A rare Saturday update, but for a reason. At the post title indicates, I’m taking a break from this manuscript. I mean, 31k words and the plot has barely shown up? I need to let them talk to me, possibly for a few months. In the meantime, as I have mentioned, an informal writers’ group, birthed at Imaginarium, has entrusted me with putting together an anthology that I plan to have out by the end of the year. That is a lot of reading and editing or others’ works, which is not something I have done before. However, I shan’t let them down. So, this potentially emerging religious war goes on the shelf for a bit.

Until then, as you see in the selection below, it occurred to me that nobody ever really has gotten sick in my books, barring Lem’s brief neurological disorder (which incidentally led to the modified angelic body of Ildi). Blown up, sure, but not even the sniffles, that I recall. I’ve been sick twice over the summer and thought, why not? Interesting in that it is entirely possible Pai has never been around a sick human before; a no-brainer for Aurie’s dad and brother, both doctors, but why would a Thinking Machine have cause to visit a sick ward? I know both Earth and Mars take strong precautions to prevent cross-contaminations and outbreaks, but this seems very new to her.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

He grabbed her hand harder than he should have and pulled her after him.  I don’t care if she can kill me just as easily.  That was…!

“Pai?” he demanded, once they were outside.

“Yes?  You are very angry with me.”

“You just can’t…” they kept walking very fast and he had no idea where he was going.  “You cannot just kill people!”

“Of course I can.  I just did.”

Graf stopped and dropped her hand.

“Don’t ever, ever, do that again,” he ordered her.

“Unless an emergent situation, I understand and will obey you, Husband.” She blinked, her eyes flashing red.  “Why are you so upset?  That man was a threat to the imperium and thus our alliance.”

“What?” He was confused.  “So you killed him for politics, not because he picked you up?”

For perhaps the first time in over three years, he looked at surprise on her face.

“Of course not!  A religious insurrection is not something Aurie needs right now.  Killing one of their priests was expedient,” she said.  Pai tapped her hand to his, to see if he would take it.

He did and looked around.  “Where are we going?”

“Southwest to the main road, then west,” she said, stepping close to him.  “I did not mean to hurt you.  Will you divorce me?”

“What!” Graf had taken one step and now stopped again.  “No!  Just…”

He gave her a hug.

“Just don’t do that again.”

In silence for nearly thirty minutes, they came to the four-lane road and turned west.  “And, they might come after us,” he said.

“Why?” she asked.

“Two foreigners appear on that campus.  The next morning, one of their holy men is dead.” He shook his head.  “Whether it looks like an accident or not, someone is going to have questions.  We might not want to linger here.”

A large but empty parking lot stretched ahead of them.  Further on was a massive building.  The convention center.

“I am older,” Pai said.  “We shall look about here, walk to the old city center, and then return to Caper.  I have made a mess of our mission here.  My report to the empress will reflect that.  If she does not trust me anymore, then perhaps that vacation you wanted will be sooner than expected.”

“Pai, my wife,” Graf said, raising their hands, “after three years with you, all people, even those made of ones and zeros, make mistakes.  It will be fine.  I love you.”

“And I, you, Husband.”

Unlike the college area, there was nothing to indicate any sort of adoration of Ildi.  Perhaps because this is more commercial?  I really don’t have the background for this kind of work.  Pai said they should head south when he stumbled over his own feet, kept upright by his wife.

“Husband?  Are you okay?” she asked in some concern.

“I’m fine,” he said, letting go of her hand and rubbing his hands over his arms, “it’s just this odd…”

“I will kiss you now,” she said without warning.  And did.  Very.  Her tongue deep into his mouth.  She leaned back.

“You have influenza type B,” she declared.  “Likely from exposure to these humans you have never been around before.  How often did you get sick as a child?”

“Huh?  Not really much,” Graf said, missing what she just did.  “Worst time was when there was this caravan of merchants…”

“Similar event,” Pai said, continuing in hard tone.  “Localism, regionalism, leads to biogenic isolation.  While you and I have traveled much in three years, those years were also largely alone.”

She looked around.  While there were a few stares at the outlanders, no one was really paying any attention to them.

“We are returning to the ship.  Now.  You will be feverous and dysfunctional in about two hours.  I cannot protect you, care for you, and accomplish our task at the same time.” Blink.  “I prioritize you over all.  We go.”

With her android strength, she turned him about, took his arm, and led them back north.  Hey, now…

“Pai, I don’t feel sick.  A little off, sure…”

“Your thinking is already clouded,” she spoke over him, increasing their pace.  “I will not obey an order, so don’t.”

I don’t feel sick.  But I cannot imagine she’s making all this up.  Most of what I feel is that dead guy…  He shuddered.

“Am I really sick?” he asked.

“Yes.” Her head was on a swivel, looking everywhere for potential threats.  This is not good.

“Wife?  Let’s go back to the ship quietly,” he said.  “No killing.”

“I said I will disregard your orders, but understood, Husband.  Dammit.”

A small car, with “Police” on the side, pulled in front of them.  Two men got out.  Their uniforms had a Maple Leaf patch on the upper arm.  A country which no longer existed.

“Pai,” he whispered.

“Only if they threaten us,” was her nearly inhuman whisper back.  She hopped up on one foot with a smile.  “Hi, there!”

It was then they saw their little badges.  That smiling angel.

“Pai,” he said a second time.

“I’m Pai!” she shouted.  “This is my husband, Graf.  What a nice town you have here!  How can we help you?”

“Miss,” the older with his short gray hair began, “we just heard about some folks from outside town walking about.  And their rifles.”

“We are travelers,” she explained, still happy, “and must both protect ourselves and see to an occasional meal.  We’ve collapsible fishing rods, too!”

“I see.” A look.  “So, Graf and Pai…”

“Winstead, from around Madison, former Wisconsin,” he said.  Yeah, I do feel a bit off right now.  I just don’t want her to kill anyone again.  “We’re just passing through and don’t want to make any trouble.”

“No one said there was,” the senior of the two continued, touching his cap. “Just a report about two strangers from last night.  You two staying long?”

“No, we need to start back home.  My dad needs our help on the farm,” Graf lied.

“I wish my sons helped me that much,” the cop laughed.  “You two take care.”

“Thank you, sir!” Pai called as they got back into their car.  Quieter:  “So, not arrested.  And I didn’t kill anyone.  I want you to praise me and pat my head when we’re back to the ship.”

He stumbled again.  Dammit.  “I promise.”

Two hours later, after Pai had checked the area around Caper, she had him yet again resting against a tree.  “Why not on board?” he asked.

“Fresh air is better for you, just as it is for my skin,” she said, bringing him water.  After he drank, she touched her hands to his face.  “Just a touch over thirty-eight.  I may have to evac you if you get worse.  I will not take you to anyplace local, and the imperium is only a few minutes by space to the south.”

“Not to Russia?” he coughed a little.  Throat hurts.  “Don’t trust your own docs?”

“That,” she said with a tiny flash of her eyes, “is not at all funny.  I shall forgive you as you are not in your right mind now.”

“Dammit.  Sorry, Pai.  I’ll shut up now,” he said, closing his eyes.  “So hot here.”

She stood and returned to the ship.  Back with more water, but now with some ivermectin shot into it, Pai had to pause as her husband had fallen asleep.  Gently, she tilted his head back and slowly added the water to his mouth, making sure he did not choke.

“My dear, dear husband,” she said quietly.  “I have seen you injured but never sick like this.  I hate it.  Perhaps I should take you…no, this is supposed to be an independent mission and I do not want to abuse the Empress’ trust.  I shall wait.”

She set down the water and checked his temperature again.  “But this pains me in a way I have never before experienced.”