Yes, please, Frances said. They strapped themselves into the padded seats just as Hilary opened a narrow slit for them at the front of the shuttle. Judy smiled; it was just as she imagined it would be sitting in an old aircraft, only here she was looking right out into space. Given the apparent gravity here on the shuttle, the view of the external wall of the Shawl section was a black field, dotted with shuttles of myriad sizes and shapes. The Earth was rising in a blue-and-white swirl that reflected in the sense pools that spread out before them. The black field seemed to drop away as the shuttle disengaged itself from the section and, almost imperceptibly, began its long fall towards the Earth.
I wonder whats in the crates, Judy asked.
Frances looked towards them. You know, I never even thought to look, she said, an edge of puzzlement to her voice. Now, thats not right
What is it? Judy sensed the warning in the robots tone.
Trouble, Frances said. I cant see anything in the crates at all. I cant even get the idea of them in my mind. Theres heavy-duty stealth stuff in there.
The whole of the Shawl section was now visible beneath their feet. Judy felt a flutter of fear as her view of safety receded, leaving her trapped on this craft with the sinister emptiness in the crates before her.
Hilary called Frances. There was no reply. Judy stood up and folded her arms, her hands tucked into her sleeves. She was thinking herself calm.
Anything? she asked eventually.
Nothing. Hilary has been blocked. There is a bubble of nothingness around this craft. I dont know who is flying it now.
Judy placed a tiny blue pill on the tip of her tongue. There was a cracking noise and a slat on one of the wooden crates came loose. A silver-grey nail went skittering across the metal floor.
Frances voice was low. I can see the crate moving, Judy, but I cant see whats emerging. Youll have to describe it to me.
Judy looked at the sleek grey shape that was unfolding itself from the crate, wooden slats and nails dropping to the ground around it.
Its a robot of some kind, I think, but like nothing Ive ever seen before. She was whispering, though she didnt know why. I dont know what forms the integument, but it doesnt seem like plastic or metal oror anything. Its folding itself together like origami, or maybe some sort of three-dimensional tangram, but the shapes that it is forming are complex. I dont think I can quite follow them. Its making itself into a humanoid. The head is strange, like a very handsome man but obviously still artificial-
Its okay, Frances said suddenly. I can see it now. It just seemed to come into view then. I was right: its a stealth robot. A good one.
Not that good if you can recognize me as such, said the intruder, suddenly dropping into focus. He gave a charming smile. Call me Chris.
Judy remained silent. Frances held out her hand.
Pleased to meet you, Chris. What does the EA want with us?
Not the Environment Agency. The Watcher had me come here.
Judy said nothing. If there had been another human in the room, her body would have appeared perfectly still. Frances wouldnt be fooled; she would be monitoring her friends vital signs and noting the patterns of tension that ran through her muscles on hearing Chris words.
Judys voice remained level. I dont believe you. The Watcher doesnt exist. Its only a fairy story made up by those who need to anthropomorphize causality.
Chris gave a wide smile. Oh Judy, we both know you dont mean that. Face it, I can read your mind just as easily as Frances here can. Even more easily, in fact.
Judy held her composure. She was feeling the robot with her MTPH-enhanced senses. He was like nothing she had ever encountered. The skin was not something that existed as an object in its own right, like the silk of her chemise or the metal frame of the antique seats; rather it was nothing more than a bounding region between the inside of Chris and the outside. It shimmered and moved as she ran her mind over it, constantly changing.
Touch me. See what I feel like.
The words appeared directly in her mind, and Judy reeled in astonishment. She mentally centered herself, drew herself into her own body, felt the soft silk that she was wearing touch her own skin, felt the cold of the floor through her thin white tabi socks. Now she looked at Chris and focused on him. Was he using telepathy? Was that possible?
Oh, yes, it is. MTPH is an idea that is entwined with human development. It can free your mind in ways you would not believe. Someday you will see. Now, touch me.
Judy walked forward, stepping over the wooden slats that littered the floor. Chris reached out and took her arm, guided her gently away from a loose nail.
Youre beautiful, Judy murmured, sensing what he had just done. She gazed into his dark eyes.
I know, Chris said.
The robot was beautiful. Proportioned like a man, his body was a softly shining grey; it made Judy think of dark lead crystal. She touched Chris arm. The skin was neither warm nor cold, neither rough nor smooth.