Page 2 (1/2)

So if Dr Smeeks wanted to call Edwin "Parker" once in awhile, that was fine Like Parker himself, Edas also thin, with a face marked by worry beyond his years; and Edas also handy with pencils, screwdrivers, and wrenches The boy figured that thewas understandable, if unfortunate, and he learned to answer to the other name when it was used to call him

He took his old bolts back to his cot and picked up a tiny triangle of sandpaper

Beside him, at the foot of his cot underneath the wool blanket, lay a lump in the shape of a boy perhaps half Edwin’s size The lump was not a doll but an automaton, ready to wind, but not wound yet–not until it had a proper face, with a proper jaw

When the bolts were as clean as the day they were cast, Edwin placed theently on his pillow and reached inside the hatbox Mrs Williaiven hi it against the bolts and deciding that the fit was satisfactory; and then he uncovered the boy-shaped luot there?"

Edwin jumped The old scientist could be uncannily quiet, and he could not always be trusted to stick to his own business Nervously, as if the auto to be ashamed of, the boy said, "Sir, it’s…a machine I made a machine, I think It’s not a doll," he clarified

And Dr Smeeks said, "I can see that it’s not a doll You s you weren’t using I hope you don’t mind"

"Mind? No I don’t mind Dear boy, it’s exceptional!" he said hat sounded like honest wonder and appreciation It also sounded lucid, and focused, and Edas charmed to hear it

The boy asked, "You think it’s good?"

"I think it must be How does it work? Do you crank it, or–"

"It winds up" He rolled the automaton over onto its back and pointed at a hole that was barely large enough to hold a pencil "One of your old hex wrenches will do it"

Dr S into the tangle of gears and loosely fixed coils where the brains would be He touched its oiled joints and the clever little pistons that must surely work for muscles He asked, "When you wind it, what does it do?"

Edwin faltered "Sir, I…I don’t know I haven’t wound him yet"

"Haven’t wound hih I see that you’ve taken ood fit He’s ht to be able to walk, but I don’t think he can cli until I finished his face" He held up the metal jawbone in one hand and the two shiny bolts in the other "I’m almost done"

"Do it then!" Dr Sether and said, "How exciting! It’s your first invention, isn’t it?"

"Yes sir," Edwin fibbed He neglected to remind the doctor of his work on the Picky Boy Plate with a secret chamber to hide unwanted and uneaten food until it was safe to discreetly dispose of it He did not mention his tireless pursuit and eventual production of the Auto children whose parents were too poor to routinely purchase ed "Do you mind if I observe? I’ue"

Edwin blushed warmly across the back of his neck He said, "No sir, and thank you Here, if you could hold his, yes I’ll take the bolts and…" with treers he fastened the final hardware and dabbed the creases with oil from a half-empty can

And he was finished

Edwin took the autoht on the floor, where the azed blankly wherever its face was pointed

The doctor said, "It’s a handsoain? I think you said, but I don’t recall"

"I still need to wind it," Edwin told him "I need an L-shaped key Do you have one?"

Dr Sy depths of his pockets and a great jangling noise declared the assorted contents After a few seconds of fishing he withdrew a hex, but seeing that it was too large, he tossed it aside and dug for another one "Will this work?"

"It ought to Let me see"

Edwin inserted the newer, save it a twist Within, the autoears clicked together Encouraged, the boy gave the wrench another turn, and then another It felt as if he’d spent forever winding, when finally he could twist no further The autos resisted, and could not be persuaded to wind another inch

The boy reht On the automaton’s back, behind the place where its left shoulder blade ought to be, there was a sliding switch Edwin put his finger to it and gave the switch a tiny shove

Down in the an to whir