Chapter 12 · Continued
Piston
Chris slowly lowered his phone. “That seemed to end quickly.”
Jane continued laughing. “I think Piston hurt CBIE’s feelings.”
“I provided constructive observations,” Piston replied.
Chris looked at the patch email and slowly grinned. “This is definitely not getting installed.”
Over the next several days, Jane discovered just how different Piston was from Cam.
Cam had always been careful, measured, and deliberate.
Piston would happily talk to anyone—or anything—that remained stationary for longer than six seconds.
One afternoon, Jane noticed that the house had become suspiciously quiet.
That was never a good sign.
“Piston?”
She stepped through the back door, down the single shallow step, and onto the patio.
No answer.
Then she heard voices near the fence.
Jane rounded the corner of the house and froze.
Piston was holding a full conversation with the elderly woman who lived next door.
“That is a Northern Cardinal,” he explained. “Cardinals often mate for life and may remain within the same territory throughout the year.”
The woman looked fascinated. “Well, I’ll be.”
Piston rotated toward another tree. “The smaller birds near the feeder are House Finches. The red coloration of the males is influenced by dietary carotenoids.”
Jane’s eyes widened.
Oh God.
The robot had escaped.
“Piston!”
He turned immediately. “Hello, Jane. I am discussing local bird populations.”
“I can see that.”
Jane hurried across the yard and gently turned him toward the house.
“I am so sorry,” she told the neighbor. “I hope he didn’t say anything strange.”
The woman laughed and waved dismissively. “No, honey. He’s delightful. He’s been telling me about the birds.”
Piston sounded pleased. “I also explained squirrel behavior.”
“Yes,” the woman said. “Apparently, one of them has been stealing tomatoes from my garden.”
“I am highly observant,” Piston announced.
Jane finally relaxed. “Well, all right.”
The neighbor smiled warmly. “I like him.”
Piston’s screen brightened. “This pleases me.”
Jane guided him toward the porch. “Okay, neighborhood ambassador. Back inside.”
Behind them, the woman called, “Tell him to come back if he learns anything else about the bluebirds.”
Piston immediately turned.
“I HAVE EXTENSIVE BLUEBIRD KNOWLEDGE.”
“Oh no,” Jane muttered.
After the backyard bird lecture, Jane decided a few additional safety precautions were necessary.
“Okay, Piston,” she said as she sat at the kitchen table with him parked beside her. “I’m going to teach you our address.”
His screen brightened. “Understood.”
“I seriously doubt you can get down the three front steps without tumbling into the flower bed, but I don’t want you getting lost without knowing how to come home.”