The Holy Machine

32

I drew out all my share of my father’s inheritance, moving it first to several different bank accounts, then withdrawing much of it as cash: a suspicious act in Illyria, where cash was normally only used for small transactions, like buying kebabs from street vendors. I bought a car, and began stocking it with things that I might need. For Lucy I bought women’s clothes, and books, and several kilos of sugar (sugar was what kept her going, that and egg-white and lemon juice and the vitamin tablets that she needed to maintain her living skin). I visited Lucy daily to coach her over and over again in the plan I had devised.

Then one evening I was watching TV with Ruth – some dreary game show that she liked – and the programme was interrupted for an announcement from the President.

‘As many people are aware, there was a tragic incident recently, where a man was killed by a malfunctioning robot of the self-evolving variety. This is the only recorded incident of its kind, and I have every confidence in the benefits of self-evolving cybernetics, and in the Labour Replacement program introduced by my much-missed predecessor, Professor Ullman. Nevertheless, in order to ensure there is no repetition, and to ensure full public confidence in our robot labour force, I intend to introduce new security measures. As from today, all self-evolving robots will be subjected to a six monthly “wipe-clean”…’

‘How lovely!’ sighed Ruth dreamily, ‘To have all your memories wiped away and start again, over and over…’

I flipped off the TV and looked round at her. The announcement meant that it was time to go. If Lucy was wiped clean she would cease to be Lucy, and would become again the empty machine she had been when she first left the factory. But this meant leaving Ruth behind. And I realized I could say nothing at all to Ruth about it. No kind of goodbye was possible, no kind of warning, no kind of explanation.

‘Why did you turn the TV off, George?’ she complained, ‘It’ll go back to the show in a minute!’

‘I… er… wondered if you’d like me to come into SenSpace for a bit?’

She laughed.

‘I don’t believe you’ve ever said that before.’

Then she looked at me sharply.

‘George, you’re not going away are you?’

‘Of course not, what gave you that idea? I’m just bored of the TV.’

‘Good, because you know I would die if you ever left me.’

Late that night I helped Ruth climb out of her SenSpace suit and tucked her up in bed.

Then, when I was sure she was asleep, I opened cupboards and drawers and began the final stages of packing for my escape.