Between the Lanterns(55)

At that moment, August seemed to make up his mind. He grabbed the SameSoul and walked over to Woodrow. The automaton already knew what to do, and opened the port created for a BrainSave that would now house a much more advanced tech,; one that August had designed and built.

Woodrow reached out his wooden hand and took the little box from August. Without missing a beat, the automaton raised it’s hand and began to place the chip in the receiver port.

“I’m sorry,” August whimpered.

He then reached out lightning-fast, and slapped the SameSoul out of Woodrow’s hand, sending it flying across the room.





Chapter 25





LET GO





The SameSoul soared across the room, and August immediately chased after it, his face a mask of fear. Before it could collide with the ground and possibly damage the consciousness of the woman within, he cupped his hands around the small data module and delicately plucked it from the air.

A large sigh escaped his lips as he opened his hands and saw the undamaged box held there. Looking over at Woodrow, who was now walking towards August and the SameSoul, August realized the automaton wasn’t done trying to implant the device yet.

“Woodrow,” he said in warning, “back off now, buddy. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to install this just yet.”

“IN STALL,” the human-like wooden automaton wearing a navy blue dress, baseball cap, and necklace replied as it reached out for the SameSoul.

Woodrow tried to take the data box from August, but met resistance; August wouldn’t let go.

He couldn’t let go.

“Stop it now, Woodrow,” August ordered his creation. “I… I’m... I don’t think I can do it. She wouldn’t want this.”

This time, the automaton heeded the commands given to it by the sole remaining creator. Woodrow stopped trying to take the SameSoul. He turned around and trundled to the corner where he powered down, the port for the SameSoul still open and waiting.

August scooped up the box containing Samantha’s ashes from the dresser. He took only that and the vessel containing his wife’s consciousness with him as he left their home and locked it up, never planning on never returning, and took out his cell phone.

“Hello?” a voice weary with sleep said over the Montek.Communication line.

August glanced at the time and wondered why on Earth his old friend, and the Best Man at his wedding, was doing still asleep at this hour of the day.

“Bobby, hi. It’s August,” he replied into his cellphone.

Bobby Li cleared his throat and August heard the sound of a cigarette being lit. Some people still clung to bad habits, even in today’s medically advanced world.

“Dude. What’s up? I was sleeping real hard. Had a late gig last night, you know. Shitty tips, too. So, what’s happening, man? Haven’t talked to you in, like, four months.”

“Yeah, sorry about the lack of contact,” August said, trying his best to hold it together, but audibly struggling.

“I wanted…”

he choked on his words and held back a full-blown wail, leaving him unable to speak for a moment.

“August, you ok?” Bobby asked, concern touching the edges of his tired voice. “What’s the matter?”

He seemed genuinely concerned, which wasn’t all that surprising. He may be a product of the modern world, but Bobby was a lot better than most people. It’s one of the reasons August had always stayed friends with him. No matter what, Bobby would always be there to help. He may be late,; he may be rude about it, but unlike most people alive today, he would never say no to a friend in need.

“It’s Sam,” August breathed quietly into the cellphone. “Bobby… she’s dead.”

“What? How? When?” Bobby asked all in a rush. “August, I’m so sorry. Where are you?”

August thought about telling him, so they could meet up somewhere. Seeing a friendly face might offer some comfort, and asking Bobby for this favor in person would be the polite thing to do. But honestly, August felt like he would never be happy again, and seeing Bobby at this point would only drag out the process, keeping Augusts in New Dothan longer than he wanted.

“Listen, Bobby… I need your help,” August said with difficulty. “I’m… I’m leavin’ town, and probably never comin’ back.”

Bobby was silent for a breath or two, before he said, “Ok, I get it, man. So, like now? Are you gone? Right now?”

“Yeah… as soon as I can,” August replied. “But… I can’t let go of our house, Bobbo. I need you to… take care of it for me. I don’t want you to live in it or nothin’… just go there a couple of times a month, you know? Maybe pay a cleanin’ service to keep it livable. Like I said, I’ll probably never come back, but nothin’ is ever guaranteed. I learned that today.”

Bobby blew out a long breath, probably along with a large cloud of cigarette smoke, and said, “Man, of course , I’ll help. But, I’m like, you know, barely making ends meet as it is right now. I can’t afford a cleaning service. Sorry, dude. I mean, I can clean it myself if you want me to, though.”

August shook his head, even though Bobby couldn’t see him. His hands were shaking, too, he realized. He sat down on the curb, realizing for the first time that he was probably in shock. With his injuries still very fresh, and the loss of his entire world, it was a reasonably certain condition.