Pitch-black… pulsating noise… a siren?

Was I stuck in a dream? It sounded real enough. My sleep-drunk fingers fumbled for the snooze button on my phone, but the din screeched on.

I found the bedside lamp switch and clocked the time – 4.10am.

What? It was Sunday! Familiarity dawned on me. It was that bloomin’ smart speaker – you know the ones, the sort that can recognise your voice and act on your commands. I’d reluctantly bought her for