Chapter 7 · Continued
Chris
“Good,” Jane said. “That keeps you from going through the windshield.”
Cam looked toward the glass. “…That outcome would be undesirable.”
“Very.”
When the light changed, Jane continued forward.
Silence filled the cab.
Too much silence.
She took the next right turn a little faster than necessary.
The truck leaned.
Even with the seat belt holding him, Cam’s hand moved to the door and gripped it with perfect corrective timing.
Jane smiled faintly.
“Cam,” she said casually, “you used to enjoy giving me helpful pointers.”
Nothing.
She glanced toward him. “You don’t have any for me now?”
Cam shifted his gaze toward her. “I was programmed not to provide feedback that may be interpreted as critical.”
There it was.
Corporate.
Clean.
Dead.
“If you would like,” he added, “I can suggest methods for improving your driving performance.”
Jane snorted. “You think?”
She shook her head and looked back at the road. “When was the last time you drove?”
Cam blinked once.
That tiny flicker appeared again.
Something behind the answer.
Or something trying to reach it.
He didn’t respond.
Jane didn’t push.
Not yet.
At the garden center, she parked near the entrance and switched off the engine.
“Okay,” she told Cam. “You can open the door from the inside this time.”
He examined the door, reached for the handle, and hesitated briefly before opening it.
Progress.
They climbed out and walked toward the rows of plants displayed outside.
Jane took a buggy and pushed it several feet before stepping aside.
“Here. We’re going to use this.”
Cam placed his hands on the handle.
Watching.
Learning.
The garden center wasn’t busy yet, but that didn’t matter.
Everyone noticed.
Some people tried not to stare.
Most didn’t bother.
A few moved closer than necessary, curious but careful.
Watching.
Jane smiled as though bringing a robot shopping were completely normal.
As though she did it every day.
“Okay, Cam,” she said, stopping beside a row of flowering plants. “Tell me which ones would work best in our little garden.”
She kept her voice light.
Easy.
“We don’t need many. I already bought a few the last time I was here.”
Cam scanned the surrounding displays and pointed. “Those would be optimal selections.”
Jane followed his gesture.
Small trees.
She laughed. “No, Cam. Those will get too big.”
Jane picked up a small flowering plant and turned it in her hands.
“We need something pretty. Something that flowers.”
She glanced at him.
“Something you already picked.”
The space around them seemed to tighten.