What Arlo had said really bothered Davide. Breaking a law you didn't know existed was one thing, but losing your home to someone more politically connected than you was unforgivable. A government that would allow such a thing was not deserving of voluntary compliance. Such a government had only coercion and force left to accomplish its ends. He had decided he would grow the garden after hearing Arlo’s explanation of governmental misconduct. It was the first time that Davide had ever knowingly broken a rule.
The months passed and the garden grew. Davide studied the books he had bought and sent away for more. He spent almost every hour of daylight in the open field. He started before dawn and walked back home after dusk. Sigmund prepared his food, maintained the other robots, and the apartment and wondered if he could go with Davide. Davide explained that it was too far for Sigmund's battery power and Davide hadn't the money to upgrade it. Sigmund accepted the explanation but remained concerned about being separated from Davide so much.
As for Davide, he was happy with his new life. He had even forgotten the bitterness he had felt towards the government which had prompted him to start the garden.
The garden itself was a time machine. When Davide was there the hours stopped their march. The years dissolved, his grandmother was beside him again. The plants that took so much care gave back to him their fruit.
His hands had hardened with calluses but still, they could gently manipulate the plants. He could sun under a blue sky or bathe in a summer rain. He was sure this was where he was meant to be, this was what he was meant to do.
The others had helped by bringing out the tools and fertilizer themselves or if they had them, sending supplies out on their smart carts. The carts could roll or walk or climb, whatever was necessary to make their deliveries. Some even rode their smart carts to the field. There were many more people than Davide had first thought. And they were all young, about his age. They helped with the weeding and harvesting which Davide directed.
Some brought newer ANI-based robots that could be taught to garden. Davide thought this a waste, to work with your hands in the dirt and with the plants was a reward, not a chore. But he said nothing.
After he found out that Sofia and Arlo were together, he didn't much think about them or the others. His schedule wasn't theirs. He came before anyone and usually left after everyone, unless they were spending the night. Davide never spent the night. This was his vocation, not his avocation. The garden was where he worked, the apartment was where he slept, somehow mixing the two seemed wrong.
Arlo was right about the government; the drones were Davide's constant companions. Obviously, the watchers knew who he was and what he was doing. They could have stopped him at any time but hadn't.
Davide picked a couple of tomatoes and headed home for the day.
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