Metaphysical C.A.T

THE METAPHYSICAL C.A.T
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We all need one another, she thought....Jane sat by the televiewer,
stroking the cold sore, which she believed no one would notice.

Asa would be half way around the world now. In a few weeks, he would be
en-route for for Mars colony, Alpha. But Asa was well on course, and
Jane had better things to do than worry.

The plates were still unwashed from the dinner they had eaten the
night before. Jane had other things on her mind. To make matters worse,
the rain outside beat impatiently, against the window frame. "Let me
in" it seemed to cry.

It was some time before Jane became aware of a draught blowing in from
the back portal, that she had neglected to close. A shadow played
against the window. She looked again, and saw a figure outside

"Yes," said Jane. "What are you doing here?" she asked,
suspiciously.

The computerised animated turbo robot had no words to explain it`s
presence.

Verbal communication was not part of it`s programme. It did however,
possess the capacity to communicate through telepathy. Still, it chose
to remain silent.

Jane disregarded her question, and seemed incredulous at the sight of
a C.A.T, a model of robot long since obsolete. The only other C.A.T she
had seen, was in the Science Museum, London.

"Come in" she found herself saying. The robot moved into the bungalow.
"I could do with a friend," it communicated to her. "Make use of me
Jane. I`m here for you,"

Jane laughed nervously. "How do you know my name?" she asked.

"All in good time," responded the robot.

"Ok, have you problems you wish to to discuss?

Now it was Jane`s turn to be silent. There was something eerily
familiar about the C.A.T, and it unsettled her.

"Tell me your story," demanded the robot. "Tell me about the difficult
period before..." But Jane was taciturn. She closed her eyes, and
remembered.

Asa had promised that when he returned from Alpha, they would resume
their lives together.

"If you like, we could start a new life out there," he had said to her.
Jane was less enthusiastic about the colonies, than Asa. The antipathy
she felt, stemmed from having seen her own father, die in the off-world
skirmishes, when she was still a child. Even in adulthhood, it rankled
her to remember her auntie`s words.

"Your father has gone to a better place," she had said.

"I understand, but we have got to work together," communicated the
robot. Jane looked at him anxiously. She was startled, because she
realised that the C.A.T had been following her thoughts.

"What do you want?" demanded Jane, although she realised the question
was meaningless.

The C.A.T attempted to reassure her, but Jane would not be reassured.
She could not bring herself to believe a mechanical dinosaur.

Jane was not able to relax in it`s company.

The C.A.T played some of Jane`s favourite music. After a while, she
began to loosen up. "You know Asa loved you," the machine
communicated.

Jane stopped listening to the music. "Asa will not be returning to you.
He has gone forever," it revealed.

"I don`t understand. Why won`t he be back," said Jane, hysterically.
Has something happened to him?" she asked, in a strangely
calm voice.

The robot spoke tenderly to her. Asa told me to tell you that he loved
you, and that he will watch over you, in that better place.

Jane`s sobs turned into an ironic laugh. "I`m being counselled about
mataphysics by a tin can," she observed. The robot put it`s arm
over
Jane`s shoulder. "Asa said that you would react like this." Jane pulled
away.

"What happened to Asa?" she repeated.

"He was injured in a mining accident. The authorities, on Alpha, called
on me, to give Asa the last rites," it explained.

Jane was ashen faced. "Were you programmed to be a priest, or a
religious functionary?" she said, with surprise. The shock of Asa`s
demise had prevented her from thinking clearly.

"You`re asking the wrong question" answered the C.A.T. Jane screwed up
her face, in confusion.

"Tell me. Do robots have souls? she persisted.

"Look at your memories," replied the robot.

"I`m not a robot, so I won`t know," she protested. The C. A.T. gazed
at Jane without answering. It`s silence speaking volumes.

WRITTEN BY J.S.HERSCOVITCH

COPYRIGHT

3-9-01