I glanced from the bloody water below up to the edge, even as my tree root started being hauled upward. Just who or what was God utilizing to save me?
Was He saving me?
The idea of an angel went through my mind and I swallowed reflexively at the thought of meeting one of them. It was with complete buyer's shock that I found myself gazing into the masked face of robotic figure instead of an angelic one.
A robotic arm came down and a hand opened wide in obvious invitation, "Take my hand."
The voice was clearly human, but odd sounding. Why was God delivering me into the hands of a Code robot?
I had no choice, but to reach upward and grasp the metal representation of a hand. It gripped my hand firmly and without further warning I was swung upward to land on my feet on top the cliff. I never stopped, but I took off into the jungle as fast as my feet could carry me, as if the hounds of hell were after me. I wanted nothing to do with a Code robot.
The passing vegetation was a blur, as I darted through the humid jungle corridor. I hadn't run like this since high school, where I'd been a star running back on the football team. Everyone said I would have been a great college athlete, but I was turned down for a scholarship in place of another promising prospect.
My dream of being an NFL football star was over and it had probably been for the best. That kind of flashy lifestyle would've likely destroyed me at the time. Instead I was here in this awful jungle doing something truly meaningful with my life.
I glanced back over my shoulder and saw no signs of pursuit by either robot or vengeful headhunter. I came to a stop and bent over trying to catch my breath. I had to get my bearings as to my location in the jungle before I became even more lost than I probably already was.
"You run very fast, but not as fast as me."
My breathing stopped for a moment and I glanced upward to see the robot standing before me not even breathing hard. The way she spoke was odd, almost as if she had learned to speak, as if she was deaf to the sounding out of her own words. Although her voice was husky the feminine outline beneath the formfitting body armor was unmistakable.
We stared at each other and I was at a complete loss as to what to do. The range of her abilities had me in a position of virtual defenselessness against anything she might do.