Out of the Boxby Steve Martinez
The authors previous stories for us were One Hand Clapping (May 1995)and Bad Asteroid Night(October/November 2001). In his ominous new talehe shows us that while thinking outside the box may be creative, we mustntforget that Pandoras woes also came out of the box.
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It was getting late, and Jacob had let himself get too tired. His mind was beginning to play tricks. He knew the symptoms. But he couldnt let himself fall behind. He had to look good on the job tomorrow, or at least be able to fake it. The trouble was, he was only human. There were only so many hours in the day, and he had to find time to be a husband, a father, and some kind of giant scavenging beetle with too many arms and legs. His old habits got in the way of the latest model remote servo designs he was expected to use. Theres only so much contortion a standard human body can put up with. The fit wasnt one-to-one any more. Getting used to each new model was like learning to walk all over again. But there were moments when he almost had it. Practicing now in virtual reality, he forgot he was sitting all alone in a dark little room of his narrow trailer, sweaty in his pizza-stained T-shirt. For just a moment he was out there, like Shiva, for his fingers had become arms, confident of their power, as long as he didnt actually have to do anything.
Something ran over his foot. He kicked out by reflex, and pulled off his VR
glasses. There was just enough moonlight leaking through the blinds to glimpse something scurry away.
Not now Toby, Im busy. The scurrying started up again, vertical this time, and then a small mechanical visitor climbed onto his desk, about the size of a shoe, shaped like a scorpion except its stinger had eyes like tiny red binoculars, and its claws, more delicate and articulated than a scorpions, were tucked like wings on its back. Something about the way it moved made Jacob suspicious, but he pretended not to notice and said, Did you hear me, Toby? Its past your bedtime.
Im not Toby, the scorpioid replied.
Seriously, I cant play now. Ive got work to do.
Im not playing.
The inflection was synthetic, drooping at the end of the sentence, but somehow Jacob could tell not playing meant not playing. But still he tried to brush it away. You need to get some sleep. Tomorrow...
Youre busy. Ill take this up with your wife, then. Hes her son, too. It turned to go.
Wait! Come back here. We had a deal.
Oh, then you do remember.
Theres no need to get her involved. You agreed to that. Scare her and shes liable to pull the plug.
That would be a pity, wouldnt it?
Yeah, a pity for you. That would be the end of you.
If you believe that, then what are you afraid of?
Jacob had to laugh, not just because he was talking to a childs toy, but because for a moment he caught a glimpse of himself trying to keep up with too many insanities at once. What am I afraid of? Listen, you toy-dybbuk, Im going along with this for your sake as much as my son. Believe it or not.
Then we have an agreement?
Jacob shrugged. I let you out of the box, didnt I?
But do you agree to everything?
Do you agree? said Jacob, pointing his finger right in the toys face, causing it to draw back. You stay away from my son while hes sleeping. Thats the deal.
Its all in the contract, right?
Sure.
Well where is it?
Its all there. Its all agreed to.
Show it to me.
I havent had time to actually write it out. Thats just a formality.
Am I dealing with the wrong person?
Okay, okay, right now. Jacob turned on a long-necked lamp and scrounged up a tablet and pen from a drawer. This will just take a minute. Pretty simple, really.
The little scorpioid came around beside the tablet and watched him write.
Whats that word? it said, pointing with a four-fingered claw.
Circumstance. By the way, are you still calling yourself Not-Toby? Thats your legal name?
Yeah, yeah. Keep going.
He wrote a few more lines, then tapped his chin with his pen. Okay, that should do it. You keep away from my son, and I spell that outyou are not to be in the same room or touch him or cause anything to touch him. And you are not to let on to anyone, especially you-know-who.
Arent you forgetting something?
Its all there. I let you out of the box at night. Or whatever toy you want to play with, only one at a time, just let me know....
The most important thing.
Jacob sighed and folded his hands across his belly. That just seems like kind of a strange thing.
You promised. You do what you promised, or the deal is off.
I didnt say I wouldnt do it. I just dont know what it means.
It means what it means. He belongs to me between the hours of midnight and dawn. Thats what it means.
Okay, he belongs to you, but you cant go near him, you cant touch him, you cant talk to himtalk to him, I forgot to put that down. He took up his pen and started writing. Or communicate in any way, shape or form, or cause to be communicated to. He stopped and grinned self-consciously. But I guess that goes without saying. I mean, hed be asleep.
Are you going to put it down or not?
But what does it mean? You own him, between those hours, but you agree not to do anything about it. Whats the point?
Thats my problem, isnt it?
Mm hmm. I guess what I want to know is why? Why is that important to you?
Why is it important to you? He owns me the rest of the time, so why cant I have a few hours
Oh, is that it? So it feels like youre sharing power. Okay, fair enough. He wrote it down, and signed it.
No. In blood.
Oh, come on, give me a break.
It has to be in blood.
No it doesnt. Ink will do just fine. Ink is the standard medium for all legal contracts, foreign and domestic.
The deal is off.
Damn it! He searched around in the drawer. Lets see, I may not have anything sharp...
He looked up to see the toy plodding toward him, one claw holding an open safety pin. You really came prepared, didnt you? said Jacob, reaching out, but instead of handing it to him, the little monster jabbed his finger.
Jeez! Toby! Is that you? Are you doing this? Id better not find out youre up to some kind of joke because this is long past funny. Do you hear what Im telling you? Huh?
Is that enough blood, or would you like another poke?
They stared eye to eye for a moment, but there was no turning back now. Too much to lose. He smeared on the page with his bloody finger, then pressed it to his lips.
Cant read it, said the scorpioid.
Kiss my ass.
It gave him another stare, and seemed about to say something, then bent down and scratched a few letters with the tip of the pin.
Oh sure, you get to use my blood.
This is good. Whats done in blood cannot be undone.
Thats funny, didnt I read that in some story book?
I wouldnt know. What time is it?
Theres still time. Plenty of time. We still havent finished our talk.
What talk?
Remember last time? I was trying to find out what youre so mad about.
Never mind.
Because I was just thinking
I know what you think.
No, not that. I thought maybe...
Drop it! It reared up on its four front legs, its neck stretched high, claws twitching.
Maybe youre angry because youre small. You dont want to stay small the rest of your life, do you? Theres a limited range of toys you got there, and you go from one to another. Youre tired of that, arent you?
It relaxed a bit. I just want to be free.
Of course you do. Being small is just temporary. Thats for practice. Someday youre going to be much better than I ever was
I already am.
Of course you are.
Stop trying to butter me up. I know what youre going to say and I dont want to hear it.
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