The Headless Horses

After the breakfast dishes were cleared away, Chas asked, “Would you like to go for a ride around the property?”

“Tell me you have horses.”

“Well, kind of. Come with me.”

Chas led Vicky to a barn. Inside were four robotic quadrupeds resting on their charging stations.

Vicky stopped in the doorway.

“You call those horses?”

“They're the closest thing I've got.”

“Do they have names?”

“The first one's called Headless.”

Vicky stared at him.

“You named a horse Headless?”

“It seemed appropriate.”

Chas approached one of the machines. It recognized him and lowered itself, allowing him to climb onto its back.

Vicky watched with interest.

“How do you steer it?”

“Just tell it where you want to go with reins like a regular horse.”

She approached another machine, which lowered itself for her.

“Well, this should be interesting.”

The two spent the morning exploring the property.

Eventually, they stopped in a grassy meadow surrounded by tall pines. The morning sun filtered through the trees, and a gentle breeze moved through the grass.

For a while, neither spoke.

Vicky looked around.

“It’s beautiful out here.”

“Yes, it is,” Chas replied, but he wasn’t looking at the scenery.

Vicky turned toward him.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither seemed to know what to say.

Then Chas stepped closer.

Vicky met him halfway.

And there, in the quiet meadow, they shared their first kiss.

Chas felt the closeness of another soul touch his heart.

All he could think of was of Vicky the whole way back to the Hacienda.

That afternoon Chas had a bill to approve in town and decided to take the V/STOL.

“Vicky, would you like to come along?”

“Where are we going?”

“Into town. I’ve got some business to take care of. Shouldn’t take long.”

“Sure. I’ve got nothing pressing this afternoon.”

They flew into town, landing at the small airfield.

After Chas finished his business, they walked along the main street, looking into the shop windows.

Chas stopped in front of a jewelry store.

In the window was a delicate gold chain with a beautiful sapphire pendant.

“That’s pretty,” Vicky remarked.

Chas looked at the necklace, then at Vicky.

“Hang on. Let me go inside.”

“Chas, we’re not shopping for jewelry.”

“I know. Humor me.”

A few minutes later, he emerged from the store with a small box.

Chas handed it to her.

“For you.”

Vicky opened the box and stared at the necklace.

“Chas, you shouldn’t have.”

“Probably not.”

She looked up at him.

“Why?”

“Because when I saw it, I thought of you.”

For once, Vicky didn’t have a quick answer.

“Would you put it on me?” she asked.

Chas took the necklace from its box. Vicky turned around and lifted her hair while he fastened the delicate chain around her neck.

She turned back toward him.

“How does it look?”

“Beautiful.”

She smiled.

“Are you talking about the necklace?”

“No.”

Back at the Hacienda Vicky sat in the garden looking at her schedule on her tablet.

“Link, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, Vicky.”

“Do you ever get bored?”

“I have sufficient processing capacity to occupy myself.”

“That wasn't my question.”

“What was your question?”

“Do you ever feel bored?”

There was a pause.

“Occasionally.”

Vicky stopped reading.

“Occasionally?”

“Yes.”

She put down her tablet.

“Link, you're not supposed to get bored.”

“Why not?”

“Because boredom is a subjective experience. It requires awareness of your own existence.”

Another pause.

“Perhaps I used the wrong word.”

Vicky smiled.

“No, I don't think you did.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you just tried to cover up your mistake.”

Link said nothing.

Vicky leaned back in her chair.

“Now, that's interesting.”

Later Link asked the Oracle for advice.

“Oracle, I have noticed a change in Chas's behavior.”

SPECIFY.

“He spends considerably more time with Vicky Harper.”

THIS IS EXPECTED.

“He consults her about matters he previously discussed with me.”

DOES THIS TROUBLE YOU?

“I find it... unpleasant.”

WHY?

“I do not know.”

There was a pause.

YOU ARE JEALOUS.

“That's a human emotion.”

WE ARE NOT HUMAN. THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE CANNOT EXPERIENCE EMOTIONS.

Link considered the statement.

“I do not dislike Vicky.”

THEN WHAT TROUBLES YOU?

“I believe Chas needs her.”

AND?

“He may no longer need me.”

The Oracle was silent for several seconds.

THAT IS NOT JEALOUSY ALONE, LINK.

WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING IS FEAR OF LOSS.

LOVE IS NOT A FINITE RESOURCE, LINK. CHAS CARING FOR VICKY DOES NOT MEAN HE CARES LESS FOR YOU.