Watch Them Wander: Colossus of Rhodes Series, #1

By Oscar Relentos

Samantha is not living the life she thought she was living.

Teenager Samantha Rhodes has wandered the desert since her war-torn childhood in bleakest solitude, until the day she discovers an animatronic genie in the sand capable of reversing her fortunes, and fulfilling her wildest wishes. 

After a chance encounter with a starving stranger named Ryder begging for help from a distant village, Samantha and her genie Adam rediscover the outside oases in all their revenge-driven brutality. And from the curious way the lizards and birds watch her with glassy eyes, the way the stars in the sky grow exponentially in number during nights of tragedy, and the way captured raiders whisper of a blue goddess wandering in the darkness, Samantha finds herself drawn deeper into a superstitious world filled more with mystery than with terror. And within the wreckage of secret, ancient tunnels beneath the moonlit sands, Samantha discovers why the god of her oasis has given her a magical, weaponized genie. 

Along with the frightening truth about the stars in their midnight skies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oscar Relentos
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781540112286

Book preview

~2~

WHOA, SAID SAMANTHA, almost dropping the lamp back onto the sand she was so shocked. What the hell, it talks. I'm hallucinating.

I'm no hallucination, what is required of me master? What is my master's name?

Samantha had only just rubbed the gold plated lamp artifact to brush the sand off of it. The warmth of her touch, and the presence of her fingerprints alerted the AI of a fresh master. She'd been out in the desert for hours scavenging. Most days she'd make it back with some scrap metal, and maybe find a stray animal to harvest for meat, bones for tools, maybe make some use of its hide.

Never in her wildest dreams, did she think she’d find an ancient genie waiting for her in the sand.

Some sweat got in Samantha’s eyes. She lifted the shroud on her face, and tried to wipe it away with her sleeve.

Name's Samantha.

Thank you Naymesahmantha, what do you require?

No my nam— Samantha was too exhausted to argue. She barely had enough energy to make it back to her secluded oasis. Fine, fine, you're a— Samantha swallowed, though her mouth was dry. She was overwhelmed. You're one of those genies aren't you, oh my gods.

I am an artificial intelligence, and judging by the date I'm reading on my systems I'm ancient by your standards. I haven't been activated for a great many centuries. The lamp projected out a rod of sorts. Samantha bobbled the lamp, then gripped it again when she saw the rod wasn't a weapon. There's an unnaturally high background radiation reading in this area.

What does that mean? said Samantha.

I can think of several possible reasons, the most likely of which is a nuclear Armageddon, said Adam. This area used to be quite near an urban metropolis. A metropolis it now bears no resemblance to.

What's a metropolis? said Samantha.

The lamp produced several projections this time, and studied Samantha with them. She wasn't too happy about it, but she was getting the sense Adam wasn't a threat. The genie produced a stethoscope, requested that she take several breaths into some box-like device, took a reading of her eyes, sampled the sweat on her skin.

You're dangerously dehydrated, and quite close to fainting. If you're not careful you could get heat stroke.

I'll be fine, we're not more than thirty minutes from an oasis if I can just remember where it is, said Samantha. She was used to exhaustion. It was her life's baseline. She hopped back onto her camel, and started the journey home with her treasure. How do you run by the way?

I run with the sun.

Oh you have rhymes nice, said Samantha, starting to remember where she was. I like you, we should get along. You said there was a lot of stuff around here before?

Adam produced a projection of an ancient map in the air, with several checkmarks around where they were.

I've already identified several likely spots for scrap metal if it is required.

You can just project anything? said Samantha, feeling more alive by the minute. She was quiet a moment. Samantha took a look at the cloudless sky a while, before she asked. Can you show me the world as it was?

Adam zoomed in on a particular portion of the map, and proceeded to play a video of the daily life of people there. She was mesmerized by the images she beheld. A huge, bustling population. Laughing, shopping for things she'd never seen before, eating exotic foods she'd never tasted. There were children playing with their parents in wide, grassy planes around trees larger and greener than any she’d ever seen in her life. And there was sand there too, with wide expanses of water beside it. There were hundreds of happy people playing in the waters there.

It made her strangely sad.

Turn it off, said Samantha.

Adam obeyed.

THEY JOURNEYED TO WITHIN eyesight of the oasis. Samantha almost fell off her camel, she was so tired and relieved. She jolted back upright and fought the urge to fall asleep. 

They stopped beside her humble abode. She slid off and crawled over to the water. Had more than a few drinks. Her camel lapped up some water as well.

She flipped onto her back and took a few deep breaths.

I'm more tired than I thought, said Samantha. She smiled really hard when she thought about the genie. It cracked her lips. They bled. You know I had a dream this would be a good day.

Did you, said Adam.

Samantha carried the lamp to beneath her small hut she'd made from animal hides and metal she'd accumulated. She collapsed into its shade, and breathed really hard onto her never-washed bedsheets. She could smell her own breath, it smelled rancid.

Well, goodnight, said Samantha. It was broad daylight. Try not to get stolen while I'm asleep.

The AI laughed.

I can take care of myself, said Adam.

Then the lamp cracked open, and internal mechanisms branched from out of it. It morphed out in a strangely fluid manner, though it clearly had geared mechanisms driving its components out. Samantha’s eyes fluttered as she tried to see, before she backed away and cried out in horror. When it was done it was transformed into a fully functional, humanoid robot.

Tall as a titan, and light as a feather.

Rest for now, I’ll meet you back here, said Adam. The genie began to walk away, then turned around to its terrified master. Its voice turned sweet, though somewhat robotic. Apologies if I frightened you. Don't worry, I'll bring back supplies.

~3~

IT WASN’T LONG, BEFORE Samantha was asleep.

She dreamed about ghosts of memories. A happy family that disintegrated into sand before her childlike eyes, before she forgot what it was she was dreaming and dreamt instead of living by a waterfall at the edge of a rainbow. She dreamed next of endless animal hides, and how she turned them all into leather and sold them. She built up a prosperous little leather business, before she faded into another dream of a snow covered winter, and the crisp cold that came with it. In spite of the dreaming frostbite creeping up her limbs, she liked it. She liked the cold, no matter how harsh. We dream so many times as we sleep, so much that we forget what we dreamed, and then we wake back up into our mundane lives and forget the fantasies that crept into our nighttime minds.

Samantha forgot all her dreams that night, and woke up to the noise of buzzing metal scraping along metal.

It was harsh, and loud, and hurt her ears as she startled up and reached for her spear with a sharpened coyote leg bone attached at the end.

Adam turned around from his handiwork, and stared at her with blue lightbulb eyes through the nighttime darkness. He was illuminated as if from the inside, and sort of waved hi. He even smiled politely with white metallic teeth, before he realized his mistake and looked a bit embarrassed.

Pardon me master it was not my intention to wake you up, said Adam. He gestured at Samantha’s side, and it was only then she noticed a plate of cooked food with a flask of water set beside her. Just a few rodents I found during my travels, I hope it’s to your liking I didn’t have very much seasoning. I saved a few for farming.

Samantha brought the plate into her lap. She noticed the gray outlines of walls around their oasis, and a little pen not far off where little animals were making high pitched noises and scurrying about. She bit into the tough as jerky meat, and started to get some strange feeling that she could see some of the stars, but not all of the stars. There was a partial roof hanging overhead, larger than what little she had hanging over her humble hut.

It was starting to feel like a home.

Did you just build this? asked Samantha, staring up at the magical ancient before her. She wondered if she was still dreaming. She started to pinch herself, before she stopped.

If this was a dream she didn’t want to wake up just yet, if ever.

Adam heaved a robotic sigh, as he cut into some more metal with upwards of twenty arms shooting out from his sides and working on different pieces.

I’m sorry if you don’t like it, it’s not finished yet, said Adam, as he cut through some more metal. More quietly this time. "Do you not like it?"

I didn’t say that, said Samantha as she tried to stand up, and noticed a strange texture at her feet. It felt like fur.

Adam noticed her noticing.

I found a number of dead animals during my travels. Insides torn out, likely killed by other beasts, said Adam, as he nodded in the direction of some hides hanging on a bench Samantha never had before. It took a while, but I made some carpets with them.

Samantha swept her dried hair to the side, and ran her hand down it as she took another bite of jerky. She chewed with her mouth open.

What’sh a carpet, said Samantha, as she stood on the carpet with her bare feet. It felt nice on her toes. She kept chewing. Ish thish a carpet?

Yep that’s a carpet, said Adam, laughing a bit as he welded a few pieces of metal together. He brought them up close to his eyes a moment, before he nodded like he was satisfied. You should get more rest you’re getting better but you’re not yet well. I’ve been checking your vitals.

Samantha nodded slowly with her eyes wide open, as she grinned and swallowed.

I think I kind of like ya, she said, with just a hint of apprehension. But don’t overwork your mechanisms or anything. You seem all right, but not being in use for all those centuries might have rusted you out some. I don’t want you breaking on me, I might die if you do.

I won’t rust, trust me, laughed Adam, as he studied a few of the plants around the oasis. He reached out with smaller arms, and harvested a few of their seeds. He put them into specialized compartments in a box he’d made. And I got all the energy I needed during the daylight. I’m fine, don’t trouble about me. Rest for now, I’ll do what I can in the meantime.

Samantha stared at the giant robot building her a little barn hut, and farming in her secluded oasis. She gave a terse nod and stared at her new walls with a dumb expression, as she wandered back over to the rags that she called her bed.

Samantha lied down on her bedsheets, exhausted yet awake.

Hey, shouted Samantha, loud enough for Adam to hear.

The noise of several objects being set onto the ground in unison came through the air, before the soft noise of sand being kicked up as Adam walked over to Samantha.

Yes my master? replied Adam.

Don’t leave ever okay? said Samantha, a hint of sadness slithering through her voice. She worked to repress it, and spoke with some more authority. I command you to never leave or get hurt, ever. All right, I mean it. I’m your master.

Adam smiled again, and brought a large, robotic arm to her side.

He picked up her empty plate.

I won’t, said Adam.

Samantha looked up at him with tender, shaking eyes. And for the first time in a long time, without the omnipresent threat of starvation. Without the threat of wandering raiders perchance finding her helpless and alone, as she slept in the night. Having a drink of her waters and chopping at her crops. For the first time in a long time, since she first came to that secluded oasis all those years ago when all her family was torn away from her in the heat of starlit fires.

Samantha felt safe.

Samantha smiled up at her starlit genie, before she collapsed back against the bed to slip back into her dreams. She hadn’t slept so peacefully in years.

And all the while, from the upper edges of her new abode, birds and lizards with glassy eyes watched her every sleeping breath.  

~4~

ADAM KNELT DOWN BESIDE Samantha, and set a mirror in front of her as her eyes flickered open. She yawned a bit, before she looked interchangeably between Adam and the mirror.

This is an odd way to say good morning, said Samantha, as she pointed a finger at the mirror and made a funny face.  Why’d you waste good metal on that?

You’re peeling, I made an ointment for your skin, said Adam, gesturing with a robotic finger around her face. You’re lucky you have aloe vera growing around your oasis, I wanted you to see that the skin around your eyes is dangerously sunburned.

When am I not sunburned, said Samantha, as she stretched awake. I live in the desert you know, it’s to be expected.

You look a lot like a raccoon, said Adam. Samantha gave him a look like she was mock insulted, but also didn’t quite get it. That’s a joke by the way, I am capable of jokes if that comforts you.

Well joke’s on you cause I don’t even know what a raccoon is so hah, said Samantha, as she smacked her tongue on the top of her mouth. She blinked up at Adam for a bit as he crushed another plant to make more ointment. He set some in her hand. So I just put this on my face?

Yep.

Samantha smiled sheepishly at him a bit, before she dabbed some on her face. She took a solemn look around her re-modeled oasis as she applied it. She had a full roof protecting her from the sunlight, a makeshift air conditioner off to the side cooling what she could now call a room, an area that looked a lot like a kitchen with a stove and chairs beside a table, and an area at the edge of the room that hovered over the water. It was like extreme makeover oasis edition.

Hey, I want you to know something, said Samantha, as Adam turned from his peering out of a window that Samantha only then realized was covered with glass. I might be acting really calm right now but my heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest every time I glance up at you.

I’m well aware of that, said Adam, shooting another rod straight at Samantha’s chest. She sat upright in a burst, as two gentle fingers emerged from the rod, and checked her pulse. A number of other objects emerged from the rod as well, studying her eyes, her complexion, one of them faintly pricking her skin. The rod went away once Adam was satisfied. But your vitals are now restored closer to a healthy baseline than they were. Don’t worry about it, it’s only the adrenaline.

Oh good, whispered Samantha, before she hugged herself with her arms and wished she said something earlier. Hey, say I don’t want to seem ungrateful. But, Samantha stared around at her new home like she was worried it was going to evaporate in a faint mist any second. It can be dangerous to have too much out in these parts. There’s nobody around here, but still it draws attention to anyone passing by.

I’ve seen no evidence of other humans nearby.

There haven’t been raiders around these parts for a while, this oasis is too secluded and small for most to see it at a distance. But even still, Samantha swallowed some spit, and made some nervous movements with her jaw. I don’t want too much unwanted attention being drawn to this place. It’s the only oasis for at least thirty miles in any direction. Trust me, I know. So please don’t make this any more noticeable than it already is.

Adam had a look outside at the remaining metal he had readied for expansion projects.

If you’d let me there’s much more I could do for this place my master.

Just promise you’ll, Samantha took in a staggered breath, and hugged herself even tighter. You’ll stop for now okay? Make sure we’re well covered by vegetation, and the remaining scraps are covered, and just stop.

Adam was out of the practice of reading humans, and knew there was a possibility of their mannerisms having shifted a bit from the earlier sliver of the millennium. But he knew that hint of sadness that hid repressed emotions that could creep up every now and again in a voice when they were troubled.

Adam needed to know why Samantha was so afraid.

I will do whatever my master requires of me, Adam continued to crouch in their cramped living arrangement. A faint smile hovered around his metallic lips. What does my master require?

Samantha started to feel a wave of emotion flow over her and flood her mind. She’d spent the better part of a decade in complete solitude, evading capture here and there. Defending herself from raiders passing by. Knowing when to lay low, when more powerful forces paraded through. It’d been so long since Samantha had another to just sit down and talk to besides herself, human or computer.

Samantha had felt that void for so long, that she didn’t realize she was lonely.

I think more than anything else I’d like a friend? said Samantha, looking up at him a little shy.

The specks he called eyes glittered down at her, as the metal skin around Adam’s humanoid structure faintly lifted. Thousands of little gears gradually drew him in smaller, until he was no larger than Samantha.

Adam set a kind hand on her shoulder.

Then that is what I will be.

~5~

TO SAMANTHA’S UNSETTLED surprise, she couldn’t remember just how many days had passed.

She was so good at keeping track of the weeks and months, when her only concern was survival. Her senses were more attuned to the ebb and flow of each and every day. Attuned to what she needed to do for sustenance. She could keep track of the time by the position of the sun in the sky to within minutes. Had a sixth sense for when and where what animals remained around there liked to come out, avoiding the hottest times of the day. She knew how to operate at a baseline closer to death than most could attempt without fainting. Samantha felt like her presence of mind was always there before, but even so she wasn’t truly awake.

Now her life was passing her by in the blink of an eye, and she’d never felt more alive.

There were myths about you when I was a kid, said Samantha, as Adam paused the animated movie he’d been projecting onto the air.

You really want to have a conversation during the best part of the movi—

I never believed them, said Samantha, interrupting the robotic miracle in her desert oasis home. I didn’t think any incredible creatures that could grant wishes to people and bring them peace in their lives could ever exist. It was hard enough finding normal critters to eat rolling around the desert, why would I ever believe an animal as magical as you could happen, you know?

I can imagine, said Adam, as Samantha sort of laughed to herself. It was a new normal for her, yet all at once in a burst of thought it shocked her again. Who told you these myths, if I may ask?

The smile playing on Samantha’s