in the air within a couple of feet of Ashley, and it would give him a beep-beep-beep confirmation of the ant-botâs location.
But how could I get away?
The jump would certainly smash the ant-bot. After all, it would be no different than taking my regular-size robot body and leaping off a cliff over half a mile high.
I doubted Iâd be able to crawl up her arm and then down her entire body to the floor in enough time.
So Iâd have to depend on Ashley. Which was why I kept jabbing her wrist to remind her exactly where I was.
I shouldnât have worried for even a second.
As soon as Dr. Jordan pushed her into his office, she hit the light switch. The diffused, bluish light that made it through the fabric of her jumpsuit became totally black.
âLet go!â she shouted. âLet go!â
Again my world became swirling, rocking, confusing. I had a sensation of falling, which stopped instantly a heartbeat later. What was happening?
âYou tripped me!â Ashley shouted. âI think I broke my wrist when it hit the floor.â
She means that for me. To let me know the floor is nearby.
âGet up, you stupid girl.â
I propelled the ant-bot forward and fell again, very briefly.
Floor!
It was still dark. I didnât know what direction I was headed, but I moved as fast as the tiny robot wheels would let me.
Seconds later the light snapped on again.
My video lens caught movement, and instinctively I spun hard right.
Something gigantic came down, thudding to the floor with vibrations that wobbled me. A short gust of air blew me forward.
Iâd just missed being squashed by Dr. Jordanâs foot! It would have destroyed the ant-botâs computer without warning and probably scrambled my own brain circuits.
I wheeled as hard as I could toward the nearest wall, which seemed like a vertical cliff miles high. When I reached the base, I found plenty of room beneath the baseboard to hide.
I waited.
âPlease donât tape my wrists to this chair,â Ashley said.
âShut your mouth. No amount of begging will stop me.â
Again, Ashley was trying to help me by letting me know what was happening. She was one gutsy girl.
She and Dr. Jordan were in the center of the room. But what could I do to help?
âHey,â Ashley said, âwhy is the satellite feed hooked up to your computer? Isnât that supposed to be in the directorâs office?â
âYou have too many questions.â
âDoes this mean youâre the only one who can contact Earth?â she asked. âThatâs the only satellite feed under the dome, isnât it?â
âSilence!â Dr. Jordan barked.
Ashley knew Dr. Jordan would get mad. So why had she talked about the satellite feed twice?
I answered my own question by remembering what sheâd told me earlier. â If the prisoners on Earth arenât freed within another hour, Dr. Jordan is going to execute a scientist here under the dome. Heâs going to send live video coverage of the execution by satellite feed, so the media will get it and broadcast it across Earthâ¦. He believes public pressure will make the Federation do what he wants.â
One hour left before the first execution.
Ashley was trying to tell me that the only way of reaching Earth was through the satellite feed here in this office.
Which meant if I could destroy the satellite feed, Dr. Jordan would have to wait before executing anyone.
But that was a big, big if for a small, small ant-botâ¦.
CHAPTER 19
I followed the base of the wall at full speed, reached a corner, and kept going as fast as I could in the new direction.
In a full-size body, it would have taken only three steps to reach the desk on the other side of Dr. Jordanâs office. In the ant-bot, it seemed like half a mile. By the time I completed the journey, Dr. Jordan had returned with the scanner to search Ashley.
Although from my perspective it was too far
But how could I get away?
The jump would certainly smash the ant-bot. After all, it would be no different than taking my regular-size robot body and leaping off a cliff over half a mile high.
I doubted Iâd be able to crawl up her arm and then down her entire body to the floor in enough time.
So Iâd have to depend on Ashley. Which was why I kept jabbing her wrist to remind her exactly where I was.
I shouldnât have worried for even a second.
As soon as Dr. Jordan pushed her into his office, she hit the light switch. The diffused, bluish light that made it through the fabric of her jumpsuit became totally black.
âLet go!â she shouted. âLet go!â
Again my world became swirling, rocking, confusing. I had a sensation of falling, which stopped instantly a heartbeat later. What was happening?
âYou tripped me!â Ashley shouted. âI think I broke my wrist when it hit the floor.â
She means that for me. To let me know the floor is nearby.
âGet up, you stupid girl.â
I propelled the ant-bot forward and fell again, very briefly.
Floor!
It was still dark. I didnât know what direction I was headed, but I moved as fast as the tiny robot wheels would let me.
Seconds later the light snapped on again.
My video lens caught movement, and instinctively I spun hard right.
Something gigantic came down, thudding to the floor with vibrations that wobbled me. A short gust of air blew me forward.
Iâd just missed being squashed by Dr. Jordanâs foot! It would have destroyed the ant-botâs computer without warning and probably scrambled my own brain circuits.
I wheeled as hard as I could toward the nearest wall, which seemed like a vertical cliff miles high. When I reached the base, I found plenty of room beneath the baseboard to hide.
I waited.
âPlease donât tape my wrists to this chair,â Ashley said.
âShut your mouth. No amount of begging will stop me.â
Again, Ashley was trying to help me by letting me know what was happening. She was one gutsy girl.
She and Dr. Jordan were in the center of the room. But what could I do to help?
âHey,â Ashley said, âwhy is the satellite feed hooked up to your computer? Isnât that supposed to be in the directorâs office?â
âYou have too many questions.â
âDoes this mean youâre the only one who can contact Earth?â she asked. âThatâs the only satellite feed under the dome, isnât it?â
âSilence!â Dr. Jordan barked.
Ashley knew Dr. Jordan would get mad. So why had she talked about the satellite feed twice?
I answered my own question by remembering what sheâd told me earlier. â If the prisoners on Earth arenât freed within another hour, Dr. Jordan is going to execute a scientist here under the dome. Heâs going to send live video coverage of the execution by satellite feed, so the media will get it and broadcast it across Earthâ¦. He believes public pressure will make the Federation do what he wants.â
One hour left before the first execution.
Ashley was trying to tell me that the only way of reaching Earth was through the satellite feed here in this office.
Which meant if I could destroy the satellite feed, Dr. Jordan would have to wait before executing anyone.
But that was a big, big if for a small, small ant-botâ¦.
CHAPTER 19
I followed the base of the wall at full speed, reached a corner, and kept going as fast as I could in the new direction.
In a full-size body, it would have taken only three steps to reach the desk on the other side of Dr. Jordanâs office. In the ant-bot, it seemed like half a mile. By the time I completed the journey, Dr. Jordan had returned with the scanner to search Ashley.
Although from my perspective it was too far
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