Extensis Vitae by Gregory Mattix Read Free Book Online Page A

curious look. “Why don’t we go back to my lab and I’ll fill you in on everything?”
    “Sounds good,” he said. “Maybe on the way we can grab something to eat and drink?”
    “Good idea.”
    As they stepped out into the corridor, Reznik noticed that two new guards were waiting outside the door. Myrna led Reznik down a short hallway to the room with the main security desk. He recognized Cole sitting behind the desk.
    Cole gave Reznik a glare. “Myrna!” he called out. “Can I have a word?”
    Myrna sighed. “Will you give me a minute?” She walked over to Cole. “What is it, Jason?”
    Cole said something in a hushed voice with a glance at Reznik. Myrna looked irritated as she responded to him. After speaking for a moment, Myrna walked back over and waved for Reznik to follow.
    “Everything all right?” Reznik asked once they were back in the main corridor.
    “Yes. Jason’s a little over-protective sometimes, that’s all.”
    “Well, I didn’t give him any reason to like me very much.”
    “That’s very true,” she said with a laugh. Reznik liked the sound of her laugh—it was fresh and genuine.
    “Are the two of you together?”
    She shook her head. “We used to be, but he has a hard time with the ‘used to’ part sometimes.” Reznik nodded.
    They approached the dining room and went inside. Several people were eating at the tables and having casual conversation. All the conversation died as soon as they noticed Reznik. Curious looks and hostile stares met him wherever he looked.
    “It’s not polite to stare, people,” Myrna said with some irritation. A few people mumbled and went back to what they were doing, but most continued to watch, some with undisguised hostility.
    “I see my reputation precedes me,” Reznik quipped quietly to Myrna.
    She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but that’s no excuse for the icy glares. Especially since we are pinning our hopes on you.” She continued walking, but halted when she saw that Reznik had frozen in place.
    “That’s a robot!” he said in shock. A robot had just wheeled out of the kitchen area carrying bowls of food in its four arms. It was about as tall as an average person, and was cylindrical in shape. It had a couple of sensors on its square head that were supposed to look like eyes.
    “How observant,” she said sarcastically. “But yes, we have a few of them around to aid in cooking and cleaning and the like. They also do some work in the reactor chamber, sanitation section, and anywhere else that would be too hazardous for humans.”
    “ How can I be of service, sir and madam? ” the robot asked in a surprisingly human voice. It arranged the food it had been carrying on the counter.
    “Sandwiches sound okay?” Myrna asked Reznik.
    “Sure, that’s fine,” Reznik said.
    “ Yes, madam ,” the robot replied after Myrna ordered two meals. Its four arms reached out in different directions, and, moving in a blur, it assembled two large sandwiches with a generous helping of potato salad on each plate.
    “Thanks,” Reznik replied as he took the plate from the robot. He wondered if it was even necessary to thank a robot.
    “ It was my pleasure, sir ,” the robot replied. Reznik followed Myrna farther along the counter to pick up a glass full of what looked like Kool-Aid and a fork and a napkin. They sat down at a table in the corner.
    Reznik thought the sandwich was roast beef, but he couldn’t be sure. The meat didn’t have any flavor, and the sandwich mostly tasted like mustard. Nonetheless, he scarfed it down, as he was famished. The potato salad tasted like potato salad and was fairly good. The Kool-Aid could have been fruit punch, and had the aftertaste of sugar substitute.
    “How was it?” she asked when they were finished.
    “It was all right—not sure about the mystery meat, though.”
    She smiled. “Doesn’t taste like the roast beef you are used to, huh? Well, this meat is grown in a lab.” She laughed at his surprised