Anna snorted. “She can live in a stall.”
“I bet she would like that actually, but there are rooms in that living area to the side. There aren’t any beds though.”
“Well, androids don’t sleep.”
Nora rolled her eyes. “I know that.”
They both turned to look back at the buildings. Nora elbowed her. “What are the androids going to say when we ask to stay?”
“I don’t know.” The smile on Anna’s face faltered. “Do you think they’ll let us?”
“Maybe.” Nora sighed. “They already think we’re wild. That Pearl and Ria would be happy we’re not there too.”
“I guess we’re living up to their expectations then.” Anna pictured Atlas’s face. “What’s Atlas gonna think?”
“Atlas?” Nora elbowed her. “Your Atlas? I think he might put in a good word.”
“Not my Atlas.” Anna ran a hand through her hair. “Besides, he is part of them.”
“Why are you worried about what he might think then?”
Anna felt her cheeks turn red. “He kind of is my doctor, Nora.”
“Ah. Is that it?” Nora wiggled her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t you start!” Anna laughed. She glanced at the dark green machines right above them. “Look above. Drones are there. I bet they already know anyway.”
They were out of place in the sky, at least four of them, hovering. They were green, just like the ones around Earth but without any dust on the sides. A hovering reminder that despite feeling like they were alone, they really weren’t.
Nora waved up at them. “That depends on how much they’re listening in.”
The image of Atlas’s face filled with disapproval morphed into Paul’s sneer. She firmed her shoulders.He’s not here. Neither of them are. I’m making decisions for myself for a change.She bit down on her lip.Hopefully everyone will understand.
And by everyone, she mostly meant Atlas.
“Where’s Simon?” Nora’s eyes whipped around. “We might as well start talking about it then.” She yelled out, “Simonnn!”
Simon came out from the barn a second later, Tilly trotting by his side. “Noraaa?”
“Stop that!” Nora waved him over. “What do you think, Simon?”
His brow furrowed. “About what?”
“Here.” She spread her arms out wide around her. “I have the same feeling I did when I found my little home in the desert. Unless there’s something better nearby, this feels fine. I want to stay here.” She pointed at Anna. “We both do.”
Tilly began bouncing on her feet. She ran up to Nora and pulled on her shirt. “Really? With the cows?”
Nora shook the little girl’s hand in the air. “Yeah.”
Simon’s green eyes sparkled. “I brought you all the way to Mars for you to want to live in a barn?”
“It’s a beautiful barn.”
The mock look of disapproval from Simon was so comical that Anna started to laugh, Nora joining in. The wind picked up, lifting both their hair and bringing the smell of the cows closer. A beautiful barn. A beautiful pasture. And the smell they would just have to get used to. At least it was real and didn’t smell like that awful rain perfume Stella wore.
“Alright, alright.” Simon grinned a second later. “I feel like I need to be the voice of reason. There’s no kitchen or bathroom. These facilities weren’t designed for permanent living.”
“Neither was my home back on Earth. Everything was fine.” Nora said.
