#ruth arkwright

This new one, whom I had already named ‘Zimran,’ would stand at 5 feet and 8 inches, closer to my own height then the first two that I had made. While I thought that making these mechanical men to be very tall would be more beneficial to their everyday use, the automatons would be able to reach places that normal sized people would not be able to, it was rather alarming when the things you have created stood taller than yourself.

Zimran was made mostly of a zinc compound. I wanted to try using a different material on this one from the first two. I had already proven that steel, copper and brass worked well for my machines, I wanted to try something else. It would certainly look different from the others, being a white-blue cast to the metal that made up most of it’s construction. Hopefully with a zinc compound, this machine wouldn’t overheat as easily as the others.

The face plates were still far cruder than I wanted them to be, but I was a scientist who did not have much talent for art. There were places for the ocular lights to be placed and two small holes on the each side of the head where I was currently experimenting with auditory receptors. I had found a way for my machines to have a sort of hearing. They could ‘feel’ vibrations that made sound and then they would look to where the sound came from. I wasn’t sure if they could understand words or if they were still primarily reading lips, but I believed that I wouldn’t know the real answer to that until I devised a way to give them a way of communication.

I had the chassi of the newest machine open, working on attaching the glass bowl where the black element would come from. After the deadly mess that the first one had made, I attached the bowl first. Luckily, with the second machine, the symbol appears in the relative same spot on the back of the casing. I did not like to handle the black element more than was absolutely necessary.

I glanced down at my hands for a moment. The very tips of my fingers were permanently black and very small and thin vein like lines had begun to appear near them and I wasn’t sure what the implications of that could mean. I tended to wear gloves every time I handled the unknown element, or the stranger’s pocket watch, since the appearance of the discoloration.

I heard some heavy steps to my right and was not surprised to see Ishmael standing there. Ishmael was the second automaton I built and was the tallest I had created so far. It was made mostly of steel and was the heaviest so far. I did not plan to make any others like Ishmael, it was too much trouble to move when it couldn’t move itself.

I smiled at the mechanical man. Both Ishmael and the first automaton I built had their quirks, like personalities. Ishmael seemed to be the most curious of the two about it’s creation and origins. It would always be at my side when I worked, watching what I did and helping me in my workshop. Ishmael also seemed the most eager for changes and new workings to be place inside of it.

Ishmael had been around me almost constantly every time I went to work on Zimran.

“I was wondering when you would be here.” I said. “Are you and your brother settling into the new house here?”

Ishmael nodded slowly.

After the second automaton was built, I decided that it was time to move them into my home, rather than keeping them hidden away in my curiosities shop. Ruth was pestering me constantly to know what I was up to and it didn’t feel right to leave my fiancee out of this… whatever it might lead us too.

I could tell that Ishmael missed the old workshop, or maybe it was just nervous around Ruth and the household staff. God knew that the household staff were nervous enough around Ishmael. More than one had given me their resignation only a day after I had brought the two of them home.

“I’m surprised Isaac isn’t with you.” I went on. “The two of you seem locked together since we arrived.”

Ishmael looked at the door to the lab, then back at me. But the motions seemed to be under stress. Something was off.

I stood up from the chair and started for the door, but Ishmael moved ever so slightly to block my way. I took a step back, looking hard at the other.

“Ishmael. Let me past.” I said, my tone was firm, but my mind raced with what this sort of behavior ment. “I need to see what is happening out there. Stand down at once.”

Ishmael moved out of my way instantly, looking over at Zimran and glancing down, as if in embarrassment.

“I’ll be back soon, Ishmael.” I promised, having the other a small smile. I believed that the metal creature with me was disappointed that we weren’t going to work together at that very instant. “You have to learn to be patient.”

Ishmael looked back up at me, but didn’t make any other motions.

I left the laboratory and walked though the large house, trying to find what was the cause of Ishmael’s stress. I passed a few of the house staff, going about their business as if nothing was wrong.

Then I heard the familiar voice of my beloved Ruth.

“There you go! Well done! Just like that.”

I hurried into the library where I heard the voice coming from, all my worries and fears gone as soon as I heard her. I rounded the corner and was a little surprised at what I saw.

Isaac was with Ruth in the library. My original mechanical man shone in bright brass and copper in the good lighting inside. Without a doubt, Isaac was the most visually appealing of the automaton’s I had created thus far. It still stood taller than myself, being about six feet and two inches and it was the most expressive of the two, even without moving faceplates. It was far more expressive than Ishmael and, while wasn’t as curious, Isaac was certainly more social.

And next to my machine was my true love. Ruth always found a way to steal my breath when I saw her. I had no idea what I had done to deserve her favor. I was a man of books and dark labs, I was a miserable failure at events and awkward around the fairer sex. Yet Ruth, for reasons I could only wonder at, took a liking to me.

“You’re doing splendidly, Isaac.” Ruth praised. “Just keep supporting the head.”

I walked into the room and Ruth saw me. She smiled brightly and waved me over to her side, her large dress and petticoats fluffing around her as she did so.

“Abe! Come here! Look at this!”

Isaac did not look up as I approached, it was so intent on it’s task. In the mechanical arms was a china doll. The dolls delicate body was cradled in the arms of Isaac like a newborn baby. The doll looked very expensive.

I rushed to the sitting chairs and pulled the pillows and cushions off of it, laying them down around the feet of my automaton.

“That is quite some trust you are putting into my machine here, Ruth!” I exclaimed as I adjusted the cushions around. “What if Isaac were to drop the doll?”

“Aww, he won’t drop it. Look how careful he is.” Ruth encouraged. “Besides, it’s one of my old toys from when I was little. I think I will survive if an accident happens.”

Isaac was indeed holding the doll as if it were a precious child. It’s form was perfect, rocking gently back and forth as if comforting a child.

“Did you teach it to do that?” I asked, surprised at the smooth motion from the otherwise rather jittery machine.

“Yes, it was easy as lying.” Ruth said with a wink. She always had the oddest expressions.

Isaac finally looked up at me briefly, as if making sure that I was seeing what it was doing, then looking back down at the doll in it’s arms.

“Why are you teaching my automaton to hold a baby?” I had to ask. My fiancee just brought a child doll with her from her own home. This wasn’t an accident.