The Bronze Sphere

C.E. 1903

A TOWN IN AMERICA

Sunlight gleamed on the bronze orb in Julia William’s hand. It was the size of a baseball with a line right in the middle, with three dots between the center and the top. Eight deep grooves ran towards the bottom of the sphere and a red circle sat on top, four running up to the line.

     The ten-year-old girl with long curly brown braids observed carefully, turning the sphere in her hand. Out of all the objects Julia found in the attic, she liked to rummage through the things whenever she was bored, this was the first thing that interested her. What is more, she found right behind her later grandfather’s case, where his travel journals were.

     I wonder what it is. She looked behind the case. I wonder how it got there.

     “Julia,” her father cried. “Your grandmother’s here.”

     “Coming,” Julia shouted.

     Julia hid the orb behind the large chest, which she shoved back. As she ran towards entrance, Julia looked back. Sunlight entered through the open square window, bathing the attic with a nice warmth, and touching the few cases that filled the large upper room. Not a single dust, as father made sure to keep everything neat and clean.

     Making sure that there was not even a smudge on her orange dress, Julia climbed down the ladder. She should show her grandmother. Maybe she might know just what it is.

The bronze sphere rolled from behind the crate. The dots glowed with just a glimmer as the four grooves stretched down into legs and other four up into arms, the ends into tiny arms. The automaton scampered towards the door, but just as it was near the door, it stopped. Three antennae rose and twitched. It listened. No voices. Perfect.

     Slowly, the automaton moved the latched and opened down the door just enough for it to pass through. As soon as it exited, it quickly closed back the door, pressed its legs on the ceiling and scuttered. The eyes observed its strange new surroundings as it continued forth.

Even before the horse pulled the carriage to a stop, nine-year-old Julia Williams rushed out of the porch and down the path, just as grandma Laura Williams exited.

     “Grandma,” Julia cried with glee.

     She threw herself in her grandmother’s arms, which lifted up the ten-year-old girl in a tight embrace. Sweet perfume touched Julia’s nostrils.

     “Good to see you, Julia,” Laura Williams said pleasantly.

     Julia looked up. Small eyes shone with admiration above a short thin nose and thin lips curved up in a smile. There was hardly a wrinkle on that box face, framed by thick grey curls. To Julia, her grandmother looked even more nice in that simple deep blue dress.

     “Save some of that love for me,” John Williams said with a chuckle.

     Julia let go. Her father embraced his mother and after that, her mother Susan and Karen, Julia’s sister, had their turn at greeting Grandma Laura. John paid the driver and thanking with a tip of the hat, the carriage drove off with a gentle clop of the hooves.

     A lively conversation followed as everyone walked up the path.

The automaton peeked through the curtains of the living room window. It was such a joyous scene, the humans sharing their friendlessness and love. Such things, sadly, most humans take too much for granted.

     As the family came up the path, the automaton quickly scampered along the wall and up towards the ceiling. Soon, it knew, it will have to reveal itself.

The hands on the grandfather clock struck ten at night and with the wares washed after a light but hearty dinner, everyone retired to bed. Julia, Susan and Grandma Laura sat on the long living room chair, going through the photographs of the countries that her grandmother had visited.

     “Can I stay up, mother?” Julia pleaded.

     “Time for bed, young lady,” Susan said with a firm smile.

     “Mother knows best,” Laura said with point.

     “All right,” Julia moaned.

     Susan closed the book. She stood. “Besides,” she said simply. “An early night’s sleep is good for the soul I always say.”

     “You heard Miss Susan,” said Susan. “Off to bed.”

     “Good night, mother,” Julia said.

     “Good night.”

     “Sleep well, Susan,” Grandma Laura said with a small smile.

     “Good night.”

     As soon as both Susan and Julia were up the stairs, Julia beckoned and her grandmother leaned over. “I want to show you something,” Julia whispered quickly.

Julia held the flashlight with care as she followed Grandma Laura into the attic. The wooden walls were bathed in a bright yellow light, the shadows of the two long. A light wind threw some flower petals from outside the window.

     “Your grandfather and I built this place not long after we were married,” Grandma Laura said with joy.

     “How long did it take?”

     “One year,” Grandma Laura said with pride. “Your grandfather designed this house and I picked out the furnishings.”

     “I thought you said, you and grandpa built this house,” Julia quipped.

     “My dear child, choosing furniture is part of building a house,” Grandma Laura said jokingly with point.

     Julia could not help but chuckle at that reply. Suddenly, she pointed. “There, I put it behind grandpa’s trunk.”

     “Let me help you,” said Grandma Laura.

     As soon as Julia put down the flashlight, the two pulled the chest away from the wall. Julia shone the lantern.

     “It’s not here,” the girl gasped.

     “Are you sure you left it here?”

     “Sure I’m sure,” Julia said with confidence. “I didn’t move it.”

     “What did it look like?’ Grandma Laura asked at once.

     Julia described the orb in detail, and how she discovered it.

     Grandma Laura nodded, the ends of her lips curved down a bit. A sign that Julia knew whenever the older woman was in thought.

     A few seconds past and Julia waited. The girl stood motionless, waiting. Did her dear grandmother not believe her?

     Finally, Grandma Laura heaved her chest, features serious. “It must still be in the house. We must find it before your parents and sister wake up. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. I have my reason. If it’s still in the house, we must find it.”

     It was the first time Julia ever seen her grandmother in such a manner. She blinked. It worried her. As if understanding the girl’s thoughts, Grandma Laura placed a gentle palm on her Julia’s shoulder and her face became kind. “I will explain afterwards. Will you trust me?”

     In answer, Julia showed a small smile.

     “Let’s get going,” Grandma Laura said with excitement.

The back door opened inwards with barely a creek.

     Two men sneaked it, pistols in one hand, a flashlight in the other, faces concealed behind sack cloths, save for holes that allowed them to see.

     “Where’s the safe?” Mike said with a whisper.

     “In the office,” Ian replied matter of fact. “I know where it is.”

     “Let’s just grab the money and get out of here.”

     “Don’t worry,” Ian assured. “I know the combination. We can pick the lock to the office, open the safe and grab the money. Then we will be out. Come on.”

The automaton hung upside down from the ceiling.

     Superior sight allowed it to perceive things and object in the dark and it watched as the two human rouges left the kitchen. The automaton followed.

“See anything?” Grandma Laura asked.

     “No,” Julia said with disappointment. “Found anything?”

     “Nothing I’m afraid,” Grandma Laura said with annoyance.

     The orb was nowhere amongst the vegetables or fruits trees in the backyard. Not even among the flowering shrubs that formed around the garden.

     Julia sighed. This was ridiculous. An orb like that wouldn’t just move by itself, unless discovered it and picked it up. If they did, mother, father or even Karen would have said something, and Julia would have remembered moving the orb if she did.

     Worse, both she and her grandmother were outside in their nightgowns. If mother ever saw them through the bedroom window, Julia will be in big trouble.

     Julia sighed again. Where is it?

     “We best get back inside before your parents…,” Grandma Laura gasped suddenly. “Julia, come here, now, and be quiet.”

     The little girl spun around and ran to her grandmother, who beckoned with haste. The older woman pulled Julia to her as she pressed against the wall.

     “What’s wrong?” Julia whispered.

     “I thought I saw lights moving in the house,” Grandma Laura said with vexation. “Could be some burglars.”

     Julia inhaled. “What’re we going to do?”

     “We’re going to sneak back in, that’s what.”

     A small pistol slid into the older woman’s hand from her sleeve. Julia almost let out a scream, but at once slapped her hands over her lips.

     “Don’t worry,” Grandma Laura said at once. “I’ll only use if I must.”

     Julia let out a breath of relief.

     “They could be after your father’s safe. Follow me, and stay close.”

     Julia nodded. Together, they both crept alongside the wall.

As Mike and Ian neared the door, Mike swung his flashlight. A soft clicking sound filled his ears.

     “You hear that?”

     “Hear what?” Ian asked

     Mike listened. His eyes narrowed. “Nothing, must have been…,”

     Ian held up his hand. “Listen.”

     Pistols aimed, the two shone their lights across the kitchen, inspecting the cupboards, stove, ice box and wares. Nothing, but yet, the sound grew. The two walked backwards. Mike gripped the door handle from behind and pressed. It did not open. He tried again, and again, and again.

     “Open the door,” Ian hissed.

     “It’s not opening,” Mike grumbled.

     “Let’s try the front door,” Ian said with annoyance

     Just as they ran through the entrance that separated the kitchen and the living room, the hiss came again, loud and furious. Ian screamed. Mike swung his light upon his partner in crime, who lay still on the floor. Mike eyes widened, as an eight legged monster spun around gripped Ian’s face. It turned swiftly, raised four of its legs and jumped at Mike with a war cry.

     Mike pointed and fired.

“That takes care of the back door,” Grandma Laura said firmly.

     An agonizing cry came from within, followed by another strange sound. Julia back away. “What was that?”

     Grandma Laura grinned. “I think I know.”

By the time grandmother and granddaughter burst through the front door, John, Susan and Karen were rushing downstairs. Julia switched on the lights. There, not far from the space that led to the kitchen, lay a masked man.

      Grandma Laura nodded. “Serves you right,” she said with a growl. “Better tie them up, John. Then we’ll call the police.”

      “Karen, go upstairs and get me some rope,” John ordered.

      Julia’s older sister quickly obeyed, as John dashed towards the kitchen. Julia breathed in a sigh of relief.

      “Young lady,” said Susan sternly.

      Julia inhaled deeply as she slowly faced her mother. Susan’s hands were folded. ‘What were you doing outside?”

      Oh, oh!

      Grandma Laura said with breath. “We both owe you an explanation.”

      As Julia raised her head to avoid her mother’s glare, she saw it. The orb, it now had legs and two of the dots watched. For a moment, Julia though she saw them blink. The orb waved before it scuttled away.

Three days had passed since the incident. The criminals were discovered to be workers at a trading goods store, one of the small businesses owned by John Williams. It was soon learned that Mike and Ian, had a huge gambling debt and the people whom they owned had warned to pay, or else. Mike and Ian learned about the safe from a man who worked at a company that sold safes and gave the two criminals information in exchange a cut of the cash or valuables if they found any. That man was also arrested.

     As for Julia, Susan and John punished her by forbidding her to step outside the house for four straight days and nights.

     On the fifth night after the break in, as the little girl lay on her bed, Julia stared up at the ceiling, she thought, as she did after the police carried Mike and Ian away, about the sphere.

     “Talos is safe with me,” Grandma Laura assured her when they were alone.

     So that it’s name, Julia thought with a small smile.

     Though Julia admitted to sneaking out, Grandma Laura also told of her part. The story told was that Julia thought she lost something important in the garden and that she pleaded with her grandmother to help her, or else her mother will get mad.

     Julia received a firm but kind lecture from her parents and Karen about letting them know, or they might have helped at any time of the day.

     As the past played in her thoughts, a knock pulled her to the present and Julia jumped out of bed and ran to the door, and opened it. Grandma Laura entered, Talos standing in the palm of her hand. It bowed, and let out a playful hum.

     Despite herself, Laura bowed.

     Grandma Laura closed the door behind her. “Sit down.”

     Julia did, and when Grandma Laura sat next to her, she said, “Put out your hand.”

     The girl did. Talos jumped onto her palm and turned around again and again. Julia giggled. Again, Talos curtsied.

     “Your grandfather Ian and I, when we were younger and before your father was even born, went on many adventures,” Grandma Laura said with happiness. “One day, the ship we were on got caught in a typhoon. It’s a heavy rainstorm. We were washed ashore on an island in the Indian Ocean, where we were rescued.  You know Jules Verne right?”

     Off course Julia did. Unlike the other girls her age, she preferred adventure novels, and Jules Verne was the best, the original French, not the terrible English translations.

     Grandma Laura said with a small grin. “Well, the people on the island had many inventions. Automobiles, ships that can travel underwater, vessels that flew and all sort of fantastic machines you could think off. But the best ones were these little automatons, machines than think like a person, but far more human in heart.

     “He became our friend right there and then. We stayed for one whole year, until Ian and I decided to return to the outside world. My husband was a children’s doctor and what he learned on the island, he felt it best to use that knowledge to cure poor children wherever we went. Ian and I even promised to keep the island a sworn secret.

     “The leaders agree and so, they helped us leave.” Grand Laura smirked at Talos. “But this little bugger snuck in our luggage somehow and by the time we reached America, we decided to let him stay.”

     Her features became sad. “After Ian died, we both grieved, until finally, Talos became still. He just, curled up and wasn’t the same lively automaton I knew. I put him at the back of my husband’s case. I couldn’t bear to shut him in. I was surprised that no one ever noticed hm.”

      Talos faced the old woman and let out a sad sound, as if to say, he was sorry.

      Grandma Laura touched him. “I forgive you.”

      Talos leapt up with joy. Laura nodded. She smiled again.

      “Now, it’s time for bed, and as for you Talos, you need your rest.”

      Talos jumped towards Laura’s open hand. Julia said suddenly, “Grandma?”

      “Yes dear.”

      “Can you tell me more, about the island?”

     Grandma Laura sat back down at once. “I’ll be glad to, but only for a few minutes. Agreed?”

     “Yes,” Julia said at once.

     The girl pulled close to her grandmother and Talos sat between them, beckoning with his four limbs with impatience, as if urging his old friend to tell. Julia and Laura chuckled.