Our Lady of the Ice by Cassandra Rose Clarke Page A

million-legged. The dismantling was in a studio, the lights as bright as the sun. They bounced off the robot’s metal shell. It had something like a face, a little black screen like eyes. Eliana focused in on it, expecting to see fear. But there was only a little black screen.
    Somehow, that was worse.
    “We assure the people of Hope City that this was an isolated incident,” the engineer said. “The rotopedes are an older model, one we’re currently in the process of replacing. The steam power is not as reliable, and so glitches occur. We are working on testing each rotopede in the city to avoid another failure such as what happened on Last Night.”
    “You think they’ll actually go through with it?” Diego tapped his cigarette over the ashtray, eyes on the screen.
    “Why wouldn’t they?” Eliana looked at him so she wouldn’t have to look at the robot’s empty alien face. “It’s the only way to fix a problem in the dome’s system, isn’t it?”
    “I guess.” Diego took a long drag off his cigarette. “Assuming it actually was a problem in the dome’s system.”
    “What?” Eliana stared at him. “Are you saying it wasn’t a system failure? That—what? Someone did something?” Anxiety calcifiedinside her. “Did you have something to do with the blackout? Is that it? You feel guilty, that they’re blaming some poor robot?”
    Diego turned to her. His face was as blank as the robot’s. “You think I turned off the goddamn power?”
    Eliana didn’t have an answer. He went back to watching the dismantling. She turned away from him, but the only place to look was at the television, where the engineer was hunched over the robot, cracking open its shell like a crab’s. All of its insides glittered. It was almost pretty, but her stomach turned into knots.
    “Jesus, that’s what I get for seeing a cop.”
    “I’m not a cop,” Eliana said automatically, unable to look away from the dismantling. She felt uneasy. Her skin seemed loose, like it was sliding over her bones.
    The engineer stepped aside, and the robot’s face was intact, staring at her.
    “Why would I turn off the power, huh?” Diego was still staring at the television, the light washing out his features. “I’d want to be off the continent before I even thought about it. And I sure as fuck wouldn’t do that when you were in the middle of a Last Night parade. Jesus. ”
    On the television, the engineer announced that the robot was now completely inoperative. Dead, thought Eliana, and then Diego’s words registered with her— when you were in the middle of a Last Night parade.
    “Oh,” Eliana said.
    “I may be an asshole,” Diego said, “but I don’t want to kill everyone in the city.”
    “I didn’t think—”
    “Whatever. It’s done.” Diego reached over and turned off the television. The bartender didn’t protest. Diego leaned back on his stool and smoked his cigarette down to the filter and then lit another.
    “I’m sorry,” Eliana said. “I really didn’t think that you—that you would do that. I’m just on edge because of something I’m working on.”
    Diego sighed. “You better be staying away from Cabrera.”
    “I am.” An almost-truth.
    “You know what? Don’t worry about it. I’ve had a long day too.” Diego drained the last of his drink. “Let’s go back to your place.”
    Eliana stared at him. He stared back, then stubbed out his cigarette.
    “Or I’ll go home,” he said.
    “I’m meeting Maria in an hour.” Eliana looked at her beer and her food. She’d hardly touched it. “We can wait at my place, though, if you want. I just— That thing had a face . Did you see?”
    “They all have faces.” Diego slid off his bar stool, grabbed Eliana’s hand, and pulled her over beside him. The dark scent of his cologne washed over her, and when he kissed her, she let him. Easier than asking questions.
    *  *  *  *
    Maria was late, which wasn’t much of a surprise. Eliana’d gone back