“How did it end up on this shithole planet?” Tom asked, removing the last of the stones. “And who buried it? Didn’t they know these things have a lifetime warranty? Holy Shit! I think it’s the Poe prototype!”

“Poe prototype?” Tom’s partner asked.

“About ten years ago, The Asimov Android Company planned to do a Great Authors line of robots. The prototype was this model that we’re looking at right now! The project never got off the ground and the Poe model disappeared.”

“Is it serviceable?”

Tom glanced over the android and nodded. “It wouldn’t have sent the homing signal if it weren’t serviceable. We’re going to have to take it back to headquarters; we can service it on the way. Whoever owned this thing is long gone by now.

“I don’t get it,” Tom’s partner said, “Why would they pick such a terrible writer for their prototype. Why couldn’t they pick someone great, like Mark Twain or something?”

Tom thought he saw the android’s mouth twitch.

“Let’s get this thing inside the ship.”