Brian followed the ramp up to the Magic Isles. Though the park was less than a decade old, the bone white ruins sprawling amidst supernaturally bright green grasses, vines, and trees gave the place a feel of antiquity and mystery. So to did the "magic people," the name given to the androids who populated this strange lost world. Some had blue skin, another had shimmering opalescent hair, but all had the same soft elfin features.

The slightly nonhuman appearance was a standard trick. By not trying to look exactly human, the robots avoided tripping the "uncanny valley," the instinctive feeling of revulsion people felt when a robot was too close to being life-like.

So far, the island park wasn't that different from any of the other such attractions to be found among the many others populating the tropical seas of Impisi, the second planet of Wolf 1061 or "New Sol." Indeed, the ocean was crawling with tiny parks or nations owned by wealthy entrepreneurs. Dr. Adrian Carson, however, was the one he sought.

He looked around. Where was the man?

A statuesque android with cat-like features and long ebony hair approached, unrolling a scroll as she did.

"And who are you?"

"Hi," he said. "I'm Brian Rosen. I'm with Tech Debunkers, and I have an appointment to interview Dr. Carson and examine his claim that his robots pass an 'Emotional Turing Test.' Whatever that means."

The android woman smiled. "Ah, Mister Brian. Yes. Meela have your name here."

He frowned. "Who is Meela?"

"Is person speaking to you," she said, putting a hand to her chest.

"Right. So if you could lead me to Dr. Carson..."

"So sorry. He not here today. He ask Meela to help you pick out companion for your stay."

Companion? Did Carson think that Brian planned to make use of these android love toys? He felt the heat radiate from along his neck as the implication sank in.

"Look, I'm a tech writer, not a tourist. My job doesn't involve getting naked."

She flinched.

"Please to lower your voice," Meela said in a placating tone.

"I've half a mind to return now and report that Carson was afraid to meet with me." In truth, though, it was an idle threat. Already, he was fascinated by how well the android was interpreting his speech, how fluid its movements were, and how life-like its expressions were. Truly, it was cunning work.

"Meela sorry. Companions not need be," she covered her mouth and looked away as if embarrassed. "Lovers."

Again, he was struck by the genuineness of expression. Brian had seen a number of modern androids in operation. Carson was clearly at the front of his field in many ways. Curiosity served to calm Brian's anger.

Meela met his eyes, looked away, then back again. "We all capable of giving tour of facilities. Carson say you learn about us that way. Have better questions when meet Dr. Carson."

"Fine," he said with a sigh. "Whatever."

"This way, please." Meela started walking, leading Brian across the field.

As they walked, brown and gray rabbits scattered from their path. Off in the distance, he saw a few more. There certainly were a lot of them here.

Brian studied the androids as he walked. There seemed to be three basic categories of robot. Some practiced archery or jousted on the backs of massive lizards with metallic blue scales, these had the most human-like appearance and skin coloring. Others, Meela included, were feline, wore long robes, and were rarely seen without their scrolls. Finally, some had skin of pale green, pink, blue or yellow. These seemed to focus on painting, poetry, music, and other forms of artistic expression.

The absolute uniqueness of each creation was striking. No two androids looked or walked alike. The ones sparring by the pond seemed to have different styles and levels of skill.

What puzzled him, in the midst of all this detail and realism, was the android's awkward speech and the exotic accent. Was it a cover for clumsy verbalization programming? Given the rest of what he'd seen, he decided to reserve judgment.

"Over here," Meela said, gesturing. "Dr. Carson say you like music? We have many fine musicians."

Sitting on a nearby hillside, amidst bright flowers, were a group of exceptionally lovely, dark-haired androids playing a variety of stringed and wind instruments. Brian began to feel annoyed. Apart from their pale lavender skin and pointed ears, most of the women he'd dated had fit their general description. It seemed Carson had chosen a group of androids equipped to seduce him.

"Excuse me." An android woman jumped into view. She had short pink hair, rose-colored skin, wore large black-rimmed glasses. While she was beautiful, she lacked the movie-star looks that the musician androids possessed. Because she was merely pretty, and not overpoweringly lovely, she seemed more real. "Are you Mr. Brian Rosen?"

Her expression was open and excited, almost adoring. After glancing behind him to make sure she was talking to him, he said, "Yes. And who might you be?"

"Kiki is name. Kiki is of Flower People."

"Flower People?" Brian asked.

"She from Flower Island," Meela said.

"Ah, of course," Brian said. He took the brochure from his pocket and glanced at it. Since he wasn't a tourist, he hadn't paid close attention to the storyline and fanciful history of the park.

Now that he looked, he saw that there were indeed three races on the Magic Isles: the Warrior People were most numerous, and lived on the main island where dire threats abounded; the Wise People, who ruled; and the Flower People who gave beauty and meaning to every activity.

Kiki produced a scrap of paper and a pen. "Kiki would like autograph, Mr. Brian Rosen of Tech Debunkers."

Brian looked at Meela. Many fantasy-themed parks worked the legal aspects of these visits into the storyline. With a nod toward Kiki's paper, Brian asked, "Is this some sort of nondisclosure agreement?"

Meela shook her head, frowning. "Is distraction. Brian. Kiki, please leave us alone."

Kiki hopped up and down like a begging child. "Please. Autograph."

An amused smile crept over Brian's face. He decided to test the quality of the artificial intelligence. "It's okay." He took the small notepad and pen. "Which of my articles is your favorite Kiki?"

"Is one where you say you love androids," Kiki said, still hopping. "Kiki is android."

"I see."

Interesting. The robots on this island were allowed to "break the fourth wall," to reveal the reality behind the entertainment. Brian took the pad and wrote, "To Kiki, my favorite android."

Kiki glanced at the note, then back at him. "Oh! Kiki so happy! Kiki is big fan of Tech Debunkers."

"Do you know what the note says, Kiki?"

"It say you like Kiki better than all other androids." Kiki adjusted her glasses, smiled shyly, then added, "But you supposed to call us 'magic people.' Dr. Carson not like word 'android.'"

Brian raised his eyebrows.

"Dr. Carson want you run along, Kiki," Meela said. "Leave Mr. Brian alone. He important guest."

Kiki looked at the ground.

"Hold on," Brian said, increasingly impressed at the life-like quality of the interplay between the two androids. "What do you mean by 'Dr. Carson ask?'"

"He leave special instruction," Meela held up her scroll and pointed to a notation. The text read, "Steer Brian away from anyone but the musician group, please."

Brian clenched his jaw. He didn't like being told what he could do. His ex-wife had said he had a contrary streak. Sometimes he was able to resist it. Now wasn't one of those times.

"Tell Dr. Carson that I've decided I want Kiki to be my tour guide. I don't want any of these others."

Kiki squealed with delight and clapped her hands.

Meela blinked repeatedly and consulted the scroll. "Please to reconsider. Kiki not play music. Not sing. Not even dance well."

"Hey!" Kiki shouted.

"I'm not here for that."

"Please, Mister Brian. Kiki is special to Dr. Carson. She is daughter."

Brian sighed. "I think you mean, like a daughter. What does he think I'm going to do to her?"

"Kiki is to fall in love with."

For several long seconds, Brian stared at Meela as the things she'd said connected in his mind. Daughter. Fall in love with.

Brian laughed.

Was the famous maker of robots so attached to his own creation that he feared one of his guests would get too friendly with her? Well, if that was so, let him worry. Maybe that would motivate him to actually show up and be interviewed.

"Tell Dr. Carson that if he wants me to have a different companion, he can meet me and help me pick one out. Otherwise, only Kiki will do."

At these words, Kiki squealed again and spun around as if demonstrating her ability to dance. The reaction was so life-like, Brian was startled. While he had high expectations of modern robotics, this simulation of a person expressing joy was among the best he'd seen. All Kiki's motions were smooth and natural.

Meela sighed. "Meela tried. Perhaps Dr. Carson see you tomorrow. Get you to reconsider."

"Perhaps," Brian repeated.

#

But Dr. Carson did not appear. Instead, Brian found himself in the island marketplace. Magic people performing tricks such as sword-swallowing, fire-eating and the like lined the streets. There were a few conjurers as well, summoning glittering holographic images in the air.

"These magic people is buying food for day," Kiki said, pointing to a group of women in red silk.

They were haggling with others of their kind over the price of some odd-looking fruit.

"Right," Brian said, annoyed. He'd come here to see technical wonders, not to immerse himself in a realistic fantasy kingdom.

"What is matter, Mr. Brian?"

"So, obviously, you're a very advanced robot. Why don't you speak better?"

"Kiki sorry, Mr. Brian. English is not first language."

He laughed. "What's your natural language, then?"

"Is called, Iktawa. It is ancient language of Flower Mountain."

"Right. Ancient. You mean ten years?"

"Oh, no, Mr. Brian! Is hundreds of years old."

What nonsense. Humans hadn't even been on this world that long.

"Kiki, I'm not a tourist. Save the fantasy story for other guests."

"Is not story. Is truth."

Sighing, Brian searched out the marketplace, looking for problems, some gap in the illusion so that he could learn more about the island's technology.

He spied two magic people leaving the marketplace, dark-skinned women with tall pointed ears and long, flowing, golden hair. Unlike most of the others, they wore plain garments of gray-blue fabric. Clearly, they were intended to be part of the background imagery.

"Come, Kiki," he said, taking off after them.

"Please, Mr. Brian. Kiki show you music place."

"Later."

Where would the two robots go? In parks such as this, the ones that walked "off-stage" frequently went either to a service or storage center. He was hoping for the former. If he found such a place, he could get the kind of information he came here for.

He smiled to himself, anticipating what he would discover.