Eva awoke the following afternoon in the campsite. She and Rovender had explored the rotting tomes in the large domed vault until exhaustion had finally overtaken them. For lunch they dined on roasted turnfins that Rovender had caught and dressed that morning. Just as he’d said, they were quite delicious.

Later, as the orange sun began to set, a haunting humming sound neared where Eva was sitting. Besteel’s glider, now piloted by Rovender, set down next to the camp. Rovender hopped off and held out a hand to Eva. “It is time. Come,” he said.

Eva climbed onto the glider. She sat behind Rovender as he navigated the craft higher and higher into the fading sky. They soared over the ruins in the coming twilight until he brought the glider down onto the rooftop of the largest standing structure. With lanterns in hand the two hopped off the aircraft and made their way across the flat roof through roosting turnfins in great growths of lichens and moss.

At the center of the rooftop, lying on her back and surrounded by brilliant flowers, was Multi-Utility Task Help Robot zero-six.

Eva stared down at the closed eyelids and the silicone rubber face. Her busy mind settled and became quiet as dusk soaked everything in the land. Rovender put an arm around her. “I hope it is as you have wished it, Eva Nine,” he said, his voice soft.

Eva sniffed. “Now she can always see the real sun—the real moon—forever.”

Rovender knelt down in front of Eva. “Your mother contained a good spirit. A loving spirit. A spirit that will not cease to exist.”

Eva looked at him, her brows furrowed.

Rovender placed his arm around Eva’s shoulders. “You see, she lives within you now, in all of the lessons that she taught you. Lessons you will never forget. Lessons you will always carry with you . . . and will one day pass on.”

Eva nodded. From her satchel she pulled out the old tome, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She bent down and placed the book, pristine and untarnished, in the robot’s rubber-tipped hand. Over her heart.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Your WondLa.” Rovender looked down at the book. “You do not want it?”

“It’s okay, Rovee,” Eva said, and took his hand. “I’ve found what I was looking for.”

EPILOGUE

So, do you think this thing will get us there? Back to your village?” Eva and Rovender were back at camp loading their few supplies onto the glider.