Machine to man, p.8
Machine to Man, page 8
“That’s good to hear. I’m Allen, by the way.” I walked into the home as she told me her name was Alice. I followed her to a workshop. It was filled with candles and equipment to make large amounts of them. Towards the back, there was a large table with nothing on it. I set down the PTM and the raw materials to make light bulbs. I set up the PTM to make a machine that would turn sand and metal ore into the glass, filament, and wiring needed to make a light bulb and another to shape those materials into the completed bulbs. Alice was very receptive to the process, and it took less than a week of lessons for her to master the process of making light bulbs. I was able to resume work on the bunk unhindered just as my first week free of security shifts started. I had decided against going forward with electrifying more of Tyre until the bunker was done and I could determine how to keep Tyre’s businesses from being ruined by replacing them with electrical appliances.
Chapter 23
The first day of the new week started quite peacefully as Carolena let me sleep in about an hour later than I normally would. I stumbled downstairs and Carolena already had breakfast ready. I tried to eat quickly, but Carolena insisted I slow down by saying:
“Honey! I put a lot of love into every meal. I want you to taste it!”
“I-I know, but I’ve a lot to do. I can't let what happened to you happen again. I…” Carolena kissed me and held my hand. “Didn’t you say that we had a lot of time? Relax, take time to do things right, and make time for your wife, especially when she’s pregnant!” I nodded and slowed down, and we had a lovely conversation before I headed out and went to the bunker to continue my work. I was able to automate the material gathering process that needed to happen before I could begin work on the expansion of the living and farming areas of the bunker. The bunker had enough construction materials on hand that were stored in the workshop for me to begin work on a small armory next to the main entrance. By spending as much time and energy as I could building the armory, I was able to finish by Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, during church, all I could think was that I had a new, perfectly built armory that had no weapons or supplies and was therefore useless. I told Carolena of my predicament as we ate lunch after church, and she said,
“Didn’t that facility where you made your human body have weapons?”
“Yeah! So much has happened that I forgot. I’m still getting used to that.”
“Androids don’t forget things, do they?”
“No, and I still remember every second of my life as an Android and everything I learned during that time. It’s very useful and it’s helped us a lot, but it haunts me.” Carolena held my hand tightly and encouraged me to go. I could make the round trip in a day if I used the vehicle and traveled quickly. I did so, and the sun had just begun to set as I arrived at the facility. I used the PTM to gather the useful supplies that the armory had, which were two thousand pairs Standard Issue Assault Rifles and Standard Issue Pistols, one ton of ammunition, and five hundred pounds of MREs. I was surprised to see that my body was still there. It made me hopeful that I had successfully eluded the AEF. I cleared my mind and I drove the vehicle as quickly as I could and was able to get back to Tyre just as the sun was about to rise. It didn’t take long for me to stow the supplies in the armory I had built. I stumbled to the watchtower and tried to check in for my shift. Bill stopped me by saying, “You’re late anyway, and you look like shit. Go home and get some sleep.” I thanked Bill and I stumbled off home and into bed.
Chapter 24
I slept until the next morning, and stumbled out of bed in a haze. I spent the morning recovering from the supply run I did. Lunchtime came, and Harry and Michael came to eat lunch with us.
“It’s been a while, but it’s nice to see you, Al. Mind if Mikey and me eat lunch with you two?” Harry asked as Carolena set two more plates, saying,
“You boys are lucky; I made a lot for lunch, but try to give me some notice next time.”
“Sorry, Caro. This was kind of spur of the moment. The harvest is winding down, so Mikey and I are going to have more time on our hands…” Michael interjected by saying,
“Yeah, and that means we can wire up more homes. We already did the North district, but the South, West, East, and Central districts still haven’t, and people have been begging us to wire up their homes. We need your help, Al!”
“Yeah, we can wire the homes by ourselves, but we can’t connect them to the generator and we don’t have much in terms of materials.” Harry said
“Well, I don’t have much in terms of time, so I can’t help like I did before. I can make a device that can wire homes to the mainframe, and I can show you how to make the wiring and the breaker boxes. You can get light bulbs from the Chandlers.”
“I heard that Alice learned how to make light bulbs from you,” said Michael.
“Sounds good to me. Can we get started after we eat?” Harry said. I agreed as Carolena brought out lunch. We ate, and then we got to work. I showed Michael how to manufacture breaker boxes and wiring. I then made a simplified PTM that could only interact with the bunker’s electrical grid and trained Harry how to use it. When both of them had learned how to do their respective roles, it was dinnertime. We walked back from the bunker, and we ran into Samson on the way back to our street.
“Did you show the boys how to wire buildings on their own, Al?” he asked.
“Sure did, and they really took to it. They’re good kids.”
“Hey, I’m sixteen, and Mikey’s fourteen. We’re not kids anymore; we’re men.”
“We sure are! We’re going to wire homes on our own.” Samson laughed and patted them on the shoulder.
“You both still got a long way to go to be men, but this is a step. Come on, all the girls are waiting for us to have dinner. Al, that includes your lovely wife!” I nodded and followed them into their home, where, sure enough, the rest of Samson’s family and Carolena were waiting for us. We sat down and began to eat after Carolena said grace. As we ate, Anna talked to Harry and Michael.
"So can you boys wire homes on your own now?"
"Yeah, we spent the day with Al, and Mikey and I took to it pretty quick."
"Good! Now you boys can actually do something useful when it's not harvest season," Caitlin said, and she laughed with Anna. Harry's face was red with anger as he said, "We help out around here. We know how to make clothes for the miners, and Mikey and I make sure they all get their clothes, not just the one you have a crush on!"
"I don't have a crush on James! We're just friends!" Anna said, burying her now flushed face in her hands.
"Friends who spend that much spare time making out by the mines? Come on Annie, you two will both be twenty-one next year, so you'll both have to settle down." Caitlin giggled as Anna collected herself and replied,
"I know, I know. We do love each other, and I think he wants to marry me as much as I do, but we like the way things are. I just want some more time with this family."
"I thought you had to be married at age eighteen?" I asked.
"No, that's only if you're a refugee. Citizens don't have to marry until they turn twenty-one, and that's what I'll do with Jamie. I promise you guys. Now can we drop this and have a nice meal with our guests?" Anna ended that conversation, and the rest of the meal was fun and peaceful. We finished eating, and as Mary got ready to put Penelope to bed, I heard her say,
"Mommy! Why did Caro eat so much?"
"She’s eating for two, dear. That's why."
"But she doesn't have two mouths. How can she eat for two?"
"There’s a baby in her belly."
"How does a baby get in your belly, Mommy?"
"I'll tell you when you're older. Now enough chit-chat; it's time for bed." Mary shushed Penelope and brought her upstairs and insisted on it being bedtime, much to the protest of Penelope. Carolena and I bid the Smith family a good night and we made our way back home. Carolena wrapped herself around my arm and said,
"I didn't eat that much, did I?" I laughed and kissed Carolena.
"I don't think you should worry about what a four-year-old has to say about your eating habits."
"You know what, you're right! Thanks, honey!" She giggled and kissed me. We made our way to our bedroom and quickly went to sleep.
The next guard shift passed by uneventfully, and so did lunch. I was about to leave for the bunker when Carolena stopped me, kissed me on the cheek, and said,
“I almost forgot to tell you. Maury needs to talk to you after lunch, so right now.” I nodded, and I made my way to Maury’s office. I knocked on his door, and he told me it was unlocked. I sat down in front of Maury’s desk, and he said,
“I was able to talk to Lily today. She was here for only a day after you two came back, so I never got to talk to her about her side of the heist until she came back yesterday.”
“Where was she?”
“She took some of that gold and went trading. She comes from a family of traders, after all. There’s quite a few villages to the south that have things we can only dream of, but that’s beside the point. Lily told me that you turned her into an Android and you two were able to communicate without speaking and from a distance. Can you replicate that with two humans?
“I can create a device that transmits spoken words from one to another from a distance of five miles, but I’d advise against using such a device.”
“Why’s that? Is it harmful to humans?”
“No, radio waves are harmless to humans, but if we send messages over radio, the Androids can intercept them and be able to locate where they’re sent from. They’d find Tyre, and, most likely, conclude that I am located here as well.”
“I see. Not good a thing, but I can’t help but think that we might need a device like that. There might be an emergency that justifies it.”
“I don’t know, Maury, but it’s a simple device, a set of two, so two people can communicate with each other. I’ll have it done before I have dinner.”
“Thanks, Al. That’s all I need for now. I’ll see you when the devices are done.” I left and headed to the bunker, where I went to the workshop and made the two radios in under an hour. I sat for a long time afterwards. I didn’t feel comfortable giving these radios to Maury. I don’t think anything would justify giving away Tyre’s position to the Androids. I decided to give them to Maury despite my doubts. I was no leader, not in the AEF or in Tyre. I decided to play along with Maury as I had assumed that Androids were going to attack Tyre regardless of what I did. I gave the radios to Maury, and he locked them in a safe and prayed he never needed them. I nodded in agreement and went home. I had a fantastic night with Carolena, which took my mind off of the whole ordeal.
Chapter 25
The material gathering phase of the bunker’s expansion ended, and I was able to work on it without any new disruptions. I noted the progress that Harry and Michael had made in wiring buildings. It took them two weeks to wire the entire Central district, which, unlike the North district, was willing to be wired. They made a considerable amount of money doing so and were able to buy the raw materials to make more wiring and breaker boxes and began to get to work on electrifying the Tyre’s remaining three districts. Hariti committed to her promise to visit Carolena and didn’t have much to report as she was early in the first of her three trimesters of pregnancy. Time went on and I worked as tirelessly as I could while I made time to spend with Carolena. Her pregnancy progressed well, and she slowly changed. Her stomach grew, which made her ankles swell and increased her need to urinate. Anna and Caitlin began helping Carolena run the bakery three months into her pregnancy. It was around this time that Harry and Michael had finished wiring all of the buildings in Tyre that were willing. The East and West districts were farmland, and most buildings didn’t need electricity at all, and the rest were unwilling. The South district, however, was more dense and complicated than the North and Central districts, so they had to slow down to wire the buildings safely and, to add to that, the demand was high. Only ten buildings had unwilling owners. I was impressed with their accomplishments, and I was glad that electricity was beneficial to Tyre. I hoped to utilize electricity more once I had secured the city’s safety. But to do that felt impossible to me, even though I had completed most of the expansion to the bunker and I had long ago managed to make a well stocked armory. I felt fear in the back of my mind no matter what. I tried to relax, and there were times when I could. It was near the end of Carolena’s pregnancy, which was around nine months when I had completed the expansion. I told Maury, and he evaluated the facilities and was elated with the results. He left some time after me, and I sighed with relief. I had begun to feel safe as I left the bunker and right at the entrance was Lily, the smile on her face was off putting. She grabbed my hand and moaned as she said,
“Hey, Allie! You’re finally done! I get to give you a present now!”
“W-What’s that?”
“This.” She placed one of the radios that I made for Maury in my hand. I snatched it in anger and asked,
“How’d you get this? I made it for Maury!”
“I talked the old fart into making them in the first place—or more like fucked him! I got the other one hidden five miles from here, so there’s no chance of you disabling it, Allie. I know how big of a deal using one of these is too!”
“So why do this in the first place? Why threaten a whole city?”
“Because I love you, Allie, and with this, you’ll have to notice me! I’ll give you some more time to come to your senses, but you better leave her and come running for me or else the Androids will come running for you!”
“I can’t leave Carolena. You might as well do it now!”
“Well, that wouldn’t be any fun, and I think you’ll see I’m the better woman soon enough. Oh, and don’t think of telling that bitch about this or I will destroy this city.” She kissed me on the cheek and ran off, wildly laughing all the while. I went back into the bunker and hid the radio. I could barely think. I breathed deeply and was able to collect myself. Lily sending the Androids to Tyre was a hypothetical. I had to focus and be there for what was actually happening. Carolena knew everything about my life. I felt immensely troubled that I could not confide in her. I left the bunker and went back home. I found Carolena upstairs in a room we had dedicated for the baby, called a nursery. I had installed a crib a week ago, and she had just finished decorating the room when I arrived. I held her from behind and rested my hands on her stomach. She grabbed my hand and said,
“You’re shaking, Allen. Why are you so nervous?”
“I’m scared, Carolena. Scared that I won’t be able to do enough.”
“Well, that’s normal. This is our first time being parents and there’s a lot to worry about with the Androids, but the bunker is finished, Allen. I know you and the Lord will keep us safe. I’ve prayed for it and it’s come true before my eyes.” I smiled and kissed Carolena.
“Thank you. I-I really needed to hear that. I love you.”
“I love you too, Allen. Now tell me what you think of the nursery. I just finished it!”
“It’s really nice. I think the baby will enjoy it here. I know I do.” Carolena smiled, and we spent the rest of the night in each other's arms.
Chapter 26
A few days had passed since we finished the nursery, and I was making breakfast with her. I felt that she needed the help due to how pregnant she was, even though she insisted otherwise. We were almost ready to eat when Carolena collapsed onto the ground and cried out,
"ALLEN, THE BABY'S COMING! I'M GOING INTO LABOR!" I grabbed Carolena and brought her to our bedroom and laid her on the bed. I ran to the Smith house, burst through the door and said,
"CAROLENA IS IN LABOR. I NEED HELP!" Fortunately for me, Anna, Caitlin, Penelope, and Mary were downstairs. All four of them got up immediately, and Mary put a hand on my shoulder and said,
"Stay calm, Allen. We’ll get Caro through this. Where is she?"
"She’s in our bedroom."
"Perfect. We’ll head over now and make sure she's ok. You go and get Hariti." I nodded and we all quickly left. In the corner of my eye, I could see them heading into the bakery as I ran towards Hariti's office. I desperately knocked on the locked door to her office the moment I arrived. After a few seconds, the door finally opened and Hariti appeared
"Why are you banging on my door this early?" she asked.
"It’s Carolena! She's in labor!" She darted back and grabbed a bag and told me to take her to Carolena, which I did. When we arrived, we saw Caitlin waiting with Penelope, who was trying to cover her ears from Carolena’s screaming. We went upstairs and Hariti, along with Anna and Mary, helped her greatly through the labor process. I just held her hand and prayed for her health and safety and the same for the baby. It took fifteen hours of labor for her to give birth to a healthy baby boy. Hariti held the child and had me use a pair of scissors to cut his umbilical cord before wrapping the child tightly in a towel. We all sighed with relief, except Carolena, who gripped the bed sheets tightly and yelled,
"OH, GOD! I THINK ANOTHER ONE IS COMING!"
"You're right. You're having twins, Caro. Just keep pushing and breathing and this little one will come out much sooner.” Hariti handed the crying baby to Anna, and fifteen minutes later, a baby girl was born. I cut the child’s umbilical cord and Hariti wrapped the crying baby in a towel, and both of them were handed to Carolena. Hariti smiled at the sight of Carolena and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Let’s leave these four alone for a while. I’ll come back soon. It’s difficult to breastfeed twins, so I can help you out if you’re having trouble.”
“Thank you all so much. I’m so happy. I feel so lucky to be a mother to two healthy children. I’ll name them Jackson and Carolyn, after my parents.”
