The Mechanics of Being Human Read Online Free PDF Page A

She leaned away, nervous. When the little girl grew closer, though, Fawn saw her own reflection in two massive blue eyes. When she stared into them, she received a flash of memory.
    Fawn lay in the middle of a cold workshop. Everywhere around her sat rows upon rows of dusty boxes towering with greasy black equipment. A hammer lay on the cold metal table on her right, glistening beneath dim light. The hunched back of a man was to her left. Jax. He held a phone to his ear and his hands shook. He wore the same light leather jacket he’d given her in the forest.
    "You don’t understand," Jax said. "I have to protect Model 29 from Galliham."
    There was the sound of garbled talking on the other side of the phone. It sounded panicked. Loud.
    "No, the government can't ever know she exists." Jax's free fist shook with rage. "Do you know what they'll do to her? Endless tests. I don't want that for her."
    Fawn watched him with wide eyes. She didn't feel anything. No confusion, no sea of sadness. Numbness. Yet her mind probed for information. As she watched, Jax gazed at her from across the room with a sad face. A grease streak was on his right cheek. His familiar scent, leather and grease, wafted over to her. She fought the need to touch him.
    "I am not using her to replace my daughter, Oliver." Jax shuddered. "You've just…you've got to help me, okay? Please. I'll give you what you want. I know you need my help too."
    Help him. Help him what? Fawn blinked and Jax went rigid. More garbled words burst from the phone and Fawn knew somehow the person asked, "What's wrong?"
    "I swear she just moved, but she can't have. I didn't wake her up yet." Jax's jaw went rigid. Nervously, he scratched the back of his neck. "I know that's what she's here for, but she isn't fixed yet. She isn't even on. No power. Yeah…yeah…I know…"
    Someone tugging at her sleeve drove her back to reality. Fawn blinked away her muddied thoughts and glanced down at the little girl who stood in front of her. The little girl smelled of strawberries and her teeth were crooked. Her cheeks appeared like cupcakes with freckle sprinkles. For one disturbing moment, she thought she was looking into the eyes of a cartoon character.
    "You look sad," the little girl said. "Are you sad?"
    Fawn debated being untruthful and saying, "No." There was a word for that, she realized. Lying. She wondered whether lying was bad. The way the word made her mouth taste sour told her it was. Would her old self have known right away what to do or say? Was her old self there anymore? As she frowned, she realized she didn't want to lie. It didn't matter what her old self would have done. She wasn't her old self any longer.
    "Yes, I'm sad." Fawn frowned at her hands. The little girl placed her hand on Fawn's own. It was surprisingly warm. The heat traveled up her arm and all the way to her heart.
    "I'm sorry you're sad. Do you know what helps me when I'm sad?" the little girl asked.
    Fawn shook her head. She didn't even know what she did when she was sad. That fact made her feel even worse.
    "I go down the slide. Sometimes I go with my sister, Candace, or Mommy." A big smile crossed the little girl's face. "Would you like to go down the slide with me? Maybe it will help you feel better."
    Fawn glanced up at the playground and saw the mom of the little girl stood at the highest tower of the play place gazing at Fawn and the little girl. The mom didn't appear worried but cautious. When Fawn forced a smile on her face and nodded at her, she visibly relaxed. She went down the slide with the second twin, Candace. The sound of laughter could be heard all the way where Fawn sat.
    Suddenly, Fawn wanted to be on the slide more than anything else in the entire world. She wanted to laugh like the girl and longed to know what such joy felt like. According to her blank memories, she'd never been on one before. Wouldn't a new experience be exciting for her? She glanced down at the little