Final Reckonings

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Book: Read Final Reckonings for Free Online
Authors: Robert Bloch
Tags: Horror Anthology
moment. But she had to go through with it. "Can't you wait until Duke gets back tonight?" she asked, striving to keep her voice from breaking. "He always oils you."
    "I want you to oil me, Lola," persisted Junior.
    "All right."
    She got the oilcan with the long spout and if her fingers trembled as she performed the office, Junior didn't notice it.
    The robot gazed at her with his immobile countenance. No human emotion etched itself on the implacable steel, and no human emotion altered the mechanical tones of the harsh voice.
    "I like to have you oil me, Lola," said Junior.
    Lola bent her head to avoid looking at him. If she had to look in a mirror and realize that this nightmare tableau was real, she would have fainted. Oiling a living mechanical monster! A monster that said, "I like to have you oil me, Lola!"
    After that she couldn't finish packing for a long while. She had to sit down. Junior, who never sat down except by command, stood silently and regarded her with gleaming eye lenses. She was conscious of the robot's scrutiny.
    "Where are we going when we leave here, Lola?" he asked.
    "Far away," she said, forcing her voice out to keep the quaver from it.
    "That will be nice," said Junior. "I don't like it here. I want to see things. Cities and mountains and deserts. I would like to ride a roller coaster, too."
    "Roller coaster?" Lola was really startled. "Where did you ever hear of a roller coaster?"
    "I read about it in a book."
    "Oh."
    Lola gulped. She had forgotten that this monstrosity could read, too. And think. Think like a man.
    "Will Duke take me on a roller coaster?" he asked.
    "I don't know. Maybe."
    "Lola."
    "Yes."
    "You like Duke?"
    "Why — certainly."
    "You like me?"
    "Oh — why—you know I do, Junior."
    The robot was silent. Lola felt a tremor run through her body. "Who do you like best, Lola? Me or Duke?"
    Lola gulped. Something forced the reply from her. "I like you," she said. "But I love Duke."
    "Love." The robot nodded gravely.
    "You know what love is, Junior?"
    "Yes. I read about it in books. Man and woman. Love."
    Lola breathed a little easier.
    "Lola."
    "Yes?"
    "Do you think anyone will ever fall in love with me?" Lola wanted to laugh, or cry. Most of all, she wanted to scream. But she had to answer.
    "Maybe," she lied.
    "But I'm different. You know that. I'm a robot. Do you think that makes a difference?"
    "Women don't really care about such things when they fall in love, Junior," she improvised. "As long as a woman believes that her lover is the smartest and the strongest, that's all that matters."
    "Oh." The robot started for the door.
    "Where are you going?"
    "To wait for Duke. He said he would come back today."
    Lola smiled furtively as the robot clanked down the hallway stairs.
    That was over with. Thinking back, she'd handled things rather well. In a few hours Duke would return. And then — goodbye, Junior!
    Poor Junior. Just a silver stooge with a man's brain. He wanted love, the poor fish! Well — he was playing with fire and he'd be burned soon enough.
    Lola began to hum. She scampered downstairs and locked up, wearing her gloves to avoid leaving any telltale fingerprints.
    It was almost dark when she returned to her room to pack. She snapped on the light and changed her clothes.
    Junior was still downstairs, patiently waiting for Duke to arrive.
    Lola completed her preparations and sank wearily onto the bed. She must take a rest. Her eyes closed.
    Waiting was too much of a strain. She hated to think of what she had gone through with the robot. That mechanical monster with its man-brain, the hateful, burring voice, and steely stare — how could she ever forget the way it asked, "Do you think anyone will ever fall in love with me?"
    Lola tried to blot out recollection. Just a little while now and Duke would be here. He'd get rid of Junior. Meanwhile she had to rest, rest. . . .
    Lola sat up and blinked at the light. She heard footsteps on the stairs.
    "Duke!" she called.
    Then she

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