House Of Gord: Dollmaker

The Dollmaker turned the key. The doll’s head rotated 180 degrees with a perfect, ratcheted tick . Her empty eyes now stared straight at the woman in diamonds.

One of the guests, a woman in diamonds, leaned forward. “Is she… is she aware?” House Of Gord Dollmaker

“Awareness is a flaw, madam. I have removed all flaws.” He tapped a small brass key on the back of the doll’s neck. “But she dreams. The bellows see to that. Every breath is a little sigh of contentment. She thinks she is pouring tea for angels.” The Dollmaker turned the key

The woman stepped back. The bellows sighed. The party continued. One of the guests, a woman in diamonds, leaned forward

A silver cart rolled up beside her. Behind it, wearing welder’s goggles and a tuxedo jacket, was . He didn’t speak to the guests. He spoke only to it .

“Posture check,” he murmured.

The Dollmaker finally looked up. He smiled—thin, dry, avuncular.