are waiting in here?” I asked after an awkward silence. “Couldn’t we go to my quarters?”
“I believe your apartment is being made ready now, my lady. And I won’t be allowed in your quarters. Only Sworn Assets and their staff ever enter the Sworn Assets’ building.”
We were still standing together, stiff and formal, like girlfriend number one and girlfriend number two in the locker room at school after a PE class. “Then at least you won’t have to see me around.”
“Part of my role, my lady, is to be your companion here in Geminay, much like that of your friends on Earth, Parisa, Cosette, and Gail, the ones who received the Approvals.” Arlee swallowed hard and hugged herself. “This time we’re spending together now is giving me an opportunity decide whether to become one of your companions or to meet the lava.”
“Those are your two options? Meeting the lava or hanging around me? That’s the punishment you would get if we didn’t get along?”
“Yes, my lady, but it rarely comes to that. We are a cooperative people who understand how to function in a complex world.”
“That’s good. What are the Approvals that you mentioned earlier?” I asked, curious about how my being a Sworn Asset affected Parisa, Cosette, and Gail.
“It is a program of mind improvement designed to give correct thoughts and actions. People who receive the Approvals behave in an acceptable manner. Maybe your ladyship has noticed what excellent friends Gail, Parisa, and Cosette are and how they’re a credit to their families.”
I stared at Arlee. “They all got the Approvals?”
“Of course, otherwise Gail might have become an alcoholic wastrel like her brother and Cosette a lazy slattern like her sister. Gail’s and Cosette’s minds needed much adjustment, but Parisa’s needed very little. Your three friends were much improved by our efforts.”
I didn’t want to think about that anymore. “And what is it to meet the lava?”
“The Mechanics have a pit that’s open to the lava, my lady. Those who wish to extinguish themselves can meet the lava there.”
I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting the image of people throwing themselves into molten rock. Worse, I didn’t really want to think that lava would be preferable to my company, even though I had gotten Arlee’s fiancé. “You must hate me for this.”
“I don’t, my lady.”
“But if you loved Judah, how could you be okay with being around me?”
“My lady, as a creation you didn’t choose this fate. Things are the way they are.” She exhaled deeply. “My wish for Lord Judah is that you would treat him as if you valued him. Lord Judah is the brightest, most talented man of our generation. I was considered very lucky to be his betrothed.”
My heart broke for Arlee. Being deselected must have been one of the worst moments of her life. In the back of my mind I could hear my sister, Riley, telling me to put on my big girl panties and choke up some compassion. Both Arlee and I were in this when neither wanted to be. It wasn’t fair to blame Judah and Arlee for what they couldn’t help, but even knowing that didn’t quell the rebelliousness that began as a slow burn in my chest. After all, I didn’t want Judah and she did.
“The way things are can be changed, you know.”
Arlee’s eyes widened. “My lady, such talk isn’t helpful.”
I looked around us for camera and microphones. “Why? Are we under surveillance?” My face whipped back to face her. “Is someone watching us to make sure that we behave?”
“My lady, the House of Beck doesn’t need to monitor its citizens. We are taught that if we don’t want to be caught doing something, then we shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”
“Of course not,” I said softly.
“Also, the Original People don’t collect images and sounds and save them in the devices that humans call computers. We believe that there are better ways to modify behavior for a harmonious
“I believe your apartment is being made ready now, my lady. And I won’t be allowed in your quarters. Only Sworn Assets and their staff ever enter the Sworn Assets’ building.”
We were still standing together, stiff and formal, like girlfriend number one and girlfriend number two in the locker room at school after a PE class. “Then at least you won’t have to see me around.”
“Part of my role, my lady, is to be your companion here in Geminay, much like that of your friends on Earth, Parisa, Cosette, and Gail, the ones who received the Approvals.” Arlee swallowed hard and hugged herself. “This time we’re spending together now is giving me an opportunity decide whether to become one of your companions or to meet the lava.”
“Those are your two options? Meeting the lava or hanging around me? That’s the punishment you would get if we didn’t get along?”
“Yes, my lady, but it rarely comes to that. We are a cooperative people who understand how to function in a complex world.”
“That’s good. What are the Approvals that you mentioned earlier?” I asked, curious about how my being a Sworn Asset affected Parisa, Cosette, and Gail.
“It is a program of mind improvement designed to give correct thoughts and actions. People who receive the Approvals behave in an acceptable manner. Maybe your ladyship has noticed what excellent friends Gail, Parisa, and Cosette are and how they’re a credit to their families.”
I stared at Arlee. “They all got the Approvals?”
“Of course, otherwise Gail might have become an alcoholic wastrel like her brother and Cosette a lazy slattern like her sister. Gail’s and Cosette’s minds needed much adjustment, but Parisa’s needed very little. Your three friends were much improved by our efforts.”
I didn’t want to think about that anymore. “And what is it to meet the lava?”
“The Mechanics have a pit that’s open to the lava, my lady. Those who wish to extinguish themselves can meet the lava there.”
I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting the image of people throwing themselves into molten rock. Worse, I didn’t really want to think that lava would be preferable to my company, even though I had gotten Arlee’s fiancé. “You must hate me for this.”
“I don’t, my lady.”
“But if you loved Judah, how could you be okay with being around me?”
“My lady, as a creation you didn’t choose this fate. Things are the way they are.” She exhaled deeply. “My wish for Lord Judah is that you would treat him as if you valued him. Lord Judah is the brightest, most talented man of our generation. I was considered very lucky to be his betrothed.”
My heart broke for Arlee. Being deselected must have been one of the worst moments of her life. In the back of my mind I could hear my sister, Riley, telling me to put on my big girl panties and choke up some compassion. Both Arlee and I were in this when neither wanted to be. It wasn’t fair to blame Judah and Arlee for what they couldn’t help, but even knowing that didn’t quell the rebelliousness that began as a slow burn in my chest. After all, I didn’t want Judah and she did.
“The way things are can be changed, you know.”
Arlee’s eyes widened. “My lady, such talk isn’t helpful.”
I looked around us for camera and microphones. “Why? Are we under surveillance?” My face whipped back to face her. “Is someone watching us to make sure that we behave?”
“My lady, the House of Beck doesn’t need to monitor its citizens. We are taught that if we don’t want to be caught doing something, then we shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”
“Of course not,” I said softly.
“Also, the Original People don’t collect images and sounds and save them in the devices that humans call computers. We believe that there are better ways to modify behavior for a harmonious