One of the guests, a woman in diamonds, leaned forward. “Is she… is she aware?”
The ballroom was silent except for the soft, hydraulic hiss of polished chrome pistons. Velvet ropes cordoned off the center of the floor, where a single spotlight fell upon a rotating dais.
“Posture check,” he murmured.
A silver cart rolled up beside her. Behind it, wearing welder’s goggles and a tuxedo jacket, was . He didn’t speak to the guests. He spoke only to it .
“Would you like a closer look?” the Dollmaker asked. “I have another piece in the workshop. One that smiles.”
One of the guests, a woman in diamonds, leaned forward. “Is she… is she aware?”
The ballroom was silent except for the soft, hydraulic hiss of polished chrome pistons. Velvet ropes cordoned off the center of the floor, where a single spotlight fell upon a rotating dais.
“Posture check,” he murmured.
A silver cart rolled up beside her. Behind it, wearing welder’s goggles and a tuxedo jacket, was . He didn’t speak to the guests. He spoke only to it .
“Would you like a closer look?” the Dollmaker asked. “I have another piece in the workshop. One that smiles.”
