An Android Dog's Tale

by D.L. Morrese

  ~*~

  The monks held a fair each year after but not another herding event. The fairs were just gatherings the monastery sponsored to foster good relations between people of nearby villages. Kolby and MO-126 went to the next two, but they would not be going this year. Kolby’s granny needed more care, and he saw to it. The years had also taken their toll on Gumper, and Kolby often brought him some of whatever he could. He owned two goats for milk, now, and four acres of land on which he grew grapes and vegetables, with enough surplus to sell some for coins to buy other things. He had gained the responsibilities and, for the most part, the physique, if not yet the years of an adult.

  A growing interest in girls provided another sign of his developing physical maturity. They remained mysterious and somewhat incomprehensible to him, but one girl in particular seemed less like the others and therefore more interesting to him.

  He and Laura had known one another for years. They were never exactly friends when they were younger due to their gender difference, but they weren’t unfriendly. In the last year, MO-126 caught Kolby gazing at her with an even dreamier expression than normal whenever they accidently met. Sometimes he went out of his way to arrange accidents like these, and she did not seem to object. The android dog got the impression that most people annoyed her. For the sake of his boy, he spent some time observing her, and he found her strong-willed, intelligent, and, on occasion, painfully observant, so her acceptance of Kolby signified quite a compliment.

  Humans of this age, in their middle teens, have their adult days and their child days; today lay somewhere in between for Kolby and the others with him. It was a warm afternoon in early autumn. The morning chores were done; the animals were fed; washed clothes hung on lines to dry; other things in need of cleaning, fixing or otherwise being taken care of had been. A small group of people about the same age as MO-126’s boy gathered for their mutual entertainment, and one of them proposed a childlike game with young adult intentions.

  “Let’s play Seek-and-Hide,” a young man of about Kolby’s age but a bit taller and better-looking said.

  One of the girls giggled. It wasn’t Laura.

  Seek-and-Hide was a game in which one person hid and the others would seek. When found, the finder would hide with the first hider, as would the next and so forth until only one seeker remained, who would be the next hider. The point was to find a good spot to hide with at least enough room for two and hope someone you wanted to be with found you first. The entire village provided the playground, but the hider had only a one hundred count to find a spot.

  The traditional method of a selection rhyme was used to determine who would hide first. MO-126 considered the outcome predictable, but the people here seemed to think it was fair and random.

  You’re not dirty.

  You’re not clean.

  You’re not happy.

  You’re not mean.

  You’re not who we pick today.

  So you’re out, now go away.

  Laura was the last person remaining. She shrugged. “Okay, I’ll hide. Everyone cover your eyes.”

  When people say ‘everyone,’ they seldom mean dogs, so MO-126 kept his open. He had an idea.

  Laura raced off, swung wide and looped back behind some buildings toward Kolby’s house. MO-126 could no longer see her, but with his audio sensors tuned to their maximum, he could hear her. She was climbing into the loft of the small barn, more of a large shed really, that Kolby built last year to keep his goats.

  “One hundred!” one of the boys called. “Come on. I heard her going this way.”

  Which is exactly what she intended, the android dog thought. Clever girl.

  Kolby moved to go with the group, but MO-126 got in front of him and nudged him with his head.

  “Not now, Doggy. We’re playing a game. I’m looking for Laura.”

  Yeah, I know. I’m trying to help you. Pay attention. The android dog tried to convey his intentions with a look. It didn’t work well.

  Kolby tried to scurry around him.

  MO-126 blocked him. “Woof,” he said softly. Come on. Everyone else is going the wrong way. He took a step back and looked at the boy attentively, which he believed should be a clear sign that he wanted him to follow.

  Kolby really could be quite dense at times.

  “No, Doggy. I have to—”

  MO-126 grabbed his arm and tugged gently.

  “You want me to come with you?”

  Good boy. Slow but good.

  He led him to his shed.

  “Is something wrong? Something to do with the goats?” Kolby said.

  The goats stood outside in their pen, both apparently fine. The android dog shook his head, pointed inside with his snout and then up. Kolby’s dim expression showed no sign of enlightenment, so his dog pointed again.

  “The loft?” Kolby said.

  Not so loud or she’ll know I helped you. MO-126 did not want that. Laura was bright, and she already suspected there was something odd about Kolby’s dog, perhaps even that it was smarter than its owner.

  The boy climbed the ladder and met the girl. Fifteen minutes passed before anyone else arrived to look here. This provided time enough for Laura, who fortunately possessed enough initiative for both of them.