12 I Know Where You Stand Here’s Where I Lie

CHAPTER TWELVE I KNOW WHERE YOU STAND. HERE'S WHERE I LIE. The cameras and monitors hummed. Images of people started popping up and the Frandidate swiftly got impressions of what they wanted and instantly changed its appearance. From inside, Franny marveled at the Frandidate's skill. It changed to look like a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker. It

became old, it became young. It could look like a man or a woman. It could imitate anything. Franny could sense what the Frandidate was feeling.

"Vote for Franny K. Stein," Franny said, and it came out in hundreds of accents, dozens of languages, and countless different voices. And it sounded very persuasive. The Support Meter continued to climb, and the Frandidate's skin tingled more and more as it did. It really loves the support, Franny thought. Every few minutes, Igor would get worried and peek up from his satellite controls. When the Frandidate saw that he

was looking, it would turn into Miss Wizzywozzle, and Igor felt calm again. It is nice to have Miss Wizzywozzle in the lab, he thought, even if deep down he knew it wasn't really Miss Wizzywozzle.

"And if elected, I'll make sure that old ladies never get sick," the Frandidate told one old lady. How am I going to keep that promise? Franny thought. "I will outlaw brussels sprouts," it said to another person. "And everybody will get their own unicorn."

"Wait a second!" Franny shouted. "I can't promise that," she said, but her voice didn't come out of the Frandidate's mouth. It was ignoring her now, and saying everything for itself.