Q185

But too late.

As Quick turned, test tubes in hand, Gouche swung upward across the android’s head with a metal pole, cracking the head vertically and loosening a piece of the cheek so that all could see the valves and wires within. The glass tubes fell and smashed on the rocks at their feet.

Before Gouche could descend with the pole again, Quick had acted, seizing his wrist like a vise and crushing it. The pain was not immediate, but Gouche’s look of fear was enough. He knew he was in trouble. So he cried out in murderous pain, to enrage the mob into action.

"Ah, help me- he’s killing me!"

Sticks rained down on the robot. There was a repetitive roar of the barrage bouncing off metal.

Gregor came running over the hill. He could see a mass of arms and sticks flailing about. Alice had run to Cue, but was forced back by the violent maul of the mob.

"Stop it! Stop it!" yelled Gregor, out of breath.

His cries were inaudible. As he neared the crowd, he was aware that it had broken up. He shoved his way through and saw why. The android had fallen into the water. Alice maneuvered her way beside her father, clutching her doll in her arms.

They could see Cue, halfway between them and the opposite shore. The current was strong, slapping water against large rocks embedded in its floor. It was deep and as Cue was slowly being pulled downstream, it was getting deeper.

To a man, the violence of this river was almost certain death. To a man made of metal, it was certain. The robot man’s body was too heavy. The electronic parts began to short as the metallic hull took in water. One of Cue’s lit eyes went dark.

There were no cheers among the crowd, however. No shouts of victory or chants of glory. One of their own had fallen in with the android.

The head.

Gouche was swimming desperately upstream, a little ahead of Cue. They all watched the dance. The water rose and fell, turned and counter turned. It flowed and smashed. They all shared in that they watched in fear. Gregory watched in horror at the imminent end of his creation. The mob, too, felt the malevolence. Their actions became too real and penetrated their souls. But too late. They watched.as the shiny silver man sank deeper, only his head remained above water now. And they watched as the tattered, vicious Gouche clawed at the unyielding current, trying to grab at something that wasn't there.

At last, a final resolve, the android Cue was gone- under the current to sink and lay motionless with the rocks and plants. Gouche was sped along, but was fortunate. A branch extended out over the rampage. It was enough to save him. He grabbed it with one hand and secured himself,.finding the strength to reach out with the other and begin pulling himself toward the shore.

Then something held him fast. Underneath the water his foot had become caught in a stone or a branch or perhaps some creature which had awoke for a meal.

He was being pulled. Gouche thought the current had sped up and was working against him. He tried vigorously to overcome it and gave one last pull at the branch.

Then he felt his ankle snap. Gouche looked around, terrified. Through the spray of water, he came to rest upon the eyes of Gregor. Both men understood. Gregor smiled defiantly. Gouche began to cry as he was pulled under. The water rushed over him, drowning out his screams.

The crowd began to mutter inaudibly, dropping their sticks and skulking away. Gregor remained, looking out over the rushing water. He felt a tug at his sleeve and looked down at his daughter. Tears were streaming down her face, but she did not cry aloud.

Allie held up the wooden creation of Q185.

"Daddy, I want you to have this."

Gregor took the doll and stared at it incredulously. It was Cue. Every detail was there. Even the perfectly round eyes he remembered fashioning the day his daughter was born.

Gregor scooped Allie up in one arm and together they went up over the hill and home.