Eva and Muthr followed in single file behind their guide. For the remainder of the morning they traveled along a winding animal trail through the thick brush. Eva and Rovender chatted while Muthr recorded endless data with the Omnipod. They spooked a covey of birds, which flew overhead, warbling aloud to one another.

“I’ve seen these before. What are they?” Eva asked.

“Turnfins,” Rovender replied. “They are everywhere, and eat everything. Feed one of them and soon you’re feeding the entire flock. That makes catching them easy.”

“Turnfins,” Muthr repeated as she entered the data into the Omnipod.

Eva watched the birds disappear into the shadows of the forest. “Catch them? For a pet?”

Rovender chuckled. “No, Eva Nine—for food. They are actually quite delicious if prepared properly.”

“For food?” Eva thought of the turnfins that had greeted her the first morning of her escape, roosting on the wandering tree next to her. She thought of the weeping bird-catchers capturing and devouring them. She thought of herself captured, just like the pair of turnfins, in Besteel’s camp. She shuddered at the memory of the brute cutting up the giant water bear and consuming its organs. Her stomach twisted.

Rovender turned back to Eva, smiling. “Maybe we’ll catch some for dinner tonight, eh? I know a delicious recipe.”

Eva’s stomach curdled at the words Rovender had spoken. “How could you do that? That’s just like something Besteel would do!” she said.

Rovender stopped, turned, and seized Eva by the arm. “Never say that I am like Besteel,” he growled. “That brute is a monster who kills for sport. I only take what I need from the forest, when I need it to survive.”

“Yeah, but—”

“You do not understand, Eva Nine,” Rovender said with restraint in his voice. “There may come a time when you, too, will have to live off of this land. Those pellets you carry around won’t last forever.”

“They should last for more than a month,” Muthr piped up as she approached. “Thirty-four days, to be exact. Please take your hands off her, Mr. Kitt.”

Eva looked up at Muthr, then back at Rovender. The lanky creature let go of her, saying nothing.

Muthr continued, “That should be adequate time for us to reunite with other humans at the next settlement.”

“I will tell you, Mother Robot, the same thing I have told Eva: I have traveled all over this landscape, and I have yet to see another like either of you.” Rovender turned away and started back down the trail.

“Well, then, perhaps we should head toward the coordinates that the Sanctuary gave instead of this city you speak of,” Muthr replied.

Rovender stopped and shook his head. “I was better off when I couldn’t understand her,” he grumbled.

Eva put her hands over her mouth, subduing a snicker.

“What is that?” Muthr asked.