Page 17 of Chaos Theory
I squirm in my chair, consider all the sarcastic, noncommittal answers I would give if it were Shane asking me.On a tropical island sipping rum punch.Or:Far away from you, anyway.
But Josh’s question is sincere. He definitely has a five-year plan, maybe even a ten-year one. His whole life mapped out. Do I want that? I have to admit I’m getting tired of the not knowings, the starting overs, the endless beginnings…
‘I don’t know,’ I answer honestly. ‘Somewhere…exciting, but not volatile, you know? A little bit stable, but also different and interesting.’
His voice gets louder. ‘Then welcome to the world of robots!’ He throws his arms out, missing his pint glass by inches. ‘A whole new world is opening up before you. I don’t think you realise what a head start you’re getting in the industry. Most people your age wouldn’t get anywhere near a robot of Kobi’s calibre. They’d be messing around with rotating arms for years. But if you can work with Kobi, and help him get better, you can walk into any job in robotics you like.’
Josh is like the tide. Strong, powerful, hard to resist. ‘But I don’tknow anything about robots,’ I say weakly. Plus, I’m not sure I evenlikeKobi, let alone want to devote my life to him.
‘Ah. That’s why we have the fast track, Maeve. That’s why I’m enrolling you in an MIT e-learning course. Introduction to Robot Relationship Management. I wrote some of the course material so I’ll be able to get you in, no problem.’
I do like a good course, it has to be said, but this is all happening very fast. ‘Wait. You said a few minutes ago that things were not on the trajectory you expected. What did you mean by that?’
‘Ah, just that Kobi had a bit of a setback a few weeks ago. He’s fine, but he’s still a work in progress. But he has so much potential. And, if I’m not overstepping to say so – so do you.’
ELEVEN
Wednesday, 11am
‘How are you going?’ Jen asks as Kobi and I shuffle into her office.
‘Good!’ I say brightly. ‘Kobi has something he wants to say to you. And something to give you, don’t you, Kobi?’
The robot moves over to Jen’s workstation and awkwardly deposits an ice-cold can of Diet Coke on the edge of her desk.
‘DC Jen, please accept this small token in atonement for my temporary lapse of judgement on Monday,’ he says.
Jen squints up at him.
‘We’re sorry,’ I say. ‘We’ve kept this can in the freezer for two hours. How’s the website?’
She reaches for the can, presses it to her cheek. ‘Ooh, that is cold. Nice one.’ She points to her screen. ‘We’re getting there.’
I exhale. ‘Good, good. Josh from RoboTron came in yesterday for a check-in. And we went for a drink actually.’
She looks up from her computer. ‘Really?’ She pops the can open, gulps, gasps. ‘So good.That seems a little unorthodox, mate. Still, I hear he’s gorgeous.’
I wonder who she’s heard that from. I’m also very aware of Kobi hearing and possibly recording everything we say and, worse,reporting it all back to Josh. But I can’t leave him anywhere unsupervised. I decide to communicate with Jen in code. Kobi might understand computer languages, but let’s see if he speakswoman. I slink into a chair in front of the desk, lower my voice.
‘Jen, that’s probably not appropriate.’
She laughs. ‘Listen, mate, it’s probably more appropriate than what you’re doing with…you know who. At least this guy isn’t your colleague. What’s he like, anyway? Tell me everything.’
‘He’s…’ I search for the right words. To be honest, my mind is still spinning from last night. And it’s nothing to do with the alcohol I consumed. ‘He’s…kind of overwhelming, I suppose. But possibly in a good way. I don’t think I’ve met anyone like him. He’s just so… so…American.’
Jen’s eyebrows rise. ‘What does that mean? I honestly can’t tell if you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing.’
‘You know. Confident. Sure of himself.Upbeat.’
‘He sounds terrible,’ she says, and we both laugh. ‘But the real question is…does he fit the formula?’
I groan, regretting my triumphant sharing of ‘the formula’ with Jen on Monday morning. My life was so much less complicated last week. And it’s only Wednesday.
‘Jen, this is different. The formula only applies to dates. This was very much not a date.’
She sighs, glugs more cola. ‘Ah, you’re no fun. Okay then, what’d he say about that fella?’ She nods to indicate Kobi. I can tell he’s scanning the room but at least he’s not trying to connect to anything.
‘Just what a great opportunity it was. This is a new industry, with all sorts of great jobs opening up.’
