The Ice Harvesters
The sudden noise put everyone on edge. Rahim and Shayla looked around in surprise.
“Did you make that noise?” Shayla asked Nelson. The bot shook its head.
“Why didn’t Roofus warn us?” Shayla lowered her voice, “Nelson, please check outside, but do so quietly.”
The robot turned its head and walked slowly toward the door, focusing its hearing. It looked back at Shayla sharply, “Someone is outside. It’s … Jim!”
“The prisoners!” The scheduler stuttered, his mouth agape.
“How did they know? They couldn’t, t-t-they shouldn’t …” The man blubbered, “Please, don’t let them get to me. They’ll rip me apart.”
“Who the vac is Jim?” Shayla asked.
“Ze helped me fend off the other prisoners without hurting them. Jim is very nice. Should I go talk to zim?” Nelson raised an arm to
