Q185

Quick turned and bent over. Alice stepped onto the back of Quick's calf and hoisted herself onto his shoulders. Quick held her shins and continued towards the town. His attention was to duty. He did not notice that the credit stick had disappeared from his side.

At the edge of town, Quick lowered himself and allowed Alice to dismount.

"Quick, let’s stop at the toy store. There’s a wonderful new doll I would love-."

"I have specific directions from Gregor, your father. I am to proceed to eleven Russetts Street. Robert Gouche is the man I am to see."

Quick continued on with Alice in tow. When he came to his destination, he went into the square building and found a man behind a desk.

"Sir, I am looking for Robert Gouche of eleven Russetts Street."

"I’m Gouche," said the man.

Robert Gouche was a middle aged man. He was very thin with a shaggy black beard that offset his graying head of hair.

"Mr. Gouche, I am Q185, an android in the service of Gregor Downs. I am here"

Gouche jumped in erratically.

"Downs owes me for that condenser. Now I’ve been lenient. Damn, I’ve been very patient! None of my other customers put off payment for three months. Hell, he owes me."

"I am here to procure the receipt of full payment concerning Mr. Downs’ account."

Gouche was taken aback, confused.

"Uh, well, I see. So, okay then."

Q185 looked at Gouche for several seconds, saying nothing. Gouche became agitated at the emotionless stare looking back at him.

"Oh, I see. This is a joke isn’t it? Some sort of slap in the face? Gregor figures he don’t have to pay me, is that it? He thinks he can take and do whatever he wants?"

Gouche was screaming into the round, silvery face of Quick.

You tell that bastard his word is worth less than his credit, which is nothing!"

Night was falling when Quick and Alice returned home. Gregor was standing at the door, waiting for them. Quick presented himself, knelt down and allowed Alice to climb down.

"How did it go, Quick?"

"Mr. Gouche sends his sincere thanks and welcomes your business in the future," said Quick.

"Not likely," muttered Gregor.

Then, noticing Alice quickly moving into the dome called:

"What do you have there Allie?"

Alice jolted upright. She turned to look at her father; something was cradled in her arms.

Gregor waved a finger in the air, separating, as if magically, Alice’s arms. Laying there in those tiny arms was a new doll. Gregor looked sternly at the new shoes on her feet, then waved her inside. Then he looked at Quick disapprovingly.

"Get those soil samples, then power down."

Gregor went inside. Quick stood motionless, watching as his master disappeared into the dome. Perhaps it was the night breeze, but something like a sigh seem to pass the android’s face, leaving him standing a long time, as if some great weight had been chained to his armour shell.

"Cue? Cue- could you come here a minute?"

Mary was in the kitchen, fiddling with the trash compactor.

"Cue, where are you?"

She looked around as her fingers continued to press the panel of buttons. A minute later, Q185 appeared in the doorway. His eyes were dim. He leaned over slightly, not standing rigid as he normally did.