Code Lightfall and the Robot King by Daniel H. Wilson Page B

shouted Code. Another even bigger shadow loomed out of the darkness. It was Lodestar, smashing its mighty tail into the unseen body of the attacker. Surprised, the creature released Code’s arm from its grip, leaving behind dented metal and broken shards of teeth. In the visor, Peep hopped up and down and shot victorious golden lights out into the blue black waters.
    But their relief faded when, only seconds later, the long, chain-linked tentacles of a squidlike robot suddenly engulfed Code’s entire body. Code fought valiantly to push the mechanical tentacles away, but there were far too many. Then he realized the tentacles weren’t attacking.
    â€œA quick snack!” boomed Lodestar, swallowing chunks of metal. “Calamari! Yum!”
    Finally, light wavered through the water above. As they surfaced, Lodestar shot a triumphant spray of air from its blowhole. Code stood on the flat slab of back armor, battered but alive. Outside, the Fomorian Sea swelled and dropped. Code opened the back casing of the broken exoskeleton and slid out, cupping Peep in one hand. The smashed-up power suit fell over, splashed into the ocean, and sank. Dark shapes converged on it, deep below.
    Standing on unsteady legs, Code gratefully inhaled the clean, salty air. Peep perched lightly on Code’s shoulder. The setting sun glinted from her insectile wings and the sea breeze blew Code’s sweaty hair over his forehead. They were safe at last.
    In the distance, the hazy shape of the water strider appeared. It skimmed toward them, sliding forward with great swipes of its paddle legs. As it approached, crewbots threw rope ladders over the side. Code took hold of a rung and patted Lodestar on its crest. “Thank you, Lodestar.”
    The creature solemnly flapped its wide tail on the water, then submerged. The shifting lights of its deep armor wavered beneath the rippling waves, then faded back into the hidden depths.
    From the deck of the water strider up above, Code heard a familiar grinding voice. “Little buddy!” shouted Gary. “Look at you, you’re small again!”

14
Water Strider
    The Great Disassembly:
T–Minus Fifteen Hours
    The water strider cut smoothly through the Fomorian Sea on its journey to the Beamstalk. From the narrow top deck Code watched the paddle legs scissor back and forth, pulling the craft across the surface of the ocean. He shuddered to think of all the creatures lurking below the surface.
    Up ahead, he saw the Beamstalk, now closer than ever. There’s no turning back now , he thought. Either I make it to the top or all is lost .
    It was incredible that John Lightfall had lived with the robots for years, mused Code, ruling their world and leading them into battle against terrifying creatures. And now his grandfather was helpless, under the control of Immortalis. Only the Robonomicon could free him.
    Code could picture the mystical book in his mind’s eye, each heavy page describing some new and wondrous robot. He had to find it and read it—figure out exactly how this world worked. Then he could stop the Disassembly.
    Gary was laughing deliriously and chasing Peep around the deck with thunderous steps. In fact, Code had barely survived being reunited with the slaughterbot. Gary had been so excited to see Code that his internal batteries had overheated and his armor turned white-hot. A simple handshake almost turned fatal. The crew of the ship had to place Gary in a corner by himself until he cooled down.
    And it was all they could do to calm Gary down. Code soon learned that the slaughterbot had spent the last several hours convincing the captain of the ship to circle the spot where Code’s exoskeleton had disappeared into the water. In a panic, Gary had even threatened the crew with his finger cannons. As a result, the ship had spent the whole day combing back and forth while Gary leaned over the railing and desperately scanned the surface for Code and