’ll feel better.”
Mattli watched her anxiously, and she nodded. “Elder Mattli, I think there are some tea cookies in the pantry. Would you mind grabbing a handful and getting me some water? I’m feeling like I just want to sit here for a moment.”
She could see the frustration on his face, but it couldn’t be helped. Mason needed her more than Mattli did.
He returned quickly with the items and thrust them in her face. “We need to go.”
“Why don’t you head over there? I’ll be right behind you,” she said calmly, trying to smooth his obviously frayed nerves.
He hesitated. “We should really go together. There are things to discuss.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. You’ve told me your plans, and I’m in favor of them. I’m sure Mason here would be too if he could say.”
She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but he seemed perfectly comfortable when she glanced over at him. He was a more normal color, and she thought she even caught the smallest hint of a smile.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?” she asked, unable to take her eyes off him.
The question made Mattli stop and go to the young man. He looked carefully at him. Lehman thought he was watching him so closely he must be willing the poor guy to live.
“I think he’ll be okay. He’s come too far to die now.” He was resolute. As if by saying the words out loud, they had to come true.
She munched on the cookies and chugged the water while they watched Mason. He didn’t regain consciousness, but he also didn’t stop breathing. In fact, his breathing became more even and deeper, as if he was sleeping soundly.
“I think he’ll be okay too,” she said as she ate the last cookie.
“Are you ready, finally?” Mattli said. Lehman couldn’t tell if he was truly being impatient or if he was just needling her.
“Always waiting on a woman, aren’t you?” she said.
“Waiting on someone,” he said.
She stood, feeling a little better, but still fuzzy. She followed him out toward the pyre where they would tell the island their world was about to change.
Mattli was glad the doctor agreed to stay behind with Mason. Normally when the head elder died, it was customary for every single islander to attend his funeral, but in this case, Mattli made an exception. In the short time Mason had been back, he’d grown rather attached to the boy. True, he’d helped Mason and Ashley several times over the course of the years, but now that they were working so close together, he missed his sense of humor, and his ability to gnaw away at a problem until it was solved. He would make a good leader. Frankly, he already was a good leader, and Mattli didn’t want to see him go.
But he had other things to focus on. Hours ago, he’d dreaded this moment—saying goodbye to his best friend. But now, it seemed there were things that were more important to think about. Lives at stake. Changes to make. Things to do. Mattli smiled as he walked down the center aisle toward the pyre where his friend lay. He knew Alkoff would be happy he wasn’t dwelling on the old man.
“Keep your eyes on the island.” That was what he always said. Everything in the name of the good of the island.
Yesterday, he couldn’t imagine getting through this moment as he turned and faced the crowd of islanders. Today, he almost felt joyful about the exciting things to come. He only wished his best friend could be here to watch how things unfolded.
“Before we begin today’s proceedings, I have some announcements to make. And I feel it’s only fitting that our former head elder be present to hear them.”
He turned and smiled at the man, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, hands folded over his chest, robes cascading down the sides of the pyre.
“A turn of events has forced me to reevaluate some things. Things that our way of life has been built upon.”
He shifted his weight and glanced over at Lehman, who smiled encouragingly at him. Clearing his throat, he searched for the right words. The remaining elders stood to either side of him, but there were far from the former nine. In fact, there were only five of them left. Two to Mattli’s left, and one to Lehman’s right. He knew they wouldn’t be happy. Especially Mueller.
But Mueller didn’t matter. The island mattered. And Mason was right, a new open system of communication would be necessary to go back home.
“You may notice Elder Branneth, as well as Elder Hawkins, are missing. We’ve had another attack among the elders. Branneth didn�
��t agree with the selection of Elder Hawkins as my second in command. And rather than accept the decision as something her opinion had no bearing on, she took matters into her own hands. She brutally stabbed him with the weapon used to kill Wesley Wortham just a little over a week ago. I think she thought it was poetic.”
Mattli ignored the collective gasp that flowed over the huge crowd that surrounded him on three sides. “I came upon her last night just after the crime. She threatened to turn the knife on him again as I approached, so I shot her dead. Simple as that.”
Silence. Several of the islanders stared at him with open mouths. He took a step toward them and held his hands out to them in an offering of understanding. “Now, I’ve had far too much of this in recent weeks. This power struggle among the elders. So, from this moment on, the elders are dissolved.”
“What?” the remaining elders called out over the murmuring among the islanders.
“Silence,” Mattli yelled as he held up his hand.
Once everyone had settled down, he continued. “The island will henceforth be governed by three main people, with me as your elected head elder, Mason Hawkins, should he recover from his injuries, and Lehman there.” He nodded toward her, and she nodded in acknowledgement. Mattli couldn’t help but notice the open mouths of the other elders, and the anger on Mueller’s face.
“In the future, you will be allowed to elect new leaders. Leaders will no longer be groomed from childhood. Mason is an excellent leader with out-of-the-box ideas none of us would have been able to come up with. It’s shown me the need for change.
“In the future, the new leadership roles will be selected from among yourselves. Whomever you choose will be eligible to lead this island in the fashion you deem right.”
More murmuring spread throughout the audience. But Mattli was happy to see that most faces in the crowd were pleased. The only exceptions were the excluded elders.
“One last change coming down the pipeline will be the elimination of the island’s secrets. Once Mason is healed, we will discuss this further. But changes are coming, and you all need to know why and how, so that you can be a part of this change.”
The applause started small. One or two people clapping. Someone in the back corner shouted, “Hear, hear!” Soon, the clapping and shouting was overwhelming. Almost every voice was raised in celebration of the coming changes. Mattli smiled and turned to Lehman, who was clapping along with the crowd and smiling widely. Even the axed elders were reluctantly clapping, if only because they were forced to by sheer peer pressure. Mattli didn’t care what the reason was. He knew they wouldn’t step out of line again with this kind of support behind him.
Although the celebration eventually quieted, Mattli’s smile remained just as broad. “I’m so glad you’re all in favor of these new changes. I think Elder Alkoff would be very proud of you today. And in light of that, let’s begin our celebration of his life, and say goodbye to this great man.”
Automatically, he started to say the words, but his mind was elsewhere. “In the name of…” Ashby hadn’t been the savior he thought he was. Yes, he’d saved a few lives, but he’d also killed millions of others. If it hadn’t been for him… He shook his head, wanting to focus on the moment, saying goodbye to his friend. “…of our savior, Bennett Ashby, we give thanks for this life. For without him, it would not have existed at all.”
He supposed that much, at least, was true.
Lehman didn’t know what to expect after the ceremony. She carried the body to the preparation stone like always, but Mattli asked her to linger. Since his second in command was out of commission, he needed her help with the disposal.
Admittedly, she didn’t care for that word—disposal. Part of her had always been curious about what happened to the bodies, particularly after her own match had died. He was always so clinical. He probably would’ve been fascinated by the process. But beyond that natural curiosity, she hadn’t thought about it much. She’d always chocked it up to one of life’s mysteries she’d never know the answer to.
But now, with the answer mere moments away, she found she didn’t really want to know. There was something unsettling about how closely this secret was guarded. It made her uncomfortable, and as Mattli approached, she shifted her weight back and forth.
“Thank you for coming, Lehman. I know this can be a bit…overwhelming.”
She nodded, figuring saying nothing was better than the alternative.
“I’ve just been to your house. Mason is doing well actually. He’s awake and very uncomfortable, but he’s alive. The doctor says he may always have some pain there, but that with time, he should heal nicely.”
“Well, that’s good news,” Lehman said, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
“Shall we go to the dead room?”
“You’re not even going to warm me up? Ease me into it? I hope you’re better at foreplay with Gwen, because that was a bit rough if you ask me.”
Mattli’s ears turned bright red.
Lehman smiled wide, working hard to stifle an all-out laugh. “Good to see I can crack that tough exterior. Lead the way, Mattli.”
They started with Alkoff, working quickly to send him on his way. Then, they went up and collected Branneth, who’d been left in the woods near the preparation stone during the funeral. Mattli felt she didn’t deserve his time. Lehman couldn’t argue with that.
The process was all very odd to her. The concept of tiny robots emerging and eating a dead body, then returning from whence they came was so…well, fictional to her. She had a hard time grasping it. At least until she saw the ash.
While they waited for the timer to count down, Mattli told her everything—what they’d read in the journal, how the dead room worked, and Alkoff’s desire to go back to the mainland.
They took Alkoff’s ashes topside and let the wind take him to see the rest of their world. They did Branneth no such respect. She was simply swept into a small can near the table along the wall, mixed with the ashes of those before her, ready for disposal at some other time.
As they carefully covered the door to the dead room, Lehman stood and stretched in the sunlight. “So, that’s where the secrets started, huh?”
Mattli nodded down at the brush covering the island’s dark history. “And that’s where they end.”
13.
March, 2025
Ashby was restless. As if the fire lit by the incident hadn’t been put out, but burned in his mind, burning his whole life down around him. What if it wasn’t a malicious attack? Or human error? What if it wasn’t an isolated incident? What if it was a malfunction? Bots were stationed not only all over the country, but also all over the world.
Jen had started a charity organization—Cure-bots. The logo had a ridiculously oversized C to represent the C in C-bots. Ashby argued it was less than subtle, but she said subtlety was overrated. The organization brought C-bots to third-world countries, giving them drinkable water, clearing land, and curing diseases easier and more affordably than any other organization had been able to. They’d raised the standard of living in over twenty small countries so far, and they were still going. Ashby couldn’t think of a place where the bots hadn’t gone. Scientists had even taken them to the poles to help dig through the ice and make discoveries that never would’ve been possible without Ashby’s C-bots.
The conversion was beautifully simplistic. They were eating machines after all, so instead of cancer, he programmed them to eat parasites in the water, tear through trees, or chew through the ice. He’d already been doing it for NASA, so he knew what needed to be done. It was only a matter of figuring out how to do it. Programming was a beautiful thing, much easier to work with than the fragile bodies he was surrounded by.
The island.
Before the incident with CSMC had happened, Ashby had been looking at a vacation home north of the university, in the Pacific Northwest. It was lovely and isolated. It had a fair number of homes on it, but not much else. Groc
ery stores, post offices, and most importantly, hospitals were all on the mainland a good ten miles away by boat. It was perfect.
“Hope, can you get my realtor on the line, please?”
Hope seemed startled. “You want to move at a time like this?” she asked. She’d also been anxious since the incident, working silently, wringing her hands often, and watching the remaining chimp like a hawk for signs of decline.
“I want to get away. I need to clear my head. And I’ve been thinking of getting a vacation home. My apartment isn’t much. Might be nice to have a space I can call my own.” Really, he thought if his world came crashing down on his head over this, he could escape there. Retire. Live comfortably.
“I hardly think—”
Ashby cut her off. “I didn’t ask what you think about it, Hope. I will call him myself.” He hated to hurt her feelings, which by the look on her face, he’d clearly done, but she didn’t have the whole story. What had happened was bound to have consequences eventually.
He ignored her quivering lip as he dialed the number. “Larry. Hi. I’d like to see some houses over on that island you were telling me about. Today.”
After that very brief conversation, he packed up and left Hope alone in the lab. It was a long drive north.
He arrived after dinner, and he and Larry took a ferry out to the island. The homes were lovely and well taken care of, even if a few of them had been there for quite a while. They were well spaced, and many of them had some prime real estate with their own beaches.
“I’d like one of these with a beach if possible.”
“Certainly, Mr. Ashby, but you must know they aren’t all for sale,” Larry said, clearly a little nervous around him.
The Dead World (The Dead Room Trilogy Book 2) Page 9
