The First Automaton

     During the celebration of the Solemn King's Jubilee, the Pavilion of Unburdened Skies was thronged with well-wishers. Costly gifts from across the realm were presented. At last, as the shadows lengthened, there came a man from one of the local villages. His name was Yeng Jiang, and he was a woodworker by trade.

    Four burly apprentices followed him, carrying a man-sized object covered by a sheet. Standing it upright, they bowed and withdrew. Yeng Jiang stepped up to the object and unveiled it. It was a wooden figure of a man, exquisitely carved.

    "What a magnificent sculpture," the king noted. 

    The woodworker bowed. "With your permission, my Liege, it is so much more." He touched it on the chin.

    Gasps and cries rang out as the wooden figure moved. Slowly at first, then more steadily, it shifted its weight from one foot to another, as though testing its balance. Then it bowed toward the king. A moment later it was up and beginning the steps of a country dance. Astonishment turned to awe and delight as the figure capered about, moving with increasing quickness and dexterity. It leapt over a table and spun in a pirouette. It ended the dance with a head-over-heels flip, landed, and stood with arms outstretched to receive the court's thunderous applause.

    Even the usually reserved king was smiling at the display. All was well until the automaton struck a coquettish pose and began waving and blowing kisses to the ladies' gallery. "The impudence!" growled the king. "There must be a man inside of it. Seize the thing!"

    Yeng Jiang held up his hands. "Mercy, Great Lord! It is no man. Observe!" He again tapped lightly on the figure's chin and instantly it ceased all movement. Undoing a cleverly hidden latch, he swung open the automaton's hollow chest. It was empty, save for a wooden heart quietly beating.

    "It has no will of its own," explained the woodworker. "It does only what I have laid out for it to do."

    The king stroked his beard in silence for a moment. At last he spoke. "You have accomplished a significant feat. What would it take to turn your creation to a more... practical use?"