An Android Dog's Tale Read Free Page B

humans,
the Galactic Organic Development Corporation, which ran this
agricultural project, concluded that a canine form provided the
best solution for discreet ground observation. Humans accepted
them, even liked them and made them part of their groups, and they
did not alter their behavior or hide their intentions in their
presence as they tended to around people. They did not ignore dogs,
exactly, but they seemed to regard them as a normal part of the
landscape and tended to pay them the same amount of attention.
    They left the creek and trudged overland.
The round, flat feet of the gond trampled the wild grass, bushes,
and small trees it plodded over, breaking stems, flattening leaves,
and crushing the residue into the thick, rich soil. MO-126’s
sensitive olfactory subsystems detected and identified the smells
it created. He could name every element, every compound, every kind
of molecule that mingled together to fill the air with their
essence, but the combined aromas conveyed something beyond a simple
collection of empirical data. They triggered a subjective
sensation, a feeling of life. He found it somehow compelling.
    Their dull-witted pack animal seemed mostly
oblivious to its surroundings but would occasionally grab tasty
leaves, seedpods, and other morsels with its long, prehensile
tongue without pausing. It could walk and chew at the same time,
but much more might prove challenging to the slow beast.
    In exchange for the meal the plants
involuntarily provided, it randomly deposited steaming brown lumps
of odiferous organic fertilizer behind it. This also carried a
certain fragrance of life but a much less pleasant one. The hearty
vegetation thrived on it, though, and would recover within a few
days, leaving little sign of their passage.
    MO-126 perked his ears at the sound of
voices ahead and notified his partner.
    “ We’re still well over a kilometer from
the village, ” the trade android replied, “ but your hearing
is better than mine. You have better visual acuity, too. Do you see
anyone? ”
    The simulated canine scanned the area in
visible light and infrared. He saw humans picking fruit from a
nearby orchard and tending fields of tall grain farther away,
squatting to pull weeds or dredging irrigation ditches. Another
primitive, this one obviously male, stood by a stream. The man was
closer to them than the field workers were, but a patch of woods
obscured him from normal view. He gave no sign of being aware of
their presence. A fishing pole lay propped on a rock beside him
while he added his own contribution to the tinkling waters.
    “ Yeah. There are a few people around. I
suppose it’s time for my dog act. ”
    “ It’s always time for your dog act when
you’re outside a hub terminal. Remember this. You’re a dog. You
must act like one. I know you have basic information about normal
canine behavior, but observe the dogs you see here and notice how
they act. That’s all you need to do your first few times
out. ”
    “Woof,” MO-126 said aloud while
transmitting, “ Got it. Bark, scratch, sleep. It’s a fairly
simple routine. ”
    “ The problem normally isn’t the doglike
things you should do. The difficult part is all the things you can
do that you should not. ”
    “ Don’t worry. I think I can restrain
myself from doing anything obviously brilliant. It’s not as if I
can talk to them even if I wanted to. ”
    “ Paying attention without appearing to be
paying attention can be more difficult than you might think, ”
the trader cautioned.
    “ It doesn’t sound that hard, but I’ll be
careful. ”
    “ Good. When we get there, just wander
through the village and observe. Don’t go into any buildings unless
I call you, and don’t chase the chickens, even if you see the
village dogs do it. ”
    “ You’re the human master and I’m the
well-behaved, faithful dog. I’ve got all that. ” He felt just a
little insulted. While he could not deny that he lacked any
first-hand, or