“It’s just stood there.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“No, I’m not.”
Monk lowered one hand and then the other, his eyes wet like a rained-on window. He stretched out one nervous hand towards the giant and tapped upon its steel boot: no response of any kind was forthcoming.
“Automaton,” Monk said daring to kneel up as straight as a bent man could. “Automaton, I’m speaking to you.”
The thing twisted at the waist, screeching like a coal bunker shifted by a gale.
“Do you know who I am?”
The thing nodded like a rusted gate.
“And this man?”
The metal beast repeated the action.
Somerset, fancying himself master of the situation once more, leapt to his feet and stood glaring at the thing.
The automaton showed no acknowledgement of his presence.
“Strange,” said Somerset.
“It possibly see
