Page 75 of Condemned

But first, how did a thief escape this temple? She’d seen no windows in this inner section, only skylights high above. She might have to climb out. It was a long way up. A ladder or pitons would be required.

“You may begin here.” There seemed a malicious light in the eyes of Praise as she placed a dust cloth and bottle of cleaning spray in her hands. A broom, mop, and bucket rested near the door they’d come through.

“Oh. Thanks.”

She hadn’t been listening well and whatever Praise babbled soon vanished from her head. So much for learning. Avalon turned in place, examining this room, this stage really. There were seats for watchers beyond the stage.

In the very middle of the stage was what she thought she’d heard Praise call the sacrifice table. It was more of a Y-shaped frame, set horizontally like a table.

Praise’s words wafted back in: “The female is fastened down and her legs thusly strapped apart and spread for the better access of the lovemaking apparatus of the machine.”

“Whoa. I see.”

The wide skylight two stories above cast a broad shaft of light down upon the machine; the reflections of gold and silver made it seem more art than technology, more a creation of the heavens than a money-making fucking device.

And was that so-called apparatus the spear-like bit extending outward, with the black dildo thing on the end? Oh, boy, she was fucked.

Though used to the primitive machinery created in hobby cottages by tech enthusiasts, she recognized its era of production. It was old tech and so was smoother on the outside, with few visible moving parts. A large storage tank bulged at the rear. It resembled an insect on its six angular legs with the thumping great toes. This thing was big. It reached past her shoulder height, she guessed, not willing to get closer to check.

Though the feet were bolted to the floor.

The silver-and-gold head and body resembled a praying mantis from Old Earth. Emblazoned across the overly polished center of its chest were some thick letters. She presumed the blue paint on those was a new addition, since the hue matched the temple shade of blue.

ARBO.

Let it run about on the streets and this machine would rock to the very edge of the size a battle sat would want to blow apart. Almost, but probably just shy of being large enough. It fascinated her. An ancient machine, even if it was designed only to fuck. How... quaint.

“This is the Chamber of Love,” Praise smirked. “This is where Arbo, our lovely machine, will fuck you tomorrow...” The woman seemed to relish using the F word when no priest could hear. “...after we tie you down. Dust and polish it well. You will not be fed until your work is done.”

Then she stalked briskly away and disappeared through the rear door.

Which was when Nibbles chose to scurry onto the stage via the steps leading to the audience area. He was small and she supposed that’d make it easy to elude guards. The real question was, why was he here?

“Nibbles!” she whispered, crouching and smiling as he ran to her, golden eyes gleaming. “So, one good friend I do have. Now we need to conspire and break out of here.”

She needed to consider all the possibilities, the exits and entries, the skylights, and maybe while she cleaned, she could count the guards and find some gear? This might take days.

Even looking at the large machine situated mid-stage made her wince. “I think I’ll begin by mopping the floor near the wall.”

What use would Nibbles be? If he fixed that fucking machine, as he seemed inclined to do, considering how he was hopping and scampering all over its contours, she’d only get fucked more efficiently.

Avalon sighed and trudged to the mop and bucket. Oh, crap, she’d forgotten this efsana state would do things to the males around her. Another problem to add to her pile. While she mopped, she kept an eye on what Nibbles was up to. He seemed fascinated by the love machine, by Arbo.

Dreading what she might see or feel when she ventured too close, Avalon dusted and cleaned everywhere except the center then left for the other rooms Praise had indicated she should clean. Hours later, hungry, and worried some of the guards she’d seen were looking at her as if she were a snack, she returned to the Chamber of Love.

Nibbles had not appeared to her again. He always had gravitated toward the thing most in need of repair. Quite possibly Arbo had never had anything much done to it... him, since Quarantine. His insides might be a haven of rust and spiders.

Too curious to stop herself any longer, she trailed her mop across the floor, leaving a wet line as she made her way to the center.

Upon her arrival at Arbo, the mouse-bot popped out from where it had been dwelling—the guts of this machine—with a long piece of plasticized white paper in his mouth. There was writing on the strip. Gingerly, she took it from Nibbles and read it to the end then flipped it over where there were more words.

Demo Mode. Remove this spacer after purchase to activate fully.

Recharge bot in sunlight daily to maintain battery life.

“Ooookaaaay.” What the fuckles? “Nibbles, what have you done?” She stumbled back as the Arbo bot shuddered and rose.

When it took a step forward and swiveled its mantis head and eyes toward her, she realized a crucial point... The freaky fucking legs were no longer bolted down.