“But what?” Simon asked.
Nora nibbled her lip in thought, and then her eyes went skyward. “I’m not supposed to have you. I don’t want to put her in an awkward position. If there’s anyone here who would figure out what you are, it would be her.”
Simon touched Nora’s shoulder, feeling the stiffness in her muscles under his gentle contact. “You can’t just never see your friend again, Nora. I can wait outside while you say hello. I’m glad you and Tilly know other people. It concerns me that you’re out in the desert all alone.”
He pulled back his hand, not imagining that she had flinched a bit from his touch.Hmmm . . .He also didn’t imagine that small spike of heat that rose from her at his touch, or the way her cheeks were rosy even now as she scanned the distance.That’s . . .His eyes narrowed on her, processing her reaction, his processors growing heated themselves.Oh.Understanding pricked at his awareness.But it can’t be . . .
Tilly pulled on Nora’s shirt sleeve, leaning forward from the backseat. “C’mon, Anna told me she would give me a lemon pop next time I came in, Mama.”
Simon watched emotions play out on Nora’s face until she sighed. “Okay. But let’s get the stuff we need done first.”
They drove on a bit more, the town looking roughly the same. Orderly, but still tense. In the distance, Simon heard gunshots ring out, loud even over the din of machinery and electricity. He didn’t imagine it when he saw Nora give a slight jerk next to him, gripping the steering wheel tight every time they sounded. He wanted to reach for her again, to comfort her, but instead balled one of his hands in his lap.
Nora pulled up in front of a junkyard, the same banner displayed on her hover hanging high on top of it. “Here it is. The Tyra gang’s line for scavenge.” She pointed to a man that blended in with the dust that settled over everything. “That’s Max up front. Been trading with him for a long time.”
Nora turned to Tilly. “You stay back here for a minute, okay? I’ll go up with just Simon this time.”
“Okay.”
Max appeared even more weathered up close when they exited the hover and walked up. Wrinkles crisscrossed his face, even though Simon’s processors assessed his age to be late forties.
“Who’s with you?” he asked, eyeing Simon.
Simon tilted his head politely. “I’m Simon.”
Nora stepped in front of him. “Hi Max. Another scrapper. Helped me collect.”
Max didn’t take his eyes off Simon, but asked Nora, “Gang know he’s with you?”
Simon watched Nora steel her shoulders. “Not yet, but you can tell them. Part of my household now. But check what I brought in first. Got more with his help than I have for a while.”
“Better to have a man with you anyways,” the scrapper said slowly.
Nora’s cheeks reddened, but she walked back to the hover to gather the material. Simon moved to follow but Max held out his arm, stopping them both.
“A moment.” Max’s eyes narrowed on Simon’s face. Then he leaned in even closer. “Where you from?”
Simon took a step backward involuntarily. “The desert.”
Max squinted, looking like he was thinking hard. They both stood under his scrutiny in the hot sun until he looked back at Nora in disbelief. He spoke in a false female voice, clearly mocking her, “I’m not doing anything dangerous in the desert.”
Nora’s ears turned red.
Simon looked at both of them, confused. His body tensed though, as if there was danger.
Max walked all around Simon, as if he was a museum piece on display. “I would have never known though with him covered up like this if I didn’t have my suspicions already with all those parts you’ve been getting.” He side-eyed Nora, scoffing, as he continued pacing. “And the fact that you would never allow a man to live with you that easily. After all your talk about freedom.”
Fear flooded Simon’s processor.He knows.He met Max’s gaze as he came around again, resisting the urge to make a fist.I will not be turned off again.
Nora’s voice shook. “You won’t tell, will you, Max?”
Max looked away from his careful inspection to sneer back at her, biting out the words, “Nora, this is some serious shit, holding an android.”
Simon’s processors swirled while Nora held her hands out, as if in a plea, as she asked again, “You won’t tell, right, Max? I can get so much better stuff now with his help. Look. Look what we got.” She turned back and hurriedly carried over the books Simon had helped her collect.
Simon watched her hold them out to Max, desperation in her eyes. His body tensed and he reached for his limiters, feeling their absence. By his side, his hand twitched.
Nora put the books on a table up by Max and then ran back to the hover, hoisting the extra copper wiring they’d collected onto the table. “So much more, Max.” She put it down on the table in front of him and leaned in close, hair falling into her eyes. “Please?”
