MOAB

Chapter 4i^3

Chapter 4i^3

“…By accepting these terms and conditions, the user confirms to have read, understood and accepted its contents. Position your thumb on your current location on the globe and then place the globe in this unit’s hand to initiate the Ellipsis project.”

Ourania’s upturned palm loosened and the globe dropped to the floor, rolling towards Yanni. He made no effort to catch it, he merely stared at it. Her head relaxed and tilted to the right side, while her eyes closed.

The muse stayed frozen in that exact same position.

The couple was watching in silence the whole time as Ourania recited the terms and conditions of this arrangement, up until the globe drop.

Thalia walked carefully near Ourania and leaned in to hear her breathe. She heard nothing. “If this hadn’t happened, I would be left believing you were kidding me.”

“Me as well,” he said. He picked up the globe and placed it carefully on the table in front of him.

“She is so lifelike!”

“I see that. Well, this means two things: one, that she is very advanced, well beyond anything available commercially right now, and two, that she is very expensive. Both are in our favour, since the whole experience is making me comfortable that the method is something real,” said Yanni.

Thalia prodded Ourania’s hand with her finger. “Yeah, you can do it honey. I know you can,” she said absent-mindedly.

“Okay, this is happening. All right, the laser is coming tomorrow, you are packed and ready to go to your mom’s…”

Thalia went into the kitchen and brought two frying pans. She tiptoed behind the still Ourania and raised one in each hand.

“…We’ll talk to Georgie tonight about me not seeing you all for a month. Will it be a month, I dunno?” Yanni asked himself and scratched his head.

Thalia banged the two frying pans together in a GONG sound behind Ourania’s head and Yanni jumped up. “Even I got scared and I was expecting it!” she said, acting way too excited for a mother of two.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Come on, you know you wanted to try scaring her too. OK, the test is conclusive, she is an android,” said Thalia and scribbled on her imaginary notepad. “Or she died sitting upright.”

“I’m pretty sure all this is being recorded. At least for scientific purposes. Cut that out. Did you use to pull at your father’s beard as well when he dressed up as Santa?”

“Nah, I knew Santa wasn’t real,” Thalia replied and leaned her head close to inspect Ourania.

“Neither are Muses, but here we are believing in them.”

Thalia pursed her lips and approached him. “It will all work out. It’s like you said, this is looking pretty serious. You never know what happens, this might be it.” She sat on his lap. “Look at me. We’ll do this. Whatever it takes.”

Yanni said, “You know your mom will think we are splitting up. She will search for a replacement husband and everything.”

“I know, she’ll never believe this.” Thalia put her arms around her husband and kissed him. “Leave that up to me.” She began pulling up his shirt.

“What are you doing, baby?” asked Yanni, half-stopping her, half going along with it.

“Well, if I’m going to be missing my husband for a couple of months, I want to have fresh stuff to remember,” she said to him with a teasing voice and brought her body close to him. “You know, for all those lonely nights.”

“This is so kinky, even for you,” he said between her kisses. “Are you sure you wanna do it here?” he asked, looking at the direction of the immobile Ourania.

“Yes, if I’m gonna leave you here with her, I’ll make sure you’ll be thinking of me.”

“A distraction then?”

“I don’t care,” she said, and they had s*x right there on the couch.