A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk and Robot #2 )(9)

“You can see other people’s balances?”

“Yeah, of course. It’s all public.”

“Does that not get competitive?”

Dex squinted. “Why would it?”

Mosscap stared at Dex in silence for a moment, seemingly surprised at this but not elaborating as to why. It shrugged, then pointed at the paper in Dex’s hands. “So, these…”

“Are the pebs people gave you for helping them out.” Dex handed the paper back. “You got twelve pebs for the door, eight pebs for the bike, and so on. Normally, we do this on a pocket computer—”

“Yes, yes, that’s what Ms. Ida asked,” Mosscap said. “She asked if I had a computer, and I said no, so she tore a piece of paper from her sketchbook for me.”

“Yeah, we’ll need to set you up with a pebs account and enter all of these in manually. I’m pretty sure there’s a computer vendor in the next town over. We can swing that way next.”

Mosscap’s lenses expanded broadly. “I’m going to get a pocket computer?”

“Yeah, looks like you need one.” The irony of a robot needing a computer did not escape Dex, and they found themself amused by this.

Mosscap, on the other hand, was a bit overwhelmed. “Goodness,” it said. “Will you teach me to use it?”

“Of course,” Dex said.

“And I get to keep it for…”

“For as long as you want. It’ll be yours.”

“But I don’t have pockets.”

“You can keep it in there.” Dex pointed at Mosscap’s chest. “It doesn’t require pockets, it just fits in one.”

Mosscap studied the villagers’ ledger, holding the paper with both hands. “So, according to this, I have…” It let go of the paper with one hand and silently counted on the other, touching its thumb to each fingertip in concentrated sequence. “Thirty-eight pebs.” It looked to Dex. “What can I get with thirty-eight pebs?”

“Anything you want,” Dex said with a laugh.

“Well, I don’t know! I’ve never had belongings, Sibling Dex. Or been in need of services. What do you use pebs for?”

“Most often? Food. Supplies. A place to sleep, if I want a break from the wagon. I dunno, just … stuff I want. Things I like, or appreciate.”

“Hmm.” Mosscap rubbed its metal chin. “I appreciate anthills. I like foggy mornings. I don’t know if I have much use for pebs.” It paused. “What is a peb, anyway?”

“It’s short for ‘digital pebbles,’ but nobody says that.”

“Pebbles, like you find in a stream?”

“Yeah. Early Pangans used them for trade. But hang on, you said something before. About not having use for pebs.” They gave their head a small shake. “That’s not the point. It doesn’t matter whether you use them or not. You don’t have to give a single peb to anyone on this trip, if you don’t want to, or don’t have reason to.”

“Then why are people giving them to me?”

“Because the point of a peb exchange is to acknowledge someone’s labor and thank them for what they bring to the community. They didn’t give you thirty-eight pebs because they want you to go out and spend them. They gave you thirty-eight pebs because your work is as important as anybody else’s. It means they see you as a person.”

“But I’m not a person, I’m—”

“An object, I know. But they see you as something equal to a person. And that’s … that’s really important.” Dex nodded to themself, satisfied by this. “I have to say, I was a little worried about them taking advantage of you, the way they were having you run around doing chores.”

“Oh, but it was a delight,” Mosscap said. “I asked, after all. And what better way to learn about how people live than getting my hands on everyday things?”

“I guess you’ve got a point there,” Dex said. “If that’s what you wanna do, then by all means, go for it. But we are gonna get you a computer at our next stop, and if you ever run into anybody who wants you to help out and doesn’t think to give you pebs, you make sure to ask them, if I don’t first.”

Mosscap absorbed that. “Just to be clear,” it said after a moment. “Pebs are a way to acknowledge mutual benefit within your society. Is that a fair way to put it?”

“Yeah, that works.”

“So … by giving me pebs, are they saying I’m part of your society as well?”

Dex smiled. “Yeah, in essence.”

The robot cocked its head. “But I don’t know enough about your society to properly participate. I don’t know how any of this works.”

“Neither does a kid,” Dex said, “but they’re part of society all the same.”

“Would you give pebs to a kid?” Mosscap asked.

“If they helped me”—Dex glanced at the list—“wash some veggies? I sure would.”

Mosscap smoothed the crease in the paper, as though it were touching something rare and precious. “I know I’m going to get a computer, but can I keep this as well?”

“Yeah,” Dex said with a smile. “Of course you can.”