‘It’s just twisting metal,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘You know, this would be stronger and more attractive if you put a half twist in the loops, like so…’
He held a length of adjusted chain before her eyes.
‘Oh! That’s beautiful!’
‘Or how about making it into a flexible band, like so…’
He worked the chain again, flattening the silver loops and stretching them and forming them into a plait.
‘Of course, if I had a little copper in the mix-’
‘No! No! It’s perfect just the way it is!’
He adjusted the settings for the polished gemstones and then handed her back the reformed necklace.
‘Are all robots such craftsmen?’ she wondered, turning it this way and that in her hands. ‘Hold on, how am I supposed to put it back on?’
‘Sorry! I forgot that you were a…’ his words trailed away.
He retrieved the necklace and quickly formed a clasp into it. He showed her how it worked.
‘That’s so clever,’ she said, fastening it back into place. ‘Thank you, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do.’
‘It was my pleasure. It looks beautiful on your neck now.’ He wasn’t just saying that. There was something oddly attractive about the sight of the silver chain against the white curve of her neck.
‘I feel as if I owe you a favour now.’
‘Certainly not. You humans are our guests.’
She grinned at that. ‘Actually, you are the guests in our embassy tonight. So I do owe you a favour.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do wondered if, despite her smile, he detected a note of bitterness in her words.
‘Well,’ he said carefully, ‘maybe you could tell me what you are doing here? I mean here, on Penrose. You’re not like the other humans.’
‘And you’re not like the other robots. I like your smooth, shiny body. You look like a classic car, not like those other kitchen utensils.’ She waved a hand in the direction of Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah. She was angry.
‘Rachael. Have I said something to upset you?’
‘It’s not your fault.’
‘I couldn’t help noticing. I’m so sorry, but you do seem different. You’re… well, younger. I wondered why you were here. Why no one else like you-’
‘What am I doing here?’ Even in the dim light, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do noted the way that Rachael’s face changed colour. ‘What am I doing here?’ she repeated. ‘Well, my father is the controller of --.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do looked at the human in confusion. She had spoken, he had heard her, but for some reason the device that she wore clipped around her head had not translated her final words.
‘What happened there?’ asked Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘Your machine didn’t speak properly.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do was fascinated to see the red colour deepen in Rachael’s pale face.
‘I’m being censored, that’s what happening.’ She raised her voice. Some of the other humans were looking in her direction. ‘I’m not allowed to say what I think! What do you think of that, robot?’
‘My name is Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, and there’s no need to shout.’ He lowered his own voice. ‘I don’t call you human, do I, Rachael?’
Her eyes flicked to the ground for a moment.
‘You’re right. I’m sorry, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do.’ She smiled weakly. ‘Hey, that’s a mouthful. Maybe I’ll call you Wacky.’
‘That would be an insult, Rachael. A Yukawan robot earns their full name.’
‘I’m sorry, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do.’ And then her face flushed again. ‘But maybe you’ll understand how I feel. I’ve been dragged here from -, made to leave home and travel -- -- --, all for the sake of my father’s job. And the time has gone all funny on Earth, you know that? I won’t be -- for --. -- – -.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do held up his hands.
‘Rachael, you’re cutting out. I don’t understand what you’re saying.’
‘That’s what happens when you grow up surrounded by fascists.’ She clenched her fists and rolled her eyes, and Wa-Ka-Mo-Do had to force himself not to laugh. It seemed such a strange thing to do.
All of a sudden she calmed down. ‘I’m thirsty, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do.’
‘Thirsty?’ the word confused Wa-Ka-Mo-Do for a moment, but then he remembered what Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah had told him. ‘Oh yes. I understand.’
‘It’s polite for a gentleman to fetch the lady’s drink,’ added Rachael.
‘Is it?’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, puzzled by this custom, but pleased for the opportunity to watch a human drink. ‘What do I do?’
‘You mean you don’t know? I suppose you wouldn’t. Well, you call across one of the waiters, ask him for a glass of champagne, and then you take it from him and hand it to me, and then I drink it.’
‘Champagne,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, carefully. ‘Very well.’ There was a black-clad human nearby holding a tray. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do signalled to him, as he had seen the other humans do.
‘Champagne, please.’
The light flickered on the waiter’s headset as Wa-Ka-Mo-Do spoke the words, but if the human thought there was anything odd in the request, he didn’t say so.
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do took the champagne and turned to see Rachael had walked off along the terrace’s edge, as if she didn’t know him. This seemed a very strange custom. Wouldn’t it be easier if human females fetched their own drinks? He carefully carried the glass across to her, noting what a ridiculous design the vessel was. The yellowish liquid that it contained seemed to be always about to spill over the rim of the wide bowl. Surely it would be more sensible to make the glass taller and narrower?
‘You did it!’ said Rachael, sounding impressed. She seized the glass and took a sip. Immediately, she began to make a harsh hacking sound.
‘What is that you are doing?’ asked Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘Does that mean you are enjoying the drink?’
‘Just a cough,’ said Rachael, her voice strangely modulated. ‘It went down the wrong way.’ She made the hacking noise once more, and then took another sip of the drink. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do watched fascinated, seeing the way her throat moved as it went down.
She turned to lean against the stone balustrade, seemingly unperturbed by the sheer drop below her. She was looking out at the green mound opposite.
‘Now, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. You said you’d tell me more about the Mound of Eternity.’