Code Lightfall and the Robot King Read Free Page B

this monstrous thing from who knows where should speak perfect English.
    â€œI was just …” Code trailed off.
    â€œExperimenting?”
    â€œI didn’t know that you were. I mean—” Code pointed at the row of tall, thin legs. “This is all you ?” he asked.
    â€œRight. I’m an infinipede, thanks. And I’m sorry if I startled you, but your nasty poke with that stick makes us quite even. Maybe more so.”
    â€œWhere am I? What is this place?” implored Code.
    â€œWhat a silly question. You’re in Mekhos, obviously. The land of the robots. And if you don’t mind, I’ll be off now.”
    The answer made no sense, but the mysterious creature was already preparing to race away into the murky woods.
    â€œWait,” pleaded Code. “I’m not from here. I’m … lost. I need to know where this place is so that I can get back home.”
    The infinipede clattered its mandibles together, chuckling at him. “My dear little brute. Mekhos is exactly where it is supposed to be. No place else. As everyone knows, our pocket of reality was carved out of space and time ages ago.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? By who?”
    â€œThe ancient titans. The mound builders. You know, humans. ”
    â€œHumans?” Code repeated.
    â€œYes, yes. Humans are a race of monsters as tall as trees and stronger than the currents of the Mercurial River. They created Mekhos as a laboratory. A big experiment. You may not know it, brute, but you are an experiment out of control. We all are.”
    Code’s mind raced. The mound builders! They made this place as an experiment? What kind of experiment needed a whole new world as a laboratory?
    â€œBut why?” Code breathed.
    â€œI suppose the humans built Mekhos for us because we are so terribly … dangerous. Best for them if we keep our worlds separate. Don’t leave the peace of the Odd Woods, little brute. There are things out there that would make you wish you didn’t have sensors. Horrors as big as the sky that can crush you into bits and pieces. And there are other fiends. Nanoscopic creatures, smaller than dust, that will make you wish you’d never been invented. They can wriggle through your outer casing and tear you apart from the inside. Trust me, Mekhos can be a very nasty place.”
    All of a sudden a thought occurred to Code: Maybe my grandfather came here, too . If anyone had seen the old man, it would be this long creature that seemed to be everywhere at once. Barely daring to hope, Code asked, “Have you seen any humans?”
    The infinipede sighed.
    â€œAlas, the ancients made us, gave us our programs, and then abandoned us. Nobody has seen a human being for thousands of years.”
    Code’s shoulders slumped. No luck.
    â€œAll except for the one, of course,” added the infinipede.
    Code arched his eyebrows questioningly.
    â€œHow ignorant can you be?” asked the infinipede. “I’m speaking of His Excellency, the King of the Greater Mekhos Co-Prosperity Sphere. A bit of a pompous title if you ask me. Used to be a splendid king. He saved Mekhos countless times from countless dreadful enemies. But he can’t save us now, because this time he’s the one trying to deactivate us! The king is holding the Robonomicon captive and has decided that we shall all be disassembled.”
    Code sighed. He was wrong again. There was only one other human here and it was some king, not his grandfather. “The Robo-nob-inon?” asked Code, badly butchering the pronunciation. “Who is that?”
    â€œAre you serious?! The Robo nom icon is a sacred relic. It holds the schematics of everyone in Mekhos, our history, and the laws that we must operate by. It was created by the original builders. He who controls the Robonomicon controls Mekhos. Of course, the Great Disassembly could change everything.”
    Disassembly. It was an ominous word. Code