Collins sprinted after it, cursing the owner and the A’s. This was probably the animation that Leek had spoken about—somehow, the owner had managed to imbue the machine with mobility. It didn’t matter. All he had to do was catch up, punch the button and ask for the Animation Control people.
The Utilizer raced down a hall, Collins close behind. An under-butler, polishing a solid gold doorknob, stared open-mouthed.
“Stop it!” Collins shouted.
The under-butler moved clumsily into the Utilizer’s path. The machine dodged him gracefully and sprinted towards the main door.
Collins pushed a switch and the door slammed shut.
The Utilizer gathered momentum and went right through it. Once in the open, it tripped over a garden hose, regained its balance and headed towards the open countryside.
Collins raced after it. If he could just get a little closer …
The Utilizer suddenly leaped into the air. It hung there for a long moment, then fell to the ground. Collins sprang at the button.
The Utilizer rolled out of his way, took a short run and leaped again. For a moment, it hung twenty feet above his head—drifted a few feet straight up, stopped twisted wildly and fell.
Collins was afraid that, on a third jump, it would keep going up. When it drifted unwillingly back to the ground, he was ready. He feinted, then stabbed at the button. The Utilizer couldn’t duck fast enough.