An Android Dog's Tale (33 page)

He set down the power converter on the floor
near the doors to the transport system. He dropped the sheet of
vellum next to it and then found a reasonably comfortable way to
lie on top of them so that an overambitious maintenance robot would
not try to return them to their proper locations on some shelf. All
set. Just one more thing to do.

The android dog closed both eyes and
triggered his shutdown protocols. In a few seconds, he would be
little more than a lumpy rug in front of the door. Under on paw, he
placed a note with only two words in large, crooked letters—‘WAKE
ME.’

~END~

An Android Dog’s Tale
-
Not only does MO-126 look like a dog, his core behavioral program
is derived from canine instincts. This may be one reason he finds
the smelly primitives imported to work this Corporation
agricultural project so fascinating. Despite their contradictory
tendencies, he believes humans have potential. In fact, he likes
them. This places him in something of a dilemma. Whose interests
should come first—the Project’s or the humans’? He must make
choices, as must all sentient creatures, but what if he chooses
wrong? If the corporation abandons the Project, will the humans be
able to survive on their own?

The Warden Threat
- A
lighthearted tale of looming war, subversion, and a terrible
magical weapon. Prince Donald, the idealistic third son of the king
of Westgrove, believes he may be the only one able to protect his
country from an invasion spearheaded by an ancient and massive
stone warrior known as the Warden of Mystic Defiance. Donald,
unfortunately, is woefully unprepared. His only real understanding
of such things comes from his reading of adventure stories, which
he soon discovers understate the realities and hardships of such
quests. His guide, Kwestor, a competent but jaded ranger, feels
seeking adventure is the same as asking for trouble. Donald finds
both, as well as an answer he never expected.

The Warden War
- This
sequel continues the quest begun by Prince Donald in The Warden
Threat. His father, the king of Westgrove, has been told the
neighboring kingdom of Gotrox has discovered a magical means to
animate a mysterious and gigantic ancient stone warrior, the Warden
of Mystic Defiance, which it plans to use it to spearhead an
invasion of his kingdom. Donald is convinced this is a hoax, a
deception contrived by his father’s chief adviser to bring about a
war. Donald is determined to thwart him. It will not be easy. Chief
Adviser Horace Barter has several advantages. He has resources,
connections, influence, and the almost unquestioned trust of the
king. Donald, sadly, has none of these. What the young prince has
is a nominal position with the diplomatic team being sent to Gotrox
and the companionship of a few rather unique friends, including a
pair of 15,000-year-old androids, one of which is a dog—or a
reasonable facsimile thereof.

Amy’s Pendant
- Amy, the
only child of a poor family living in the bustling city of Dolphin
Point, is given an amazing and potentially dangerous pendant as a
present for her fourteenth birthday. She does not know how amazing
or how potentially dangerous it is. If she did, she would cherish
it even more. She is that kind of girl.

Through her investigations of the mysterious
pendant, she uncovers an ancient mystery, the remnants of a vast
alien commercial enterprise buried beneath the surface of the
planet. Unfortunately, the central computer for the complex is
aware of her intrusion and it cannot let her escape with knowledge
of its existence.

Disturbing Clockwork
- On
a small island called Bob off the southern shore of the great
Kingdom of Westgrove, Benkin, a brilliant if somewhat quirky
scientist, discovers something extraordinary—clockwork automatons
that can obey commands. For Benkin, this is an amazing scientific
discovery, one he wants to explore; one he believes may
revolutionize mankind’s understanding of the world. For Snyde, a
fugitive from the king’s justice, it is something he can
use....

D.L. Morrese’s books are available from in
paperback and digital editions from fine online retailers
worldwide.

D.L. Morrese is an award-winning author of
speculative fiction books that have been called science fiction for
fantasy readers. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.,
where he spends most of his time reading, thinking, and writing,
although not necessarily in that order. You can learn more about
him and his books at
http://dlmorrese.wordpress.com/
.
Leave a comment if you wish. He does read them.