I couldn’t help it. I turned and looked.
Oscar stood with his back to the wide expanse of windows.
Next to him stood a man dressed all in black. Black shirt, black slacks, black belt, and shiny shoes.
From the way he held himself with equal poise next to Oscar, and the fact that there was a stern, black-stitched man standing behind him, I knew who he must be: John Black, the head of House Black.
19
HOUSE ORANGE
He preferred to be obeyed. The arrogance of the galvanized, Robert Twelfth, had always been a fault in the creature.
Perhaps it was because Robert was the last galvanized stitched together and shocked alive. It had the fortune of receiving the most advanced technological and medical support. Perhaps it even thought of itself as human.
Slater Orange had owned several of the galvanized over the years. Robert Twelfth had been the least willing to obey him.
It was distasteful. Something he had punished it for repeatedly.
Still, the creature had been useful to him and his House in many ways over the years. And now it would be extremely useful to him one last time.
Robert Twelfth stepped into the small, tastefully appointed chamber. It paused just inside the door, hands at its side, eyes cast downward, as was appropriate. “You called for me, Excellency?”
Slater sat behind a desk and regarded the creature for a moment. Robert Twelfth was not his choice in bodies. Too small, bald, and sharp edged.
But it was a strong body. And it was immortal.
That last quality that made it the most desirable of all.
“How many years are left in your contract with House Orange, Robert Twelfth?”
“Thirty-one years, seven months, and two days, Excellency,” it said without hesitation.
“Are you aware there is a clause in the contract that will allow me, at my discretion, to release you from your contract with House Orange at an earlier time if I so choose?”
“Yes, Excellency,” it said.
“I have decided to amend that clause. To redefine your role in House Orange.”
Robert Twelfth didn’t say anything, but Slater could see that its breathing changed. Not speeding up from fear; it was suddenly slow and even, as if Robert Twelfth was readying for torture or a fight.
A wasted effort. This would be a battle it couldn’t win.
“Are you not curious as to your new post within the House, Robert Twelfth?” he asked.
“I am here to serve,” it answered woodenly.
“Yes,” Slater said, “you are. Good, then. Come with me, please.” He stood out of the chair, hiding how much effort it took to do so.
The doctors had said the virus had accelerated. It would kill him within weeks, even with the hourly doses of medicine he took. Without the hourly doses, the virus would kill him within days.
Slater had stopped taking the medicine three hours ago. From how quickly his strength had deteriorated, he believed his doctors were correct in their prognosis.
“Attend me,” he said as he walked through the door at the back of the room.
The galvanized followed him.
They proceeded down a long, clean hallway to the room at the end. A room he had not allowed Robert Twelfth to enter before.
