Chapter 4 · Continued
CBIE
Jane noticed as she stepped inside. “Thanks for putting that away.”
Cam paused briefly in the doorway.
“You’re welcome.”
Jane continued farther into the house, and Cam followed.
No instruction was given.
None was required.
Cam returned to his usual place in the living room and stood quietly, waiting for another request.
Something moved beneath the couch.
A small paw shot out.
Swiped.
Missed.
Seymour.
The paw darted out again, faster this time, aiming for Cam’s foot.
Cam looked down.
Analyzing.
Tracking.
The cat appeared to be attempting to engage him, but no verbal command had been issued and there was no known task associated with the behavior.
Cam remained still.
Seymour’s paw lightly tapped his foot, retreated, and immediately returned for another attempt.
“…Interaction unclear,” Cam said softly.
Beneath the couch, Seymour froze for half a second.
Then he swiped again, more confidently this time.
Cam allowed the repeated attacks without responding.
Observing.
Learning.
A few moments later, Jane returned to the living room and stopped in the doorway.
Cam stood in the middle of the floor, still and focused.
He moved one foot slowly forward and then back.
Two small paws shot out from beneath the couch.
They swiped.
Missed.
Cam adjusted his foot a fraction to the left.
The paws immediately followed, moving faster now.
Jane blinked. “…Are you playing with the cat?”
Cam didn’t look up. “I am engaging in repeated interactive motion.”
Another swipe.
Contact.
Retreat.
Jane leaned against the doorway and folded her arms. “…You’re playing with the cat.”
Cam paused to consider that.
“…This appears to be an acceptable description.”
Beneath the couch, Seymour wriggled forward just far enough for his eyes to catch the light.
Locked on target.
Cam deliberately shifted his foot again.
Seymour’s paws lunged toward it.
Jane shook her head as a small laugh escaped her. “Look at you.”
Cam finally glanced at her. “This interaction does not have a defined objective.”
Jane smiled. “Yeah… that’s kind of the point.”
Cam looked down again.
Processing.
The paws struck once more.
This time, Cam adjusted his foot slightly without avoiding contact.
“…Continuing,” he said.
Jane pushed away from the doorway and headed toward the kitchen. “Good. Keep the boss entertained.”
Behind her came soft thuds, quick scrapes, and the sounds of a quiet, ongoing battle between precision and chaos.
Cam remained in place.
No longer idle.
Learning something he didn’t yet have a name for.
Over the following days, Jane discovered that she genuinely enjoyed having Cam around.
He had learned so much.