Chapter 3
When The Sun Goes Down

"Maybe it can't see us if we don't move or speak, it might be voice or movement activated" he assured, as I gave him an angry look.
 "MMMPH, GGMPHHT!" I exclaimed.
 "Shhh!"
 So we sat there, dead quiet. It looked like Frederick was terrified, though he denied it later. I, however, was more excited than scared. The thing walked right in front of us. It almost ran over my foot. I held in my breath again. It sped right past us and did nothing.
 When it was far enough away Frederick said, "Maybe I was right, they can't see us unless we move."
 I let out a long sigh as I released the air I'd been holding in. "Or speak. Of course there's also the possibility that it's not out to get us, maybe It's just a street cleaner or something"
 "Right, a street cleaner that rips up the pavement?"
 "Don't be so smart!" I replied. Then after thinking a little, I added, "Let's follow it!"
 "Oh, um, well . . . " Frederick tried to come up with a good reason not to go. When that failed, he asked me why it would be a good reason to go.
 "Obviously to find out who's in charge of this trash can! Those things must have a human behind them" I answered "C'mon you wimp! Just come with me" I half pleaded, half ordered. He gave in.
 We found the robot type thing and followed it. It went for about an hour without stopping even for a second, until it finally arrived "home".  It led us to a huge castle made out of blue marble. It had windows everywhere, but they were all tinted. They could have just as well been painted on. It was covered with ivy but not so much that it looked uninhibited. In fact, it gave it a bit of a friendly feel. It was enormous with at least ten different stories, like something out of an old fairy tale. We were about to get a closer look, when I shivered so hard I lost my balance and fell over. The air was rapidly beginning to freeze as what was left of the sun began to set. Frederick helped me up and gave me his sweater but as the sun disappeared over the top of the buildings I started to shake uncontrollably. There was a shadow all around us. I had been right earlier, no power what-so-ever. It was pitch black. There were power lines and lamp posts but none of them were on. I was feeling quite tired and wanted to sleep but Frederick was still in awe about the whole thing.
 "Besides," he said "someone needs to stay awake to make sure none of those things come back."
 "Right. I'll sleep, you keep watch."
 "Fine.  I don't mind at all. I'm not going to be able to sleep anyway.  I need to reflect on this whole situation. You know, examine the possibilities and come up with a plan to fix this whole misunderstanding. Maybe if I . . . "
 But I wasn't listening, I'd already laid my head on his shoulder and drifted off. As my breathing slowed down and he wrapped his arms around me I stopped shivering and my dreams were odd, but pleasant.