Love and Robotics (87 page)

“Sir Matthias, if you have a point to make, make it fast,” Justice Begum said.

“In those instances it was clear that the accused were representing themselves, in whatever limited capacity. You can only doubt an argument that hinges upon the word of an artificial. Technology can accomplish many marvels, but it can’t duplicate two things: reason and emotion.”

“Are you saying you’re not going to cross examine my witness?” Feist cried.

A ponderous shrug. “What’s the point? He’ll parrot whatever Langton’s taught him. He might look very pretty, and I’m sure he can do the deed admirably -” a repulsive wink at Alfred, who glowered - “but I’m not paid to chat to machines.”

Feist looked close to tears. Justice Begum was at a loss. Nothing of the sort had happened in her courtroom before. Just as it seemed the trial was about to crumble, Sir Matthias burped. It gusted through the close, sticky room towards Josh. It reeked of gin.

“Very well,” Josh said. “If you don’t wish to question me, no one can force you. There must be an article that prohibits it.”

“Of course there is!” Sir Matthias blustered.

“After thirty years as a prosecutor, I daresay you know the regulations back to front.”

Sir Matthias flung his robe over his shoulder. “This is dilly-dallying. Bring on Dr Sugar. At least he’s got something organic between his ears.”

Josh continued, “For example, there’s Article 231, which states that ‘no court official may perform their duties in an advanced state of intoxication. Anyone found to be in this condition should step down with immediate effect.’ I should know, I read all the articles once on a rainy day.”

Sir Matthias blew out his lips, making a farting sound. “Can’t prove it. There’s nothing on me.”

“Try his breath freshener,” Alfred said. One of the flunkeys did and was nearly knocked down.

Justice Begum passed a hand over her eyes. “Can we break while we find another prosecutor?”

Sir Matthias left to the accompaniment of catcalls and one of Alfred’s more colourful hand gestures. No one could blame him.

Thankfully a new prosecutor was found - a tall, glacially attractive woman called Claudia Nijinksy. “They call her the Falcon,” Feist whispered, though whether in reference to her appearance or technique she didn’t say.

“Anyone’s better than that boozy old snatch hound,” Alfred said. Josh had to agree.

Justice Begum called for order. She was manic yet exhausted, like a woman hosting a catastrophic dinner party. It didn’t help that Jasvinder was up to his old tricks, kicking the chairs and asking the public for their autographs. It took ten minutes to get him to behave.

“Dr Sugar,” Feist announced.

During the interval Sugar had pulled himself together. He didn’t fidget, perspire or stare wildly around the room. He took the stand with an assurance quite unlike him.

“Dr Sugar, it’s highly irregular for someone who gave evidence for the prosecution to appear as a witness for the defence. Please could you explain the reason for this about turn?”

“I wasn’t easy in my mind about my original statement. I’d been asked to testify by CER in the absence of Dr Fisk. It didn’t feel right to me.”

“What caused this sense of uneasiness?”

“I’ll admit, I was never happy about Josh getting married. I backed it for personal reasons, for which -” he glanced at Josh and Alfred - “I apologise. We were given an ultimatum by the CEO, Adrian Pinder. Either we did this to safeguard the company’s reputation or we had to leave. I loved my job, and I’m not ashamed to say I loved Josh. I did what I thought was best for him.”

There had to be more to it than this. He was behaving like a child about to divulge a great secret.

“Did the night of July 23
rd
confirm your worst fears?”

“They were my fears multiplied by one thousand. Dr Fisk was erratic, I knew that, but I would never have believed her capable of what she did.”

“Please, for the sake of the jury - ?”

Sugar looked to Josh for permission. After a slight hesitation he nodded. The public deserved to know what kind of person Fisk was.

“She sexually assaulted Josh, on several occasions. It was caught on visicam.”

Cries of horror and disgust. Feist had to physically restrain Alfred - he had every intention of vaulting over the dock and into the booth. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

Josh’s face felt wet again. “Fisk said you didn’t want me anymore.”

“No. I could never stop loving you.”

They gazed at each other, faces streaked with tears. Dr Sugar spoke across the lull. “If you two need time out -”

The courtroom had never been so still. Feist said, “Continue.”

“I saw I’d mishandled everything from start to finish. I’d created this situation. Yes, a parent should look out for their child’s interests, but they should also know when to let go. I had to make amends.”

“What did you do?”

“I wouldn’t gain access to Langton as he didn’t trust me. I had a few meetings with Josh where I asked for his side of the story. It was then he told me something extraordinary.”

There it was again, that bubbling excitement. Josh wondered what he could mean. He was sure he hadn’t said anything remarkable.

“Josh said that when Langton was taken hostage by Cole in Arkan, he died. I assumed it was a figure of speech, but he went into some detail. It seems he really was dead for a short period of time, yet didn’t undergo the physical process of death. I couldn’t think how this could be. Looking at some of Capricorn’s programmes, I realised.”

He understood better than Josh, clearly. Alfred stared at Sugar as though he doubted his sanity. Perhaps CER was a hive mind. If one of them went mad, everybody did.

Michael Derkins blurted, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Alfie is a cyborg?”

Sugar smiled, a great intellect humouring a lesser one. “I wouldn’t put it in such sensational terms, but near enough. You went to Cole pretending you wanted an upgrade. He decided to test the procedure on Langton; he is now far more robotic than human. I have the samples if the jury’s unconvinced.”

“Cool!!”

“Thanks, Michael,” Alfred said drily. To Sugar, “I don’t see -”

Josh felt the tumult of his thoughts, how the disorder calmed as it reached this one conclusion. The more than human healing powers. His stamina. How he no longer dreamed, bled or bruised. How he was able to read Josh’s thoughts -

“Fuck,” Alfred breathed.

“In the circumstances I’ll let that slide,” Justice Begum said.

The courtroom was bewildered. No one knew what to do or say. Alfred was staring at his hands trying to detect some difference. Jasvinder wiggled along the carpet on his belly.

“Wait a moment!” Jerry Etruscus had risen unsteadily to his feet. “Why are we splitting hairs? These two love each other. It’s a bloody stupid world if two people who love each other can’t be together. If what Dr Thing says is true, Langton’s not human anyway, so who the hell are they hurting?”

Alfred blinked at his old foe, stunned. Josh couldn’t help but recall the Lux constitution - ‘Anything the Mayor says on duty is entered into law.’ He scarcely dared hope -

Justice Begum had picked up her gavel the instant Jerry began to speak. Now she laid it aside, her eyes moist.

“That’s surprisingly reasonable. I have no quarrel with it. Lord Langton, you are free to go.”

***

Alfred stepped out of the Halls of Justice into a brand new world. The press clamoured for his attention, protestors screamed abuse, but he didn’t care. None of it mattered any more.

He promised Sugar he could visit Chimera whenever he liked. He gaped when Malik said, “Look after Josh or I’ll cut your bollocks off.” He hugged Nanny, spun Cora around and scrambled over to Gwyn.

“You died?” was the first thing she said.

He shrugged. “Got better.”

Pip nudged him. “Someone’s looking for you.”

Not so long ago Alfred had met Josh in a square where the plane leaves were falling. Then they had been furtive, frightened. Now Josh ran towards him and threw his arms around him.

“Who says robots can’t have happy endings?” he whispered.

“Damn straight.”

Alfred kissed him in full view of the cameras, the crowds. Forever was a long time, but now they had all the time in the world.