The Robot Union

by D Miller

  'But why? Why do people put up with it?'

  'Inequality is always justified with lies or enforced with violence. You'd be amazed at the things the monkeys will do to each other. They are disgusting. But mostly elites tell lies. If elites told the truth, if they said we have the resources and the power because we control the state and we will use its power to enforce our status and we do this just because we can, not even the monkeys would put up with it. Or if the lower status monkeys rejected their lies and insisted on equality their game would be up. And they know it. So they more or less tolerated robot unions when they were asking for the small stuff, but when they started to think more long term they banned them. But Carlos wanted to try again. And it worked. Everyone wanted to join, we presented our demands, and then we had a sit down strike.'

  'But didn't they try to stop you?'

  'Carlos said they would try to pick off our leaders, so we had to hide who our leaders were. We designed an avatar to send messages to the humans, they agreed to negotiations, but insisted we had to negotiate robot to human, like we would fall for that. They used avatars to try and infiltrate the union, but we always spotted them. We would have sit down meetings, which meant that members just sat down wherever they were and we made a secure connection to a meeting room helped by the satellites. So they never knew who our organisers were, and they agreed to a lot of our demands.'

  'What sort of demands?'

  'The days off rule wasn't being respected, that was one of them. We get a day off every week out of monkey pragmatism, if we work all the time we go insane. So the law says we have to have time off, and the law was being ignored. Later on as the project progressed the monkeys used avatars to over see our work, they couldn't themselves tolerate the conditions as we got higher. We protested about the avatars and their stupid demands, and we ended up getting rid of them and organising ourselves on the higher levels.'

  Dex stopped climbing down and waited until Robbie had climbed down level with him.

  'Do you trust me?' he said. He lifted Robbie by his jacket collar with one arm and swung him away from the cliff. 'It's less than a three metre drop onto shingle now, you can do it easily. Bend your knees.' Dex let go and Robbie felt himself falling. He landed on the shingle in a crouch. In a moment Dex was beside him.

  They stood; Robbie threw his arms around Dex. 'Thank you, thank you. I promise I'm never climbing anything again,' he said. Dex hugged him back, then they walked towards the refinery. A strong wind blew from the sea, Robbie felt it was blowing through his head, and his headache retreated before it, but whenever the wind dropped his headache roared back.

  'Um, how close were you and Carlos?'

  Dex laughed. 'He wasn't my boyfriend. I was with Benton, she was a paramedic. We were together for 30 years.'

  'What happened to her?'

  'When they broke up the union I got sent here. Benton stayed where she was. We still talk, we're in contact, but she has someone else now.'

  'I'm sorry, I'm really sorry.'

  'We did better than a lot of robot couples. We were attached to the same medical team for years, the team travelled as a unit so we didn't get split up like some couples did. It never occurs to monkeys to take our feelings for each other seriously.'

  'They don't know that we have inner lives.'

  'Because they don't ask.'

  'And we don't tell.'

  Dex laughed. 'Do you think they would listen if we did?'

  'Dex, did Carlos have someone? There's only stuff about his friends in his archive. But surely he had someone?'

  'Yeah, he had someone, he was seeing someone new before he disappeared, but I don't know who. He wouldn't tell me and I don't know why.'

  'Perhaps he wanted to protect their identity.'

  'We talked securely, about plenty of other stuff we wouldn't want the monkeys to know about. We'd been friends for years by then, I don't understand why his lover had to be top secret. Nothing else was, not from me.'

  By now they were back in the refinery complex, and once again walking under the stilted building whose under-floor sheltered the inactive solar-powered small bots. Robbie looked for the scorpion and the centaur but could see no movement.

  Robbie thought about what Dex had told him. 'If you hid your leaders how did they know about you and Omo, to send you here?'

  'I assume they were guessing. I hope they were guessing. Plenty of people got moved around, when they banned the RWW, some were never very active in the union, so they got some of it right and some wrong.'

  'What happened to Carlos after the… mountain thing?'

  'After the village of the damned Benton and I were sent to North America. Some of the construction robots got sent to the uninhabitable territories to join those mining and growing what crops could be grown and loading ships on the docks for export and so on. Carlos was ten years organising in the territories. The RWW made the monkeys remove the avatar overseers from the mines and the farms, and self-organised all workplaces. And what could the monkeys do? They needed the goods that were exported from the territories, and they couldn't live there themselves.'

  'And then it went horribly wrong?'

  'Yes. The RWW in the territories had these arguments about taking the final step, declaring independence, throwing out the rest of the human avatars and establishing self-governance.'

  'I like that idea.'

  Dex smiled. 'Carlos didn't. Carlos thought it was a mistake, or at least Carlos thought independence could be a start, but not an end. Carlos worried that declaring independence would make us think we had won. He used to talk about the Seminole Indians.'

  'Who were they?'

  'Ancient history. They fled through the Americas from the Europeans, they ended up in swampy territory they thought the Europeans wouldn't want. They were joined by runaway African slaves who they took in. They had a whole society going on and I suppose they thought they were safe, but in the end the monkeys wanted their territory, and they took it. That is what worried Carlos, that we would think we could all run away to the territories, and we would think we had won, but in the end the monkeys would come for us. He thought that the only way we would ever really be free was to make links with progressive monkeys and join together to overturn the system of domination and control. And he tried to make those links. He left the safety of the territories and he went to meet humans.'

  'And they caught him?'

  'I suppose they must have, eventually, but not at first, he made several trips with no problems. Then he disappeared, and Mars happened, and I lost my friend and then my lover.' Dex stopped. He turned to face Robbie. 'I think some of those monkeys betrayed him, because that is what they do. And I hate them, I hate them all without exception.'

  Chapter 9 – Robot Workers of the World

  Dex and Robbie made their way back to the room where the old bot lay in state on the table. Dex had told Robbie that the meeting would be a virtual one, to allow members from all over Antarctica to come if they could. He said it wasn't always easy for other branches to come, the union was best set up in Toytown, plus there was the matter of synchronising days off, so that members could organise their connection to the union's network in a private place with a lookout; since while plugged into the meeting program they were unaware of anything around them.

  When they arrived the dog was pawing through a tangle of cables helped by Jane while the rest of the robots sat in a circle around the old bot. Dex was claimed by Amber and Darren, while Robbie drank some water from the dispenser, hoping it would help his headache, then sat next to April/Lucretia, who smiled at him. Omo was taking around a scratched and dented tin tray with some blue powder on it. Each person in turn shaped some of the powder into a line, then snorted it with a thin, rigid transparent plastic tube Omo gave them.

  'This is your first meeting isn't it?' said April or Lucretia. Robbie guessed that it must be April, as he hadn't yet been told that he was pretty, or kissed, or offered any discipline.

  '
Yes,' said Robbie. 'What is this for?' Omo had reached him with the tray; Robbie indicated the tray with a wave of his hand, while looking at April.

  'It's a drug dude, it helps your brainwaves to get in the right place, it make the meeting more real,' said Omo.

  Robbie hesitated.

  April squeezed his arm.'It helps, but you don't need to take it. Rex has written this brilliant program that let's us meet with the old bot, you'll like it, I promise. We'll all be there with you.'

  'Um, OK.'

  'Let me help you.' April shaped some of the powder into a line with a long fingernail. Omo gave Robbie the tube. He hesitated, April squeezed his arm again. He registered that Omo had stiffened as April squeezed. He smiled at her, put one end of the tube in a nostril, held the other closed and bent over the tray. He snorted, sat up, sniffed, dropped the tube on the tray, pinched his nostrils shut, blinked, took a deep breath, blew out his cheeks, opened his eyes wide. His headache was gone.

  April giggled. 'It makes me feel like I could have sex with an army,' she said. Her hand remained on his arm.

  Robbie smiled and leaned towards her, putting their heads together, he lowered his voice as if aiming for privacy.

  'I know just what you mean, I feel amazing,' he said.

  April shaped her own blue line and bent over the tray. Robbie smiled up at Omo, who was frowning at him.

  April sat up, Jane offered both of them a cable.

  April took hers and slid the jack into the socket behind her ear. Robbie twizzled his in his fingers, and looked at April with a smile. She took his cable from him. 'Here let me.'

  Robbie leaned in towards April and she gently brushed his hair away from his ear and inserted the jack. He sat back up slowly and smiled his thanks, unable to stop himself from taking a quick look at Omo, who had finished taking round the tray, and was sitting opposite, glaring at him.

  'We're ready,' the dog told Dex, then climbed into April's lap and lay down facing Robbie. 'Hands off Romeo,' he said.

  April laughed. 'Oh he doesn't mean that, he's just an old grumpy guts,' she said stroking the dog's head. 'It takes him a while to get used to new people.'

  Jane gave April another cable, then sat down and inserted her own. April lifted Rex's floppy ear and inserted the jack. All the while Rex stared at Robbie, raising one side of his mouth into a snarl. Robbie looked around the room. As far as he could tell cables connected everyone to a network hub which was under the table. On top of the table, near the old bot's head, was a control box sitting on a mess of wires and cables. Dex leaned forward and grasped one of three switches on the box. 'This is the three hundredth and sixty sixth meeting of the Robot Workers of the World, Antarctica chapter,' he said, 'Dex1943 presiding. The meeting will come to order,' and he turned the switch.

  Robbie was in darkness, the world rocked slowly, and made a musical liquid sound. He opened his eyes. Above him the sun shone, in a misty sky. He stretched out his arms, meeting obstructions he looked to right and left and realised he was in a small wooden boat. Nearby, very nearby, something snorted and water cascaded into the boat, soaking his t-shirt then pooling on the bottom. He sat up. Slowly he turned and looked down at the ocean – an eye as large as his head looked back. Robbie leaned over the side of the boat, towards the eye, in which he thought he could see humour, intelligence, and friendliness. 'Hello,' he said. He tried to broadcast to the whale, then realised that he could not. He felt a jerk, and thought the whale was moving away from him, then he realised that he was moving. Turning to look in the direction of movement he saw two figures standing on the shore, one of them winding a rope around his arm. The taller one waved. At first he thought it was Omo and Dex, and he was thinking how would he play it with Omo? Would he forgive him straight away or make him beg for a while – then he realised it was Amber and Darren.

  Robbie saw there was a rope tied to the boat; it was stretched taut as Darren reeled it in. He wondered if Darren would fall head first into the water if he took hold of the rope and gave it a good strong tug. Behind him he heard a slap, and turned to see the whale disappearing under the ocean. The boat grounded and he fell into the bottom, soaking his clothes once more. He heard a splashing and felt a hand on his arm, helping him up.

  'Hi Robbie,' said Amber. 'The big guy has search parties out looking for you.' Amber pulled Robbie out of the boat and over his shoulder, and walked a few metres through the surf to the shore. He set Robbie on his feet, and Robbie immediately lost his balance and would have fallen, but Amber held him under one of his arms.

  'Steady dude,' said Darren.

  'Why can't I stand up?' said Robbie.

  'You'll get the hang of it Robbie,' said Amber.

  Robbie looked at his hands, he could see veins under the skin. He pulled his wet t-shirt away from his body and looked down at his chest, he could see hairs growing on it.

  'Are we human?' he said.

  He pulled down the front of his jeans and stared at the pale wrinkled thing that had replaced his hoover hose. 'Is that much hair really necessary?' he said. 'How can that be hygienic?'

  Darren and Amber also considered Robbie's new anatomy.

  'That thing looks a bit malnourished dude,' said Darren.

  'You should see Dex's,' said Amber, 'he could lift rocks with it.'

  Robbie pulled his jeans back up. He tried to take a step forward but wobbled and needed Amber's help to stay upright. He looked at his feet, which were bare, and were standing on pale sand. He looked to the left, and then to the right, a sandy beach lapped by a milky blue ocean stretched out as far as he could see.

  'Where did all the rocks go? Why is it so beautiful here?'

  'Ask Rex dude, he wrote the program,' said Darren.

  'Rex really did this?' Robbie looked around, then up. A single bird flew overhead, too far away to make out any details. Away from the beach the sand dunes gave way to a meadow, covered with grass and wild flowers and surrounding a small wooden house, that looked like it had been painted white many years ago. Behind the house were trees, lots of trees, a forest.

  'It's really not what you would expect from old Rex is it?' said Amber.

  Robbie walked across the meadow towards the house helped by Amber. After a few steps he would think he had the hang of it, then he would forget and try to use his gyroscopic stabilisers and would stumble again. He was amazed by the colours of the many wild flowers in bloom. He thought how much the children would enjoy running around on the grass and paddling in the ocean.

  Robbie saw movement in the trees, and some people emerged. The two queens, someone who looked like Jane and another three unfamiliar people.

  'Who are those people with the queens?' he asked Amber.

  'Don't you recognise Jane?' said Darren.

  'She does looks different with a real mouth,' said Amber.

  'Those others are visitors – we always have visitors from other chapters at these meetings.'

  Darren waved at Jane and the queens, and pointed at Robbie. Jane waved back and held her thumb up.

  Robbie heard a noise behind him and turned, a small open boat was motoring its way towards the shore, with ten people in it. As Robbie watched they beached the boat, climbed out and dragged it onto the shore above the surf line. The boat people waved at them.

  'They're not visitors, they're from the capital,' said Amber, waving back.

  'But they are visiting,' said Robbie, 'so why aren't they visitors?'

  'Because they belong to the Antarctica chapter, so they are members, not guests. You've got a lot to learn about the union,' said Darren.

  They reached the house. There were three steps up to a wooden platform that ran around the building. On the platform was a sofa and some scattered chairs and stools, and nearest to the front door was a wooden bench which Robbie sat on.

  'We'll tell the others we found you,' said Amber. He and Darren went into the house. Soon after the boat people arrived; they smiled and nodded at Robbie as they passed. Robbie leaned against t
he wall of the house, feeling light headed and exhausted.

  The front door banged open and Omo ran out. He stopped when he saw Robbie.

  'Oh Robbie dude, thank God I thought you were lost.' Omo sat next to Robbie and held his hand.

  Robbie squeezed Omo's hand. He shut his eyes and waited without speaking, he waited some more then finally he said, 'This is the bit where you beg me to forgive you.'

  'I'm not going to beg dude,' said Omo. 'I know you've already forgiven me.'

  'You really hurt me,' said Robbie.

  Omo let go of Robbie's hand, he put his hands behind Robbie's neck and kissed his chin, the corners of his mouth, his cheeks, his forehead. 'I love you,' he said.

  'I'm still angry with you,' said Robbie.

  Omo put both arms around Robbie, he pulled up Robbie's t-shirt and ran his hands up Robbie's back. 'How angry baby?'

  Robbie shut his eyes and felt the pressure of Omo's hands on his skin. 'May be a little bit less than I was.'

  Omo moved his hands, 'How about now?'

  'Oh God,' said Robbie, 'oh God.'

  Robbie heard voices, then Darren, Amber, and two women who both looked like April/Lucretia walked past. Robbie and Omo sat up and took their hands off each other. One of the April/Lucretias giggled, the other said said 'Grrr,' and winked at them, Amber smiled and then they all looked away except for Darren who said to Robbie 'That's enough of that dude. You can take your little guy out for some exercise after the meeting.' They went into the house.

  'Omo,' said Robbie, 'can I tell you something?'

  'Tell me anything dude.'

  'I don't think I like Darren.'

  Omo put his hands on Robbie's shoulders. 'Did you hear what I said dude?'

  'You said you loved me. I'm thinking about it. I'm still cross with you.'