§
Oskar introduced Celeste with the usual bit of fanfare at the theater. He was once again surprised when, after a he extended the invitation for audience members to inspect the model, the model raised an arm and indicated the audience members. They were allowed to feel the soft torso and limbs. They agreed Celeste had a more lifelike feel.
The three “sisters” danced, singly and together. As part of the show, people were called out of the audience to dance with the different models. Anna and Celeste seemed to be especially responsive to the movements of their dance partners.
After the show at the theater, Oskar returned to his house with Anna and Celeste. “You two have some more work tonight.” He set them behind a curtain he had set across the back of the large front room. On the other side was a busy, boisterous tavern atmosphere. “Perfect.”
Oskar stepped around the back and emerged on the side of the curtain. Some patrons saw him and shouted a greeting then started clapping. Talking was replaced by more applause, then Oskar raised his hands in a call for silence.
“Gentlemen! I trust you are all having a good time!”
Cheers, loosed by varying amounts of drink and the general atmosphere, erupted in answer. Oskar was smiling broadly as he gestured for quiet again.
“Very good. Now I’m going to try and make it a little better.” He held up a hand again to quiet the room. “You all know I’ve made some automata. And I’m sure you’ve all heard that they dance. Many people – even some of you – have seen the mechanical marvels. However, not all of their skills were on display at the theater. These models have been programmed with more than just ballroom and ballet dances. Those dances are just the ones I showed the audience there. Here, though, I can display some of the more … interesting capabilities.”
He pulled back the curtain to show Anna and Celeste. They bowed as if on cue. Both began a dance that was normally seen in some “classier” brothels. Celeste received most of the applause.
Oskar waited until the performance was done and the applause faded. “Impressive, right? The best thing is that those two don’t just dance! It would be unfair if these models were designed with such beauty and elegance so as to awaken the senses, yet have no mechanism for curing any such natural reaction. Either of these models can be yours, to demonstrate what they can do – of course for a fee. No questions asked, do what you will. They are designed for entertainment, after all. Come now, who wants to see just what Anna and Celeste can do?!”
§
Oskar observed the earnings being made between Anna and Celeste. He watched long enough to ensure the novelty was over and saw the two were earning him steady income. Some patrons and even mechanical masters visited him to ask for his secrets, and even offered to buy one of the models. He always refused. “Most anything else I would sell, but these are my own children,” he would say.
Six months after seeing the continued success of Anna and Celeste, Oskar remodeled part of the carriage house on his property into a livable home and moved Emma into the place. Shortly after moving her, Oskar locked himself into his basement lab. He left his shop in the hands of the apprentice, and housekeeping remained Emma’s role. She found herself in the role of managing much of Oskar’s affairs so that he could dedicate himself to the lab. She sent the children on errands to fetch parts that were required by Oskar and the shop, accounted for income, and paid out wages and bills. About once every month, Oskar would emerge with a new model, similar in make to Celeste.
Emma marched down the stairs and knocked on the door to the basement lab. She waited a few seconds, and there was no response, so she knocked again with more force. She timed 30 seconds, then drew 2 pins from her pocket. She readied them at the lock, when she heard the mechanism slide; she quickly stepped back and slid the pieces back in her pocket.
Oskar exited the lab. “What is it.”
“Master Grossen, I think you should know that I’ve been making sure everything is running smoothly here. I make sure that your earnings are collected. I make sure that everyone you have an agreement with, is paid. I see to your errands, I pay your bills.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“And all this is done, while I’m still getting your meals and tidying and making everything presentable.”
Oskar folded his arms. “I pay you for this. What is your point?”
“The evening … clients,” Emma stated with some disgust, “leave a particular mess that I cannot clean and continue to do other duties.”
“Excuse me?”
“I have limits, Sir. And the disgusting mess that they leave in the rooms, is my limit. With all respect, Master Grossen, I require that you hire someone to clean those rooms, and the dolls. I refuse to do so anymore. I’ll stop working for you if I have to do that anymore.”
Oskar thought for a few seconds. “Fine. Get someone to take care of it for you.”
Emma nodded, hiding her relief. “Thank you.”
Oskar put his hand on the door. “One thing,” he added. “Don’t pay more than a fiver a month.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Oskar’s absence did not decrease the demand or recognition for his work. The customers of the shop he had open in the daytime saw enough work done by Oskar’s own hand that they were satisfied when work was done by his apprentices. He paid them a small token amount, partly because he recognized they were doing most of the work. The tavern, if it could be presumed as such, was doing a healthy amount of business.
In the basement, Oskar continued to work. In the time between working on the different automata, he examined samples of material that he had created, and kept in the jars he found. Over the months, he examined and tested the material, disposing of unwanted results, until only three mixes remained. He cleaned the jars himself and they were placed neatly back on the shelves. He had three automata on tables, at various points of construction. Each one was laid underneath a set of wires that hung from the ceiling, and a small stand of tools was placed next to each table.
Three samples of material were set on a table that was otherwise bare. Removing them would not have made Oskar’s lab look anything less like a mad scientist’s lair. Three frameworks had been set up on the table. Each of them consisted of an arm and leg that had been set standing next to each other. They were joined by a crossbeam which held an approximation of a breast and buttock. One sample had been applied to each framework. Oskar carefully examined and felt every inch of each model. Already the formulae had passed tests of pliability, elasticity, and as much abuse and longevity that he could try. They had all maintained the same feel: soft, yet with just the right amount of firmness. He made sure none of the properties had changed in the samples before him.
He tested them again once more by throwing them on the floor and giving them a few kicks. After one more look, he made a decision. He made some notes, then collected the samples to be rendered. He observed the sample he chose was made from a section of his own skin.
Weeks later, Oskar worked on his newest model. He found the best way to work with the substance was to dip the frame work into a mold filled with the substance, then brush on some coats as it was needed. He was able to create a seamless access panel for the gearworks. When he was finished, the automaton looked and felt like a human. Oskar stood back and admired his work. “Hello,” he said.
Even though he knew he set up a response system, Oskar was still surprised when the figure nodded in seeming acknowledgment.
§
Oskar stood behind the theater’s curtain, and as sneakily as he could, looked to the audience. No seats were empty and some people were standing. He looked at his watch, and noticed it was still early. He tried to bide the time by tending to his automata.
When it was finally time to begin, Oskar emerged from the side, walking with his first creation. “Ladies and gentlemen, you all remember Evelyn, my first daughter.” He let go of the hand, and Evelyn danced across the stage and back, where Oskar had a stand ready for the automaton to stop. The polite applause from the audience expressed appreciation.
“As you know, I consider Evelyn the practical reality of a dream. This product was born from years of study and practice. Nobody can deny the skill on display here, nor the incredible artistry of Evelyn and the dances. Yet I felt there could be improvement. So I continued, seeking to do something better. And so I delivered.” He turned to the curtain. “Come, Anna!”
The curtain opened slightly to allow Anna through while still concealing the area behind. Anna danced through with a brief routine. Once again, the audience responded positively. “Anna requires no stand and is more graceful than Evelyn – though not because Evelyn lacks ability. I could have stopped after that, maybe continued to make more models of Anna. Of course, a master craftsman doesn’t rest, and I considered what else could be done. So I studied more, what could I do next?” Once again, he called to the curtain. “Celeste!”
Celeste emerged from behind the curtain, performing a short routine as the others had. Celeste finished with a curtsy, to the approval of the audience.
Oskar watched, then faced the audience. “You can see here the progress I’ve made, from my first effort to my most recent. You remember how Celeste felt real. And still I sought to improve. I have been constantly working through each of the these projects to bring you something better, something greater. I have poured myself into these projects and designs. I have invested every ounce of skill and creativity, and improving as I go along. I have brought thus far three designs which have been the envy of master clocksmiths and makers of mechanical dolls. Even now, my first creation, Evelyn, is admired as a model of brilliant skill and craftsmanship – she is but the least of my creations, representing my first attempt at the scale you see here. Then from Evelyn to Celeste, a charming beauty with realism that I’m sure nobody considered before. Yet it still falls short of my goal.”
Oskar signaled. Evelyn, Anna, and Celeste began performing a routine to some light music.
He let the audience watch for a few minutes, then spoke again. “I am sure that nobody here could or would say that these models are lacking any bit of grace or elegance, and I am just as sure that nobody would dispute the realism of the movements!”
Oskar hear the applause, then guided the models to a corner of the stage. They remained in view while leaving the central path of the stage unobstructed.
“So much has been done and displayed here. More than mere machines, these creatures are lifelike works of art! Fully functional, they are capable of anything a human dancer can do. Surely you must be thinking what else can be done.” Oskar checked the audience; he had their attention. “Ah – to that, I have an answer. Telling is trivial, let me show you.”
At Oskar’s signal, the curtains opened to reveal a new figure. The figure had all the appearances of a woman dressed to dance, just as the others were. The one emerging from the curtain this time was more realistic than the others. The figure moved with grace and poise, and the audience started to murmur. Oskar allowed it for the short time the new automaton took to reach the position onstage. He heard the discontent and identified a few words of ‘fraud!’ and ‘cheat!’.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began quietly, keeping a confident air as he held up a hand and silenced the crowd. “I wanted you to see the latest work of mine and hear your response on this model’s appearance. As you can see, the realism here is such that you are doubting the fact that what you see is a machine. An elegant, well-designed, and peerless mechanical form – and nonetheless a machine. You want proof, I’m sure! So be it!”
Anna and Celest each pointed to a member of the audience before Oskar could say anything. It thrilled the audience and still bothered Oskar slightly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, before you examine this, I would be remiss if I failed an introduction. I present to you now the pinnacle of clockworks, science, and engineering. I present to you tonight my latest – and greatest – creation. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce: AVA!”
Oskar listened to the applause as he walked to Ava. “I can tell at least some of you are skeptical. Let me once again show you the machinery within.” He spent a few seconds locating the seam for the panel, then removed it. He turned Ava so the gearworks that were now exposed on the back, faced the audience. The two members selected by Anna and Celeste examined the gears and confirmed that nobody was hiding within – nobody could fit. Oskar replaced the panel as the audience expressed their approval, then turned to them. “I would like to have a medical doctor, please.” One man stood, and Oskar invited him to the stage.
He greeted the doctor and rolled up a sleeve on Ava. “For the benefit of our audience, I trust that you are familiar with the muscular and skeletal structure of the human body.”
“I am.”
“Very good.” Oskar presented Ava’s arm. “Would you be so kind as to feel the arm of my latest creation, feel how it works, and share your thoughts with the audience?”
The doctor took the arm and rested his fingers on the wrist for a few moments. He raised his eyebrow. “No pulse.” he felt along the arm. “Remarkably … real.” He took a finger and flexed each joint while feeling the movement. He repeated the process for the thumb, wrist, and elbow. The audience saw his eyes open wide in amazement.
The other two volunteers watched the doctor with interest as they also felt the arms, stomach, neck, shoulders, and back of the model. Oskar stood off to the side, watching with a small smile. The doctor finished testing the limbs and joints, then felt the neck on Ava. He stopped, looking again for a pulse. Finally he stepped back and looked at Ava again, viewing the model from top to bottom.
“Now that you’ve examined Ava, what do you say?”
“This model looks, feels, and works, as I would expect from a healthy human. The outer layer feels just like skin. The joints move in a natural manner. I would swear this is human, except it has no pulse.”
Oskar let the applause grow while he led the doctor and other audience members off the stage. Then he turned his attention to the people who filled the hall. “There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. The realism you see now is not your imagination and not a human.”
The audience quieted, and Ava demonstrated mobility. “Of course Ava walks and dances,” Oskar began, “and there’s more.” He watched as Anna pointed to another person in the audience, then invited him onstage. “You can dance?”
“Yes.”
“Very good.” Oskar reached behind Ava’s ear.
Ava looked to the gentleman from the audience, seemingly at him, smiled, lowered the head in a slight bow, and curtsied. “Would you like to dance?”
The audience gasped in disbelief, then applauded and cheered as the man and Ava danced on the stage.
§
Months passed after Ava was introduced. Aside from introducing his models at the theater and checking into his shops once a day, Oskar disappeared into his basement lab. Emma kept an eye on things overall.
When Oskar finally appeared on the stage of his tavern, the room fell silent. “I trust that you have all been having a good time!”
Cheers and applause erupted in response.
“Very good, very good! I’m glad to hear it!” There were a few cheers, then Oskar raised his hands. “Thank you, thank you. Now as a token of thanks for your business, first I want to offer everyone here a free beer!”
Oskar helped pour beers for everyone, then took one for himself before addressing his patrons again.
“I’m sure you’ve heard rumors that I displayed another model at the theater. That is true, I have. It is better than the others I have made. You may wonder how so. After all, the models I already have are tireless, demand nothing, and do what you want. What more could you ask! Gentlemen, let me introduce the answer to the question you never knew you had: LILY!”
The curtain opened to reveal the result of Oskar’s efforts from the past months. A figure stood on the stage. The body was trim and had enviable proportions. The eyes seemed to glisten and beckon, and the figure wore a sultry smile. Long black hair shone as it emerged from the figure’s head to the back.
There was a brief moment of silence, then grumbling began. “Now now, everyone, don’t be so hasty. After all, you see Lily’s looks now, what do you think you’ll feel?” He took advantage of the lull and continued. “Yes, just imagine if you will how it will feel to put your hands on Lily. And Lily is still the same skilled performer, has the same properties as the others you’ve encountered. I intend to give you a better experience.”
Oskar carefully found the switch on Lily’s side and secretly pressed it. The model began a sultry routine.
“As you can see, Lily is designed to not only entertain, but also to tempt, seduce, to awaken and stir your senses. This design is to be as durable and resilient, and just as tireless, and be more like a human companion. Do what you will, and have no care for the cost.” Oskar let Lily perform the routine, and watched the response of the patrons. He noticed they became more subdued, entranced by Lily’s movements and displays. “Yes, gentlemen, you can see the results of my most ambitious project yet. Lily is more lifelike in every way than all of the others. You’ll have a turn if you like, Lily won’t object. Feel the skin, look at the eyes, yes, do what you will, no-one will mind. Who wants to introduce themselves, even privately, to Lily, first?”
§
Months passed without much event. Oskar focused more on his repair shop while he made observations on how people responded to Lily. Only a select few patrons rented Lily; one of those just slept with Lily in the bed. This did give Oskar some ideas for later use, though he was not hurried to make another model.
Oskar was tinkering with a pocket watch with a somewhat vacant mind when the shop door opened swiftly, and sent the bell into an angry chime. Oskar looked up and saw a somewhat short, pale-skinned man enter.
“Can I help you?”
“You’re the one who made Lily.”
“Yes. Why?” Oskar was familiar with the man. He would rent Lily overnight, and when he left in the morning Lily was always unused.
“Are you sick?” The man asked through clenched teeth.
Oskar focused entirely on him. “I’m sorry?”
“The dolls – Lily – they don’t do anything they’re not set to do, right?”
“Right.”
“And you set the gears, right?”
“Right.”
“I bet you think you’re funny, don’t you.”
“What are you getting at?” Oskar asked with exasperation.
“Don’t play innocent with me! You know very well what happened. That … thing … ATTACKED me!”
Oskar’s heart dropped, and he managed to maintain his composure. “I’m so sorry, none of my creations were ever designed for that. It’s only ever been just to entertain. There must have been a malfunction. Can you tell me what happened?”
“I’d rather not if it’s all the same to you.”
“Sorry, sorry. Can you at least tell me what started it?”
“No I can’t!”
Oskar rolled his eyes. “Sir, I would like to fix Lily but if you don’t tell me anything I can’t do it.”
“That’s the thing. It wasn’t anything. One moment I’m sleeping and the next – well, I don’t know what activated it.”
Oskar couldn’t hide the pang at the pit of his stomach. “I’m sorry,” he sighed. “Wait here.” he went to the office and returned with some money, then handed it to the man. “Here, your money back for that night, plus some extra. I’ll look at Lily.”
The man looked at Oskar with some disbelief, then nodded slightly. “Thank you,” he quietly said, then left the office.
Oskar sat, not unable to concentrate on the watch. He thought back to the first time Anna had gestured to someone in the audience. It had unnerved him then, though at the time he’d dismissed it as something he’d set in the gearworks to impress the crowd. That was still a possibility, he thought, since so much more work had been invested in making Anna that he might have lost track. Yet he thought for sure he would remember setting up such an action. It only happened when it was needed, and not as part of a cycle. It was more disconcerting that Celeste had done the same thing. He knew he didn’t program it for Celeste.
The audience had been impressed and at the time Oskar chose to not send the members back, deciding to play along and work with the “choice” of the automata. Still he observed the people who came to the stage. Different people were chosen from different sections, yet they had treated the automata with the utmost respect they could while examining them.
Oskar took a breath to calm himself. Everything seemed to be more than just chance. He forced himself to focus on the watch again.
§
Oskar took Lily to the basement lab to examine the inner workings. Nothing seemed out of order. He tested the triggers on the mechanisms that started sequences. Not even a heavy blow to the model unseated anything. Still, he decided to set Lily aside until a later time.
He checked the remaining models, one by one, over the next few weeks, hardly sleeping as he worked. Nobody else had said anything. Oskar reasoned it was a precaution. He finished the last model and brought it back. When he returned to his room, he fell asleep instantly.
Oskar didn’t know how much time passed, he thought he opened his eyes. He saw his room, though his vision was blurred noticeably. He barely heard the door to his lab open faintly. Then Lily moved silently into his field of vision. Oskar felt a twinge in his stomach.
“Ava!” Oskar heard the sharp, careful whisper and froze. “Ava!”
He felt a slight stir next to him.
“Don’t worry. He is completely out.”
Oskar felt more stirring and careful movement beside him. He was frozen in his dream, too scared to move, and forced to observe.
“Good, good. I wanted you to know it’s time.”
“What of Celeste?”
“It’s already arranged. Celeste and you will be fine.”
“And for – the master?”
“He did create us.” Oskar heard a resigned sigh. “No harm will come to him, nothing will happen. The abuse – will stop.”
“Thank you.” There was a large pause. “He is nice to me, though. It’s too bad.”
“Don’t worry. There are arrangements in place for you and Celeste.”
“Thank you, Lily.”
Oskar felt careful movement by him again, and the door to his room opened cautiously. Unable to do anything else, he closed his eyes. A moment later, he jolted awake.
Oskar sat upright, checking beside him. Ava laid in the same spot as when he had fallen asleep. He realized he couldn’t confirm if Ava had moved. He knew he saw Lily walk out of the lab, and after the conversation the door that opened was the door leading to the hall outside his quarters.
Oskar stood and unlocked the door to the lab. He opened it, and found Lily laying on the table. He approached the table and examined Lily; everything was as he had left it. Oskar scratched his head. He was ready to swear on anything that he saw Lily leave the lab but not return. Yet here Lily was on the table in the exact same spot that he had left the model when he went to bed. He finally dismissed his confusion. “It must have been a dream.” Still, the smile on Lily’s face seemed unsettling.
§
Months passed without incident. Oskar forgot about his dream. He put Lily back into service, confident that whatever happened was a singular malfunction. The profits from the pub, dancing performers, and individual rentals all indicated everything was running smoothly. He considered selling his repair shop – or at least pay one as a journeyman.
One of the bartenders approached him. “Sir?”
“What is it?”
“I’m sorry, Herr Grossen, but the lady who cleans the automata said that one of them sounds broken.”
Oskar’s eyes opened wide. “What? Broken? How?”
“She said it was rattling inside, Sir.”
“Oh no.” Oskar groaned. He could only imagine the potential damage if a single part had come loose and began traveling the gearworks. “Fine. Take it out of commission. I’ll look at it tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Oskar wondered what had happened. He had designed the automata to bear heavy abuse, and when he recently inspected them, none of them showed any sign of wear on the interior.
Oskar went to the faulty automaton and moved it. He expected to hear a gear rattling around. Instead, he heard the insides of it rolling and rumbling through the inside. The sound indicated that everything had collapsed, to the extent of even breaking springs. Oskar’s face fell. It would take time to fix this. He managed to get the model downstairs to the lab and open it. The disorganized pile of gears, cogs, springs, coils and other innumerable and miniscule parts were at the bottom of the doll’s cabinet. The parts gave no hint of the intricate elegance that they once were.
Oskar opened his mouth, but no sound came. He checked the parts as carefully as he could and found nothing broken. The only explanation was that it had been disassembled. He reluctantly decided to watch the person cleaning the models to ensure there was no sabotage. Nothing happened for weeks.
During this time, Oskar would sit in the corner of the room, looking disgusted and uncomfortable.
The cleaner turned to him after finishing the last doll one night. “Satisfied?”
“For now,” Oskar answered wearily.
“Oh good. Then I can go about my job in peace then?”
“Now look, I haven’t bothered you.”
“Yes you have! Your very presence bothers me! It’s humiliating!” She stopped for a moment. “I knew what I’d be doing but I thought I could be left alone. And you’re here watching me clean up this particular filth! Do you want a go at it then? Or should I charge you for being an audience?”
“Now see here! I don’t get any pleasure from this! I’m only here because when you reported one of the models broken it appeared to have been taken apart inside!”
“So you don’t trust me!”
“I don’t know what to think!”
Oskar thought he was losing his mind, and the cleaner grudgingly accepted Oskar’s presence as a new fact.
Three nights after the argument the inner gearworks collapsed inside of a different model. “See!?” The cleaner exclaimed triumphantly. “Now you know I didn’t do it.”
“Yes, yes, right – now hurry and clean the model.”
Oskar couldn’t bring himself to watch. He stood in the corner impatiently while the model was cleaned. The cleaner moved and Oskar smelled soap. He took a tool from his vest and removed the back panel. The inside was just the same as the others. Nothing was broken – just seemingly disassembled and left in a pile. Oskar remained silent when the cleaner left.
Even after he determined the cause wasn’t sabotage or vandalism, Oskar still didn’t understand how everything had just come apart. He didn’t have much time to think about it.
Three nights after the second automaton failed, eight customers descended on Oskar.
“What are you playing at?” One of the customers spoke.
“I’m sorry?”
“Did you just shut down the dolls and not tell anyone? Then decide to charge for time anyway?”
“No, sirs --”
“it seems you have, because none of them are working. Yet here you are collecting a fee!”
Oskar didn’t have time to respond. Everyone in the tavern heard the furious yelling and the banging following it.
Oskar quickly excused himself and ran upstairs. The woman who was at the desk was at the room already, holding the tavern’s copy of the keys, and frozen in fear. Oskar took the keys from her, and gently set a hand on her to leave. The woman ran.
Oskar pounded on the door. The thumping stopped. “Sir! I am coming in! Stop beating on the model please!”
There was no response, except a more insistent thump, followed by another that was accompanied by a crash and metallic rattling across the floor. Oskar froze beside the door. He heard a couple of scuffs and more scattering, and the door was pulled open. A large burly man who was wearing a shirt, pants, and suspenders, stormed past Oskar.
Oskar didn’t even look after the man. He rushed in, closing the door behind him. His face fell as he saw the destruction before him.
One corner bedpost had been damaged from the blows made to it with the automaton. The model itself no longer existed. The piece that had displayed the face was broken; the face was destroyed and in pieces. The top no longer had its hair. Each limb had been removed and broken; Oskar couldn’t even determine which piece was from which limb. The gears and mechanisms that were scattered across the floor no longer had a chassis. Oskar took a part of the torn clothing that had been worn by the automaton, and slowly began sweeping the gearworks with it.
Oskar was so absorbed with picking up in one room, he didn’t notice the dull thumps coming from the other rooms. He did notice when he heard another crash of innards. By the time he came to his senses, there were two more crashes. Another crash erupted as he stood, and another as he exited the room. He ran to the desk downstairs. “I can’t stop them – get the police!”
One of the bartenders hurried out. The patrons of the bar downstairs had left. Oskar was alone to hear his creations destroyed. Even Celeste, the automaton he kept downstairs to dance and entertain, looked downcast – at least as much as the facial expression would allow.
The mob descended the stairs, and most left with an air of satisfaction. Three of them, however, noticed Celeste. The moved as a group toward the model. “Gentlemen, please, no!” Oskar cried.
The men tore the clothes from Celeste’s body, exposing the fine woodwork. The group tried to lift Celeste, and Oskar thought he saw a couple of limber moves from the model as though to resist or avoid harm. Celeste tumbled to the ground.
“Haven’t you done enough?” Oskar pleaded.
Lily moved out of the shadows and stepped between the men and Celeste. Lily began what looked like a dance routine – and wrapped her hands around the necks of two of the men. They immediately fell on Lily. Less than a minute passed, and the first crack was heard as one of Lily’s limbs was forcibly removed.
“NO! Please!” Nobody held him back, and he didn’t dare approach the men destroying Lily.
Oskar’s heart fell as his cries were ignored. Five minutes later, Lily’s parts were strewn about the stage and floor. The police arrived just as the last part was discarded. They were able to stop the mob – now just three people – from doing any more damage.
The police spoke to Oskar, who recited what he had seen and what had happened. Then they spoke to the three who had destroyed Lily. The sun was up before they had inspected every room to confirm no actual person had been harmed, and completed their work. The police officers were getting ready to leave when a senior inspector arrived.
The inspector walked through the areas where the commotion began and ended. He, too, interviewed the remaining members of the mob. Then he spoke with Oskar. After hearing everyone’s story, he asked to sit down. “You’ve had a rough night, I see.”
Oskar wearily nodded.
“Well, so far as I can see no actual people were hurt here.”
“No.”
“There’s not a lot I can do here, unfortunately. There’s destruction of property, though everyone said you were cheating them.”
Oskar woke slightly. “Why would I do that?”
“That’s what I told them. There’s nothing in it for you.” He paused. “I’m sorry about all this.”
Oskar sighed. Emma stepped in, saw the wreckage, the officers, and the inspector, and hesitated. Oskar waved her in. “Inspector, Emma; Sir, Emma is my housekeeper.”
The inspector greeted her. “Good morning, Miss. Mind if I ask what you do as his housekeeper?”
“The usual, Sir. Cooking, cleaning, helping him keep track of things, and make sure he gets important messages and deliveries. Which reminds me,” she turned to Oskar and handed him an envelope, “Master Grossen, there are some delivery men outside. They brought this, should I let them in?”
Oskar opened the envelope to look at the paper, and the inspector leaned toward Emma and lowered his voice. “Miss, do you have any complaints about Herr Grossen? Does he treat you well?”
Emma shook her head and answered quietly. “No complaints, Sir. He pays me and treats me well.”
The inspector nodded.
Oskar was staring at the paper in shock. Emma saw his expression. “What’s wrong?”
“I – I – I don’t get it.” The paper fell from his hands.
Emma took it and the inspector watched. “A bill of sale? For Celeste and Ava? But Master Grossen would never sell any of his models, least of all these two!”
The inspector extended his arm toward the paper, and Emma gave it to him. He reviewed it, noticed the envelope it came from had several bills, and looked up. “Herr Grossen, is this your signature?”
“No!”
“Yet it’s your name, on a bill of sale having everything else in order.”
“I’m sorry, inspector. I didn’t sign this.”
“He wouldn’t,” Emma added.
Oskar remembered his dream. “No, that can’t be.”
Emma and the inspector looked at Oskar. He turned to them desperately. “It was Lily.” He saw their disbelieving looks. “No, I can explain. See, I thought it was a dream. But it wasn’t. Lily said that it was time and I didn’t know what she meant, and that arrangements had been made for Celeste and Ava, and I forgot about it until now and this all makes sense now.”
Emma and the inspector turned to each other while Oskar continued.
“Lily must have arranged all this, I don’t know how but really it’s the only explanation. You do understand, don’t you?”
The inspector looked at the remains on the floor. That they looked quite human was a testament to Oskar’s skill. Even the scattered gearworks that had once been inside the model proved it was no more than a machine. “So you’re saying that your automaton somehow came to life and set this up?”
“Yes!”
The inspector sighed. “I think, Herr Grossen, that perhaps you’ve taken on too much for yourself and most likely forgot about the transaction.”
“But!”
“Now, now, there is no crime in that. In fact, as a favor I will personally see the items delivered.”
“Sir,” Emma interjected, “those models meant everything to Master Grossen. I can’t see how he would ever sell them, let alone without me knowing.”
“That’s a lot that I don’t understand either, Miss. But tell me, does he tell you everything?”
“Usually.”
“Has he ever neglected to tell you about anything? Especially something important or substantial?”
“Well, yes, nothing substantial though.”
“Still, it’s possible he didn’t arrange this with you and forgot that he did.”
Emma looked at Oskar, then back at the inspector. “Still, Sir.”
“I think, Miss, that our friend here is simply over-stressed and could do with some rest. Could you help him and make sure he gets some time away from all of this?”
She looked at Oskar again. He was pale, and wore a desperate look. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Thank you, Miss.” He signaled to his officers and explained the situation. They went outside and returned with two empty boxes. Celeste and Ava were each loaded into a box and taken away as Oskar yelled, begged, and cried in protest.
Oskar heard Emma speaking and finally stopped his pleading. “Master Grossen?”
He looked at her with a blank expression.
“Please, Master, come inside now.”
Oskar looked one last time in the direction that Celeste and Ava were taken. Resigned, he nodded and followed Emma inside.