Floppyshop 2/Floppyshop - 2.zip/Floppyshop - 2.iso/diskmags/4671-5.790/dmg-5316/sci-fi.fld/apple.doc

Text File | 1995-07-07 | 4KB | 62 lines

"Apple..."
By Ian Clarke

The grubby size six shoe plunged into the small puddle of stagnant
water, collected in a hollow created by ancient vehicles, which would have
once held water.  The shoe was rapidly retrieved, before the blood landed
once more, and dutifully crept back into the hollow.  His eyes were
blinded by sweat, his mind was clouded by fear, his ragged hair fluttered
in the wind as he ran through the thin alleyways, ironically reminiscent of
the streets of a medieval town, with the exception that these streets were
many times more filthy.  Piles of rotting rubbish, at varying levels of decay
attracted huge swarms of flies, which now darkened the sky as the child
ran past.
The huge metallic figure of the creature was in silhouette against one
of the huge lamps which dotted these parts of the city, the scene was
further mystified by the smog which gave a distinctly eerie, almost ghostly
effect.  The robots movements were fluid, almost like that of a dancer, its
head would sweep rapidly from side to side, absorbing information,
seeking any clue as to the location of its target, its "prey"...
The child weaved skilfully through the maze of alleyways, leaping over
a decaying dog, his right foot landed on a bottle, it gave way under him.
He could not regain balance and instinctively tried to minimise injury,
however his hand landed on broken glass, he rolled back onto his feet
and continued running, ignoring the wound as blood trickled from his
hand.
The robot travelled with such grace that its speed was only obvious
from the blurred scenery sailing passed, it was moving through the city
searching for clues.  Each square meter of the ground it passed over was
meticulously analysed by the slightly glowing eyes, they were emitting
some red light to illuminate the badly lit terrain. Suddenly all attention
was diverted to a intense source of infrared radiation at the end of an
alleyway to the left, the robot quickly changed direction, and was over the
drop of flesh blood, which was part of a path of these dots, the robot, now
with a purpose, darted away in pursuit.
Fatigue cramped the child's lungs, he collapsed upon a pile of damp
cardboard, a rat scurried from its destroyed home.  The child fought to
feed his body with oxygen, as his lungs pulsated rapidly, in delirium his
thoughts wandered.  The 7 year old child had been quickly aged, his
mother died when he was 3, after giving birth to her second child.  His
brother would be lying in 'bed' now, waiting for him to return home with
food.  He had looked after his brother for 4 years, scavenging for food,
avoiding the 'Leds', the 'Law Enforcement Droids'.  Most of the people
in the city lived as he did, those who did not would never be envied, 'we
were free'.
The robot was getting closer, the temperature of the blood which was
lying on the ground was approaching that at which it left the body.  The
machine was almost 3 meters in height, it had a humanoid form, its entire
body consisted of a titanium alloy, which always looked like polished
chrome.  On its head a glowing red slit acted as the robots eyes, its arms
were adorned with several weapons, its feet were like claws, designed for
maximum grip on any surface, the perfect machine.
The child saw a glint of metal as the robot jumped over a small wall
ahead of him.  He swung around and began to run in the opposite
direction.  The robot was upon him in seconds, and with a single blow
sent the child flying against a wall, leaving a smear of blood.  The child's
limp body fell to the ground.  The robot lifted the body by the leg, and
the stolen apple fell from the child's pocket, the robot dropped the
corpse, and disappeared. From the shadows a previously hidden figure
darts over to the body.  The small creature lifts up the head, and grabs
the bruised apple, before running home.  The boy had provided his
brother with a meal for the last time.