cloud object storage | store & retrieve data …...and yet, as she sat in her crumpled crate,...
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Totherobotsofthefuture
CHAPTER1
THEOCEAN
Ourstorybeginson theocean,withwindandrainandthunderand lightningandwaves.Ahurricaneroaredandragedthroughthenight.Andinthemiddleofthechaos,acargoshipwassinking
downdowndowntotheoceanfloor.Theshiplefthundredsofcratesfloatingonthesurface.Butasthehurricanethrashedand
swirledandknocked themaround, thecratesalsobegansinking into thedepths.Oneafteranother,theywereswallowedupbythewaves,untilonlyfivecratesremained.
Bymorning the hurricane was gone. There were no clouds, no ships, no land in sight.Therewasonlycalmwaterandclearskiesandthosefivecrateslazilybobbingalonganoceancurrent.Days passed.And then a smudge of green appeared on thehorizon.As the cratesdrifted closer, the soft green shapes slowly sharpened into thehard edges of awild, rockyisland.
Thefirstcraterodetoshoreonatumbling,rumblingwaveandthencrashedagainsttherockswithsuchforcethatthewholethingburstapart.
Now, reader, what I haven’t mentioned is that tightly packed inside each crate was abrand-newrobot.Thecargoshiphadbeentransportinghundredsofthembeforeitwassweptup inthestorm.Nowonly fiverobotswere left.Actually,only fourwere left,becausewhenthatfirstcratecrashedagainsttherocks,therobotinsideshatteredtopieces.
Thesamethinghappenedtothenextcrate.Itcrashedagainsttherocks,androbotpartsfleweverywhere.Then ithappened to thenextcrate.And thenext.Robot limbsand torsoswereflungontoledges.Arobotheadsplashedintoatidepool.Arobotfootskitteredintothewaves.
And then came the last crate. It followed the same path as the others, but instead ofcrashingagainsttherocks,itsloshedagainsttheremainsofthefirstfourcrates.Soon,morewaveswereheavingitupoutofthewater.Itsoaredthroughtheair,spinningandglisteninguntilitslammeddownontoatallshelfofrock.Thecratewascrackedandcrumpled,buttherobotinsidewassafe.
CHAPTER2
THEOTTERS
Theisland’snorthernshorehadbecomesomethingofarobotgravesite.Scatteredacrosstherockswerethebrokenbodiesof fourdeadrobots.Theysparkled intheearly-morninglight.Andtheirsparklescaughttheattentionofsomeverycuriouscreatures.
A gang of sea otters was romping through the shallows when one of them noticed thesparklingobjects.Theottersallfroze.Theyraisedtheirnosestothewind.Buttheysmelledonlythesea.Sotheycautiouslycreptovertherockstotakeacloserlook.
Thegangslowlyapproachedarobottorso.Thebiggestotterstuckouthispaw,swattedtheheavy thing, and quickly jumped back. But nothing happened. So they wriggled over to arobothand.Anotherbraveotterstuckoutherpawandflippedthehandover.Itmadealovelyclinkingsoundontherocks,andtheotterssqueakedwithdelight.
Theyspreadoutandplayedwithrobotarmsandlegsandfeet.Morehandswereflipped.Oneoftheottersdiscoveredarobotheadinatidepool,andtheyalldoveinandtookturnsrollingitalongthebottom.
And then they spotted something else.Overlooking the gravesitewas the one survivingcrate. Its sides were scraped and dented, and a wide gash ran across its top. The ottersscampered up the rocks and climbed onto the big box. Ten furry faces poked through thegash, eager to seewhatwas inside.What they sawwas another brand-new robot.But thisrobotwasdifferentfromtheothers.Itwasstillinonepiece.Anditwassurroundedbyspongypackingfoam.
Theottersreachedthroughthegashandtoreatthefoam.Itwassosoftandsquishy!Theysqueakedastheysnatchedatthefluffystuff.Shredsofitfloatedawayontheseabreeze.Andinalltheexcitement,oneoftheirpawsaccidentallyslappedanimportantlittlebuttononthebackoftherobot’shead.
Click.Ittookawhilefortheotterstorealizethatsomethingwashappeninginsidethecrate.But
amomentlater,theyheardit.Alowwhirringsound.Everyonestoppedandstared.Andthentherobotopenedhereyes.
CHAPTER3
THEROBOT
The robot’s computer brain booted up.Her programs began coming online. And then, stillpackedinhercrate,sheautomaticallystartedtospeak.
“Hello,IamROZZUMunit7134,butyoumaycallmeRoz.Whilemyroboticsystemsareactivating,Iwilltellyouaboutmyself.
“Oncefullyactivated,Iwillbeabletomoveandcommunicateandlearn.Simplygivemeataskand Iwillcomplete it.Over time, Iwill findbetterwaysofcompletingmytasks. Iwillbecomeabetterrobot.WhenIamnotneeded,Iwillstayoutofthewayandkeepmyselfingoodworkingorder.
“Thankyouforyourtime.“Iamnowfullyactivated.”
CHAPTER4
THEROBOTHATCHES
Asyoumightknow,robotsdon’treallyfeelemotions.Notthewayanimalsdo.Andyet,asshesatinhercrumpledcrate,Rozfeltsomethinglikecuriosity.Shewascuriousaboutthewarmballoflightshiningdownfromabove.Sohercomputerbrainwenttowork,andsheidentifiedthelight.Itwasthesun.
The robot felt her body absorbing the sun’s energy.With each passingminute she feltmoreawake.Whenherbatterywasgoodand full,Roz lookedaroundandrealized that shewaspackedinsideacrate.Shetriedtomoveherarms,buttheywererestrainedbycords.Soshe applied more force, the motors in her arms hummed a little louder, and the cordssnapped.Thensheliftedherhandsandpulledapartthecrate.Likeahatchlingbreakingfromashell,Rozclimbedoutintotheworld.
CHAPTER5
THEROBOTGRAVESITE
Thoseotterswerenowhidingbehindarock.Theirroundheadsnervouslypokedup,andtheywatchedasasparklingmonsteremergedfromthecrate.Themonsterslowlyturnedherheadasshescannedthecoastline.Herheadturnedandturned,allthewayaround,anditdidn’tstopturninguntilshewaslookingrightattheotters.“Hello,otters,mynameisRoz.”The robot’s voice was simply too much for the skittish creatures. The biggest otter
squeaked, and the whole gang suddenly took off. They galloped back across the robotgravesite,floppedintotheocean,andracedthroughthewavesjustasfastastheycould.Rozwatchedtheottersgo,buthereyeslingeredonthesparklingobjectsthatlitteredthe
shore.Theobjectslookedstrangelyfamiliar.Therobotswungher left legforward,thenherright,andjustlikethatshewastakingherveryfirststeps.Shestompedawayfromhercrateandover the rocksand through thegravesiteuntil shewas standingaboveabroken robotbody.SheleanedinandnoticedthewordROZZUM lightlyetchedonthetorso.Shenoticedthesamewordonallthetorsos,includingherown.Roz continued exploring the gravesite until a playful little oceanwavewashed over the
rocks.Sheautomaticallysteppedawayfromit.Thenabiggerwavesloshedtowardher,andshesteppedawayagain.Andthenagiganticwavecrashedovertherocksandengulfedtheentiregravesite.Heavywaterpoundedagainstherbodyandknockedhertotheground,andherDamageSensorsflaredforthefirsttime.Amomentlater,thewavewasgone,andRozlaythere,drippinganddentedandsurroundedbydeadrobots.RozcouldfeelherSurvivalInstincts—thepartofhercomputerbrainthatmadeherwant
to avoid danger and take care of herself so she could continue functioning properly. Herinstinctswereurginghertomoveawayfromtheocean.Shecarefullygottoherfeetandsawthathighabovetheshore,thelandwasburstingwithtreesandgrassesandflowers.Itlookedlush and safe up there. It looked like amuch better place for our robot. She had just oneproblem.Togetupthere,shewouldhavetoclimbtheseacliffs.
CHAPTER6
THECLIMB
Crack!Thunk!Clang!
Rozwashavingalittletroubleclimbingthecliffs.Shehadanewdentonherrearandalongscrapedownherside.Andshewasjustabouttogetanotherdingwhenacrabscuttledoutfromunderapieceofdriftwood.
Thecrablookedupandimmediatelyshowedoffhisgiantclaws.Everyonewasafraidofhisclaws.Butnottherobot.Shejustlookeddownandintroducedherself.“Hello,crab,mynameisRoz.”
Afterabriefstandoff,thecrabcautiouslybackedaway.Andthat’swhenRoznoticedhoweasilyhemovedovertherocks.Withhiswidestanceandhisgrippyfeet,thecrabcouldcrawlupanddownanyrockface.SoRozdecidedtotryouthisclimbingtechnique.Shespreadherarmswideandclampedeachofherhandsontothecliffside.Shejammedonefootintoacrackandliftedherotherfootontoanarrowledge,andjustlikethatshewasclimbing.
Rozmovedawkwardlyatfirst.Achunkofrockcrumbledinherhand,andshehadtroublefindingfootholds.Butassheclimbedhigherandhigher,shestartedtogetthehangofit.
Seagullssquawkedfromtheircliffnestsandsoaredawaywhentherobotcametooclose.ButRozpaidthemnomind.Shewasfocusedonlyongettingtothetop.Upandupandupshewent,methodically climbingpast nests and ledges and tiny trees rooted in the cracks, andbeforelongourrobotfeltthesoftsoiloftheislandbeneathherfeet.
CHAPTER7
THEWILDERNESS
Animalsounds filled the forest.Chirpsandwingbeatsandrustlings in theunderbrush.Andthen, from the sea cliffs, there came new sounds. Heavy, crunching footsteps. The forestanimalsfellsilent,andfromtheirhidingplacestheywatchedasasparklingmonsterstompedpast.
But the forest was not a comfortable place for Roz. Jagged rocks and fallen trees andtangledunderbrushmadeitdifficultforhertowalk.Shestumbledalong,strugglingtokeepherbalance,untilherfootsnaggedandshetoppledoverlikeapieceoftimber.Itwasn’tabadfall.Nodings,nodents,justdirt.ButRozwasprogrammedtokeepherselfingoodworkingorder, andonce shewasbackonher feet, she immediatelybegancleaningherself off.Herhandsdartedaroundherbody,quicklybrushingandpickingoffeveryspeckofdirt.Onlywhentherobotwassparklingagaindidshecontinuethroughtheforest.
Rozstumbledonuntil she foundapatchofground thatwas flatandopenandcarpetedwithpineneedles.Itseemedlikeasafeplace,andsafetywasalltherobotreallywanted,soshestoodthere,motionless,allperfectlinesandanglessetagainsttheirregularshapesofthewilderness.
CHAPTER8
THEPINECONES
Ifyoustandinaforestlongenough,eventuallysomethingwillfallonyou.AndRozhadbeenstandingintheforestlongenough.Agentlewindwhisperedthroughthetreetops,andthen—thunk!—apineconebouncedoffherhead.Therobotlookeddownandwatchedthepineconerolltoastop.Itseemedharmless,soRozwentrightbacktodoingnothing.
Afewhourslater,agustofwindrushedthroughthetreetopsandthen—thunk!—therobotlookeddownasanotherpineconerolledaway.
Andthenafewhoursafterthat,ahowlingwindtorethroughthetreetops.Itbenttrunksand shook branches and then—thunk thunk thunk!—pinecones began raining down. Thunkthunk! Roz felt something like annoyance. Thunk! She quickly scanned the area forsomewheresafefrompinecones.Andshespottedtheperfectplacewhenshelookedupatthehuge,rockyshapethattoweredabovetheforest.
CHAPTER9
THEMOUNTAIN
Rozwasnowstompingherwayupthemountain.Denseforestandrockyoutcropsforcedtherobot to zig and zag and backtrack, but after an hour of steady hiking, she arrived at thecraggymountainpeak.
Grasses and flowers and shrubs sprouted from every pocket of soil. But there were notreesatthetop.Rozwassafefromthoseannoyingpinecones.Shedustedherselfoffandthencarefullyclimbedupaleaningslabofstone,totheveryhighestpointoftheentiremountain.
Therobotslowlyturnedherheadcompletelyaround.Shesawtheoceanstretchingtothehorizonineverydirection.Andinthatmoment,RozlearnedwhatyouandIhaveknownsincethebeginningofthisstory.Inthatmoment,Rozfinallyrealizedthatshewasonanisland.
Roz looked down and surveyed the island. Starting from the sandy southern point, theislandgrewwiderandgreenerandhillieruntilitfinallyjuttedupintotherockyconeofthemountain.Insomeplacesthemountainfellaway,leavingsheercliffs.Awaterfallrushedoffone cliff and fed a river that wound its way through a greatmeadow in the center of theisland.Theriverflowedpastwildflowersandpondsandbouldersandthendisappearedintotheforest.
Blurry shapes suddenly cut through the robot’s vision. She refocused her eyes and sawvulturescirclingabovethefoothills.Thenshenoticedlizardswarmingthemselvesonadistantrock.Abadgerpeekedout fromaberrybush.Amoosewadedthroughastream.A flockofsparrowsturnedinperfectunisonabovethetrees.Theislandwasteemingwithlife.Andnowithadanewkindoflife.Astrangekindoflife.Artificiallife.
CHAPTER10
THEREMINDER
Ishouldremindyou,reader,thatRozhadnoideahowshehadcometobeonthatisland.Shedidn’tknowthatshe’dbeenbuiltinafactoryandthenstoredinawarehousebeforecrossingtheoceanonacargoship.Shedidn’tknowthatahurricanehadsunktheshipand lefthercratefloatingonthewavesfordaysuntilitfinallywashedashore.Shedidn’tknowthatshe’dbeenaccidentallyactivatedbythosecuriousseaotters.Astherobotlookedoutattheisland,itneverevenoccurredtoherthatshemightnotbelongthere.AsfarasRozknew,shewashome.
CHAPTER11
THEROBOTSLEEPS
Roz stood on the peak and watched the sun sink behind the ocean. She watched shadowsslowlyspreadovertheislandandupthemountainside.Shewatchedthestarscomeout,oneby one, until the sky was filled with a million points of light. It was the first night of therobot’slife.
Sheactivatedherheadlights,andsuddenlybrightshaftsof lightwerebeamingout fromhereyesandilluminatingthewholemountaintop.Toobright.Soshedimmedthem.Thensheturnedthemoffandsatindarknessandlistenedtothechorusofnighttimechirps.
Afterawhile,ourrobot’scomputerbraindecideditwasagoodtimetoconserveenergy.Soshesatandanchoredherhandstotherocks,hernonessentialprogramsswitchedoff,andthen,inherownway,therobotslept.
CHAPTER12
THESTORM
Rozfeltsafeuponthemountaintop.Soshespentthenextfewdaysandnightsperchedonthepeak.Buteverythingchangedoneafternoonwhena low-flyingcloudcreptupthemountainandRozfoundherselfsurroundedbywhite.Whentheworldfadedbackintoview,shenoticedmore clouds floating southpast the island. Then sheheard a deep rumble behindher. Therobotturnedherheadaroundandsawthattheskywasfilledwithaswirlingwallofdarkness.Lightflickeredhereandthere.Moredeeprumbles.
Astormwasapproaching,anditwasn’tjustanystorm.Itwasasfierceastheonethathadsentthecargoshiptotheoceanfloor.Thewindpickedup,andthefirstdropsofraintappedagainst therobot. Itwas time togo.Rozunclampedherhandsandbeganslidingdown thepeak.Hotsparksflewfromwhereherbodyscrapedagainsttheleaningslabofstone.Assoonasherfeethitsoil,shewasoffandrunning.
Therainfellharder.Thewindblewfaster.Thelightningflashedbrighter.Thethundercrackedlouder.So much rainwater was falling that rushing rivers of runoff started springing up
everywhere.Rozsplasheddownthemountain, searching through thegloomforanykindofshelter. But she should have watched where she was going. Her heavy feet slipped andtripped,andshetumbledrightintoamudslide.
Ourrobotwashelpless.Theriverofmudwhiskedherdownhill,slammingherintorocksanddraggingherthroughbushesandsweepingherstraighttowardacliff!Mudwaspouringoff thecliff likeawaterfall!Rozfranticallyclawedat theground,graspingforanythingshecouldholdon to,but the flowonlycarriedher faster towardtheedge.And justasshewasabouttoplungeovertheside,shecametoahard,suddenstop.
Mudsurgedaroundher,sprayingintoherfaceandpinningheragainstsomesolidthing.Sheblindlyfeltwithherhandsandrecognizedthethickrootsandtrunkofapinetree.Inaninstant she was pulling herself up into the branches. The wind whipped across themountainsideandRozheardthefamiliarthunk!ofpineconespeltingherbody.Butshedidn’tmindthem.Shewasjusthappytobesafefromthemudflow.Therobotlockedherarmsandlegsaroundthetreeandwaitedforthestormtoblowover.
CHAPTER13
THEAFTERMATH
Daybreak,andthestormhadpassed,butthesoundsofwaterwereeverywhere.Theairwasfilledwiththedrippingsoundsofmountainrunoffandthesloshingsoundsoffloodedstreams.Andthencameaverydifferentsound.Itwastheclangingsoundmadewhenarobotslipsonawetrock.Therewerequiteafewclangsthatmorning.AsRozworkedherwaydownhill,shescannedtheaftermathofthestorm.Giantmoundsof
mudanddebrishadformedbelowthecliffs.Theisland’scentralriverhadcresteditsbanksand spilled into the nearby fields and forests. Some trees hadbeenuprooted.Othersweresubmerged,theirupperbranchesbarelypokingabovethefloodwaters,theirlowerbranchesswarmingwithfishinsteadofbirds.After such a storm, you might expect to see animal corpses scattered among all the
devastation.Buttheanimalsseemedtohavesurvivedjustfine.Somehow,theyhadknownthestormwascoming,andtheyhadfoundshelterlongbeforeitrolledin.Lowlandcreatures,whohad sought refuge on higher ground,werewaiting patiently for thewater to recede. Deerwere wading through the flooded fields. Beavers were busily collecting a trove of fallenbranches.Geesehonkedintheskybeforesplashingdownintoawaterysectionoftheforest.Clearly,theanimalswereexpertsatsurvival.Clearly,therobotwasnot.Rozwascrustedwithmudandgrit, soshegaveherselfanothergoodcleaning,but that
only revealed her dents and scratches. They were really starting to add up. She hardlyresembledtheperfectrobotwhohadappearedontheshorejustaweekearlier.ThewildernesswastakingatollonpoorRoz.Soshefeltsomething likereliefwhenshe
spottedthequietholeinthesideofthemountain.Itlookedlikeasafeplaceforarobot.Shestompedacrossthehillsideanduptothecave,butneverstoppedtowonderwhatmightbelurkingwithin.
CHAPTER14
THEBEARS
Rozstompedintothecave.Andthenshestompedrightbackout.“Pleasestayaway!”said therobot to thetwobearswhowerenownippingatherheels.
You see,whenRoz stomped into the cave, she accidentallywoke a brother and sister bearfromtheirmorningnap,whichisneveragoodidea.Andtomakemattersworse,bearshavean instinct thatdrives themtoattackwhenacreature runsaway,especially if thecreaturerunning away is a mysterious, sparkling monster. So as the startled bears watched Rozstompingoutof theircave, theyreallyhadnochoiceatall.Theysimplyhadto takeupthechase.Roztriedherbesttooutrunthebears.Sheleapedoverrocksandwovethroughtreesand
stompedacrossthemountainsideatfullspeed.Butthebearswereyoungandstrongandfast,andtherobotstillhadsomuchtolearnaboutmovingthroughthewilderness.Sheneverevensawthetreeroot.Onemomentshewasstompingalong,andthenextmomentshewasflyingthroughtheairandthumpingdownontoarottenlog.Clumpsofsoftwoodstucktohersideasshestoodandfacedherattackers.Wouldn’t you be afraid if two bears were charging toward you? Of course you would!
Everyonewould!Eventherobotfeltsomethinglikefear.Rozwasprogrammedtotakecareofherself.Shewasprogrammedtostayalive.Andas therobotwatched thosebears chargingtowardher,sheknewherlifewasinseriousdanger.ThebearsslammedintoRoz,knockingheragainstthetrunkofatoweringtree.Thenone
beardoveatherlegs,andtheotherclawedatherchest.Ifonlytherobothadswungherfistsorkickedherfeet,shecouldhavescaredthemoff.Onegoodbopinthenosewouldhavesentthemrunning.But the robot’sprogrammingwouldnot allowher tobe violent.Clearly,Rozwasnotdesignedtofightbears.Powerfuljawschompedherarms.Sharpclawsslashedherface.Amassiveheadrammed
herchest.“Pleasestayaway!”saidtherobot.“Roarrrr!”saidthesisterbear.“Grrrrrr!”saidthebrotherbear.Andthenthebearswentinforthekill.Buttherobothadvanished.
CHAPTER15
THEESCAPE
Usingallthestrengthinherlegs,Rozjumpedstraightup,highintotheair,andlandedonatreebranchoverhead.Thetreeshookwiththesuddenweightoftherobot,andthen—thunkthunk!—two pinecones bounced off Roz, and a moment later—thunk thunk!—the samepineconesbouncedoffthebearsbelow.Thebearsgruntedwithannoyance.ThisgaveRozanidea.
The robot’sprogramming stoppedher frombeingviolent,butnothing stoppedher frombeingannoying.SoRozpluckedpineconesfromthenearbybranchesandlobbedthemdownatthebears.
Thunk!Thunk!Thunk!Thunk!Eachpineconebouncedoffitstargetwithannoyingaccuracyandwhippedtheyoungbears
intoafrenzy.
“Roarrrr!”saidthesisterbear.“Grrrrrr!”saidthebrotherbear.“Idonotunderstandyou,bears,”saidtherobot.Rozwasabouttounloadawholearmfulofannoyingpineconeswhenadistantroarechoed
throughtheforest.Backatthecave,themotherbearwascallingforthesetwo,andshedidnotsoundhappy.Theyoungbearslookedateachother.Theyknewtheywereintrouble.Butbeforelumberinghome,theyglaredupatRozandsnortedonelasttime.Morethananything,theywantedtokilltherobot.
CHAPTER16
THEPINETREE
Rozwasinnohurrytoleavethetree.Shestayedonherbranchlongafterthebearshadgone,enjoyingsomepeaceandlookingherselfover.In addition to bitemarks and clawmarks, the robotwas also covered in dirt,which, of
course,meantitwastimeforanothercleaning.Shewasmakinggoodprogresswhenshefeltsomethingstickyonherarm.Theproblemwithsitting inapinetree isthat,eventually, thetree’s sticky resinwill find you. It always does. And it foundRoz. The robot scrubbed andscrapedattheresin,andsoonherfingerswerecompletelycoatedinthestickystuff.Thenitwasalloverherarmsandherlegsandhertorso.Andthingswereabouttogetevenmessier.ArobinswoopedintothetreeandbeganscreechingandflutteringaroundRoz.Thebird
hadrecentlyfinishedbuildingherselfanewnest.Itwasalittleworkofart,adelicatebasketwovenfromgrassandtwigsandfeathers,anditwasrightabovetherobot’shead.
“Screech!Screech!”saidtherobin.“Idonotunderstandyou,robin,”saidtherobot.The robin continued screeching and fluttering, and then—splat—she splattered her
droppingsacrosstherobot’sface.Thisbirdwasserious.SoRozscootedaway,fartheroutonthebranch,untilsheheardaquick,sharpcrack.BeforeRozknewwhatwashappening,thetreebranchsnappedunderherweightandshewentcrashingtotheforestfloor.Shehitthegroundhardandlaythereasbrokenbranchesandpineconesandneedlesshowereddownontopofher.Therewasanothersplat.Andthenquietreturnedtotheforest.
CHAPTER17
THECAMOUFLAGEDINSECT
Rozwasamess.Shelayunderthetree,coveredinaheapofbrokenbranchesandpineconesandneedles.Shestillhadn’tremovedthestickyresinfromherbody.Andthentherewerethebird droppings. She was about to get up and give herself a rigorous cleaning when shenoticed a peculiar twig. The twig was moving. It was crawling along one of the brokenbranchesontheground.Withagentletouch,therobotpickedupthetwig.
“Hello,stickinsect,mynameisRoz.Youareverywellcamouflaged.”Thestickinsect’sbodywaslongandthin.Hehadthesameshapeandcolorsandmarkings
as a real twig. But if you looked closely, you just might see two tiny eyes and two spindlyantennae.Theinsectdidn’tmakeasound,andhesatperfectlystill.Asstillastherobot.Thetwoofthemsatstillandsilentlystaredateachotherforawhile.
“Thankyou,stickinsect,”saidRozassheplacedhimbackwhereshefoundhim.“Youhavetaughtmeanimportantlesson.Icanseehowcamouflagehelpsyousurvive;perhapsitcouldhelpmesurvivealso.”
CHAPTER18
THECAMOUFLAGEDROBOT
Asyouknow,reader,Rozhadalwayslikedtokeepherselfascleanaspossible.Butherdesiretostayalivewasstrongerthanherdesiretostayclean,andourrobotdecideditwastimeshegotdirty.Rozwasgoingtocamouflageherself.
She’d gotten the idea from the stick insect, but Roz quickly realized that camouflagingherself as a twig was out of the question. No, the robot would have to blend into thelandscapeitself.Shebeganbysmearinghandfulsofthickmudoverherentirebody.Thenshepluckedfernsandgrassesfromthegroundandsanktheirrootsintohernewmuddycoating.She placed colorful flowers around her face to disguise her glowing eyes, and any barepatcheswerecoveredwithtreeleavesandstripsofmoss.Ourrobotnowlookedlikeagreattuftofplantswalkingthroughtheforest.Shewaitedfordarkness,andthenshepaddedtothecenterofaclearing,nestledherselfbetweensomerocks,andbecamepartofthelandscape.
Afewhourslater,theskywasbrightening,thefogwaslifting,thenighttimeanimalswereslinking home, and the daytime animals were beginning to stir. It was just an ordinarymorningontheisland.However,therewasthatnewtuftofplantsinthatoneforestclearing.Onlythebeeshadnoticedthetuft.Theybuzzedaroundit,completelyunawarethattherobotwas hidden beneath. And so Roz sat there, right in the open yet completely unseen, andobservedthewildernessaroundher.
Shewatchedflowersslowlyturntowardthesun.Shelistenedtorodentscrawlthroughtheweeds.Shesmelledthemoist,pineyair.Shefeltwormswiggleagainsthermuddysides.Aweek later, thetuftofplantswasgone,buttherewasanewclumpofseaweedonthe
shore.Aweekafterthat,theclumpofseaweedwasgone,buttherewasanewbrambleonthemountain.Thentherewasanewlogontheriverbank.Thenanewrockintheforest.
CHAPTER19
THEOBSERVATIONS
Cloudsscuddedthroughthesky.Spidersspunintricatewebs.Berriesbeckonedtohungrymouths.Foxesstalkedhares.Mushroomsroseupfromleaflitter.Turtlesploppedintoponds.Mossspreadacrosstreeroots.Vultureshunchedovercarcasses.Oceanwavesbeatagainstthecoastline.Tadpolesbecamefrogs,caterpillarsbecamebutterflies.Acamouflagedrobotobserveditall.
CHAPTER20
THELANGUAGEOFTHEANIMALS
Itstartedwiththebirds.Theyhadalwaysbeenskittishwhentherobotwasnear.Theywouldstare and screech and then scatter. But now thatRozwas camouflaged, she could secretlyobservetheirnormalbehavior,rightupclose.
Roz noticed chickadees fluttering through the same flowers and singing the same songeverymorning.Shenoticeda larkwhoswoopeddownto thesamerockandsangthesamesongeveryafternoon.Shenoticedthesametwomagpiessingingtoeachother fromacrossthesamemeadoweveryevening.Afterweeksofroboticallystudyingthebirds,Rozknewwhateachbirdwould sing,andwhen theywould sing,andeventually,why theywould sing.Therobotwasbeginningtounderstandthebirds.
But shewas also beginning to understand the porcupines and the salamanders and thebeetles.Shediscoveredthatallthedifferentanimalssharedonecommonlanguage;theyjustspokethelanguageindifferentways.Youmightsayeachspeciesspokewithitsownuniqueaccent.
WhenRozfirstlistenedtothechickadees,theirsongshadsoundedlike“TWEEE-tweedle!TWEEE-tweedle!”Butnowwhenthechickadeessang,Rozheard“Oh,whatalovelydayitis!Oh,whatalovelydayitis!”
Deerspokemostlywiththeirbodies.Bysimplyturningherhead,adoecouldsaytoherfamily,“Let’slookforcloversbythestream.”
Snakesoftenhissedtothemselves,thingslike“Iknowthere’satastymousearoundheresssssomewhere.”
Beessaidverylittle.Theyusedtheirwingstobuzzafewsimplewords,likenectarandsunandhive.
Frogs spentmuch of their time searching for each other.Onewould croak, “Where areyou?Ican’tseeyou!”Andthenanotherwouldreply,“I’moverhere!Followmyvoice!”
WhenRozfirststompedacrosstheisland,theanimalsquawksandgrowlsandchirpshadsoundedlikenothingmorethanmeaninglessnoises.Butshenolongerheardanimalnoises.Nowsheheardanimalwords.
CHAPTER21
THEINTRODUCTION
Therewasanhoureachmorning,inthedimlightofdawn,whenalltheislandanimalsweresafe.Yousee, longago theyhadagreednot tohuntorharmoneanotherduring thathour.TheycalledittheDawnTruce.Mostmornings,theislandresidentswouldgatherintheGreatMeadowand spend thehour chattingwith friends.Of course, not everyone attended thesegatherings. The bears had never made an appearance. And the vultures just circled highabove.Butonthisparticularmorning,anunusually largegroupofanimalshadcomeouttodiscusssomeimportantnews.
“Settledown,everyone—Ihavesomethingtosay!”Swoopertheowlhootedtothecrowdfromthelowestbranchofadeadtree.“LastnightIsawamysteriouscreaturerighthereintheGreatMeadow.Itseemedtobecoveredingrass,soIcouldn’tgetagoodlookatit,butIthinkitmayhavebeenthemonster.”
Looksofconcernsweptoverthecrowd.“Whatwasthecreaturedoing?”saidDarttheweasel.“Itwasspeaking,”saidSwooper.“Itkeptrepeatingthesamewordsoverandoveragain.
But each time it sounded a little different. At first it sounded like a cricket, and then itsoundedlikearaccoon,andthenitsoundedlikeanowl!”
“Whatwasitsaying?”saidDigdownthegroundhog.“Icouldbemistaken,”saidSwooper,“butIthinkitwassaying,‘Hello,mynameisRoz.’”Thecrowdbegantochatter.“Justwherewasthiscreature?”saidFinkthefox.Everyoneturnedastheowlslowlypointedhiswingtoagrassylumpinthemeadow.Itwas
aratherordinary-lookinggrassylump.Untilitbegantomove.Asyouprobablyguessed,thatgrassylumpwasRoz.Shehadbeentherethewholetime,
camouflaged, watching, listening, and with all the animals looking at her she decided tointroduce herself. The crowd stared in disbelief as the grassy lump started shaking andbulging upward and crumbling apart, and there was the robot! Then, using her body andvoice,therobotspoketotheanimalsintheirownlanguage.
“Hello,mynameisRoz.”Thecrowdgasped.Swooperflutteredupfromhisbranchandscreeched,“It’sthemonster!”“Iamnotamonster,”saidRoz.“Iamarobot.”Aflockofsparrowssuddenlytookoff.“Leave us alone!” squeakedDart as he crouched low in the grass. “Return towhatever
horribleplaceyou’vecomefrom!”“Icomefromhere,”saidRoz.“Ihavespentmywholelifeonthisisland.”“Whyhaven’tyouspokentoussooner?”screechedtheowl,fromhigherupinthetree.“Ididnotknowtheanimallanguageuntilnow,”saidtherobot.Crownpointthebuckhadheardenough,andheslippedintotheforestwithhisfamily.“Sowhatdoyouwantfromus?”growledFink.“Ihaveobservedthatdifferentanimalshavedifferentwaysofsurviving,”saidtherobot.“I
wouldlikeeachofyoutoteachmeyoursurvivaltechniques.”“I’mnotgoingtohelpyou!”screechedtheowl,fromtheverytopofthetree.“Youseem
so…unnatural!”“The monster is just waiting to gobble us up!” shrieked Digdown. And the groundhog
disappearedintoahole.“Iwillnotgobbleanyoneup,”saidRoz.“Ihavenoneedforfood.”“Youdon’tneedfood?”Finkrelaxedabit.“Well,Ineedfood.Andlotsofit.Whydon’tyou
makeyourselfusefulandfindmesomefood?”“Whatwouldyoulikemetodo?”saidRoz.“Canyouhunt?”Thefoxsmiledatahareonthefarsideofthegathering.“It’salmosttime
forbreakfast.”“Icannothunt.ButIcouldgatherberries.”
Thefox’ssmiledisappeared.“Berries?I’mhungryformeat,notberries!Goodlucktoyou,Roz.You’regonnaneedit!”Andthefoxtrottedaway.
Rozlookedupatthetree,buttheowlhadgone.Andwhentherobotlookeddownagain,sherealizedthateveryoneelsehadgonetoo.
CHAPTER22
THENEWWORD
Anewwordwasspreadingacrosstheisland.ThewordwasRoz.Everyonewastalkingabouttherobot.Andtheywantednothingtodowithher.
“Idon’tthinkI’lleverfeelcomfortableknowingthatRozisontheprowl.”“IhopeRozcamouflagesherselfasarock.Forever.”“Shhh!There’sRoznow!Let’sgetoutofhere!”
Rozwanderedthe island,covered indirtandgreengrowingthings,andeverywhereshewent,sheheardunfriendlywords.Thewordswouldhavemademostcreaturesquitesad,butasyouknow,robotsdon’tfeelemotions,andinthesemomentsthatwasprobablyforthebest.
CHAPTER23
THEWOUNDEDFOX
“Myface!Mybeautifulface!Somebodyhelp!”Finkthefoxwaslyingonalog,howlinginpain,withafacefullof long,sharpquills,whenRozappeared.“Isn’tthereanybodyelsewhocanhelp?”
“Wouldyoulikemetoleave?”saidtherobot.“No!Pleasedon’tgo!I’lltakewhatIcanget.”“Whathappened?”“Ididn’tthinkthatporcupinecouldseemeinthebushes,butwhenIwentforhisthroat,
suddenlytherewerequillsinmyface!”“Whydidyougoforhisthroat?”“Whydoyouthink?BecauseIwashungry!”“Ifyouhadnotattackedtheporcupine,youwouldnothavequillsinyourface.”“Yes,Roz,Iknowthat.Butafoxhasgottaeat!I justdidn’texpecthimtoputupsucha
fight.Look!Thereareevenquillsinmypaws!Ican’twalk!Myfaceisnumb!Icoulddieifyoudon’thelpme!”
“Whatwouldyoulikemetodo?”saidtherobot.“I’dlikeyoutopulloutthequills!”RozcalmlykneltbesideFinkandsaid,“Iwillpulloutthequills.”Therobotstartedtotugonaquill,butitsnappedoffinherfingers.Finkyelpedandsaid,
“Pinchitclosertotheskin!”SoRozpinchedthebrokenquillclosertotheskin,andthen,veryslowly,shepulleditout.Thefoxwincedinpainandsaidthroughhisteeth,“Please,Roz,pullthemoutfaster.Thisisagony!”
Rozquicklytuggedoutanotherquill.Thenanother,andanother.Thefoxlayperfectlystill,eyesclosedtightly,windwhistlingthroughhisnose,untileverysinglequillhadbeenremovedandplacedinaneatpilebesidehim.
Finkstruggled tohis feet.“Thanks,Roz. I…Ioweyouone.”The foxsmiled,briefly,andthenhelimpedaway.
CHAPTER24
THEACCIDENT
AsRozwanderedthroughspringtime,shesawallthedifferentwaysthatanimalsenteredtheworld.Shesawbirdsguardingtheireggsliketreasuresuntilthechicksfinallyhatched.Shesaw deer give birth to fawns who were up and running in a matter of minutes. Manynewborns were greeted by loving families. Some were on their own from their very firstbreath.And,asyou’reabouttofindout,afewpoorgoslingswouldneverevengetachancetohatch.
Roz was climbing down one of the forest cliffs when the accident happened. The windstartedblowingoutofthenorth,andsuddenlycloudswererushingovertheisland.Withthecloudscamea springshower.Adownpour,actually.And therewasour robot, clampingherhandsontoawetblockofstoneonthesideofthecliff.Buttheblockcouldn’thandletheextraweight. And as the heavy robot hung there, cracks suddenly shot through the stone and itstarted breaking apart. Down went the robot, plummeting into the treetops below. Shecrashed through branch after branch before finally hooking an arm around one. Then shedangledthere,gentlyswingingasrocksroaredpastherontheirwaytotheforestfloor.
Whenthedustsettled,Rozshimmieddownthetreetrunk.Thegroundwas litteredwithbroken rocks and splinteredwood and pulverized shrubs. Andwithin all that rubblewas agoosenestthathadbeentorntoshreds.Twodeadgeeseandfoursmashedeggslayamongthe carnage.The robot staredat themwithher softly glowingeyes, and something clickeddeepinsidehercomputerbrain.Rozrealizedshehadcausedthedeathsofanentirefamilyofgeese.
CHAPTER25
THEEGG
AsRozstoodintherain,staringdownatthosepoor,lifelessgeese,hersensitiveearsdetecteda faint peeping sound coming from somewhere nearby. She followed the peeps over to aclumpofwet leavesontheground.Andwhenshepeeledbackthe leaves,shediscoveredasingleperfectgooseeggsunkinthemud.
“Mama!Mama!”peepedatiny,muffledvoicefromwithintheegg.The robot gently cradled the fragile thing in her hand.Without a family, the unhatched
goslinginsidewouldsurelydie.Rozknewthatsomeanimalshadtodieforotherstolive.Thatwashowthewildernessworked.Butwouldsheallowheraccidenttocausethedeathofyetanothergosling?
Afteramoment,therobotstartedtowalk.Carefullyholdingtheegg,shemovedthroughtheforestandawayfromthatsadscene.Butshedidn’tgetfarbeforeFinkburstoutfromthebushes.
“Whathappened?”Thefoxpanted.“Thewholeforestwasshaking!”“There was an accident,” said the robot. “I was climbing those cliffs when the rocks
startedtofall.”“Youshouldbemorecareful,” saidFinkashecheckedout the robot’snewscrapesand
dents.“I’llneedyourhelpifIeverhavemoreporcupinetrouble!”“Iwillbemorecareful.”“Whatdoyouhavethere?”saidFink,lookingupatRoz’shands.“Agooseegg.”“Oh!Iloveeggs!CanIeatit?”“No.”“Please?”“No.”“Whydoyouwantit?”Thefoxscowled.“Ithoughtyoudidn’teatfood.”“Youmaynothavethisegg,Fink.”Thefoxsighed.Hescratchedhischin.Andthenhestartedsniffingthebreeze.Hisnose
hadfoundthescentofthedeadgeese.“Youcankeepyouregg!”hesaidashetrottedtowardthecliffs.“Ismellsomethingbetter!”
The robot walked on through the misty forest for a long time, until she was standingbeneathasprawlingoaktree.Rozplacedtheeggonapadofmoss.Thenshesnatchedgrassandtwigsfromthegroundanddelicatelywovethemtogethertomakealittlenest.Sheplacedthe egg inside the nest, placed the nest on her flat shoulder, and climbed up into thebranches.
CHAPTER26
THEPERFORMER
Upinthesprawlingoak,thegooseeggwaspeepingandwobblingarounditsnest.“Mama!Mama!”saidtheegg.“Iamnotyourmother,”saidtherobot.Theeggcontinuedpeepingandwobblinguntil nightfall,when thegosling inside settled
downtosleepandtheeggbecamequietandstill.Therobotwasabouttosettleintoherownkindofsleepwhensheheardsomethinginthe
underbrush below. Roz peered down from the branches and saw weeds rustling in themoonlight.Acreaturewascrawlingpast.Butthecreaturestayed low,hiding inthedarkestshadows, so thatRoz couldn’t seewho itwas.Rozwasn’t theonly onewatching.Apair offurryearsroseupbehindalog.Theearsbelongedtoaveryhungrybadger.Helayinwaitasthe shadowy creature came closer and closer, and when the time was right, the badgerpounced.
Youmightexpectacreatureunderattacktorunforherlife,ortodefendherself,orattheveryleasttoscream.Butwhenthebadgerpounced,thiscreaturejustrolledontoherback,stuckouthertongue,anddied.Notonlywasshedead,shewasrotten,andthebadger’sfacetwistedwithdisgust.“Blecch!Whatastench!”Hepawedatthestinkycorpseafewtimesandthengaveup.“No,thanks,”hegrumbledtohimself.“I’drathereatbeetles.”Andthebadgerhurriedofftofindalessdisgustingmeal.
Hadthatmysteriouscreaturebeenfrightenedtodeath?Andhowcouldherbodypossiblyrotsoquickly?Rozwasconfused.Andtherobotbecameconsiderablymoreconfusedanhourlater,whenthedeadcreature’searsbegantoflicker,hernosebegantotwitch,andsherolledontoherfeetandwentonherwayasifnothinghadhappened.
Therobot’svoicecalleddownfromthetree.“Areyoualiveorareyoudead?”The creature’s voice hissed up from the shadows. “Who’s there? Why have you been
watchingme?”“Whatyoujustdidwasunbelievable,”saidRoz.“Icouldnotlookaway.”
“Unbelievable?Really?”Thecreature’svoiceseemedtobesoftening.“IthoughtperhapsIoverdiditwhenIstuckoutmytongue.”
“Iwascertainyouweredead.”“Oh,whatalovelythingtosay!”“Wereyoudead?”“Well,ofcoursenot!Nobodycanactuallycomebackfromthedead.Itwasjustanact!”“Idonotunderstand.”“It’ssimple.IknewthatifIplayeddeadandreallylaiditonthick,thatoldbadgerwould
besodisgustedthathe’drunoff.Andthatisexactlywhathappened.Weopossumsarenaturalperformers,youknow.”
“So,youareanopossum.”Roz’scomputerbrainquicklyretrievedanyinformationithadon opossums. “You are a marsupial, and are nocturnal, and are known for mimicking theappearanceandsmellofdeadanimalswhenthreatened.”
“It’strue,deathscenesaremyspecialty,”saidtheopossum.“ButIhaveawidedramaticrange,believeme.”
“Ibelieveyou.”“Haveyoudoneanyacting?”saidtheopossum.“Ihavenot,”saidtherobot.“Well,youshould!Youmightenjoyit.Youcanstartbyimaginingthecharacteryou’dlike
tobe.Howdotheymoveandspeak?Whataretheirhopesandfears?Howdoothersreacttothem?Onlywhenyoutrulyunderstandacharactercanyoubecomethatcharacter…”
Thetwooddcreaturessatthere,oneinatree,theotherintheweeds,andtalkedaboutacting.Theopossumwentonandonabouthervariousactingmethodsandher triumphantperformances,andourrobotabsorbedeveryword.
“Butwhydoyoupretendtobesomethingyouarenot?”saidtherobot.“Because it’s fun!”said theopossum.“Andbecause ithelpsmesurvive,asyou justsaw.
Youneverknow,itmighthelpyousurvivetoo.”Soon, the robot’s computer brain was humming with activity. Performing could be a
survival strategy! If the opossum could pretend to be dead, the robot could pretend to bealive.Shecouldactlessroboticandmorenatural.Andifshecouldpretendtobefriendly,shemightmakesome friends.And theymighthelpher live longer,andbetter.Yes, thiswasanexcellentplan.
Rozwastedno timeandspokehernextwords in the friendliest voice shecouldmuster.“Madam marsupial, it would be a great honor and absolute privilege if you would kindlyinformmeofyourname.”Roz’sfriendlydemeanorneededsomework,butitwasastart.
“Yes,ofcourse!”saidtheopossum.“MynameisPinktail.Andyouare?”Leavesgently shookasRozclimbeddown from the tree. “It isavery lovelypleasure to
make your acquaintance, my dear Pinktail.” A moment later, the robot stepped into themoonlight.“MynameisRoz.”
“Ohmy!”theopossumgasped.“You’rethem-m-monster!”“Iamnotamonster.Iamarobot.AndIamharmless.”“Harmless?Really?Well, youdo seem rather gentle.And I heard someone say that you
don’teatanyfoodatall,whichmakesnosense,buthopefullyitmeansyouwon’teatme?”“Iwillnoteatyou,”saidtherobot.“I’msogladtohearthat,”saidtheopossum.Andamomentlater,shetoosteppedintothe
moonlight.“It’snicetomeetyou,Roz.”AweaksmileappearedonPinktail’spointyface.Rozthoughtthingsweregoingreallywell.Butshedidn’tknowwhattosaynext.Neither
did Pinktail. So the two friendly creatures just stood there together and listened to thecricketsforawhile.
“Well,Ishouldbeonmyway,”saidPinktailatlast.“Haveaniceevening,Roz.”“Havethenicestevening,Pinktail.Ishalllookforwardtothepleasureofencounteringyou
againinthefuture.Soon,Ihope.Farewell.”Withthatawkwardgood-bye,PinktailslippedbackintotheweedsandRozclimbedback
intothetree.
CHAPTER27
THEGOSLING
Somethingwashappeninginsidethegooseegg.Tap,tap,tap.Tap,tap,tap.Tap,tap,CRUNCH!Atinybillpokedthroughtheeggshell,peepedonce,andthencontinuedcrunchingaway.
Theholegrewbiggerandbigger,andthen,likearobotbreakingfromacrate,thehatchlingpulledhimselfoutintotheworld.
Helayquietly inhisnestwithhiseyesclosed,surroundedbychipsofbrokenshell.Andwhenhiseyesslowlywinkedopen,theveryfirstthinghesawwastherobotlookingback.
“Mama!Mama!”peepedthegosling.“Iamnotyourmother,”saidtherobot.“Mama!Mama!”“Iamnotyourmother.”“Food!Food!”Thegoslingwashungry.Ofcoursehewas.So,usingherfriendliestvoice,Rozsaid,“What
wouldyouliketoeat,littledarling?”“Food!”wastheonlyresponse.Thehatchlingwasfartooyoungtobehelpful.Rozneeded
tofindagrowngoose.Soshescoopedupthenestwiththegoslinginside,placeditonherflatshoulder,andmarchedthroughtheforest,searchingforgeese.
CHAPTER28
THEOLDGOOSE
Ordinarily,theforestanimalswouldhaverunawayfromthemonster.Buttheywereawfullycurious why she was carrying a hatchling on her shoulder. And once Roz explained thesituation,theanimalsactuallytriedtohelp.AfrogpointedRozuptothesquirrels.Asquirrelrecommended that she speakwith themagpies. And then amagpie sent them over to thebeaverpond.
Thegroundgrewsoggier,thegrassgrewtaller,andsoontherobotandthegoslingwerelooking across a wide, murky pond. Dragonflies buzzed through the reeds. Turtles sunnedthemselvesonalog.Schoolsofsmallfishgatheredintheshadows.Andthere,floatinginthecenterofthepond,wasanoldgraygoose.
“Averygoodmorningtoyou!”therobot’sfriendlyvoiceboomedoverthewater.“Ihaveanadorablelittlegoslingwithme!”
Thegoosejuststared.“Iamingreatneedofyourassistance!”saidRoz.“Actually,thegoslingisinneedofyour
assistance!”Thegoosedidn’tmove.“Food!”peepedthegosling.“Food!Food!”Thattinyvoicewasmorethantheoldgoosecouldbear,andshebeganglidingacrossthe
pondandsquawkingtotherobot,“Whatareyoudoingwiththathungryhatchling?Wherearehisparents?”
“There was a terrible accident,” said Roz. “It was my fault. This gosling is the onlysurvivor.”
“If there was a terrible accident, why does your voice sound so cheerful?” The gooseflappedherwings.“Areyousureyoudidn’teathisparents?”
“IamsureIdidnoteathisparents,”saidRoz,returningtohernormalvoice.“Idonoteatanything,includingparents.”
Thegoosesquintedattherobot.Thenshesaid,“Doyouknowwhohisparentswere?”“Idonotknow.”“Well,theymusthavebelongedtooneoftheotherflocksontheisland,becausenobodyin
myflockismissing.”“Willyoutakethegosling?”“Imostcertainlywillnot!”squawkedthegoose.“Ican’t take ineveryorphanIsee!You
saythisisyourfault?Itseemstomethatit’suptoyoutomakethingsright.”“Mama!Mama!”peepedthegosling.“I have tried to tell him that I am not his mother,” said the robot. “But he does not
understand.”“Well,you’llhavetoactlikehismotherifyouwanthimtosurvive.”
Therewasthatwordagain—act.Veryslowly,therobotwaslearningtoactfriendly.Maybeshecouldlearntoactmotherlyaswell.
“Youdowanthimtosurvive,don’tyou?”saidthegoose.“Yes, I do want him to survive,” said the robot. “But I do not know how to act like a
mother.”“Oh, it’s nothing, you just have to provide the goslingwith food andwater and shelter,
makehimfeellovedbutdon’tpamperhimtoomuch,keephimawayfromdanger,andmakesurehe learns towalk and talk and swimand fly andget alongwith others and look afterhimself.Andthat’sreallyallthereistomotherhood!”
Therobotjuststared.“Mama!Food!”saidthegosling.“Nowwouldprobablybeagoodtimetofeedyourson,”saidthegoose.“Yes,ofcourse!”saidtherobot.“WhatshouldIfeedhim?”“Givehimsomemashed-upgrass.Andifafewinsectsgetinthere,allthebetter.”Roztoreseveralbladesofgrassfromtheground.Shemashedthemintoaballandthen
droppedtheball intothenest.Thegoslingshookhis tail feathersandchewedhisvery firstbitesoffood.
“Bytheway,mynameisLoudwing,”saidthegoose.“Everyonealreadyknowsyourname,Roz.Butwhat’sthegosling’sname?”
“Idonotknow.”Therobotlookedatheradoptedson.“Whatisyourname,gosling?”“Hecan’tnamehimself!”squawkedLoudwing.Andthen,withaloudburstofwingbeats,thegooseflutteredupfromthepondandlanded
rightonRoz’shead.Waterstreameddowntherobot’sdustybodyasLoudwing leanedoverthenest.
“Ohdear,hecertainlyisatinything,”saidLoudwing.“Hemustbearunt.I’llwarnyou,Roz—runtsusuallydon’tlastverylong.Andwithyouforamother,it’lltakeamiracleforhimtosurvive.I’msorry,butit’sthetruth.However,thegoslingstilldeservesaname.Let’sseehere.Hisbillisanunusuallybrightcolor.It’sactuallyquitelovely.IfIwerehismother,I’dcallhimBrightbill,butyou’rehismother,soit’suptoyou.”
“HisnamewillbeBrightbill,”saidRozasthegooseflutteredbacktothewater.“Andwewilllivebythispond,wherehecanbearoundothergeese.Iwillfindusasturdytreenearby.”
“Youwilldonosuchthing!”Thegooseflappedherwings.“Atreeisnoplaceforagosling!Brightbillneedstoliveontheground,likeanormalgoose.”
Loudwing sized up the robot. “I suppose you twowill need a rather large home. You’dbetterspeakwithMr.Beaver.Hecanbuildanything.He’salittlegruffattimes,butifyou’reextra friendly, I’m sure he’ll help you out. And if he gives you trouble, remindhim that heowesmeafavor.”
CHAPTER29
THEBEAVERS
Everyday,thebeaversswamalongtheirdam, inspectingandrepairingit.Thewallofwoodandmudallowedonlyatrickleofwatertopassthrough,andithadturnedanarrowstreamintothewidepondthatmanyanimalsnowcalledhome.
AsRozandBrightbillwalkedaround thepond, theypassedhundredsofchewed-up treestumps,proofthatthebeaversneededaconstantsupplyofwood.AndthisgaveRozanidea.
Therobotswungherflattenedhand,andthesoundsofchoppingwoodechoedacrossthewater.Theyweresoonreplacedby thesoundsof footstepsandshaking leavesas therobotcarefullywalkedalongthebeaverdamwithagoslingonhershoulderandafreshlycuttreeinherhands.Thebeavers floatedbesidetheir lodgeandstaredat thebizarresightwithopenmouthsuntilMr.Beaverslappedhisbroadtailonthewater,whichmeant“Stoprightthere!”
Therobotstopped.“Hello,beavers,mynameisRoz,andthisisBrightbill.Pleasedonotbefrightened.Iamnotdangerous.”Sheheldoutthetree.“Ihavebroughtyouagift!Ithoughtperhapsyoucouldusethisinyourbeautifuldam.”
“No,thanks,”saidMr.Beaver.“Ihaveastrictpolicynevertoacceptgiftsfrommonst—”“Don’tberidiculous,”interruptedMrs.Beaver.“Wecan’tletaperfectlygoodbirchgoto
waste!”“I’mafraidImustinsist!”saidMr.Beaver.Mrs. Beaver turned to her husband. “Remember how you askedme to point out when
you’rebeingstubbornandrude?Well,you’rebeingstubbornandrude!”ThensheturnedbacktoRoz.“Thankyou,monster.Ifyou’dbesokindastodropthetreeinthewater,we’lltakeitfromthere.”
“Iamnotamonster.”Roz tossed the tree likea twig.“Iamarobot.”The treesmackedagainstthewaterandsentthebeaversbobbingupanddown.
Justthen,Brightbillstartedpeeping.“Mama!Hungry!”SoRozdroppedaballofgrassintothenest.
“Thegoslingthinksyou’rehismother?”cameaquietvoice.ItwasPaddler,Mr.andMrs.Beaver’sson.
“Hisrealmotherisdead,”saidRoz.“SoIhaveadoptedhim.”Therewasabrief silence.ThenPaddler lookedupatRozand said, “You’rea verygood
robottotakecareofBrightbill.”Mr.Beaversighed.“Yes,yes,that’sverygoodofyou,Roz.ButIdon’tunderstandwhatany
ofthishastodowithus.”“MysonandIneedahome,andLoudwingsaidyouwouldhelpusbuildone.”“Ofcourseshedid,”Mr.Beavermutteredtohimself.“Loudwinggetsmeoutofonelousy
jam,andIspendtherestofmydaysdoingherfavors.”Mrs.Beaverglaredatherhusband.“Sorry,”hesaid,realizinghewasbeingstubbornandrudeagain.“Stayrightthere,Roz.
Weneedtohaveafamilymeeting.”Thethreebeaversslippedunderthewater,andamomentlatertheirmuffledvoicescould
beheardinsidethelodge.Therobotstoodonthedamandpatientlywaitedwithherson.“Mama!Mama!”“Yes,Brightbill,Iamtryingtoactlikeagoodmother.”Aripple,andMr.Beaver’sheadappearedabovethewater.“Ifyoubringusfourmoretrees
—good,healthyones—maybeI’llhavetimetohelpyouandthegosling.”“Thatiswonderful!”saidtherobot.“Wewillberightback!”
CHAPTER30
THENEST
“I’vebuiltmyfairshareoflodgesovertheyears.”Mr.Beaverstoodatthewater’sedge.“ButIcan’tsayI’veeverbuiltoneforarobotandagosling.So,justwhatexactlydoyouneed?”
“Weneeda lodgebigenoughforusboth,”saidRoz.“Itshouldbecomfortableandsafe.Anditshouldbenearthepond.”
“Howlongdoyouplanonlivinginthislodge?”“Idonotknow.”“Thenwe’dbettermakesureit’sstrongandsturdy.”Mr.Beaverstrokedhiswhiskersashe
thought.“Doyouplanonhavingfriendsover?Themissuslovestoentertainguests.”“Idonothaveanyfriends.”“Nofriends?Well,youseemprettylikableforamonster.Imean,arobot.Butifyouwant
myadvice,youshouldgrowyourselfagarden.Yourneighborswon’tbeable toresist freshherbsandberriesandflowers.Justyouwaitandsee!Sowe’llmakesurethere’saplaceforagarden,andwe’llgiveyourlodgesomeextraspaceforallthefriendsyou’llbehosting.”Thebeaverwinked. “Wealsoneed to findaway tokeepyour lodgecomfortablewhen it’s coldoutside.Ourlodgeisheatedbyourownbodies.ButIthinkwe’llhavetofindanotherwaytoheatyours.”
Thebeaverandtherobotthoughtaboutheatforawhile.ThefirstthingthatcametoRoz’smindwasthesun.Butthensherememberedthehotsparksshehadfeltwhileslidingdownthemountainpeak.
“Icouldheatourlodgewithfire,”shesaid.Mr.Beaverblinkedhislittleeyes.“Iwillneedtoexperiment,”Rozcontinued.“ButIthinkthereisaway.”“Yougorightahead,Roz,”saidthebeaver.“Butwouldyoutrynottoburndowntheentire
forest?”“Donotworry.Iwillbecareful.”“Let’smoveon.”Mr.Beaversighed.“Thenextorderofbusinessistofindasiteforyour
lodge.Thatmeadowacrossthewaterwouldbeperfect,butthehareswillhaveafitifwetrytobuildthere.Ithinkweshouldclearoutsometreesandbuildrightintheforest.AndIknowjusttheplace!”
Thebeavertookthemalongthewateranduptoadensesectionofforestthatjuttedintothepond.
“Itneedssomework,”saidMr.Beaver,trudgingthroughthethickweeds,“butthisoughttodothejob.”
“Yes,thisoughttodothejob,”saidRoz,inherfriendliestvoice.“Job!”saidBrightbill.Mr.Beaverwasincrediblyskilledattakingdowntrees,butevenhecouldn’tkeepupwith
Roz’spowerfulchoppinghands.Sohelettherobotdothehardwork.Hepointedoutthetreesandshrubsthatneededtogo,andRozstartedhackingaway.Bysunset,theywerestandinginanewlyclearedsite,andtheyhadmorethanenoughwoodtobuildthelodge.
“Youdidsomefineworktoday,Roz.”Mr.Beaveryawned.“I’llreturninthemorning,andwe’llpickuprightwhereweleftoff.”
“Whatwouldyoulikemetodo?”saidtherobot.“Tonight?Soyoustillfeellikeworking,doyou?Verygood!Well,youcanstartbydigging
outthesetreestumps.Andyoucancollectallthoselarge,flatstonesoverthere.Andyoucansmoothdownthispatchofdirtsowehavealevelplacetobuild.Thatshouldkeepyoubusy!”
Thenextmorning,Mr.BeaverreturnedtofindthatRozhadbeenverybusyindeed.Allthetreestumpshadbeendugup,andtheirholesfilledinwithdirt.Twentylargestoneshadbeenstacked.Andthegroundwasnowperfectlylevel.ButwhatmostastonishedMr.BeaverwasthatRozandBrightbillwerehuddledaroundasmallcracklingcampfire.
Mr.Beavermovedhislips,butnowordscameout.“Brightbillwascoldlastnight,”saidRoz.“SoItaughtmyselfhowtomakeafire.”“But—but—buthow?”
“IdiscoveredthatwhenIstrikethesetwostonestogether,theycreatesparks,likethis.Idirectedsparksontodryleavesandwooduntiltheyignited.OnceIhadafire,itwaseasytokeepitgoing.AndifIneedtoputitout,Icanjustaddwater!”
Mr.Beaversatandwarmedhispaws.“I’veneverseenfireinsuchaneatlittlebundle.”Hestaredintotheflames.“I’veonlyseenitblazingthroughtheforest,burningeverythinginitspath.Butthis ismarvelous!”Hetookanotherminutetoenjoythewarmth.Thenheandtherobotgotbacktowork.
Mr.BeaveraskedRoztodigatrenchhere,toplacelargestonesthere,toarrangelogsthisway, tosmearmudthatway.Birdsandsquirrelsperched in thetreesandwatchedthenewlodgetakeshape.Itresembledthebeaverlodge,butitwaslarger,agreatdomeofwoodandmud and leaves. A simple opening in the wall served as the entrance, and the door wasnothingmorethanaheavystonethattherobotcouldslideoutoftheway.
Inside,thelodgewasonebig,roundroom.ThearchedceilingwashighenoughthatRozcouldstandupright.Afirepitwassetintothecenterofthefloor,andameshofthinbranchesaboveactedasavent.Longstones linedthe interiorwalls, likebenches,andwerecoveredwiththickcushionsofmoss.TherewasevenaholeforstoringfoodandwaterforBrightbill.
“You’vegotyourselfabeautifulpond-viewproperty!”saidMr.Beaver.“Whatareyougoingtonameit?”
“Idonotunderstand.”“Why,abeautifullodgelikethisdeservesaname!WecallourlodgeStreamcatcher.”The robot’s computer brain didn’t take long. “The lodge is for Brightbill. Brightbill is a
bird.Birdsliveinnests.CouldwecallthislodgetheNest?”“Huzzah!”squeakedthebeaver.“TheNestisafinenameforyourlodge!”“Nest!Nest!”laughedBrightbill.TheystoodoutsidetheNestandadmiredtheirhandiworkuntilMr.Beaver’sbellybeganto
grumble.“Thatsoundmeansit’stimeformetogogetdinner.”“Thankyouverymuchforyourhelp,”saidRoz.“Wecouldnothavedonethiswithoutyou.”“You’requitewelcome!”saidMr.Beaver, smiling.“Foryourgardenyou’llwant tospeak
with Tawny, the doewho lives over the hill. She’ll know justwhat to do. And now if you’llexcuseme,IhavetohurryhomebeforePaddlereatsallthebestleaves.EnjoyyourfirstnightintheNest!”
CHAPTER31
THEFIRSTNIGHT
Thestarswereout.Afirewascracklinginthefirepit.RozandBrightbillweresettlingintotheirfirstnightintheirnewhome.“Thislodgeiswherewewilllivefromnowon.”Therobotpluckedhersonfromhislittle
wovennestandplacedhimonthefloor.“Ihopeyoulikeit.”The gosling did like it. He liked that it was big and warm and peaceful. And he liked
knowing that the forest and the pond were just outside. He waddled around, peeping tohimself andexploringevery little corner of the lodgeuntil itwas time forbed.Hismothercarefullylaidhimonasoftcushionofmoss.Buthedidn’twanttosleepthere.Sosheputhimbackinhislittlenest,buthedidn’twanttosleepthereeither.Brightbilllookedupandsaid,“Mama,sit!”Rozsatdown.Thenhesaid,“Mama,hold!”Rozheldhim.Therobot’sbodymayhavebeenhardandmechanical,butitwasalsostrong
andsafe.Thegoslingfeltloved.Hiseyesslowlywinkedclosed.Andhespentthewholenightquietlysleepinginhismother’sarms.
CHAPTER32
THEDEER
Thedeerfamilydidnotrunfromthesoundofsnappingtwigsandcrunchingleaves.TheyhadheardallaboutRozandBrightbill,andtheyknewtherewasnothingtofear.Crownpointstoodbeforehisdoeandhisthreespottedfawns,andthefamilywatchedastherobotapproachedwiththegoslingonhershoulder.
“Hello, deer, my name is Roz, and this is Brightbill. We are looking for a doe namedTawny.”
Crownpointmovedaside,andthedoesilentlysteppedforward.“Mr.Beaverhelpedusbuildalodge,”saidRoz,“andhethoughtyoumighthelpusgrowa
garden.”“Mr.Beaverhelpedyou?”cameTawny’sgentlevoice.“Youmusthavedonesomethingfor
thebeavers.”“Ibroughtthemfreshlycuttrees,”saidRoz.TawnylookedatCrownpoint,andthebuckslowlynodded.“Iwillhelpyougrowagarden,”said thedoe to therobot, “ifyouwill letmy familyeat
fromit.”Therobotnoddedinagreement.AndthenshequietlyledTawnybacktotheNest.
CHAPTER33
THEGARDEN
Afterinspectingthegrounds,TawnyaskedRoztoremoveall thedriedbramblesandweedsand leaves from the garden area. She asked her burrowing friends, the moles and thegroundhogs,todigthroughthedirtandloosenthesoil.Andthensheaskedalltheneighborstodosomethingratherpeculiar.
“PleaseleaveyourdroppingsaroundtheNest!Themoredroppings,thericherthesoil,thehealthierthegarden.”
As you can imagine, Tawny’s request got everyone’s attention. The place was sooncrawlingwithwoodland creatures curious tohearmore about thegardenproject.And justlikethat,therobotwasmeetingherneighbors.Theplantohelphermakefriendswasalreadystartingtowork.
TherewasafestivefeelingaroundtheNestthatday.Animalswerecomingandgoingandchattingand laughing.After somepleasantconversation,eachneighborwouldchoose theirspot,leavetheirdroppings,andbeontheirway.Andalwayswithasmile.
“We’rehappytohelp!”saidtwosmilingweaselsafterfinishinguptheirbusiness.“Itwasourpleasure!”saidaflockofsmilingsparrowsbeforetheyflewaway.“Ishouldn’tbemuchlonger,now,”saidasmilingturtleasheslowlymadehiscontribution.Asallthiswasgoingon,Rozwalkedaroundandthankedeveryone.“Iamnotcapableof
defecating,”sheexplained,“soyourdroppingsaremostappreciated!”Once the grounds were fertilized, it was time for the plants. Tawny brought Roz and
Brightbill out to a lush meadow. The robot sank her fingers into the ground and felt thespongy layer of roots below the grass. Slowly, carefully, she rolled up wide strips of sod,exposingthedark,wormysoil.ShecarriedtherollsbacktotheNestandspreadthemouttomakeapatchylawn.ThenshetransplantedclumpsofwildflowersandcloversandberriesandshrubsandherbsuntiltheNestwassurroundedbyascragglycollectionofplants.
“It’snotmuchtolookatnow,”saidTawny,“butthegrasswillgrowintothesegaps,andthe flowers and bushes should perk up in a fewdays. I’ll return soon tomake sure it’s alltakingroot.Beforelongthiswillbealovely,wildgarden.”
CHAPTER34
THEMOTHER
Likemostgoslings,Brightbillfollowedhismothereverywhere.Hewasaslow,totteringlittlething, but Rozwas rarely in a hurry, and together they lovedmeandering along the forestpathsandaroundthebanksofthepond.However,theyspentmostoftheirtimerightintheirown garden. You see, the garden was no longer scraggly. Thanks to the robot’s carefulattention,itwasnowburstingwithcolorsandscentsandflavors.Clearly,Rozwasdesignedtoworkwithplants.
“Oh, Roz, you’ve been busy!” said Tawny as her family grazed on the wonderland ofgrowingthings.“Thisgardenisglorious!You’llbeseeingquitealotofusaroundhere.”
Tawnymeantwhat she said. Eachmorning, around daybreak, Roz and Brightbill wouldhearquiet footstepsoutsidetheNest.AndtherewouldbeTawnyandCrownpointandtheirfawns,Willow,Thistle,andBrook,happilynibblingonthegarden.
Thedeerweren’ttheonlyregularvisitors.Thebeaversbecamequitefondofgnawingonacertain hardy shrub at the edge of the garden.Digdown, the old groundhog, poppedup tomunchonberries.Broadfoot, thegiantbullmoose,camebytochewontreeshoots.Andofcoursebeesandbutterflieswerethereeveryday,happilyfloatingthroughtheflowers.Therealwaysseemedtobefriendlyanimalshangingaroundthegarden.
Itwas amazinghowdifferently everyone treatedRoz thesedays.Animalswhoonce ranfromthe robot in fearnowstoppedby theNest just to spend timewithher.TheneighborssmiledandwavedwheneverRozandBrightbillwanderedpast.Andat theDawnTruce, theothermotherswereeagertosharetheirparentingadvice.
“MakesureBrightbillgetsplentyofrest.Atiredgoslingisacrankygosling!”“Whenthewindstartsblowingfromthenorth,youmustimmediatelygetBrightbillto
safety.Northwindsalwaysbringbadweather.”“You’llneverbetheperfectmother,sojustdothebestyoucan.AllBrightbillreally
needsistoknowyou’redoingyourbest.”
Nogoslingeverhadamoreattentivemother.Rozwasalwaysthere,readytoanswerherson’s questions, or to play with him, or to rock him to sleep, or to whisk him away fromdanger. With a computer brain packed full of parenting advice, and the lessons she waslearningonherown,therobotwasactuallybecominganexcellentmother.
CHAPTER35
THEFIRSTSWIM
“Goodafternoon,youtwo!”saidLoudwingasshewaddledintothegarden.“Rememberme,Brightbill?”
“Loudwing!Loudwing!”“Verygood!”Theoldgoosegiggled.“Now,Roz,doyouknowwhattomorrowis?Tomorrow
isSwimmingDay!Thedaywhenall theparentstaketheirgoslingsoutonthepondforthefirsttime.AndyousimplymustbringBrightbill.”
“Swim!Swim!”saidthegosling,shakinghistailfeathers.“Brightbillcango,”saidRoz,“butIcannotswim.Icannotgoonthepondwithhim.Iwill
notbeabletoprotecthim.”“Who’d have thought a big thing like youwould be afraid of a little water?” Loudwing
laughed.“Well,don’tyouworryaboutBrightbill;he’llbesafeintheflock.Andhe’sgoingtohavesomuch funswimmingwith theothergoslings!Webeginatsunrise,sodon’tbe late!Seeyouinthemorning!”Andwiththat,thegooseploppedintothewaterandglidedaway.
“Swim!Swim!”saidthegosling.“Yes,Brightbill,”saidtherobot,staringatthepond.“Swim,swim.”Early the next morning, peeps and honks and splashes began echoing across the calm
water. Roz and Brightbill followed a trail through the fog and over to a beach that wascrawlingwithfluffygoslingsandproudparents.
Roztookafewstepsintothewater,andherSurvivalInstinctsimmediatelyflaredup.Therobot’s computerbrainknew that ifwatergot insideherbody, it coulddo seriousdamage.Andsoastheotherparentsbeganswimmingacrossthepond,Rozstoodsafelyintheshallowsandwatched.
Brightbillranupanddownthebeachwiththeothergoslings,peepingandlaughingandpretending to be afraid of the tinywaves.Whenonewave finally pulledhim in, he felt hisbody floating on top of the water. A big smile appeared on the gosling’s face. Clearly,Brightbillwasdesignedtoswim.
“Verygood,Brightbill!”saidLoudwingasshefloatedpast.“You’reanatural!”“Yes,Brightbill,youareanatural!”saidRoz,tryingtosoundlikeagoodmother.Loudwing rounded up all the goslings and gave them a quick swimming lesson.
“Remember, everyone, paddle your feet evenly to swim in a straight line. Paddlewith yourrightfoottogoleft,andpaddlewithyourleftfoottogoright.Tryitoutandjointherestofuswhenyou’reready.HappySwimmingDay!”
Loudwingandtheotheradultgeesecalmlyglidedtowardthecenterofthepond.Ajumbleofgoslingstriedtokeepupwiththem.Theyoungstersjostledandsplashedandpeepedwithexcitement,andgraduallytheypaddledinthedirectionoftheirparents.
OnlyBrightbilllaggedbehind.“Mamaswim?”Rozpointedtotheflock.“Icannotswim.Gohavefunwiththeothergeese.Youwillbesafe
withthem.”Thegoslingtookadeepbreath.Thenheshookhistailfeathersandpaddledhisfeetand
setoutonhisveryfirstswim.Hedriftedtoofartotheleft.Thenhedriftedtoofartotheright.Buthisfeetjustkeptpaddlinguntilhecaughtuptotheothergoslings.
Rozspent themorningwatchinghersonswimaroundandaroundthepond.Andasshewatched him, she felt something like gratitude. Thanks to Brightbill, the robot now hadfriendsandshelterandhelp.ThankstoBrightbill,therobothadbecomebetteratsurviving.
Inaway,RozneededBrightbillasmuchasBrightbillneededRoz.Whichwaspreciselywhyshefeltsuchconcernwhenthemoodonthepondsuddenlychanged.
Onemoment everythingwas tranquil, and the nextmoment the geesewere in a panic.Something was violently sloshing through the group. It was Rockmouth, the giant, toothypike.Thefishhadbeenaprobleminthepondforaslongasanyonecouldremember,buthe’dneverattackedgoslingsbefore.Alltheparentsimmediatelywenttoprotecttheiryoung—alltheparentsexceptRoz.Therobotcouldonlystandintheshallowsandwatchashersonlefttheothergeesebehindanddesperatelyswamtowardhismother.
“Swimtome,Brightbill!Quickly!”Thegoslingkickedasfastashecould.Butaloneonthewater,hemadeaneasytarget.The
pondrippledasRockmouthslashedbelowthesurface.“Mama!Help!”squeakedBrightbill.Therobotwasterriblyconflicted.Partofherknewshehadtohelpherson,butanother
partknewshehadtostayoutofdeepwater.Herbodylurchedforwardandthenbackward,againandagain,asshestruggledtomakeadecision.
AndthenLoudwingcametotherescue.“Rockmouth, don’t you dare harm that little darling!” The old goose fluttered over and
splasheddown right on topof the fish. “Leave…him…alone!”Shepeckedandkickedandbeatherwingsagainstthefishuntilhesurrenderedtothemurkydepthsofthepond.
LoudwingescortedBrightbillbacktothebeach,andaminutelaterthegoslingwasinhismother’sarms,safeandsound.
“Rockmouth isn’tasdangerousasheseems,”said thegoose,outofbreath.“But I thinkthat’senoughswimmingforoneday.”
CHAPTER36
THEGOSLINGGROWS
BrightbillsoonforgotabouttheincidentwithRockmouth,andhespenthismorningscruisingaround thepondwith theothergoslings.Hewasbecomingagreat little swimmer.Hewasalsobecomingagreatlittlespeaker.
“Hello,mynameisBrightbill!”hesaidtoanyonewhowouldlisten.Thegoslingwassmallforhisage,andhealwayswouldbe,buthewasgrowingbiggerand
strongerbytheday.Hisincreasingsizewasmatchedbyhisincreasingappetite.Hegobbleddowngrassandberriesandnutsandleaves.Sometimeshe’dsnackonlittleinsects.Ifitwasedible,Brightbillwouldeat it.Andeven if itwasn’tedible,hemighteat itanyway.Roz feltsomethinglikefrightthetimeshesawBrightbillswallowingpebblesonthebeach.Shewasholding himupside down, hoping the pebbleswould fall out of hismouth,when Loudwingsteppedin.
“Putthegoslingdown,”saidthegoosewithalaugh.“It’sperfectlynaturalforBrightbilltoeatafewpebbles.They’llhelphimdigesthisfood.Butnottoomany,okay,littleone?”
Likemostyoungsters,Brightbillwas incrediblycurious.Heexploredthegardenandthepondandtheforestfloor.Andhewouldoccasionallyexploreneighboringhomes.He’dwanderdownsomeholeinthegroundandsaytowhoeverwasthere,“Hello,mynameisBrightbill!”Then a long robot armwould reach in and pull the gosling back outside. “Sorry to botheryou,”Rozwouldsay,inherfriendliestvoice.
Themother and son slipped into a good nighttime routine.While the gosling slept, therobotmighttendthefire if itwascoolout,orgently fanhimif itwaswarm.Ifhewokeuphungryorthirsty,Rozbroughthimfoodorwater.Andwheneverhehadnightmares,shewasalwaystheretorockhimbacktosleep.
CHAPTER37
THESQUIRREL
Asmallsquirrelwasscurryingthroughthegarden.Brightbillhadneverseenherbefore.HepeeredoutfromtheNestandwatchedherbounceacrossthelawn.Afteraminuteofspying,thegoslingshookhistailfeathersandwaddledoutside.“Hello,mynameisBrightbill!”
Thesquirrelfroze.Thensheslowlyturnedaround.Andthenshestartedtotalk.“HiBrightbillmynameisChitchatandI’matwelve-and-a-half-week-oldsquirrelandI’m
newaroundhereandyourhomeisreallybigandroundandIdon’tunderstandwhysmokesometimescomesoutofit…”
Reader,I’mnotquitesurehowChitchatgotenoughairintoherlungstogoonlikethat.And I’m not quite sure how Brightbill had the patience to listen. But he stood there andpolitelynoddedasChitchatrambledonandonandon.
“…andsometimesIseeyouwaddlingbehindyourfunny-lookingmotherandyouseemsonicethatIthoughtI’dcomedownandintroducemyselfbutnowI’mnervousandI’mtalkingtoomuchandmynameisChitchatIthinkIsaidthatalready.”
Therewasapleasantsilence.Brightbillstoodononefootforamoment.Thenthegoslingtookadeepbreathandsaid,“It’sverynicetomeetyouChitchatIdon’t
thinkyoutalktoomuchIthinkyoutalkjustenoughandIlikeyousolet’sbefriends.”Abigsmileappearedonthesquirrel’stinyface.Foronce,Chitchatwasspeechless.
CHAPTER38
THENEWFRIENDSHIP
Chitchatwasn’tspeechless for long.She’dalreadybeenalive forawhole twelveandahalfweeks,andshewantedto tellBrightbillabouteveryexciting thing,andeveryboring thing,that had ever happened to her. And so, as the new friends played and explored and atetogether,thesquirrelsharedherstories.
“IwasbornontheothersideofthehillandthenlastweekIdecidedIwasreadytobuildmyfirstdreywhichiswhatyoucallasquirrelnestandnowIliveinthattreewiththeweirdbumpinitstrunk,”shesaidwhilethetwoofthemkickedpebblesintothepond.
“Onetimeaweaselchasedmethroughthetreetopsuntilhemissedabranchandfellallthewaydownandcrashedintoabushandwalkedawayallwobblyandheneverbotheredmeagain,”shesaidwhilethetwoofthemcrawledthroughahollowlog.
“EwwgrossIsawyoueatthatantonetimeIateagnatbyaccidentandIdidn’tlikeitatallImostlyeatacornsandbarkandtreebudsandsometimestheyummyberriesthatgrowinyourgarden,”shesaidwhilethetwoofthemtookasnackbreak.
ButChitchatwasasgoodalistenerasshewasatalker.AndwheneveritwasBrightbill’sturntospeak,she’dkeepquietandhangonhiseveryword.
Doyouknowwhoenjoyedtheirconversationsmostofall?OurrobotRoz.Theprotectivemotherwasneverfaraway,andshefeltsomethinglikeamusementatthesillyconversationsshe overheard, and she felt something like happiness that her son had made such a goodfriend.
CHAPTER39
THEFIRSTFLIGHT
Brightbillhadspenthisentirelifebythepond,andhewasbecomingverycuriousaboutwhatlaybeyondhisneighborhood.Soonedayhismothersaidtohim,“Letusgoforawalk,andIwillshowyoumorewaterthanyoucanpossiblyimagine.”
Rozplacedthegoslingonherflatshoulder,andthetwoofthemsetoffacrosstheisland.Theymarchedoutoftheforest,crossedtheGreatMeadow,andclimbeduphilluntiltheywereatthetopoftheisland’swesternridge.Beforethemwasagrassyslopethatdescendedallthewaytothedark,choppywavesthatsurroundedtheisland.
“Thatisalotofwater,”saidthewide-eyedgosling.“I’magoodswimmer,butI’mnotgoodenoughtoswimacrossthatpond.”
“Thatisnotapond,”saidtherobot.“Thatisanocean.Idoubtanybirdcouldswimacrossanocean.”
Wavesrolledinfromthehorizon.Seagullscircledabovetheshore.Asteadybreezeblewuptheslope.Brightbill’syellowfluffhadrecentlychangedovertoacoatofsilkybrownfeathers,andhe
spreadhisfeatherywingsintothebreeze.Andthen—“Mama,look!”Forthebriefestofmoments,thewindliftedBrightbillofftheground.But
hequicklytippedbackwardandthumpedintothesoftgrass.“Iwasflying!”hesqueaked.“Thatwasnotflying,”saidRoz,lookingbackatherupside-downson.“Well,Iwasalmostflying.I’mgonnatryagain!”“Ihaveobservedmanybirdsinflight,”saidRoz.“Sometimestheyflaptheirwingsquickly,
and other times they fly without flapping at all. They spread their wings and soar on thewind.”
“SoIwassoaring?”saidBrightbill.“Almost.There,lookatthatsoaringseagull.Itseemslikesheisnotdoinganything,butif
youlookcloser,youwillnoticethatsheismakingsmalladjustmentswithherwingsandtail.Ithinkyoushouldtryadjustingyourwingsinthewind,likeher.”
Brightbill hopped onto a rock and opened his wings wide. “The wind is pushing mebackward!”
“Changetheangleofyourwings,”saidhismother.“Letusseewhathappenswhentheyslicethroughtheair.”
Brightbillslowlyangledhiswingsdownward.Themoreheturnedthem,thelessthewindpushedhimbackward.Andjustashiswingsleveledoff—
“Mama, look!” he squeaked as his feet left the ground. “I’m soaring! I’m soaring!” Hehovered there for a second, risinga littlehigher thanbefore, and thenhe sailedbackwardintothesoftgrassagain.
Thegoslingkepthoppingontotherockandkeptridingthewindandkepttumbling intothegrass,untilhestartedtofindhiswings.Witheachattempthefloatedalittlehigherandalittlelonger,andfinallyBrightbillreallydidsoar.Heliftedhighintotheairandhungthere,floating.Heturnedhiswingsdownandfelthimselfdrop.Hewiggledhistailfeathersandfelthimselfveeringbackandforth.
“I’manatural!”hesqueaked.“Youaredoingverywell,”saidRoz.“Butyouneedtokeeppracticing.”And so they spent the afternoon practicing up on the ridge. Once Brightbill was
comfortablesoaring,hetriedflappinghiswings.Heflappedhighintotheair.Heflappedinstraightlines.Heflappedaroundandaroundincircles.Abigsmileappearedonthegosling’sface.Clearly,Brightbillwasdesignedtofly.
“I’mflying,Mama!I’mreallyflying!”“Youareflying!”saidtherobot.“Verygood!”Brightbillwasnowareal flier.Butall that flyinghadwornhimout.He loweredhimself
towardthegroundandtumbledintothegrassonelasttime.Hislandingsstillneededsomework.
RozplacedBrightbillonhershoulderandheadedbacktotheNest.“Ican’tbelieveIcanflynow,Mama,”saidBrightbillinhissleepyvoice.“Ijustwish…Ijust
wishyoucouldflywithme.”Andthenthegosling’swordswerereplacedbyhisquiet,steadybreathing.
CHAPTER40
THESHIP
Brightbillwasa flying fanatic,andhis favoriteplace to flywasupon thegrassyridge.Therobotandthegoslinglikedtospendafternoonsupthere,workingonthefinerpointsofflying.Anditwasononesuchafternoonthattheynoticedsomethingmysteriousfaroutatsea.
Brightbillspiraleddowntohismother,floppedontothegrass,andpointedtothehorizon.“Mama,whatisthatthing?”
Roz’scomputerbrainfoundtherightword.“Thatisaship.”“What’saship?”“Ashipisalargevesselusedforoceantransport.”Brightbill’sfacescrunchedupwithconfusion.“Usedbywho?”“Idonotknow.”Itwasthefirstshipeitherofthemhadeverlaideyeson.Fromthatdistance,itlookedas
though it were moving slowly, but it was actually racing through the waves. From thatdistance, it lookedasthoughitweresmall,but itwasactuallyoneofthe largestshipseverbuilt.Therobotandthegoslingwatcheditcrawlacrosstheoceanuntilitfinallydisappearedtothesouth.
Where had the ship come from? Where was it going? Who was on board? Roz andBrightbillhadmanyquestionsbutnoanswers.
CHAPTER41
THESUMMER
On clear summer days, Roz and Brightbill and Chitchat liked to go exploring. Theyinvestigatedtheisland’ssandysouthernpoint.Theymarveledattherainbowsthatcurvedupfrom thewaterfall.They surveyed the forest from thebranchesof tall trees.Theymetnewfriendlycreatures,andsometimestheymetnewunfriendlycreatures.Buttheonlycreaturestheyhadtoworryaboutwerethebears.
Onetime,theycameuponabearfishingintheriver,andRozwhispered,“Youknowwhatto do.” Brightbill flew up and away, Chitchat scurried home through the treetops, andRozmelted into the landscapeasonly shecould.Later, theymetbackat theNestand told theneighborsallabouttheirbrushwithdanger.
Ondrearysummerdays,theywouldstayinside.RozaskedBrightbillandChitchataboutdreamingandaboutflyingandabouteatingandaboutall thethingstheycoulddothatshecouldnot.Buttheyoungstershadtoomuchenergytositstill forverylong.TheyspentonedrizzlyafternoonkickingacornsaroundtheNest.Chitchatpiledthemup,andthenBrightbillswunghis big foot and the acornswent flying.The little friends chased the acorns as theybouncedandrolledandspunacross the floor.Then theymadeanewpileandkicked themagain.SometimesanacornwouldbounceoffRoz’sbody—clang!—andeveryonewouldlaughandgiggletogether.EvenRozlaughed.“Hahahaaa!”saidtherobot,tryingtoactnatural.
Onclearsummerevenings,theywouldsitoutsideandwatchfirefliestwinklingaroundthepond.Thenthey’dliebackandgazeupatthedarkeningsky.
“Thatbigcircleisthemoon,”saidChitchat.“AndthoselittlelightsarecalledstarsandonetimeItriedtocountthemallbutIcanonlycounttotensoIjustkeptcountingtotenoverandoverandIhavenoideahowmanystarstherearebutIknowit’smorethanten.”
“Theyarenotallstars,”saidRoz.“Someofthemareplanets.”“What’saplanet?”saidChitchat.“Aplanetisacelestialbodyorbitingastar.”“Whatdoes‘celestial’mean?”“Celestialmeanssomethingthatisinouterspace.”“What’souterspace?”“Outerspaceistheuniverseoutsidetheatmosphereofourplanet.”“What’stheuniverse?”“Theuniverseiseverythingandeverywhere.”“Oh,sotheuniverseisourisland?”None of themwould ever really understand the universe, including Roz. Her computer
brainknewonlysomuch.Shecouldtalkabouttheearthandthesunandthemoonandtheplanets,andafewstars,andnotmuchelse.Thenightskywasfullofstreaking,shimmering,andblinking lights thatshesimplycouldn’t identify.Clearly,Rozwasnotdesignedtobeanastronomer.
On dreary summer evenings, Roz andBrightbillwould curl up together, just the two ofthem,andlistentotherainpatteringontheroofoftheNest.Therobotwouldtellstoriesofannoying pinecones and terrible storms and camouflaged insects. But the sound of rainalwaysmadeBrightbillsleepy,andhe’dbeoutbeforehismothercouldeverfinishastory.
CHAPTER42
THESTRANGEFAMILY
Itwasaswelteringafternoon,andtheheathadputeveryoneinabadmood.Rozwasstandingintheshadewatchinghersonoutonthewater.Theothergoslingswereteasinghimaboutsomethingwhen they suddenlyburst into laughter, andBrightbill turnedandhurriedhomewithastormyexpressiononhisface.Hestompedintothegardenandrightpasthismotherwithoutsayingaword.
“Whatiswrong,Brightbill?”saidRozasshefollowedhersonintotheNest.“Nothing!”hesquawked.“Leavemealone!”“Tellmewhatiswrong.”“Idon’twanttotalkaboutit!”“MaybeIcanhelp.”“Mama,theothergoslingsweremakingfunofme.”“Whatdidtheysay?”“Theycalledyouamonsterandthenlaughedatmeforhavingamonstermother.”“TheyshouldknowbynowthatIamnotamonster.Wouldyoulikemetotalktothem?”“No!Don’tdothat!That’lljustmakethingsworse.”Therobotsatnexttoherson.“Mama,Iknowyou’rearobot.ButIdon’tunderstandwhatarobotis.”“Arobotisamachine.Iwasnotborn.Iwasbuilt.”“Whobuiltyou?”“Idonotknow.Idonotrememberbeingbuilt.Myveryfirstmemoryiswakinguponthe
northernshoreofthisisland.”“Wereyousmallerbackthen?”saidthegosling.“No,Ihavealwaysbeenthissize.”Rozlookeddownatherweatheredbody.“However,I
usedtobeshiny,likethesurfaceofthepond.Iusedtostandstraighterthanatreetrunk.Iusedtospeakadifferentlanguage.Ihavenotgrownbigger,butIhavechangedverymuch.”
Therobotwantedtoexplainthingstoherson,butthetruthwasthatsheunderstoodverylittleaboutherself. Itwasamysteryhowshehadcometo lifeon therockyshore. Itwasamystery why her computer brain knew certain things but not others. She tried to answerBrightbill’squestions,butheranswersonlylefthimmoreconfused.
“Whatdoyoumean,you’renotalive?”squawkedBrightbill.“Itistrue,”saidRoz.“Iamnotananimal.Idonoteatorbreathe.Iamnotalive.”“Youmoveandtalkandthink,Mama.You’redefinitelyalive.”It was impossible for such a young goose to understand technical things like computer
brains and batteries and machines. The gosling was much better at understanding naturalthingslikeislandsandforestsandparents.
Parents.ThewordsuddenlyleftBrightbillfeelinguneasy.“You’renotmyrealmother,areyou?”
“Therearemanykindsofmothers,”saidtherobot.“Somemothersspendtheirwholelivescaring for their young. Some lay eggs and immediately abandon them. Some care for theoffspringofothermothers. Ihave tried toact likeyourmother,butno, Iamnotyourbirthmother.”
“Doyouknowwhathappenedtomybirthmother?”Roz told Brightbill about that fateful day in spring. About how the rocks had fallen and
onlyoneegghadsurvived.Abouthowshe’dputtheegginanestandcarrieditaway.Abouthowshe’dwatchedovertheegguntilatinygoslinghatched.Brightbilllistenedcarefullyuntilshefinished.
“ShouldIstopcallingyouMama?”saidthegosling.“Iwillstillactlikeyourmother,nomatterwhatyoucallme,”saidtherobot.“IthinkI’llkeepcallingyouMama.”“IthinkIwillkeepcallingyouson.”“We’reastrangefamily,”saidBrightbill,withalittlesmile.“ButIkindoflikeitthatway.”“Metoo,”saidRoz.
CHAPTER43
THEGOSLINGTAKESOFF
Itmustbehardtohavearobotforamother.IthinkthehardestpartforBrightbillwasallthemystery that surrounded Roz.Where had she come from?Whatwas it like to be a robot?Wouldshealwaysbethereforhim?Thesequestionsfilledthegosling’smind,andhisfeelingsforhismotherswungbetween
loveandconfusionandanger. I’msuremanyofyouknowwhat that’s like.RozcouldsensethatBrightbillwasstruggling,andsoshespentalotoftimetalkingwithhimaboutfamiliesandgeeseandrobots.“There are other robots on the island?” said the gosling during one of their talks.He’d
beensittingbesidehismotherinthegarden,butnowstoodandfacedher.“Yes,thereareothersontheisland,”saidRoz,“buttheyareinoperative.”“Inoperative?”“Forarobot,beinginoperativeislikebeingdead.”“Wherearethedeadrobots?”“Theyareonthenorthernshore.”“Iwanttoseethem!”“Idonotthinkthatisagoodidea.”“Whynot?”“Youarestillagosling.Youaretooyoungtoseedeadrobots.Iwilltakeyoutoseethem
whenyouareolder.”“Mama, I’m not a gosling anymore!” Brightbill puffed out his chest. “I’m already four
monthsold!”“Iamsorry,”saidRoz.“Butyoucannotgo.”Brightbillstompedaroundthegardenandsquawked,“Thisisn’tfair!”“IpromiseIwilltakeyoutoseethemwhenyouareolder,”saidtherobot.“ButIwanttogonow!”“Pleasecalmdown.”“Youcan’tevenfly!Icouldtakeoffandyouwouldn’tbeabletostopme!”Rozstood,andher longshadow fell acrossher son.Thegoslingcould feelhisemotions
swingingwildly.Andforamomenthewasactuallyafraidofhisownmother.Withoutthinking,hesprintedtowardthepond,beathiswings,andflewaway.
CHAPTER44
THERUNAWAY
“Yoursonwillbefine,”saidLoudwing.“Youknowhowtheyareatthisage.”“Idonotknow,”saidRoz.“Pleasetellmehowtheyareatthisage.”“Oh,right.Well,Brightbillisgrowingupfast.It’sonlynaturalforadolescentgoslingstobe
alittle…moody.Hejustneedstobealoneforawhile.You’veraisedawonderfulson.Iknowhe’llcomehomesoon.Trynottoworry.”
But Roz did worry. At least, she worried as much as a robot is capable of worrying.Brightbill had never run away—or flown away—and suddenly Roz was computing all thethingsthatcouldgowrong.Aviolentstorm.Abrokenwing.Apredator.Shehadtofindhersonbeforesomethingbadhappened.
TherewasonlyoneplaceBrightbillcouldhavegone.Therobotgravesite.SoRozgallopednorthward.Sheleapedoverrocksandduckedunderbranchesandchargedthroughmeadowswithout ever slowing her pace. She raced all the way across the island until she finallysteppedontotheseacliffsabovethegravesite.
AndtherewasBrightbill.Perchedontheedge,lookingattherobotpartsscatteredontheshorebelow.Hiseyeswerewet.
“Don’tbeangry!”hesaidashismotherwalkedover.“Iamnotangry.Butyoushouldnothaveflownofflikethat.Youcouldhavegottenhurt,or
worse.Iwasworriedsick!”“I’msorry,Mama.”“Itisokay,”saidRoz.“Itisonlynaturalforgoslingsyouragetobealittle…moody.”“Mama, Ineedtounderstandwhatyouare.AndI think itmighthelptoseethoseother
robots.”“Youareright—itmighthelp.Whyareyounotdownthere?”“Iwasabouttogo,”saidBrightbill,“butIgotnervous.Iwantyoutogowithme.”“Letusgodownthere,”saidRoz.“Together.”
CHAPTER45
THEDEADROBOTS
Thegoslingfloatedonthebreezebesidehismotherassheclimbeddownthecliffside.Downtheywent, past ledges and seagulls and tough little trees, until theywere standing on therockyshorewiththecliffsloomingbehindthem.
Thegravesitehadchanged.Roz’scratewasgone,losttoweatherorwaves.Someoftherobotpartsweregonetoo.Otherpartsweregrittywithsand,orweretangledinseaweed,orwere inhabited by small, scuttling creatures. One smashed torso still had a head and legsattached.RozandBrightbillhuddledaroundthecorpseandstudiedthemessoftubesspillingout.
“Thisthingusedtolooklikeyou?”saidBrightbill.“Yes,wearethesametypeofrobot,”saidRoz.“Andnowthisrobotisdead?”“Inaway.”“Willyoueverdie,Mama?”“Ithinkso.”“WillIdie?”“Alllivingthingsdieeventually.”Thegosling’sfacescrunchedwithworry.“Brightbill,youaregoingtolivealongandhappylife!”Rozlaidahandonherson’sback.
“Youshouldnotworryaboutdeath.”Thegosling’sfacerelaxed.Andthenhepointedtoasmall,roundshapeonthebackofthe
deadrobot’shead.“What’sthat?”hesaid.Rozleanedincloser.“Thatisabutton,whichisaknobonapieceofmachinerythatcanbe
pressedtooperateit.”Brightbillbeganpressingthebutton.Click,click,click.“Nothingishappening,”hesaid.“Probablybecausethisrobotisdead.”Click,click,click.“Mama,doyouhaveabutton?”Brightbill watched as his mother’s head turned all the way around and a small button
cameintoview.“You’vegotone!”hesaid.“Inevernoticeditbefore!”
“NeitherdidI,”saidtherobot.Thegoslinggiggled.“Oh,Mama,youhavesomuchtolearnaboutyourself.”Roz reached for thebuttononherhead,butherhandautomatically stoppedbefore she
couldtouchit.Shetriedwithherotherhand,butitautomaticallystoppedaswell.“ItseemsIcannotpressthebutton,”shesaid.“Wouldyouliketotry?”“Whatwillhappen?”“IthinkthatIwillshutdown.ButIthinkyoucouldsimplypressthebuttonagaintorestart
me.”“Youthink?”squawkedBrightbill.“Whatifyou’rewrong?Whatifyouwakeupdifferent?
Whatifyouneverwakeup?Mama,Idon’twanttoshutyoudown!”RozturnedherheadbackaroundandsawthatBrightbill’sfacewasonceagainscrunched
withworry.Shekneltbesidehimandsaid,“Ofcourseyoudonothavetoshutmedown!IamsorryifIscaredyou.Areyouokay?”
“I’m okay.” Brightbill sniffled and wiped his eyes. And then he heard splashing. Otterswereplayingintheocean.Hehadneverseenottersbefore.Hestaredastheyswamanddoveandsloshedaroundwithoneanother.Theyseemedtobehavingaridiculousamountoffun,andsuddenlythegoslingwassmilingagain.
“Hello,my name is Brightbill!” he shouted over thewaves. “And this ismymama!HernameisRoz!”
ThelasttimethoseottershadseenRoz,theyhadthoughtshewassomekindofmonster.Butsincethenthey’dheardthatshewasremarkablyfriendlyandthatshe’devenadoptedanorphanedgosling.And so the otters smiled atRoz andBrightbill. Then they swamstraightoverandsplashedontotherocks.
“Hellothere!”saidthebiggestotter.“Nicetomeetyouboth!Actually,Roz,we’vemetoncebefore,butyoumightnotrememberme.Myname’sShelly.”
“Idorememberyou,”saidtherobot.“ButIamgladtolearnyourname,Shelly.”“Youknoweachother?”saidthegosling.“These otters were the first animals I ever met,” said Roz. “They were also the first
animalswhoeverranawayfromme.”“Yeah,sorryaboutthat,”saidShellyastheotherotterssniffedtherobot’slegs.“Youknow,
Brightbill, whenwe first saw yourmom, shewas packed in a box and surrounded by softsquishystuff…”
Brightbill’sbrowfurrowed.“Youwouldn’tbelievehowsmallshelooked,allfoldedupinthere…”Brightbill’snosesniffled.“We thought she was dead, but when we reached into the box, she came to life and
climbedoutlookinglikeasparklingmonster!”Brightbill’seyeswelledupwithtears,andthenhefelthismotherscoophimintoherarms.
“Areyouokay?”shewhisperedinhisear.“IthinkI’velearnedenoughaboutrobotsfortoday,”hewhisperedback.“Iamsorry,otters,”saidRoz,“butwereallymustbegoing.”“IhopeIdidn’tupsetthelittleguy!”saidShelly.“Ithoughthe’dliketohearhowwefirst
met.”“Brightbillwillbefine,”saidRoz,usingafriendlyvoice.“Butwehavehadaverybusyday
andweshouldgohome.Itwasnicetoseeyouagain.Good-bye!”Roz turned, andwithher long strides, shecarriedher sonaway from thegravesiteand
overtothebaseoftheseacliffs.“WouldyouliketositonmyshoulderasIclimb?”saidtherobot.“Ifeellikeflying,”saidthegosling.“I’llmeetyouatthetop.”Brightbillflappedhiswingsanddisappearedintothesky.Rozbeganscalingthewall.Up
shewent,expertlynegotiatingrockycolumnsand ledges,until shehoistedherselfonto theclifftop,wheretwoyoungbearswerewaiting.
CHAPTER46
THEFIGHT
“Hello,bears,mynameisRoz.”“Oh,weknowwhoyouare,”saidthesisterbear.Hervoicedrippedwithsarcasm.“We’re
veryhappytoseeyouagain.”“Yeah,we’reveryhappytoseeyouagain!”echoedthebrotherbear.“Why do you always repeat what I say?” said the sister bear to her brother. “It’s so
annoying!”“Iwasjustbackingyouup!”“Letmedothetalking!”“Fine!Youdon’thavetobesomeanaboutit!”The bickering bearswere interrupted by the robot’s friendliest voice. “Withwhom do I
havethepleasureofspeaking?”“Howrudeofus,”said thesisterbear.“Myname isNettle,andthis ismy littlebrother,
Thorn.”“I’mnotlittle!”snappedThornunderhisbreath.“Itislovelytomeetyouboth,”saidRoz.“ButIamafraidIreallymustbegoing.”“AndI’mafraidwecan’tletyoudothat.”NettlesteppedintoRoz’spath.“Mybrotherand
I,wedon’tlikemonsters.”“Iamnotamonster.Iamarobot.”“Whateveryouare,wedon’tlikeyou!”saidThorn.“Wehearyou’vebecomeverycomfortableonourisland,”saidNettle.“Nowwe’regoingto
makeyouveryuncomfortable.”“Yeah,we’regoingtomakeyouveryuncomfortable!”“Stoprepeatingme,Thorn!”PoorRozwas inserioustrouble.Thebearswereclosing inonher,butshecouldn’trun,
shecouldn’thide,andshecouldn’t fight.Therobotdidn’tknowwhat todo.Butbeforeshecoulddoanything,therewasaloudsquawkandastreakoffeathers.
“Stayawayfrommymama!”Brightbillswoopeddownandskiddedtoastopbetweentherobotandthebears.
“Sotherumorsaretrue!”Nettlelaughed.“Therereallyisaruntygoslingwhothinkstherobotishismother!Howcouldanyonebesostupid!Doyourselfafavor,gosling,andflyawaybeforeyougethurt!”
“Sheisright,Brightbill!”saidRoz.“Pleaseletmehandlethis!”Butthegoslingstoodhisground.Hespreadhiswingsandhoppedaround,readytodefend
his mother. The bears roared with laughter. Then, with a flick of her paw, Nettle sentBrightbilltumblingovertheground,overandover,untilhefloppedontohisbackandstaredupatthesky,stunned.
“Thisisourisland,”snarledNettle.“Andit’stimeforyoutogo,”growledThorn.Rozmadeherselfasbigaspossible.Shebangedherchestandroaredwild,angrysounds.
Butthebearswerenotintimidated.Theyroaredrightback.Andthentheyattacked.NettlepulledRozintoafiercebearhugwhileThornclawedatherlegs.Therobottriedto
shakefree,butthebearswouldnotletgooftheirprey,notthistime.Acloudofdustbloomedaroundthetrioastheythrashedclosertotheedgeofthecliff.
All of a sudden, something burst out from the trees and onto the open clifftop.MotherBear.Shewasgigantic,likeamountainofgoldenfur.Andshewasfurious.Itseemedlikethiswouldbetheendforourrobot.ButMotherBearwasn’ttheretojointhefight.Shewastheretobreakitup.“Nettle!Thorn!Getoverherethisinstant!”
Theyoungbearsshouldhavelistenedtotheirmother.Insteadtheypretendednottohearher.NettleslashedatRoz’sbody,andThornbeganwrestlingwithher foot.Hegrabbedthefootwithbothpawsandforceditupfromtheground.Then,witheveryounceofhisstrength,hetwistedthefootaround.
Reader,thefollowingeventshappenedveryquickly.Firsttherewasastrangethwipsound
astherobot’srightfootpoppedoffherlegandsailedthroughtheair.Theneveryonetoppledover.NettleandRozfellsidewaysalongtheedge.ButThornfellbackwardandtumbled
rightoffthecliff.Doyouknowwhatthemostterriblesoundintheworldis?It’sthehowlofamotherbear
asshewatcheshercubtumbleoffacliff.MotherBear’showlwassostartlingthatitsnappedBrightbill rightoutofhis stupor.Herhowlwassopowerful that it shookRoz’sentirebody.Herhowlwasso loud thatanimalsheard it clearacross the island.But therewasno replyfromThorn.MotherBear’showlslowlyfaded,andshewiltedtotheground.
Rozwatchedasherdetachedfootsailedovertheedgeandplummeteddowntotheshorebelow.Itfellpastcirclingseagulls,smashedoffarock,anddisappearedintothewaves.Andthat’s when the robot noticed something furry dangling from the cliffside. Thorn! His fullweighthungfromatreethatwasrootedtotherockwall.HegrippedthetreetightlyinhisjawsandlookedupatRozwithwide,frightenedeyes.
“IseeThorn!”shoutedRoz.“Grabmylegs!Quickly!”MotherBearandNettlescrambledtotheir feet.Eachbeartooka leg inhermouth,and
togethertheyslowlyloweredRozheadfirstdownthecliff.Thornwhimperedthroughclenchedteethashewatchedtherobotapproach.Thenhefeltherstrongarmswraparoundhimandheardherboomingvoiceholler,“Pullusup!”
Thornletgoofthebranchandcried,“Pleasedon’tdropme,Roz!Idon’twanttodie!”“Donotworry,”saidtherobot.“Iwillnotdropyou.”Thenextfewmomentsseemedtodragonandon.MotherBearandNettlekeptpullingon
Roz’s legs, and more of the robot slowly came into view until a furry golden head finallyappeared,andThornleapedintotheembraceofhisfamily.
CHAPTER47
THEPARADE
“Doesithurt?”Brightbilltouchedthesmoothsurfacewherehismother’sfootusedtobe.“No,itdoesnothurt,”saidRoz.“Butitwillbedifficultformetowalk.”Thebearshuddledbehind thegoslingand staredat the robot’s stumpof a leg.Nobody
understoodhowafootcouldpopofflikethat,orhowRozcouldremaincalm.“Roz,I’msorrymycubsattackedyou,”saidMotherBear.“Sometimesthey’recompletely
outofcontrol.”“Itisokay.Youknowhowtheyareatthisage.”“Ican’tthankyouenoughforsavingThorn.Ipromisemycubswillneverbotheryouagain.
Isn’tthatright?”“Yes,Mother,”saidNettleandThorn,together.Therobottriedtowalk.Shebobbedupanddownonherunevenlegs,whichworkedwell
enough on the flat surface of the clifftop, but once she entered the forest, her problembecameclear.Thesmoothstumphadnogrip,anditslippedaroundontheforestfloor.SoRoztriedhoppingonheronegoodfoot.Shetookafewcrunchinghopsandthenclangedintoatreetrunk.Afewmorehopsandshecrashedintotheundergrowth.“I’m really sorry I broke off your foot,” said Thorn as he helped the robot up from the
weeds.“Iforgiveyou,”saidRoz.Whethershewascapableoftrueforgivenessisanybody’sguess.
Buttheywerenicewords,andThornfeltbetterwhenheheardthem.“ItlookslikeIwillhavetocrawlhome,”saidRoz.“Nonsense!”saidMotherBear.“Ihaveabetteridea.”Mother Bear lay flat on the ground while her cubs boosted Roz onto her back. Then
Brightbillflutteredontothebear’sbroadshoulders.Andwhentheywerebothsafelyaboard,thegroupsetoffthroughtheforest.The robotwasheavy,but shewasno trouble for thegiant animal.MotherBear strolled
alongasif itwereperfectlynormalforarobottoberidingonherback.Theymadequiteagrandprocession,allwalkingtogetherlikethat.Andtheprocessionbecameevengranderasdeerandraccoonsandbirdsandallkindsofotheranimalsjoinedin.Everyonewantedtoseethemother robot riding themotherbear.Thegroupwound itswaypast ancient trees, andover rolling meadows, and through babbling streams, collecting more and more curiousanimals as they went. It was the grandest parade of wildlife anyone had ever seen, andleadingthewaywasourrobot,Roz.But the parade couldn’t last forever. As the sun went down, the other animals began
driftingaway,onebyone,andwhentheparadefinallyarrivedattheNest,onlytheoriginalmembersremained.“Herewe are,” saidMotherBear, helpingRoz down into the garden. “Now,wasn’t that
betterthancrawlingallthewayhome?”“Oh,yes, thatwaswonderful!” said the robot. “I cannot imagineabetterending to this
day.Thankyouverymuch.”“Yeah,thatwasamazing!”squeakedthegosling.“Myfriendswon’tbelievemewhenItell
themIrodeacrosstheislandonthebackofabear!”“I’mgladyouenjoyedyourselves!”MotherBearsmiled.“It’stheleastIcoulddoafterall
thetrouble thesetwocaused.”Hersmilebecamea frown,andsheglaredathercubs,whosuddenlytookgreatinterestinapebbleontheground.Itwaslate,andithadbeenalong,difficultdayforeveryone,sothebearssaidgood-bye
andheadedbacktotheircave.BrightbillandRozstoodinthegardenandwatchedtheirnewfriendslumberaway.Andthenthegoslingsaid,“Mama,doyouthinkyou’lleverwalkagain?”“I amnot sure,” said the robot, “but I knowwho to ask forhelp.Nowgoget ready for
bed.”
CHAPTER48
THENEWFOOT
Mr.BeaversquintedatRoz’sstump.“I’veneverbuiltafootbefore.”Hestrokedhiswhiskersandmutteredtohimself.“There
are really three problems to solve. The foot needs to grip the ground. And it needs to bedurable. And then there’s the issue of fixing it to the leg. I might have to consult a fewfriends.”
“Willsheeverwalkagain?”saidBrightbill.“What’s that?”Mr.Beaverwas lost in thought. “Oh, not toworry. You just sit back and
leaveeverythingtome.Iloveachallenge!”Mr.Beaverplunkedintothepond,andreturnedawhile laterrollinga largesectionofa
treetrunk.“Sayhellotoyournewfoot!”hesaid,slappingthewoodwithhistail.“Hello,newfoot,”saidtherobot.“That’sthespirit!ThisbeautyisfromoneofthehardesttreesIeverchewed.Ijustneedto
makeafewmodifications.”Mr.BeaverplacedthepieceofwoodnexttoRoz.Hesquinted,repositionedthepiece,and
squintedsomemore.Withhisclaws,hemarkeddifferentspotsonthewood.Andthenheputhisbigchomperstowork.Thebeaverchewedandgnawedandcarvedupthatpieceofwood,turningitoverandoverinhispaws.
Chitchat looked down from a branch and chattered through the quiet moments. “ThisremindsmeofthetimeIsawafoxcatchalizardbythetailandsomehowthelizard’stailfelloffandhegotawayandlaterIsawthatthelizardgotanewtailandnowRozisgoingtogetanewfootandeverythingwillbefine…”
Thewoodenfoottookshape,andbeforelongMr.Beaverwasstandingbesideabeautifulcarvingthatresembledaboot.HetriedtoslideitoverRoz’sstump,buttheopeningwastoosmall.Sohescrapedoutmorewooduntilitwasaperfectfit.
“Verygood,”hesaid,spittingoutawoodchip.“Myfriendsshouldbearrivinganyminutewiththenextfewthingswe’llneed.Andtheretheyarenow!I’dlikeyoualltomeetBumpkin,Lumpkin,andRumpkin.ButIcallthemtheFuzzyBandits.”
Threefatraccoonsshuffledintothegarden,draggingatangleofvinesbehindthem.“Goodday,”saidBumpkin.“Goodday,”saidLumpkin.“Goodday,”saidRumpkin.Youmightalreadyknowthis,reader,butraccoonshaveverynimblehands.AndtheFuzzy
Bandits used theirs to skillfully tie those vines around the robot’s leg and around her newfoot.Thevinescaughtnicelyonallthedingsanddentsandscrapes.Oncetheyweretiedgoodand tight, Mr. Beaver threw back his head and hollered, “Trunktap! We could use yourassistance!”
Therewassilence.Andthenthreequicktapsechoeddownfromtheforestcanopy.“Ah,that’llbehim,”saidMr.Beaver,smiling.A very handsome woodpecker swooped into the garden. “You called?” came the
woodpecker’smusicalvoice.“Indeed I did! Everyone, this ismywood-pecking pal, Trunktap. Now, Trunky, we need
sometreeresin,thereallystickystuff.Canyouhelpusout?”“OfcourseIcan!”saidthewoodpecker.“You’vegotaperfectpinerighthere!”Trunktaphoppedovertoacrustyoldpinetreeandpeckedafewdeepholesinthebark.
Thick,syrupyresinbeganoozingdownthetrunk.Mr.Beaverscoopeduphandfulsoftheresinand smeared it all over thewooden foot and the vinesuntil everythingwasglisteningwithstickiness.Andwhentheresindriedashorttimelater,Roz’sfootwasfinished.
“This iswonderful!” said the robotas she strolledaroundhergarden. “Iamasgoodasnew!”
Mr. Beaver and Trunktap and the Fuzzy Bandits went away feeling pretty happy withthemselves.They’ddoneaverynicething.Butitwasthefirstwoodenfootanyofthemhad
evermade.Andwithinaweekthevineswerecomingundoneandthefootwasslidingloose.Sotheyreturned,determinedtogetitright.Theyfoundevenharderwoodandeventoughervines.Theyexperimentedwithresin,heatingitbythefire,lettingitboilandthicken,untilitbecame an indestructible glue. They kept tinkeringwith their design until, finally, Roz hadherselfawoodenfootthatshecouldrelyon.
“Huzzah!” Mr. Beaver rapped his knuckles on the new-and-improved creation. “I knewwe’dgetitright.”
Rozmovedslowerthanbefore,andshehadaslightlimp,butshewasbacktoheroldselfagain,andthatwasarelieftoeveryone,especiallyBrightbill.
CHAPTER49
THEFLIER
Withcoaching fromhismother,Brightbillwasbecominga trulyexceptional flier.Hewasn’tthebiggestorthestrongest,buthewasthesmartest.Yousee,heandhismotherhadstartedstudyingtheflyingtechniquesofotherbirds.They’dsitforhoursandwatchhowhawksandowlsandsparrowsandvulturesmovedthroughtheair.Thenthey’dgouptothegrassyridgeand Brightbill would practice what he’d learned. Soon, he was diving and swooping anddartingandsoaringaround the island.Theadultgeese frownedathis flying tricks,but thegoslingsthoughthewasamazing.
Eachmorning,agaggleofthemwouldwaitonthewaterforBrightbilltoleadthemintothe sky.And then a fewhours later he’d returnhome toRoz, shakinghis tail feathers andhonkingabouthislatestairborneadventures.
“Mama!Theothergoslingsdidn’t know thatwarmair rises.So I foundanupdraftandwespenttheafternooncirclingaroundandaroundandhardlyflappedourwingsatall!”
“Mama!Didyouseethatlightningstormtoday?Weknewtherewastroublewhenthewindstartedblowingfromthenorth,soweflewdowntosomeshrubsandwaitedforthestormtopass.”
“Mama!Wejusttriedtoflyinformation!Wealltookturnsatthepoint,buteveryonelikedfollowingmethebest,soIledmostofthetime.”
CHAPTER50
THEBUTTON
Brightbillwasthinkingaboutthesmallbuttononthebackofhismother’shead.Hismotherwasthinkingaboutittoo.Theycouldn’tstopwonderingwhatwouldhappenifthebuttonwerepressed.Andoneday,theydecideditwastimetofindout.
RozsatontheflooroftheNest.Hersonnervouslystoodonastonebehindher.“Iamreadywhenyouare,”saidtherobot.“Okay,”saidthegosling.“Herewego.”Brightbilltookadeepbreath.Click.Roz’sbodyrelaxed.Herquietwhirringslowlystopped.Hereyesfadedtoblack.“Mama,canyouhearme?”There was no answer. Brightbill waddled around and looked at his mother’s face. Her
strangesparkoflifehadgoneout.Thegoslinghadneverfeltmorealone.Hewasreadytoswitchherbackon.Butwhatifshedidn’twakeup?Whatifshewokeup
different? The gosling was afraid to press the button, and he was afraid not to press thebutton.
Brightbilltookadeepbreath.Click.Roz’sbodytensed.Herquietwhirringslowlystarted.Hereyesbegantoglow.“Mama,canyouhearme?”“Hello,IamROZZUMunit7134,butyoumaycallmeRoz.”Therobotspokethesewords
automatically, ina languageBrightbilldidn’tunderstand.His littleheart racedashisworstfears seemed to be coming true. But amoment later, her familiar voice returned, and therobotsaidinthelanguageoftheanimals,“Hello,son.HowlongwasIout?Itseemedlikeonlyaninstanttome.”
“Youwereoutforafewminutes,”saidthegoslingashehuggedhismother.“Butitseemedlikeforevertome.”
CHAPTER51
THEAUTUMN
Thedaysweregettingshorter.Theairwasgettingcrisper.Andonemorning,Rozwalkedouttofindalayeroffrostonthegarden.Autumnhadcometotheisland.
Thetreeleaves,whichhadbeengreenfortherobot’sentirelife,turnedyellowandorangeandred.Then they letgoof theirbranchesand floateddownto theground,and the forestgradually filledwiththesoundsofcreaturesscurryingthroughdead leaves.Treenutswerealsofalling,thunkingontorootsandrocksandoccasionallyclangingofftherobot.Thesmellof flowers faded as blossoms withered. All the rich scents and colors of the island weredrainingaway.
Theanimalswerealsochanging.Furryanimalsweregrowingmorefur.Featheryanimalsweregrowingmorefeathers.Scalyanimalswerestartingtolookfornewhomes.
“Yurp.It’scoolingoff,”croakedonefrogtoanother.“Beforelongit’llbetimeforsleeping.”“Yurp.I’dbetterstartlookingforagoodhole,”croakedthesecondfrog.“Haveyoufound
oneyet?”“Nah,”croakedthefirstfrog.“I’ll lookforaholenextweek.Fornow,I’mgoingtoenjoy
thewarmsunlightwhileitlasts.Yurp.”Manyof the islandanimalswerealready thinkingabout theirwinterhibernation.Frogs,
bees,snakes,andevenbearswouldsoondisappearandspend thenext fewmonthsrestingoutofsight.
Andthentherewerethebirds.Somebirds, likeowlsandwoodpeckers,wouldspendthewinternestingandeating the island’s few remainingedibles.But themigratorybirdswerepreparingforthelongjourneysouthtotheirwarmwinteringgrounds.Andamongthebirdsdestinedtoleavewerethegeese.
CHAPTER52
THEFLOCK
BrightbillslowlywaddledintotheNest.Hehadaconfusedlookonhisface.“Mama?Theothergoslingssaidthatwehavetoleavetheislandsoon,andwewon’treturn
formonthsandmonths.Isthattrue?”“Thatistrue,”saidRoz.“Youknowthatgeesemigratesouthforthewinter.”“Willyoumigratewithus?”saidBrightbill.“Icannotflyorswim,soIwillspendthewinterhereontheisland.”“CanIstaywithyou?”“Idonotthinkthatisagoodidea.Ithinkyoushouldmigratewiththeflock.”“Howlongwillthemigrationtake?”saidBrightbill.“Wherewillwefly?Whenwillwecome
home?”
“Idonotknow,”saidRoz.“Letusgoasktheothers.”And so the robot and the goslingwalked around the pond, towhere Loudwing and her
friendswerechatting.“Hello,everyone,”saidRoz.“Brightbillhassomequestionsabouttheflock’supcomingwintermigration.”
“Andwe’dbehappytoanswerthem!”saidLoudwing.“Whatwouldyouliketoknow,littleone?”
“Howlongwillthemigrationtake?”saidBrightbill.“Wherewillwefly?Whenwillwecomehome?”
“It’lltakeusacoupleofweekstoflysouth,”saidLoudwing,“dependingontheweather.”“We’ll joinotherflocksatabeautiful lakeinthemiddleofagreat,sprawlingfield,”said
anothergoose.“And we’ll come back to the island after four or five months,” said someone else,
“dependingontheweather.”AstheywalkedbacktotheNest,Brightbillsaidtohismother,“LatelyI’vebeenfeelingthis
strong urge to fly. Not just around the pond or the island, but to go on a long flight. Ajourney.”
“Those are your instincts,” said the robot. “All animals have instincts. They help yousurvive.”
“Doyouhaveinstincts?”saidthegosling.“Idohaveinstincts.Theyhelpmesurvivealso.”“My instinctsaredefinitely tellingmeto flysouth for thewinter,”saidBrightbill. “I just
wishyoucouldjoinus.I’mgoingtoworryaboutyouwhileI’maway.”“Donotworry.Iwillbefine,”saidRoz.“Howbadcouldwinterbe?”
CHAPTER53
THEMIGRATION
Itwas thenight before themigration,andBrightbillwas sleeping fitfully.Rozwatchedhimtossandturnuntilhefinallycrawledupintoherarms,andsherockedhimtosleep,justliketheolddays.
Earlythenextmorning,Brightbillwaddledoutsideandlookedatthepond.Thewaterwasperfectly still.A few lazycloudsdriftedabove.Geesewerealreadygatheringby thebeach.Andthentinyclawsscampereddownfromthetreetops.
“So today’s the day huh?” said Chitchat, perched on a branch. “You’re going to see somany new things and meet so many new animals and if there are any squirrels at yourwinteringgroundspleasetellthemthatChitchatsayshello!”
“Todayistheday,”saidBrightbill.“Theflockwillbeleavingsoon.”“Areyouexcitedornervousorscared?”“I’mallofthosethings.”The squirrel whispered, “Well don’t worry about your mother I’ll look after her so you
knowshe’llbeperfectlyfine.”Brightbillsmiled.“Iamafraiditistimetogo,”saidRozasshesteppedoutoftheNest.“Okay,Mama,”saidthegosling.“Seeyouinthespring,Chitchat!”“HaveanicemigrationBrightbill!”Thesquirrelscamperedbackintothetreetops.“Come
homewithlotsofexcitingstoriesbutnottooexcitingbecauseIdon’twantanythingscarytohappentoyougood-bye!”
The geese were honking with excitement and hustling around as they made their finalpreparations.Severalofthefathershuddledtogether,discussingtheirflightplans,whilethemotherstookaheadcount.
“Thereyouare,Brightbill!”Loudwinghonked fromthemiddleof thecrowd.“We’re justabouttobegin!”
“May I have your attention, please!” said the biggest goose. “As most of you know, mynameisLongneck,andI’llbeleadingthisyear’smigration.I’maskingeveryonetopleasejoinyour families for takeoff.Oncewe’reallairborne,each familywill take itsposition inourVformation,andwe’llstartthefirstlegofourjourney.Arethereanyquestions?”
“I have a question,” cameabooming voice. “My sonwill not have any familywithhim.Wheredoeshefitintotheformation?”
EveryoneturnedtoLongneck.“Hecanflywithme,”saidthebiggoose.“IhearBrightbill isaverycleverflier—Icould
usehishelpatthepoint.”Amomentlater,thegeesebeganflappingandhonkingandmakingtheirwayintotheair.A
cloudoffeathersfloateddownaroundtherobotandherson.“Youarenotagoslinganymore,”saidRoz.“Iamproudofthefineyounggooseyouhave
become.”Brightbillfluttereduptohismother’sshoulder.“Thanks,Mama.”Theyounggoosewipedhiseyes.“Isthiswherewesaygood-bye?”“Thisiswherewesaygood-byefornow.Springwillsoonbehere,andwewillbetogether
again.”“I’mgoingtomissyou,”saidBrightbillashenuzzledhismother.“Iamgoingtomissyoutoo,”saidRozasshenuzzledherson.The goose took a deep breath. Then he shook his tail feathers, flapped his wings, and
joinedtheflock.At first, the geese flew in a disorganized jumble. But each goose slowly drifted into
positionuntiltheflockformedawobblyV.AttheleadwasLongneck,andbehindhisleftwingwasBrightbill.Theycircled in the skyuntil theVpointedsouth,and then thegeesebegantheirlongmigration.Rozclimbedtothetopofatreeandwatchedastheflockslowlyfadedintothehorizon.
CHAPTER54
THEWINTER
The island was quiet. The migratory birds had all left, the hibernators were asleep, andeveryoneelsehadbeguntheirsimplewinterroutines.EveryonebutRoz.Nowthatshewasalone, our robot didn’t know what to do with herself. She stood in her gray garden andwatchedasheetoficeslowlyformonthepond.Sometimesshecouldhearhergoodfriendsthebeaversgoingabout theirbusinessbeneath the ice,andshewonderedwhenshewouldseethemagain.
Rozstoodthereuntilsnowflakesstarteddriftingdownfromthesky.Theflakesswirledinthe breeze and slowly piled up on the ground and on the trees and on the robot. So shecrouchedintotheNest,slidthestonedoorbehindher,andsatindarkness.
Hours,anddays,andweekswentbywithouttherobotmoving.Shehadnoneedtomove;shefeltperfectlysafeintheNest.Andso,inherownway,therobothibernated.
Roz’sbodyrelaxed.Herquietwhirringslowlystopped.Hereyesfadedtoblack.Sheprobablycouldhavespentcenturies likethat,hibernating intotaldarkness.Butthe
robot’shibernationwassuddenlyinterruptedwhenashaftofsunlightfelluponherfaceandcarriedenergybacktoheremptybattery.
Roz’sbodytensed.Herquietwhirringslowlystarted.Hereyesbegantoglow.“Hello,IamROZZUMunit7134,butyoumaycallmeRoz,”therobotsaidautomatically.Whenallhersystemswereupandrunningagain,Roznoticedthatshewassurroundedby
brokenbranchesandpilesofsnow.TheroofoftheNesthadcavedin,andthelodgewasnowflooded with sunlight. Roz felt more energized with each passing minute. But she also feltcold.Herjointsfeltstiffandbrittle,andherthinkingwasslow.Soshegotup,clearedaspotonthefloor,andmadeafire.ThesnowinsidetheNestbegantomeltandtherobot’ssensorsbegantothaw,andwhenshewasready,sheclimbedoutthroughtheholeintheroofandintoabright,foreignlandscape.
TheworldRozhadknownwasnowcoveredinathicklayerofsnow.Treelimbsbenttothegroundunderheavysleeves.Thedarkpondwasnowpurewhite.TheonlysoundswereRoz’sowncrunchingfootsteps.
Faintwispsofsteamcurledup fromtherobot’sbodyasshetrudgedthroughthe forest.Rozplungedahandintoalumpofsnowandpulledupalongstick.ShesnappeditinhalfandflungbothpiecesbacktotheNest.Shetookafewmorestepsandpickedupafallentree.Shehackeditintosmallerpiecesandflungthembackaswell.
Thenshereacheddowntoanothersnowyshape.Butwhatshepulledupwasnotapieceofwood.ItwasDarttheweasel.Hewasfrozensolid.Rozstaredathisstiffbodyforamoment,thendecideditwasbesttoleavethepoorthingwherehewas.
As the robot continued gathering wood, she found more victims of the cold. A frozenmouse.Afrozenbird.Afrozendeer.Hadalltheislandanimalsfrozentodeath?No,notall.Therewereafewfreshtracksinthesnow.
Asweknow,thewildernessisfilledwithbeauty,butit’salsofilledwithugliness.Andthatwinter was ugly. A devastating cold front had swept down from the north and broughtdangeroustemperaturesandhugeamountsofsnow.Theanimalshadpreparedforwinter.Butnothingcouldhaveprepared theweakerones for those longnights,when the temperatureplummetedandthewindwhippedovertheisland.
RozreturnedtotheNest,wherethefirehadmeltedthe interiorsnowtoamuddysoup.She took aminute to warm her body by the flames, and then she began the repairs. Shepatcheduptheholeinthedomewithalatticeworkofbranchesbeforeaddingalayerofmudandleaves,andsoontherepairswerecomplete.ButanothersnowfallmightcaveintheNestall over again. So Roz decided to keep a fire going day and night to prevent snow frombuildingupontheroof.
Therobotbroughtinloadafterloadoffirewood.Andeachtimeshewentoutside,shewasremindedofthefrozenweaselandmouseandbirdanddeer.Howmanyotherfrozenanimalswerehiddenbeneaththesnow?
Beforegoinginforthenight,shecalledouttowhoeverwaslistening.“Animalsoftheisland!Youdonothavetofreeze!Joinmeinmylodge,whereitissafeand
warm!”
CHAPTER55
THELODGERS
Firelight spilled out from the Nest and into the cold, blustery night. Roz sat inside andlistenedtothewindandtothesoftpopsandcracklesofburningwood.Andthentherobot’skeenhearingpickedupanothersound:tinyfootstepscrunchingthroughsnow.“RozI’mfreezingcanIjoinyoubythefireplease?”saidaweakvoice.IntothelightcrawledChitchat.Thesquirrelwasshivering,andclumpsoficestucktoher
fur.Whenshefinally felttheheatofthefire,shecollapsed.Rozpickedherupoffthefloor,gentlyplacedheronawarmstone,andlethersleep.Anhourlater,thereweremorefootsteps,andafamilyofharesshuffledintotheNest.They
huddled together in a cornerwithout saying aword. Pinktail the opossumwas the next toarrive. “Good evening,” shemumbled, trying to act cheerful. “It certainly has been ch-ch-chilly.”Swoopertheowlhobbledin,followedbysomechickadeesandamagpie.Finkknewagoodthingwhenhesaw it,andthe fox laydownrightby the fire.ThencameDigdownthegroundhog. The Fuzzy Bandits carried in an old turtle named Crag, whowas in theworstshapeofall.Creatureswhoshouldhavebeenhibernatingdeepundergroundhadbeenrousedbythatviciousweather.Onlythehealthiestanimalswiththewarmesthomesweresafe.Moreandmorewearyanimalsappeared,andslowlythelodgefilledup.
This was the first timemany of the lodgers had seen fire, and they gazed at it with amixtureoffearandhope.Theycouldfeelthefire’sdestructivepower,buttheycouldalsofeelitshealingpowerasitwarmedtheirbones.Thelodgersseemedtopushforward,eagertofeelmorewarmth,andthenpullback,afraidoffeelingtoomuch.Itwasimportantthatthelodgersunderstoodfire.SoRozshowedthemhowtobuildone.
She showed the smaller animals how to arrange the kindling, and she showed the biggeranimals how to arrange the logs. Bumpkin, Lumpkin, and Rumpkin struck the firestonestogether,andeveryonecheeredwhentheyfinallymanagedaspark.As Roz looked around, she saw moles curling up beside an owl. A mouse snuggling
betweentwoweasels.Haresnestlingagainstabadger.Neverbeforehadtherobotseenpreyandpredatorssocloseandpeaceful.Buthowlongcouldthepeacepossiblylast?“Iproposeatruce,”saidRoz,“liketheDawnTruce.Everyonemustagreenottohuntor
harmoneanotherwhileinmylodge.”“Very well,” said Swooper, after consulting his carnivorous friends. “We hunters will
controlourselves.”“Thenitissettled,”saidRoz.“Myhomeisasafeplaceforall.”
Onebyone,thelodgerseachfellintoadeepsleep.Eventhenocturnalcreatures,usuallywideawakeatthathour,gaveintothecozinessoftheNest.Therobotstoodoutofthewayandquietlytendedtothefireasherguestssleptthroughthenight.Onlywhendaylightwasstreaminginthroughthedoordidthelodgersfinallybegintostir.“Youareallwelcometostayhereaslongasyoulike,”saidtherobotastheanimalsrubbed
sleepfromtheireyes.“Myhomeisyourhome.”“Thanksalot,Roz.”Finkcarefullysteppedoverahareandawoodpeckeronhiswaytothe
door.“Idon’tthinkIwouldhavesurvivedanothernightonmyown.It’sjusttoobadwecan’tcramafewmorecreaturesinhere.”Andthefoxslippedoutside.Therobotlookeddownatthefurandfeathersthatnowcarpetedthefloor.TheNesthad
beencompletelyfullthatnight.Ifanymoreanimalsshowedup,they’dbeleftoutinthecold.ButRozwasnotabouttoletthathappen.
CHAPTER56
THENEWLODGES
Thesecondlodgewouldhave tobebigger thanthe first if itwasgoingto fitBroadfoot thebullmoose.Hewasatoweringhulkofananimalandhadathickcoatoffur,butevenhewasstrugglingwiththefrigidtemperatures.
Broadfootlivedontheothersideofthepond,inadensesectionofforestthatwashometomanyanimals,mostofwhomwereindesperateneedofagoodthaw.Thewinterdayswereshort,sotherewasnotimetowaste,andratherthanwalkingall thewayaroundthepond,Roztesteditsfrozensurfacetoseeifitwassafetocross.Shethrewaheavyrockhighintheairandwatcheditbounceoffthehardice.Thenshecarefullywalkedovertheiceandintotheforestontheotherside,whereshefoundBroadfootwaitingforher.Themoosequietlyledtherobottotheclearinginthetreeswherethenewlodgewouldgo.ThenRozmadeafireandwatchedascoldcreaturesbegancrawlingoutfromtheshadows.
“Donotworry,”therobotsaidtothegrowingcrowd,steampuffingfromtheirnoses.“Youwillallbewarmsoon.ButIneedyourhelp.”
Roz asked the animals to collect anything useful they could find: large stones, strongbranches,chunksof frozenmud.With therobot’sbuildingexpertise,and thesmallarmyofhelpers,constructionofthesecondlodgedidn’ttakelong.Theanimalshappilyagreedtotherobot’struce,andthentheyshuffledintothewarmwoodendome.“Ifyoukeepthefirealive,itwill keep you alive,” explainedRoz as she dropped another log onto the flames. “But becareful.Firecanturndeadlyinaninstant.”
Atdawn,heavysnowwas fallingagain,andtherewasRoz,settingout fromtheNest tobuild a third lodge. She trudged into the Great Meadow, where fierce winds had createdenormous,sweepingsnowdrifts.Butshepoweredthroughandfinishedthejob,andwassoonbeginningworkonafourthlodge.Andthenafifth.
The islandbecamedottedwith lodges thatallglowedwarmly throughthose longwinternights. And inside each one, animals laughed and shared stories and cheered their goodfriendRoz.
CHAPTER57
THEFIRE
Strangesoundswereechoing fromthe farsideof thepond.Whatstartedasa lowmurmurgraduallyswelledtoachorusofterrifiedvoices.Therewasaneerieglowinthatpartoftheforest,andathickplumeofsmokebeganrisingupfromthesnowytreetops.
Rozchargedacross the iceand foundthesecond lodgecompletelyengulfedbyaragingfire.Frightenedanimalswere running ineverydirection, fleeing for their lives through thedeepsnow.
“Whathappened?”shoutedRozasBroadfootgallopedwildlypast.“Weputtoomanylogsinthefirepit!”hesaidwithoutstopping.“Theflamesclimbedupto
theceiling!”“Mybabyisstillinthere!”criedamotherhare,pointingattheburninglodge.“Somebody
help!Please!”Rozdidn’thesitate.Sheplowedthroughthesnowandduckedintothelodge.Flamesand
smokewereeverywhere.Atallstackoflogsblazedinthefirepit.Andinthefarcorner,atinyballoffurwasshakingwithfear.Crouchinglow,therobotwoundherwaybeneaththesmokeandaroundtheflamesandgentlyscoopeduptheyounghare.
“Donotworry!”Rozyelledovertheroarofthefire.“Youaregoingtobeokay!”She turned to leave, but the doorway had started to crumble. So she shielded the hare
withherbodyandsmashedrightthroughthewallsofthelodge.Sizzlingpiecesofwoodwentflyingastherobotandthehareburstoutsideintothesoftsnow.
“Oh,darling,you’reallright!”criedthemotherhare,pullingherdaughterclose.“Thankyouforsavingmybaby,Roz!”
Nowthateveryonewassafelyaway,therobotturnedherattentiontoputtingoutthefire.Herglowingeyesdartedaroundasshecomputedaplan.Then,withall thestrength inherlegs, Roz launched herself high up into the snowy branches of the nearest pine tree. Amomentlater,thetreewasshakingviolentlyandheapsofsnowwereslidingfromitsbranchesand pouring onto the flames like an avalanche. Steam hissed up through the smotheringmoundofsnow.Theflamesquicklydied,thesnowquicklymelted,andwithinminutesallthatremainedwasthecharredfoundationofthelodge.
Roz dropped down from the tree andwaited as the frightened animals slowly returned.Thenshesaidtothem,“Wouldyoulikeanotherlodge?”
Theanimalslookedatoneanother,unsureofwhattodo.Understandably,theywereafraidofanotherfirebreakingout.Buttheywerefarmoreafraidofthedeadlycold.SotheypulledtogetherandworkedwithRozandbuiltabigger,betterlodgeontopoftheoldone.Ithadatallerceilingandadeeperfirepit, itwasmadewithmorerockandlesswood,andithadasupplyofwaterforemergencies.Butthemostimportantsafetyfeaturesofthisrebuiltlodgewerethelodgersthemselves,whonowhadawholenewrespectforfire.
CHAPTER58
THECONVERSATIONS
ThankstoRoz’struce,lifeinsidetheNestwasmostlyharmonious.Butwhentheanimalswentoutside, itwasbusinessasusual.Sometimesa lodgerwouldn’t return.Sometimesa lodgerwouldreturninthebellyofanotherlodger.Asyoucanimagine,thatmadeforsomeawkwardmoments.Sowheneveryonewasgatheredaroundthefire,theytriedtokeepthingspleasantbyhavingconversationslikethese.
“IwonderwhatBrightbillisdoingrightnow.”Chitchatlayonherbackandlookedattheceilingasshespoke.“Andwhereheisandwhohe’swithandifheeverthinksaboutusbackhereontheisland.”
“Iamsurehethinksaboutus,”saidRoz.“Ithinkabouthimallthetime.”“I like to imagine that the geese had a fun flight to the wintering grounds and now
Brightbill is floatingona lovely lakeeatingyummyfoodandmakingwonderfulnewfriendsbuthopefullythey’renottoowonderfulbecauseI’dliketostayhisbestfriendifpossible.”
“Thatisanicethought,”saidRoz.“ButIworrythattheflockmighthavegottencaughtinthisicyweather.Idonotthinktheywouldhandleitwell.”
“Don’tworry I’msure they’re fine,” saidChitchat. “Brightbill is suchagreat flier that Ijustknowhe’llkeeptheflockoutoftrouble.”
“Heisagreatflier,”saidRoz.“ButIstillworry.”
“Life is short.” Digdown the old groundhog was giving another one of her firesidespeeches.“I’llbeluckyifIseethespring.Idon’twantyourpity.I’vehadagoodrun.ButI’lltellyouwhat:IfIcoulddoitalloveragain,I’dspendmoretimehelpingothers.AllI’veeverdoneisdigtunnels.Someofthemwererealbeautiestoo,butthey’reallhiddenunderground,wherethey’renogoodtoanyonebutme.Andtheyweren’tevengoodtomethiswinter!Now,thebeavers,theyhaveitallfiguredout.Theybuiltthatbeautifuldam,whichcreatedalovelypondthatmadeallourlivesbetter.Thatmustfeelmightygood!”
“Thebeaversmadeour livesbetter inanotherway,”saidFink.“TheytaughtRozhowtobuild.”
“Ain’tthatthetruth!”saidDigdown.“Roz,youmusthavesavedhalftheislandwithyourlodges!Andto thinkweusedtocallyouamonster. I’ll repaymydebt toyou if it’s the lastthingIdo.”
“Yourfriendshipispaymentenough,”saidRoz.“Oh,please,yoursweetnessisgonnamakemesick.Theremustbesomethingwecando!”“Your friendshipreally isenough.Friendshelpeachother.AndIwillneedall thehelp I
canget.Mymind is strong, butmybodywill not last forever. Iwant to survive as long aspossible.AndtodothatIwillneedthehelpofmyfriends.”
TheanimalslistenedquietlytoRozandthoughtoftheirownstrugglestosurvive.Lifeinthewildernesswas hard for everyone; therewas no escaping that fact. But the robot hadmadetheirlivesalittleeasier.Andifevertheycould,theanimalswouldreturnthefavor.
“Ihaveseenninety-threewinters,farmorethananyofyou.”Cragtheturtlespokeslowly,buteveryonealways listened tohiswords. “And Ican tell you that thewintershavegottencolder,andthesummershavegottenhotter,andthestormshavegottenfiercer.”
“Iheardthattheoceanhasgottenhigher,”saidChitchat,“butIdon’tseehowthatcouldbetrueImeanwherewouldallthatextrawatercomefrom?”
“You are right—the ocean is higher,” saidCrag. “My grandfather used to say that, longago,thisislandwasnotanislandatall.Itwasamountainsurroundedbyflatlands.Andthenthe ground shook, and the oceans grew, and the land slowly flooded until the mountainbecame this island. Animals from far and wide were forced to come here to escape thefloodwaters.Inthoseearlydays,thereweretoomanyanimalslivingintoosmallaplace.Theisland did not have enough food to feed them all. But between fighting and disease andfamine,abalancewasfinallyreached.Andwehavekeptthebalanceeversince.”
Chitchat’s eyes grew wide with concern. “If the ocean keeps rising the island will beswallowedupbythewavesandIdon’tevenknowhowtoswim!”
“If thewaves ever do swallow this island, itwill not happen for a very long time,” saidCrag.“Bythenwewillallbelongdead,evenme.”
“Everything has a purpose.” It was Swooper’s turn to lecture the lodgers. “The sun ismeanttogivelight.Plantsaremeanttogrow.Weowlsaremeanttohunt.”
“Wemicearemeanttohide.”“Weraccoonsaremeanttoscavenge.”“Roz,whatareyoumeanttodo?”“IdonotbelieveIhaveapurpose.”“Ha!Irespectfullydisagree,”saidSwooper.“Clearly,youaremeanttobuild.”“IthinkRozismeanttogrowgardens.”“RozisdefinitelymeanttocareforBrightbill.”“PerhapsIamsimplymeanttohelpothers.”
CHAPTER59
THESPRING
Drippingwater, flowingwater,splashingwater.Winter’sblanketofsnowandicewasfinallybeginning tomelt.White was fading away to expose the grays and browns that had beenhidden beneath. Little green budswere appearing all over. Crowds of bright flowerswererisingupfromthedirt.Andsoontheislandwouldbeburstingwithrichscentsandcolors.Atlonglastitwasspring.
The lodgers returned to their own homes. The hibernators emerged from their secretplaces.Rozroamedacrosstheislandandcheckedinwiththebeaversandthebearsandallthefriendsshe’dmissed.Thentherobotwenthometoworkinhergarden.Afterthebitterestwinteranyonecouldrecall,lifewasslowlyreturningtonormal.
However, it was a quiet spring. Therewere fewer insects buzzing, fewer birds singing,fewerrodentsrustling.Manycreatureshadfrozentodeathoverthewinter.Andasthelastofthesnowmeltedaway,theircorpseswereslowlyrevealed.Thewildernessreallycanbeuglysometimes.Butfromthatuglinesscamebeauty.Yousee,thosepoordeadcreaturesreturnedtotheearth,theirbodiesnourishedthesoil,andtheyhelpedcreatethemostdazzlingspringbloomtheislandhadeverknown.
CHAPTER60
THEFISH
“Help!Help!He’s gotmy tail!” Paddlerwas splashing and screaming in thepond.Mr. andMrs.Beaverwerenowheretobeseen,soRozpickedupafallentreebranchandstompedintotheshallows.“Grabontothis!”shesaidasshereachedoutwiththebranch.Paddlergrabbeditwithhis
big teeth, and the robot liftedhimupoutof thewater.And there,hanging from theyoungbeaver’stail,wasRockmouth,thegrumpyoldpike.Inonequickmovement,Rozpulledinthebranchandgripped the fishwithher twohands.Paddler flopped into thewater,wherehisparentssuddenlyappeared.“Whatiswrongwithyou,Rockmouth?”Mrs.Beaverdraggedhersonaway.“You’vealways
beenanuisance,butthistimeyou’vegonetoofar!Dousallafavor,Roz,andtosshimtothevultures!”“Icannotdothat,”saidtherobot.“ButImightbeabletohelp.”
RozplacedRockmouthinadeeppuddlenearthepondwherehecouldn’tswimaway.Thenshewaited for the fish toexplainhimself.Fisharen’t very talkative, especiallygrumpy fishlikeRockmouth.Buteventuallyheopeneduptotherobot,andbeforelongshewaswavingforthebeaverstojointhem.“Rockmouth used to live in the river,” said Roz as the beavers shuffled over. “But you
trappedhimherewhenyoubuiltyourdam.Hehasbeenangryaboutiteversince.”“Thatdoesn’tgivehimtherighttoattackmyson!”holleredMr.Beaver.“Itmostcertainlydoesnot!”holleredMrs.Beaver.“I’d be upset too,” said Paddler softly. “I’d hate to be kept away from my home. Mr.
Rockmouth,youshouldhavesaidsomethingsooner!”Thefishlookedupfromthepuddlewithafrustratedexpressionthatmeant“Itried,butno
onewaslistening.”Well,thesituationhadtoberemedied.Andyoucanguesswhorosetotheoccasion.Roz
was determined to get Rockmouth back to his home. After she explored the nearbywaterways, it became clear that she would have to carry the pike through the forest andacrosstheGreatMeadowtothenearestbendintheriver.“I need a large container,” saidRoz to the beavers. “Something I can fillwithwater so
Rockmouth can breathewhile I carry himhome. I couldmake itmyself, but I thought youmightliketohelp.”Itcouldn’thavebeeneasytoovercomeherangerwithRockmouth,butafterMrs.Beaver
hadachance tocooloff, she finallycamearound.“Isupposewe’repartly toblamefor thiswhole situation,” she muttered. Then the beavers did the right thing, and together theycarvedoutawoodenbarrelforthefish.“Hereyougo.”Mrs.Beaverrolledthebarrelovertothepuddle,wheretherobotandthe
fish were waiting. “This should work nicely. Rockmouth, I hope you’re happy back in the
river.”Rockmouth just flickedhis tail inaway thatmeant“Will someoneplease takemehome
now!”Roz filled thebarrelwithwater andagrumpy fish, and then theywereoff.She carried
Rockmouth through the forest and across the meadow until she was standing on theriverbank.“Welcomehome,”saidtherobot.Thenshetippedthebarrelandthefishplunkedintothe
river.Rockmouth’s facepokedabove the surface,he flashedabig toothygrin, and thenhequicklyswamaway.
CHAPTER61
THEROBOTSTORIES
ThestoryofhowRozhelpedRockmouthspreadthroughtheriverandacrosstheisland.Anditwassoonfollowedbyotherrobotstories.TherewerestoriesofRozgrowinggardensindry,barren places. There were stories of Roz nursing sick animals back to health. There werestoriesofRozcreating ropesandwheelsand tools forhelpingher friends.Butmostof thenewstorieswereabouttherobot’swildness.
Yousee,Rozhadnoticedthatthewildersheacted,themoretheanimalslikedher.Andsoshebarkedwithfoxesandsangwithbirdsandhissedwithsnakes.Sherompedwithweasels.Shesunbathedwith lizards.She leapedwithdeer.Thatspringwasaverywild timeforourrobot.
CHAPTER62
THERETURN
Itwasaquietafternoononthepond.Butthequietwasgraduallybeingovertakenbysoundsnotheardaroundthereformanymonths.Thesoundsgrewlouderandlouder,andthenaflockofgeeseappearedabovethetrees.
Honk!Honk!Honk!Mostflocksofgeesemovelazilythroughtheskyandtrailoffinwobblylines.Butnotthis
one.Thisflockwasfast.ItflewinaperfectVformation.Anditwasledbyasmall,gracefulgoose.
The flock flew once around the pond before gliding down and gently splashing into thewater.Thegeesegatheredinatightgroupinthemiddleofthepond.Theyfloatedthereforawhile, softly honking to one another. And then the leader broke away from the others.Heswam straight toward theNest, waddled into the garden, and fluttered up to hismother’sshoulder.
“Welcomehome,son,”saidRoz.“It’sgoodtobeback,Ma,”saidBrightbill.
CHAPTER63
THEJOURNEY
Aftermonthsofseparation,RozandBrightbill,motherandson,weretogetheragain.Andtheyhadsomuchcatchinguptodo.TheywentintotheNest,andtherobotbuiltafire.Thenthegoosegazedintotheflamesandtoldthestoryofhiswinter.Thisiswhathesaid.
“Wespent thewhole firstdayofourmigration flyingover theocean. It seemed like theoceanwould go on forever, but justwhen the flockwasgetting tired, Longneckpointed tosometinyislandsonthehorizon.Weflewdowntooneoftheislandsandatedunegrassandrestedourwings.Afterafewdaysofhoppingfromislandtoisland,wereachedthemainlandandcontinuedoverfieldsandforests.Andthenthesnowbegantofall.
“I’dneverseensnowbefore,andatfirstIthoughtitwasbeautiful!Butitjustkeptcoming.The others explained that the snowwas early, thatwewere never supposed to see it, butthere itwas, piling up around us aswe tried to sleep at night. Longneckworried that theweakest geese wouldn’t survive, and he was right. We lost oldWidefoot to that very firstsnowstorm.
“We tried to fly around the snowyweather, butwegot completely lost and theweatherbecameevenworse.Lakesandpondsandriversbeganfreezingover.Wecouldn’tfindfoodorwater,soweatesnow,andthatonlymadeuscolder.Wehadtroublecleaningourselves,andour feathers became dirty and heavy. The flock was in bad shape. But Longneck kept usmoving.‘Wearegeese,’hesquawked,‘andgeesekeepgoing!’
“Oneday,wewere struggling througha snow showerwhenwe saw something called afarm.Ithadperfectlysquarefieldsandenormousbuildings.Andstompingherwaythroughthefarmwasarobot!Shelookedjustlikeyou,Ma!
“Longnecksentmeovertospeaktotherobot,butIcouldn’tunderstandanythingshesaid,soIjustfollowedherthroughthefarmandaroundacorner,andthenIsawsomethingIneverexpected.
“Plants! Bright, colorful plants! I didn’t understand how plants could live in such coldweather, but then I saw that they were actually inside a building. I learned later that thebuildingwascalledagreenhouse,andithadclearwallsmadeofsomethingcalledglass.Therobotpressedabuttonon thewall,andadoorslidopenandwarmaircamerushingout. Ihadn’tfeltwarmthinsolongthatIjusthadtofollowherinside.
“Ma,itwaslikesummerinthere!Theairwaswarmandsweetandsticky.Andtherewererowsand rowsofdifferentplants.The robotdidn’tpayanyattention tome, so Iwanderedaround the greenhouse, nibbling on leaves and drinking from puddles. Then I heard ascratchyvoicebehindme.
“‘IfIwereyounger,Iwouldakilledyoubynow.’“Ispunaround,andtherewasanoldcat!Shewalkedonstifflegs,andherfurwasgray
andclumpy.Thecat’snamewasSnooks,andshedidn’tseemverynice.Butthenshesawtheothergeeseoutinthecoldwiththeirfacespressedagainsttheglass,andshetoldmehowtoopenthedoor.
“‘Youcanresthere,’saidSnooksastheflockhurriedin.‘Butstayouttasight!Thehumans
aren’tasfriendlyasme.’“Noneofusknewwhat‘humans’were,butwedidn’tcare.Wewerejusthappytobeoutof
thecold.Loudwingwassohappyshecried.Theflockdrankandateandbathedandsleptandstayedoutof theway.Snooksshoweduswhere to leaveourdroppingsso theywouldn’tbenoticed.Andforafewdays,thegreenhousewasourhome.
“Onceortwiceaday,therobotwouldgooutsideandreturnwithaboxorabag,butmostofthetimeshestayedinsideandquietlyworkedontheplants.
“TherewasabarnthatIjusthadtoexplore.Itwasfilledwithanimalsandmachinesandpilesofstraw,andtworobots.OnerobotwasfixingabrokendoorwhenIwalkedin.Shewasusingaloudspinningtoolcalledasaw.Shepushedthesawthroughalongpieceofwood,anddustshotintotheair.Everythingwasgoingsmoothlyuntilthesawsuddenlylurchedforwardandslicedrightthroughthreeoftherobot’sfingers!Butshewasfine.Aminutelatertherewasathwipsoundasshepoppedonanewhand.Thenshewentrightbacktousingthesawagain!Theotherrobotworkedwiththeanimals.Chickens,sheep,pigs,andcows.Theywereallincages.ThechickenskeptaskingmehowI’dgottenoutofmycage.IwasexplainingthatI’dneverhadacagewhenIheardpanickedsquawkscomingfromthegreenhouse.
“Iranbackandfoundthatahumanhaddiscoveredtheflock.Wedidn’tknowwhathewassaying,buthelookedreallyangry.Longnecktriedtodefendus.Hegotinfrontandspreadhiswingsandhonked,but thehumanwasn’t afraid.Hepulledouta shiny stickandpointed itrightatLongneck.Snookshissed,‘Lookout,he’sgotarifle!’Suddenly,abrightbeamoflightshotoutfromtherifle,andLongneckslumpedtothefloor.Hewasdead,Ma!
“Theflockwassoscared.Weflutteredaroundandhonkedandknockedoverplants.Butthehumankeptmovingtowardus,pointinghisrifle.SoIpeckedthebuttontoopenthedoor,andweranoutside,intothecold,andflewawayfromthereasfastaswecould.
“WithoutLongneck,theflockneededanewleader.Everyonewantedmetolead.Ididn’tknowwhattodo,soIstartedbyrepeatingLongneck’swords.Isquawked,‘Wearegeese,andgeesekeepgoing!’ThenItookthepoint,andtheflockspreadoutbehindme.
“Theweatherhadusallturnedaround,andnobodyknewwhichwaytogo,soIjustledus
straightsouth.Wesawmorerobotsandhumansandbuildings,butwedidn’tstop.Weknewwewerewayoffcoursewhenwesawtheoceanagain.Butatleastitwasalittlewarmerbythewater,soIdecidedtofollowthecoastlineforawhile.
“Thereweremorebuildingsbythecoast.Mostofthemwereonland,butsomewereintheocean. The ocean buildings were dirty and crumbling and leaning in different directions.Thereweren’tanyhumansorrobotsinthosebuildings,onlyseacreatures.
“Wesawshipsonthewater.Wesawshipsontheland.Weevensawshipsintheair.Theybuzzed through the sky like giant dragonflies! And then we reached a place called a city,wherethousandsofbuildingsandrobotsandhumansandshipswereallclosetogether.Whenwestoppedtorestonarooftop,wemetafriendlypigeonnamedGraybeak.Shehadgrownupthere,soshekneweverythingaboutthecity.Sheflewusovertowersandunderbridgesandkeptusawayfromallthebuzzingairships.Andeverywherewewent,therewererobots.
“Someofthecityrobotswerejustlikeyou,Ma.Butotherscrawledonsixlegs,orrolledonwheels,orslidupanddownthesidesofbuildings.Somerobotswerereallysmall,andsomewerereallybig.Theymovedthingsandcleanedthingsandbuiltthingsanddideverykindofjobyoucanthinkof!
“Graybeakbroughtusdowntoaledgeonthesideofabuildingandtoldustolookthroughthewindows.Insidewasafamilyofhumans,andtheyhadaRozrobot!Whenwelookedintoother buildings, we saw other humans with other robots. Every human seemed to have arobot.
“ItoldGraybeakaboutyou,Ma,andshewantedtoshowusonelastplace.Weflewouttotheedgeofthecity,toareallybigbuildingcalledafactory.Graybeakbroughtustotheroofwindows, andwe lookeddown into the factory and sawmachines building sparklingheadsandtorsosandlimbs.Thefactorywasbuildingrobots!
“Amachinehelduparobottorsoandputtwolegsunderit,andtheysnappedintoplace.Itputfeetunderthelegs,andtheysnappedintoplace.Itsnappedarmsintotheshouldersandsnappedhandsintothearms.Aheadwassnappedontothetop,andtherobotwasfinished.Ma,therobotlookedjustlikeyou.Ithinkthatfactoryiswhereyouwerebuilt!
“Iwantedtowatchmorerobotsbeingbuilt,butitstartedsnowingagain,sowesaidgood-byetoGraybeakandcontinuedflyingsouth.Wesawfewerrobotsandhumansandbuildingsandships.Theairbecamewarmer,andthesnowdisappeared.Westartedseeingotherflocksofgeeseinthesky.Sowefollowedthemtothemiddleofawidegrassyfieldwheretherewasalakeandhundredsofothergeese.Wehadfinallyreachedthewinteringgrounds.
“After all we’d been through together, our flock had become very close. We kept toourselves,eatingandrestingandrememberingthegeesewe’dlost.Butafterafewweeks,webegantominglewiththeotherflocks.Wemetgeesefromallovertheworld,andtheytoldusabout their homes and their migrations and their troubles with the winter weather. Everyflockhadlostgeeseonthewaythere.Afewflocksdidn’tmakeitatall.
“Beforeweknewit,theearly-springflowerswerepokingup,anditwastimetoflyhome.Wefollowedtheusualmigrationroutenorth.Weflewoverfieldsandforestsandhills,butwedidn’tseeanysignsofhumansorrobots.Andthatwasfinewithus.Eventually,wereachedtheocean,andthenourisland,andthenourpond.AndthenIsawyou.”
CHAPTER64
THESPECIALROBOT
AfterBrightbilltoldthestoryofhiswinter,heandhismothersatinsilenceandthought.TheythoughtaboutpoorLongneckandthehumanwhohadkilledhim.Theythoughtaboutfarmsandcitiesandfactories.TheythoughtaboutRoz,andwhereshetrulybelonged.
Then,afterawhile,RoztoldBrightbillherownwinterstory.Shespokeofherlong,darkhibernationandofhowshehadawokento findtheNestcaved inaroundher.Shespokeofblizzardsand frozenanimals.Shespokeof themany lodges shehadbuilt and theone thatcaughtfire.Butshemostlyspokeofallthenewfriendshipsshehadforged.
“Iusedtothinkthatyouweretheonlyanimalwhowouldevercareaboutme,”shesaidtoherson.“IworriedthatwithoutyouaroundIwouldbealoneagain.ButIwasnotalone.Infact,Imadenewfriends,allonmyown.Ithinktheotheranimalsmightactuallylikeme!”
“Of course they like you,Ma!” squawked the goose. “You’re themost likable robot I’veeverseen!AndI’veseenalot.”
Itwastrue.Brightbillhadseenhundredsofdifferentrobotsthatwinter.AndnoneofthemwereanythinglikeRoz.Noneofthemhadlearnedhowtospeakwithanimals,orhadsavedanislandfromthecold,orhadadoptedagosling.Ashesatthere,watchingtherobot’sanimalgesturesand listening toheranimal sounds,Brightbill realized justhowspecialhismotherreallywas.
CHAPTER65
THEINVITATION
Rozwasthefirst toarriveat thenextDawnTruce.Shehadan importantannouncement tomake.TherobotpatientlywaitedintheGreatMeadowastheskyslowlybrightenedandtheanimals slowly gathered. And once everyone was milling around and chatting, Roz beganspeakinginherperkiestvoice.
“Pardontheinterruption!IfIcouldpleasehaveamomentofyourtime!”Thecrowdsettleddown and listened to their robot friend. “We made it through a terrible winter. A newgenerationof youngsters isarriving.Andmyson,Brightbill,has just returned to the islandwithhisflock.Ithinkwecanallagreethatthereismuchtocelebrate.SoinadditiontotheDawnTrucethismorning,Iwould likeustohaveanothertrucethisevening.Wecancall ittheEveningTruce,orbetteryet,thePartyTruce!”
Thecrowdbeganchatteringwithexcitement.“Ihaveplannedacelebration!”Rozcontinued.“Andyouareallinvited!Iwilltakecareof
everything.Justpleasemeetbackhereatdusk.Oh!AndIhavealittlesurprise.Actually,itisnotlittle—itisquitelarge.Thepointis,Ihaveplannedacelebration,andIhopetoseeyouallthere.”
“Soundsgreat,Roz,butI’mafraidthere’soneproblemwithyourplan.”Mr.Beaverblinkedhisbeadyeyes. “Themoonwon’tbeout thisevening, so it’ll be toodark for someofus tosee!”
“You are half-correct!” said Roz. “Tonight will be moonless, but it will not be dark. Ipromise.Now, ifyouwillexcuseme, Imustprepare forourparty. Iwill seeeveryonebackhereatdusk!Good-bye!”
CHAPTER66
THECELEBRATION
Dawnturnedtoday.Dayturnedtodusk.AndjustasRozhadasked,animalsweregatheringagainintheGreatMeadow.Wordhadspreadacrosstheislandthattherobotwasthrowingaparty,andeveryonewantedtoseewhatthefusswasabout.
Thefussseemedtobeaboutagiantstackofwood.Rozhadspentthedaycollectinglogsandbranchesandstackingtheminaperfect,massivetower.Theanimalscrowdedaroundit,tryingtoimagineitspurpose.Andthentheysawagoldenlightflickeringinthedistance.
Rozemergedfromthedarkforest.Inherhandwasaflamingstick,whichshehelduplikeatorch.Shewascamouflagedinthickmudandclustersofwildflowers.Buthercamouflagewasn’tforhiding.Itwasherpartydress.Theanimalswatchedastherobotglidedacrossthemeadow,surroundedbyawarmglow.
“Thankyouallforbeinghere,”shesaidasshejoinedthecrowd.“Oneyearago,Iawokeon theshoreof this island. Iwas justamachine. I functioned.Butyou—myfriendsandmyfamily—youhavetaughtmehowtolive.AndsoIthankyou.”
“No,thankyou,Roz!”shoutedavoice.“You have also taught me to be wild,” said the robot. “So let us all celebrate life and
wildness,together!”Atthosewords,Rozheavedhertorchhighintotheair.Itsoaredup,up,upandlandedon
theverytopofthewoodentower.Aballoffirebursttowardthenightsky,andsuddenlythemeadowwas bathed in firelight. Hundreds of shining eyeswatched as bright flames creptdownthesidesofthetowerandembersfloatedawayonthebreeze.
Theanimalssteppedtowardthebonfire,eagertofeelitswarmth,andthensteppedback,afraid of feeling toomuch, and soon everyone wasmoving. The deer started leaping. Thefoxes started trotting. The snakes slithered and the insects buzzed and the fish jumped upfromtheriver.Brightbillledallthebirdsintotheair,wheretheywheeledaroundthebonfirelike a tornado of feathers. Roz sprang into a wild dance, her shaggy dress shaking andswooshingwitheachmovement.Itwasawildparty,andittookourrobottomakeithappen.
Rozandtheanimalspartiedallnight long.Theyweresobusysingingand laughinganddancingthattheydidn’tseethecargoshipasitslicedpasttheisland.Buttheshipsawthem.It saw the towering bonfire. It saw the robot. And then it quietly continued through thedarkness.
CHAPTER67
THESUNRISE
Bydawn,thebonfirehaddwindledtoasmolderinghillofash.Everyoneelsehadgonehome,andonlyRozandBrightbillremainedinthemeadow.Theylayinthegrasstogether,watchingas thesoft lightofmorningcreptup fromthehorizon.And thenRozsaid, “Letusgo forawalk.”
Therobotandthegoosehikedandflewuptotheirfavoritespotonthegrassyridge.Butthentheykeptgoing.Theyfollowedtheridgetothemountainandclimbedallthewayuptothecraggypeakjustintimetoseethesunrise.
“Iclimbeduphereoncebefore,”saidRozasthesun’sfirstrayswarmedherbody.“Isatonthis very rock, looked out at the island, and thought I would always be alone. But I waswrong.”
“Areyouhappy,Ma?”Therobotthoughtforamoment.“Iam.”“I’mhappytoo.”Brightbillclosedhiseyesandfelt thewindandsun.Therewasaslight
chillintheairthatmadehimfeelalive.Everythingseemedjustright.Andthenheheardadistantbuzzingsound.The goose squinted to the south and saw a familiar shape in the sky. He turned to his
motherandsaid,“Ma,there’sanairshipflyingthisway.”
CHAPTER68
THERECOS
Theairshipapproachedfromthesouth,likesomegiantmigratorybird.Theshipwasasleekwhitetrianglewithasingledarkwindowfacingforward.Threeidenticalrobotsstaredoutthewindow.TherobotsresembledRoz,buttheywerebiggerandbulkierandshinier.ThewordRECOwas lightlyetched intoeachof their torsos, followedby their individualunitnumber.TheywereRECO1,RECO2,andRECO3.
TheRECOsflewinalowcirclearoundtheisland.Theysawasmokinghillofash.Theysawmysteriouswoodendomes.Theysawfourdeadrobotsscatteredacrosstheshore.Theairshiphovered above the robot gravesite for a moment. Then it floated up over the island andlowered itself onto a small meadow at the foot of the mountain. The engines blasted airtowardtheground,bendingtreesandtearinggrass.Thenthelandinggearsankintothesoil,theenginespowereddown,andallwasquiet.Adoorhummedopen,andoutsteppedtheRECOs.Theytookseverallongstridesintothe
meadowand stopped.A shadowy figurewas lurking at the forest edge. TheRECOs turnedand faced it. They stood flush together like a sparklingwall. And then the shadowy figurebegantomove.Out from the trees walked some sort of two-legged creature. It was dusty and dirty.
Butterfliesflittedaroundtheflowersthatsproutedfromitsbody.Oneofitsfeetwasmadeofwood.Andthenthecreaturespoke.“Hello,mynameisRoz.”
CHAPTER69
THEDEFECTIVEROBOT
“Hello,ROZZUMunit7134.WearetheRECOs.WeareheretoretrieveallROZZUMunits.”Thecold,flatvoicecamefromRECO1.Heandhispartnersstoodabsolutelystillandkept
theirglowingeyeslockedontheirtarget.“Therearefourothers,”saidRoz.“Buttheyaredead.”“Wehavealready located theremainsof theotherunits,”saidRECO1.“Wewillcollect
themlater.Nowcomewithus.”ThethreeRECOsmotionedRoztotheairship,butshedidn’tmove.“Wherehaveyoucomefrom?”shesaid.TheRECOsturnedandstaredatRoz.“Donotaskquestions,”saidRECO1.“Wherewillyoutakeme?”“Donotaskquestions.”“WhymustIleave?”“Donotaskquestions.”“IwillnotgoanywhereuntilIgetsomeanswers.”TherewasabriefsilenceasRECO1computedhisnextmove.Andthenhebegantospeak.
“Oneyearago,acargoshipcarryingfivehundredROZZUMunitswassunkbyahurricane.Fourhundredninety-fiveunitshavebeenretrievedfromtheoceanfloor.Wehavecomehereinsearchofthelastfive,andwehavelocatedthem.ROZZUMunit7134,youarethepropertyofTechLabIndustries.Wewillreturnyoutothefactory,wheretheMakerswillrefurbishyouandsellyoutoaworksite.Youwill then liveonthatworksite indefinitely.Nowcomewithus.”
“ButIlivehere,”saidRoz.“That is incorrect. ROZZUM unit 7134, any further resistance will be proof of
defectiveness,andwewilldeactivateyou.”ButRozhadmorequestions.“WhoaretheMakers?What ismypurpose?WhycanInot
askquestions?”“Thisunitisdefective,”saidRECO1tohispartners.“Commencedeactivation.”Inperfectunison,theRECOssteppedtowardRoz.Theyraisedtheirblockyhands,readyto
restrain their target,readytoshutherdownwith thepressofabutton.Buta loudsquawkandastreakoffeatherscutthemoff.
“Stay away from my mama!” Brightbill swooped into the meadow and started hoppingaround, ready todefendhismother.TheRECOsstoppedand lookeddownat thegoose.Ofcourse, they didn’t understand his words. They heard only meaningless squawks. And thentheyheardtheirtargetsquawkingbacktohim.
“Brightbill,getoutofhere!” saidRoz in the languageof theanimals. “These robotsaredangerous!”
“Whatdotheywant?”“Theywanttotakemeaway.”The RECOs stared at their target, trying to understand why shewas exchangingnoises
withagoose.And thennewnoisesbegan risingup.Rustlingsandshrieksechoed from theforest.Animalsweregathering.Theirwildvoicescalledouttooneanother.
“Rozneedsourhelp!”“Thoserobotswanttotakeheraway!”“Wehavetodosomething!”
Theuproarintheforestgrewlouderandlouder.TheRECOspeeredpastRoz,towardthemysterious noises, but saw only foliage. Suddenly, shadows swept across the meadow, andBrightbill’sflockdoveontotheRECOs.Thegeesefuriouslyflappedandpeckedandwrappedtheir wings around the robot faces, clinging to the RECOs like feathery masks, distractingthem,blindingthem.
Brightbillturnedtohismother.“Run!”
CHAPTER70
THEHUNTBEGINS
WhilehisflockdistractedtheRECOs,Brightbilldartedaroundbehindthemanddesperatelysearchedforbuttons.Hehadonceshutdownhisownmotherwithaclick,andnowhewoulddo the same thing to the intruders. But he found no buttons on these robots, only smoothsurfaces.Clearly,theRECOswerenotdesignedtobeshutdownsoeasily.
Giant hands swung through the air, and the geese were swatted away. Loudwing wasplucked by her foot and flung to the ground. She crawled into the weeds as the othersscrambledupandoverthetrees.
A quick scan by the robots revealed that Roz was gone. The three RECOs turned andmarchedbacktotheairship.Thedoorhummedopenandtherobotsdisappearedinside.Andwhentheysteppedbackintothemeadow,eachwasholdingasilverrifleinhishands.
ThehuntforRozwason.Without speaking, the RECOs marched away from one another, fanning out in their
standard search pattern. RECO 1 marched straight toward the southern tip of the island.RECO2marchedstraightupthemountainside.AndRECO3marchedstraightintotheforest.
CHAPTER71
THEFORESTASSAULT
RECO3marchedthroughtheforestwithsteady,stompingstrides.Hisblockyheadswiveledfromsidetoside,scanningforanysignofRoz.Buthewasdistracted.Yousee,everywheretheRECOwent,hewasmetbyshriekinganimals.Hedidn’tknowit,buthewasinthemidstofacoordinatedassault.
Swooperhootedordersfromabove.“Hawks,sparrows,owls!Diveinfrontofhiseyes!”Finkbarkedordersfrombelow.“Hares,weasels,foxes!Dashbetweenhislegs!”The forestwas seethingwith an army ofwild animals, distracting the robot, luring the
terriblethingdeeperintotheirtrap.Chitchat leaped out from the branches and clawed at the robot’s eyes, yelling, “Anyone
who shows up on our island and tries to takemy friend’smother away has a big problemwhich is me!” Then she leaped back into the branches. The robot pointed his rifle at thesquirrelandpulledthetrigger.Ablazingbeamoflightshotthroughtheforestandsenttreelimbscrashing to theground. ItgrazedpoorChitchat, singeing theendofher tail,but sheignoredthepainandscurrieduptothesafetyofthecanopy.
Witheachstride,thegroundgrewalittlesofter,andtherobotsankalittledeeper,untilhewasup tohiswaist in thick,heavymuck.Hischurning legsslowed toastop,andhestoodtherecomputingwhethertomoveforwardorbackward.RECO3wasnowaneasytarget.
“Beginthebombardment!”orderedSwooper.Theskydarkenedasaswarmofbirdsdescended fromthe treetops.Theyswoopedpast
therobotandsplatteredhisfacewiththeirdroppings.Birdafterbirdswoopedandsplattered,andtheRECO’seyeswereinstantlycakedinfilth.
“Don’tletup!”screechedtheowl.“Giveiteverythingyou’vegot!”There seemed to be an endless stream of birds with an endless amount of droppings.
RECO3letgoofhisweaponandwipedhisfilthyfacewithbothhands.ThatwasthemomenttheFuzzyBanditshadbeenwaitingfor.Theydashedoutfromtheweeds,snatchedtheriflewith their nimble hands, and dragged it away. Tawny and Crownpoint looked on from theunderbrush.Thebuckloweredhishead,andtheraccoonscarefullyplacedtherifleuponhisantlers. Then the deer and the raccoons slipped into the shadows. By the time RECO 3realizedhisweaponwasmissing,itwastoolate.Heletoutasadelectronictone.Andthen,asthebirdscontinued theirbombardment, therobot turnedandblindly trudgedback throughthemuck.
Itwasnowtimeforthefinalstageoftheplan.Broadfootthebullmooseemergedfromthetreesandstooddirectlyinthepathoftheblindedrobot.RECO3hadnoideathathiseverystepbroughthimclosertothemightyanimal.Whentherobotwasinrange,Broadfootturnedandkickedbackwithhispowerfulhindlegs.Therewasasharpcrack,anddungsprayedfromtheRECO’shead.Themoosekickedagain—crack—andtherobot’sheadfloppedtooneside.Atear in his neck exposed a tangle of silver tubes. But RECO 3’s legs kept pumping, soBroadfoot kept kicking. He pounded the robot’s head with his heavy hooves, denting andcrushingitintoanuglyshape,andwithonefinalcracktheheadbrokeloose,soaredthroughtheair,andsquelchedintothemuck.Theheadlessrobotfizzledandsmoked,hislegsgroundtoahalt,andhenevermovedagain.
CHAPTER72
THEMOUNTAINRUMBLE
RECO2 stood at the mouth of the cave. “ROZZUM unit 7134, are you in here?” The onlyresponsewashisownflatvoiceechoingback.Buthesensedmovementsomewheredownthetunnel.Soheswitchedonhisheadlights,raisedhisrifle,andmarchedinside.
TheRECOmarchedpast animal bones and rockpiles andwide cracks in thewalls.Hisblockyheadswiveledfromsidetoside,scanningforanysignofRoz.Butshewasnowheretobefound.Soheturnedandmarchedbacktowarddaylight.Andthenadeafeningroarfilledthecave.
Fromtheshadowsflewagiantbody.MotherBearchargedintotherobotandsmashedhimagainstawall.ThenNettleandThornjumpedin,andtogetherthefamilywenttowork.Theyrammedhislegs.Theyslashedhischest.Theymuscledhimtotheground.
Onhiswaydown,RECO2squeezedthetrigger.Therewasaflashofblazinglightandthewallsbegantocrumble.Nettlegrabbedherbrotherbythescruffandpulledhimoutsideasanavalancheofrockthunderedbehindthem.
MotherBearhowled.Therifleexploded.StonesclangedagainstRECO2.Theavalancheslowedandsettledasacloudofdustbillowedoutfromthecave.“Mother?”Nettlepeeredintothedarkness.“I’mhere,”saidaweakvoice.The young bears dashed inside and found their mother half-buried. They pulled heavy
stones fromherbodyanddustedheroff. “Ihavebrokenbones,”sherasped, “but theywillheal.Whereistherobot?”
RECO2’sheadlightsswitchedbackon.Stonestumbledastherobotstaggeredtohisfeet.Hisbodywasscratchedandscraped.Hisheadwasbadlydented.Hisleftarmwascompletelyuseless,so—thwip—itwastossedaside.Thentheone-armedrobotlimpedoutofthecaveandcontinuedthehuntforRoz.
“Don’tworryaboutme,”MotherBeargrowledtoNettleandThorn.“Killtherobot.”Withhisheavylimpandhisgrindinggears,RECO2waseasytotrack.Theyoungbears
caughtupwithhimashewasenteringagroveofpines.Buttheydidn’tattack,notyet.Therewasabetterplacetofinishhimoffupahead.Sotheyhungbackandfollowedhimacrossthemountainside.
Thedistantrumbleofthewaterfallgrewlouderwitheachpassingminute,andthenaslashofwhiteappearedthroughthetrees.Soon,therobotwasstandingbesidetheroiling,frothingriver,justabovethefalls.Hewastoobadlydamagedtoleapoverthefallsortowadethroughtherapidsortoclimbdownthecliffs.Buthehadtocontinuehishuntforthetarget.Sohestartedlimpingupriverinsearchofasafercrossing.
Therewasarustling,andtheyoungbearsexplodedoutfromthetrees.Theythrewtheirheavy shoulders against the robot’s body, and he stumbled sideways onto the riverbank.Nettle rearedupandwrestled therobot, twistingandshakinghimwithallofherstrength.RECO2felthisfeetslippingontherocks,hefelthisbodytippingover,andthenheplungedintothewhitewater.AndhebroughtNettlewithhim.
The current immediately swept Nettle toward the falls. She rolled through the rapids,crashedintoonerockandthendesperatelyclamberedontoanother.RECO2stoodstraightup,andtheriverrushedaroundhim.Hetookastep,slipped,anddisappearedbeneath thewater.Butthenhewasupagain.
Thorn ran to help his sister, but she was pointing upriver and roaring, “Use the logs!”Whentheyoungerbearturnedaround,hesawwhatshemeant.Ajumbleofbrokenlogswerewedgedbetweentherocksoftherapids,andamomentlaterThornwasontopofthem.Withwatersloshingoverhisback,heforcedapawbetweenthelogsandpriedthetoponeloose.Itsplashed into the river and wound its way down through the rapids only to roll harmlesslypasttherobot.Thenitdroppedoutofsight.
Thebeartriedagain.Hepoppedanotherlogintotheriver,andthisonespunjustintime
toramitsfullweightintotherobot’schest.RECO2wentsailingbackwardandsankbeneaththe surface. When he reappeared, the river was full of heavy wooden torpedoes. One logpoundedtherobot’sshoulder.Anotherslammedhisface.Morelogsknockedhimcloserandcloser to the falls. The current became too much for the injured robot, and it carried himaway.Hegraspedforanythingsolidhecouldclingto.Buttherocksweretooslippery.Sohesettledforafistfuloffur.
Nettle had been hanging on to one rock this whole time. But now that the robot waspullingher,shestartedlosinghergrip.Shecouldn’thangonmuchlonger.Finally,shecriedout,“I’msorry,Thorn!”andsheletgo.
NettleandRECO2surgedtowardtherumblingfalls.Thebearfelt therobotreleasehisgrip.Shewatchedhimglideovertheedge.Thensheclosedhereyesandwaitedfortheendtocome.
ButitwasnotNettle’stime.Reader,whathappenednextishardtobelieve.Yousee,theriverdidn’tfallawaybeneath
Nettle; it tightened around her! Hundreds of fish surrounded the bear! They pressed theirfacesintoherfur.Theythrashedtheirtailsagainstthecurrent.Andtheyslowlypushedherawayfromtheedge.Fartherandfarthertheywent,graduallymovingupriver,untilNettle’sbrotherpulledherfromthewater.
Thebearscollapsedontotheriverbank.Andwhentheylookeddown,theysawhundredsoffishlookingbackup.“Thankyou!”roaredNettle.“I’llnevereatfishagain!”Thefishsmiledandsankintotherapids.
“Ithoughtyouweredead,”saidThorn,breathinghard.
“So did I.” Nettle laughed. “Looks like you’re stuck with me a while longer… littlebrother.”
“I’mnotlittle!”It felt good to joke, but the bears quickly turned serious. They were both bruised and
bleeding,andtheirmotherwasinfarworsecondition.However,itwouldallbeworthwhileifRECO 2 had finally been killed. The bears crept to the edge of the cliff. And there, at thebottom of the waterfall, strewn across the wet rocks, was the shattered body of the deadrobot.
CHAPTER73
THECHASE
RECO1wasstandingintheGreatMeadow.Hestaredupatthesmokinghillofashandthendownatthestampedeoffootprintsaroundit.Therehadbeenalargebonfirewithhundredsofanimalsandonerobot.Butwhy?TheRECOcouldn’tmakesenseofwhathewasseeing.
Afterthoroughlyexploringthesite,hecontinuedthroughthemeadowandintotheforest.ItwasaroundthattimethathelostcommunicationwithRECO3,thenRECO2,andheknewthathispartnershadbothbeendestroyed.RECO1wouldhave tohuntdownthe targetbyhimself.
Thehuntermarchedon.Hisblockyheadswiveledfromsidetoside,scanningforanysignofRoz.Hewas soongazing across the glassy surface of a beaver pond.On the far side, athreadofsmokedriftedupfromanotherofthosewoodendomes.Withhispowerfullegs,therobotlaunchedhimselfupthroughtheair,soaringinahigh,gracefularcoverthepondanddowntotheotherside.Hisheavyfeetslammedintotheground,leavingdeepcratersinthegardenbythedome.Hehunchedoverandlookedinside.Furandfeathersandthedyingcoalsofafire.Butthetargetwasn’tinthere.
TheRECOstoodperfectlystillandwatchedasasoftrainstarteddrippingdownthroughthe tiers of the forest. And then he sensed it.Up in the canopywas something that didn’tbelong.
Rozhadbeenspotted.Thehunterwatchedhistargetdropfrombranchtobranch,downtotheforestfloor.Then
she bounded away through the thickly tangled underbrush without stirring a leaf, withoutsnappingatwig,andvanishedintothegreen.However,RECO1hadothermeansoftrackingher.Hecouldsenseherelectronicsignal.Thesignalwasglidingaroundtheedgeofthepond.Butitwasfadingfast.Afewmoresecondsandhewouldloseitentirely.
RECO 1 burst into a sprint. The forest seemed to sway and quake from his stompingstrides.Andaminutelater,theforestreallydidbegintomove.TreesweretopplingdownontotheRECO.He firedhis rifle, and two toppling trees turned to ash.But thena third swungdownthroughthesmokeandhammeredhisbody into theground.RECO1shovedthe treeaside,pulledhimselfup,andcontinuedthehunt.Hedidn’tnoticethebeaversdivingbackintothepond.
RECO1 tore throughbramblesand leapedoverboulders,andsuddenly thegroundwascavingbeneathhim.Downhefellintoadeeppit,crashingagainstthebottomandtwistinghisleg.Therobotviolentlypoundedhislegbackintoshape.Thenhelaunchedhimselfupandoutofthepit.Hedidn’tnoticethegroundhogswatchingfromtheirtunnels.
The hunter faced one trap after another. He was pelted with flaming pinecones, andtrippedby taut vines, and crunchedby tumbling rocks.Thehunternow limpedand rattledandwascoveredinscars.Buthekeptgoing.
Rozgallopedbackandforthacrosstheisland,againandagain,asshetriedtoloseRECO1.But nomatter how fast she ran, or howwell she hid, or howmany animals helped, shecouldn’tescapethesoundofthehunter’sstompingfootsteps.Shehadneverrunsohardforsolong.Andwhilehermechanicalbodywasholdingup,herwoodenfootwasnot.Afterhoursofrelentlesspounding,itfinallygaveout.Shewasgallopingthroughtherockyforestbytheseacliffswhenherfootsplinteredapart.
AssoonasRECO1foundthefreshwoodensplinters,heknewhistargetwasintrouble.Hestompedoutfromthetrees,ontotheclifftop,andscannedthecoastlinebelow.Geesewereflyingdownthroughthedrizzle.Otterswerewrigglingovertherocks.Seaweedanddriftwoodandbroken robot partswere scattered about the shore.But thehunter also senseda faintelectronicsignal.Rozwasdowntheresomewhere.
The hunter’s blocky hand clamped onto the clifftop and then—thwip—it detached. Thehandwasconnectedtoastrongcablethatspooledoutfromtheendofhisarm.Hegavethecabletwoquicktugs,andthenhesteppedofftheledge.
RECO1zippeddownthecliffside,onearmreleasingcable, theotherclutchinghisrifle,andheslowedtoagentlestopjustashereachedtheground.Then,highabove,therobot’shandunclampedandfollowedthecableallthewaydown,until—thwip—itsnappedrightbackontotheendofhisarm.
Geese squawked and otters squeaked asRECO1marched through the robot gravesite.Theplacewaslitteredwithtorsosandlimbsandheads.Theywereallvaluableparts,buthewouldcollectthemlater.Fornow,hisonlyconcernwasfindingRoz.
Hefollowedtheelectronicsignalovertoaclumpofseaweed.Butwherewashistarget?Was RECO 1’s sensor malfunctioning? The robot tapped his head a few times, but themysterioussignalremained.Helookedaroundforanyothersignsofher.Andashedid,theclumpofseaweedreachedupandgraspedhisrifle.
CHAPTER74
THECLICK
Four robot hands were clamped around the rifle. RECO 1 loomed above. Roz lay below,camouflagedinseaweed.Foramoment,allwasstill.Andthenthehuntersuddenly lurchedand twistedashe tried to rip therifleaway fromhis target.ButRozheldon.Seaweed fellfromherbody, as shewas lifted rightoff theground.Her legsdangled in theairuntil shepoundedafootandastumpagainstthehunter’sbroadchest,leanedback,andpulledontheriflewithallherstrength.
Wavescrashedastherobotsgrappledfortheweapon.ButRozwasnomatchforRECO1.Thehunterwas toobigandtoobrutal.Rozcould feelherbodybeingpulledapart.Butshecould also feel the rifle being pulled apart. A faint glow appeared betweenher hands. Theglow grew brighter and brighter, and then a blinding explosion launched the robots inoppositedirections.
Whenthesmokecleared,shardsoftheriflewereeverywhere.RECO1’sbodywaspockedwith holes, and one arm was charred and crippled. Roz’s arms and legs had been blowncompletelyoff.Shewasnowjustatorsoandahead.Insidehercomputerbrain,ourrobot’sSurvival Instinctswereblaring.Herbatteredbodysimplycouldnot takeanymoredamage.Clearly,Rozwasnotdesigned forcombat.But theRECOwas.Hepulledhimself tohis feetandhobbledtowardhistarget.
Rozwantedtogetupandrunaway.Butwithoutarmsandlegs,ourrobotcouldn’tmove.Shecouldonlyspeak.
“Pleasedonotdeactivateme,”shesaid.RECO1ignoredher.Hisblockyhandreachedpastherfaceandtouchedthebackofher
head.Click.
CHAPTER75
THELASTRIFLE
Withthe targetdeactivated,RECO1calmlymovedon to thenextphaseofhismission.Helimpedthroughthegravesiteandbegancollectingeverysinglerobotpart.Hesplashedintotheshallowsandreturnedwithafoot.Heshookthesandfromacrackedtorso.Hepulledaheadoutfromatidepool.EachpartwasthenpiledaroundRoz’slifelessbody.
Brightbillwatched inhorrorashismotherslowlydisappearedunderapileofparts.Rozlookedjustlikethedeadrobots.Butshewasn’tdead—shehadsimplybeenshutdown.
“Don’tdoit,Brightbill!”Theflocktriedtostoptheirleader.“It’stoodangerous!”But thegoosewasdeterminedtobringhispoormotherback to life.Brightbillcrouched
lowtothegroundandslowlymovedtowardthepileofrobots.AndwhenRECO1limpedawayto collect another part, Brightbill sprinted over the rocks, pushed past arms and legs, andsqueezedintothepile.
Click.Amuffledvoiceechoedacross theshore.“Hello, IamROZZUMunit7134,butyoumay
callmeRoz.”Brightbillhuggedhismother’sfaceashercomputerbrainrebooted.“Mama,wakeup!”“Whathappened?”shesaidfinally.“WhereistheRECO?”“He’scomingthisway!”“Whatwereyouthinking,Brightbill?Youmustleavenowbeforehekillsusboth!”“Iwasscared,Mama!”criedthegoose.“Ididn’tknowwhattodo!”Heavyfootstepsstompedtowardthem.Robotpartswereknockedaside.AndthenRECO1
lookeddownwithhisglowingeyes.Brightbill triedtosquirmaway,butthickfingers lockedaroundhimlikeacage.
“Mama,help!”criedBrightbillashewaspulledupfromthepile.“Pleasedonothurtmyson!”beggedRoz.“Heisharmless!”RECO1paidnoattention toRoz.He justheldup thegoose inhisgianthand, ready to
crushthelifeoutofhim.Mistswirledinthebreeze.Wavessloshedagainsttherocks.Seagullscircledabove.No,not seagulls.Vultures.Andoneof themclutchedsomethingsilver inhis talons.The
vulturesspiraleddown,andRECO3’srifleclatteredontotheshore.Geeseandottersquicklysurroundedtherifle.Theysquawkedandsqueakedand fumbledwith theweapon, trying toaimtheclunkything.
Thehunterwasconfused.Howhadthoseanimalsgottenarifle?Andcouldtheypossiblyknowhowtofireit?
Theydidknow.Thegeesehadseenatriggerpressedbefore.A beam of light briefly flashed through the gloom. At first it seemed as if nothing had
happened.Butamomentlater,RECO1’schestbeganglowingabrilliantorange,andthenitwasmeltingandoozingdownhisfront,andsoontherewasawide,gapingholeinthemiddleofhistorso.Hishandsuddenlyunclenched,andBrightbill flutteredaway.Seawatersprayedoverthegravesite,andsteamhissedupfromtheRECO’sscorching-hotguts.Heshookandtwitchedand
collapsedbesideRoz.
RECO1turnedhis facetoRozandspoke inaquiet,garbledvoice.“MmmoreRRRECOswillc-c-comeforyou.Andifyoud-d-destroythem,stillmmmorewillc-c-come.TheMmmakerswillnotrrrestuntilallmissingrobotshaveb-b-beenrrretrieved.”“When?Whenwilltheycome?”saidRoz.“Howlongdowehave?”“You c-c-can ssstill be fixed, Rrroz.Go tooo the airship. B-b-bring all of the robot parts
wwwithyou.Theshipknowswwwhattooooodooooooooooooooooooo—”Hisvoicewentsilent.Hiseyeswentdark.RECO1wasdead.
CHAPTER76
THEBROKENROBOT
GeeseandotterswerebustlingallaroundRoz.Theywerepullingarmsandlegsoutfromtherobotpileandpressingthemagainstherbody.Theywerehopingtohear thwip soundsandthattherobotlimbswouldsnaprightintoplaceandRozwouldreturntoheroldselfandlifeontheislandwouldgobacktonormal.Butnothinghappened.Nomatterwhattheydid,thelimbswouldn’tattach.Ourrobot’sbodywastoobadlydamaged.
“I’msorry,Ma,”saidBrightbill,hisvoicetrembling.“Ithoughtthiswouldwork.”“Itisokay,son,”saidRozcalmly.“IamluckyIcanstillthinkandspeak.”Theanimalstriedtosmileattheirpoorfriend.Buttheycouldn’thidetheirsadness.Roz
wasamangledwreck,andtherewasnothingtheycoulddotofixher.
The robot wanted to be strong for her son and her friends; she wanted to ease theirworriedmindsandtell themeverythingwouldbe fine.ButRozknewthateverythingwouldnotbe fine.She lookeddownatherbrokenbody.Thenshe lookedupat thegeeseand theottersandsaid,“Iwillneedsomehelpgettinghome.”
CHAPTER77
THEMEETING
Strong,nimblecreatures carriedRozup the seacliffsandacross the island.TheycarefullyproppedherupinsidetheNest.Theybuiltafire.Andthentheylefttherobotwithherson.
Roz andBrightbill sat there, staring at the flames, until the goose finally said, “Do youneedanything,Ma?”
“Icouldreallyusesomenewarmsandlegs!”Therobotchuckledatherownbadjoke.“That isn’t funny!” cried the goose. “Mymother is broken and I don’t knowwhat to do
aboutit!”“Iamsorryforjoking.”Rozadjustedhervoicetoamoreserioustone.“Iknowyouwantto
fix me, but there is nothing anyone here can do.” At these words, her son looked away.“Brightbill,Iamafraidwehavesomedifficultdecisionstomake.Ithinkyoushouldarrangeameetingofourclosestfriends.Wecouldusetheiradvice.”
The goose disappeared out the door, and soon Roz’s oldest andwisest friendswere ontheirway.Loudwingwasthefirsttoarrive.Shelimpedintothelodgeonherinjuredfootandsatclosetoherrobotfriend.Mr.Beaverappearednext,followedbyFinkandSwooper.ThenTawnycurleduponthefloor.MotherBearwastoobadlyhurttomakethejourney,soNettlecame in her place. She sat in the garden with her enormous head jutting in through thedoorway.BrightbillreturnedwithChitchat,whowasnursingherburnedtail.ThelastonetocrawlinwasCrag,theoldturtle.Onceeveryonewasthere,themeetingbegan.
Thegrouptalkedallthroughthenight.TheydiscussedtheRECOs.TheydiscussedwhattodoaboutRoz. Theydiscussedhow to keep the island safe. Therewere starkdifferences ofopinion,andtempersflared,butbydaybreakthegrouphadagreedtoaplanofaction.
Thatmorning, the Dawn Truce didn’t take place in the GreatMeadow. Instead, it tookplace inasmallmeadowbythefootof themountain, in frontoftheairship.Wearyanimalsquietlyhobbled into the clearing.Theonly soundscame fromagurglingbrook thatwoundthroughthegatheringandrightpastourrobot.
Roz sat in thewet grass. Shewas leaning against a rock. She looked so sad and frail.However, she still had her thoughts and her words, and for the moment that was all sheneeded.
“Goodmorning,animalsoftheisland!”Roz’svoicefilledthemeadow.“Imustlookstrangetoyou,allbeatenuplikethis,butIhopeIstillsoundlikeyouroldfriend.”
Hundredsofheadsnodded.“You fought bravely yesterday. You risked your lives defending me, and I am eternally
grateful.Butmanyofourfriendswerewounded.Somemaynotrecover.Andthereisworsenews.Before the lastRECOdied,he toldme thatmoreofhiskindwill come toour island.Theymight already be on themove. And even ifwe defeat them, stillmorewill come.MyMakerswillnotrestuntilalloftheirpropertyhasbeenretrieved.Theywantthedeadrobots.Theywantthebrokenparts.Theywantme.”
Thecrowdwassilent.“But I care about this island far toomuch to put anymore lives in danger. And so,my
friends,Imustleave.”Voicescriedout.
“Don’tgo,Roz!”“Nexttimewe’llbeprepared!”“Weriskedourlivessoyoucouldstay!”
“Ihearyou!”Therobot’svoicecutthroughthedin.“Butlookatme!Mybodyisruined!AndtheRECOsaidtheonlyoneswhocanhelpmearemyMakers.”
“Whatifhelied?”howledavoice.“Youcan’ttrustthosemonsters!”“Youareright!”saidRoz.“Hemighthavebeenlying.Theremaybenohopeforme.But
that isachanceIhavetotake.Animals,youtaughtmetobewild.Iwanttobewildagain!
AndsoImusttrytogettherepairsIneed.ItisforthegoodofmeandtheislandthatIreturntomyMakers.”
Acalmsettledoverthecrowd.TheyknewRozwasright.
CHAPTER78
THEFAREWELL
Ourrobothadanarmyofanimalsathercommand,andsheaskedthemtobringeveryrobotpartandriflebacktotheairship.Absolutelyeverythinghadtogo.ItwastheonlywaytobesurethattheRECOswouldnevercomeback.
The island animals had no trouble locating the remains of the dead robots. Retrievingthose remains took a bit more effort, but they were up to the challenge. Teams of clevercreaturesreturnedwithrobotpartsofdifferentshapesandsizes.Smashedheadsandbrokenriflesandtwistedtubesandheavybodieswereallloadedintotheshipuntiltheentireislandhad been cleared. Even the tiniest scraps were collected. It’s amazing what an army ofanimalscando.
AlightmistwasfallingwhentheyfinallyheavedRozthroughtheship’sdoorway.Herheadslowlyturnedaroundtofacethecrowdofgeeseandbeaversandowlsandinsectsandfoxesandraccoonsandvulturesandmooseandbearsandopossumsandfishanddeerandottersandturtlesandwoodpeckersandsquirrelsandfrogsandharesandonandon.Everyanimalontheislandhadcometogivetherobotapropersend-off.
“Good-bye,youwildanimals!”Roz’svoiceechoedintothegraymist.The wild animals smiled. And then a few of them started to roar, then more started to
screech,andthenmorestartedhowlingandchirpingandgrunting.Soon,everycreaturewashollering good-bye to Roz. The chorus of wild voices grew louder and louder, shaking therobot’s body, rattling the ship, booming across the island and up into the clouds, and thentheirvoicesgraduallydieddowntosilence.
Brightbillfluttereduptohismother’sshoulder.“YouunderstandwhyImustleave,”saidtherobot.“Iunderstand,”sniffledthegoose.“MoreRECOscouldbeheadedhererightnow.Ijustdonotknow.ThereissomuchIdo
notknow.IthinkitistimeIgetsomeanswers.”“WillIeverseeyouagain?”saidBrightbill,wipinghiseyes.
“You are my son, and this is my home,” said Roz. “I will do everything in my power toreturn.”
Brightbillhuggedhismother’swornface.“Iloveyou,Mama.”“Iloveyou,son.”
Thegooseflutteredbacktohisflock.Therobottookonelastlookatherhome.Thedoorhummedclosed.
CHAPTER79
THEDEPARTURE
Theairship’sengines automatically firedup.Then the ship slowly floatedabove the island,turnedtothesouth,anddisappearedintotheclouds.
CHAPTER80
THESKY
Ourstoryendsinthesky,wherearobotwasbeingwhiskedawayfromtheonlyhomeshehadeverknown.AsRozsat in theairship,brokenandaloneandspeeding towardamysteriousfuture,shelookedbackathermiraculouspast.
Reader, itmustseemimpossiblethatourrobotcouldhavechangedsomuch.MaybetheRECOswereright.MaybeRozreallywasdefective,andsomeglitchinherprogramminghadcaused her to accidentally become awild robot. Ormaybe Rozwas designed to think andlearnandchange;shehadsimplydonethosethingsbetterthananyonecouldhaveimagined.
Howeverithappened,Rozfeltluckytohavelivedsuchanamazinglife.Andeverymomenthadbeenrecorded inhercomputerbrain.Evenherearliestmemorieswereperfectlyclear.She could still see the sun shining through the gash in her crate. She could still hear thewaves crashing against the shore. She could still smell the salt water and the pine trees.Would she ever see and hear and smell those things again?Would she ever again climb amountain,orbuildalodge,orplaywithagoose?
Notjustagoose.Ason.BrightbillhadbeenRoz’ssonfromthemomentshepickeduphisegg.Shehadsavedhim
fromcertaindeath,andthenhehadsavedher.HewasthereasonRozhadlivedsowellforsolong.Andifshewantedtocontinueliving,ifshewantedtobewildagain,sheneededtobewithher familyandher friendsonher island.So,asRoz raced through thesky, shebegancomputingaplan.
Shewouldgettherepairssheneeded.Shewouldescapefromhernewlife.Shewouldfindherwaybackhome.
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ANOTEABOUTTHESTORY
I’vealwaysbeenfascinatedbyrobots.Bytherealrobotsthatexisttoday,bytherobotsthatwillexistinthefuture,andbythefantasticrobotcharactersthatexistonlyinbooksandfilms.It’sfunnyhowmanyphilosophicalquestionsspringupwhenwethinkaboutartificialbeings.Dowewantrobotsthatcanthinkandfeel, likeaperson?Wouldwetrustrobotstoperformsurgery,careforchildren,orpoliceourcities?Inaworldwhererobotsdidallthework,howwouldwehumansspendourtime?I’malsofascinatedbythenaturalworld. Igrewupexploringthefieldsandstreamsand
forestsnearmyhome,andIlearnedalotaboutthelocalwildlife.Iknewthatdeerweremostactive at dawn and dusk. I watched squirrelsmethodically collecting and storing acorns. Iheardgeesehonkingoverheadastheyflewsoutheveryautumn.Animalshavesuchpredictablebehavior,andfollowsuchrigidroutines,thatattimesthey
seemalmost…robotic.Andsomewherealongthelineitoccurredtomethatanimalinstinctsarekindoflikecomputerprograms.Thankstotheirinstincts,animalsautomaticallyrunfromdanger,buildnests,andstayclose to their families,and theyoftendo these thingswithoutthinking, as if they’ve been programmed to perform specific actions at specific times.Surprisingly,wildanimalsandrobotsactuallyhavesomethingsincommon.Thesekindsof thoughtshave filledmy imagination formostofmy life.And then, a few
yearsago, Istartedscribblingdownwordsaboutarobotandsomewildanimals. Icouldn’tstopdoodlingpicturesofarobotinatree.Istartedaskingmyselfoddquestions.Whatwouldan intelligentrobotdo ifshewerestranded in thewilderness?Howmightsheadapt to theenvironment?Howmighttheenvironmentadapttoher?WhyamIreferringtothisrobotwithwords like “she” and “her”? And for thatmatter,why have somany science-fictionwritersgivengenderstosomanyoftheirrobotcharacters?AnimageofarobotnamedRozwasslowlyforminginmymind.Icouldseeherexploringa
remoteisland.Icouldhearhercommunicatingwithwildanimals.Icouldfeelherbecomingpartofthewilderness.Andafteryearsofimaginingandwritinganddrawing,IrealizedIhadalltheingredientsforarobotnaturestory.SoIdroveouttoacabininthewoods,openedupafreshnotebook,andbeganworkingonTheWildRobot.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
IfirstbegantinkeringwithTheWildRobotoversixyearsago.I’vespentthepasttwoandahalfyearsworkingonnothingelse.Asyoumightimagine,Ihadalittlehelpalongtheway.
My friends and family haven’t seen much of me these last few years. I’ve forgottenbirthdays. I’ve takenmysweet time returningmessages. I’vemisseddozensofparties.Buteveryoneknewhowimportantthisbookwastome,andtheyforgavemyabsentmindednessevenwhenIprobablydidn’tdeserveit.
JillYeomansiscompletelyoverqualifiedtobemyassistant.SoI’mtakingfulladvantageofherassistancewhileitlasts.Withouther,I’dneverhavetimetowriteorillustrate.
PaulRodeenhasgottobetheworld’sjolliestliteraryagent.Hisenthusiasmforthisbookhasbeenunwavering,andthatmadeallthedifferenceduringmylongboutsofself-doubt.
My publisher, Little, Brown and Company, could have nudgedme to justmake anotherpicturebook,andnobodywouldhaveblamedthem.ButtheyknewthatIneededtowritethisstory,andIcouldn’thavedoneitwithouttheirsupport.Ittakesanarmyofverysmartpeopleworkingveryhardtomakeoneofthesebookscometolife.Therearen’tenoughpagesheretolistthejobtitlesandspecificcontributionsofeverymemberofmyteam,soI’mafraidI’llhavetosimplylisttheirnames.Ifyouseeyournamebelow,pleaseknowthatIdeeplyappreciateyoureffortandexpertiseandpatience.SomeofthebeautifulpeoplewhohelpedmemakeTheWildRobotare:BarbaraBakowski,NicoleBrown,MelanieChang,JennyChoy,ShawnFoster,Nikki Garcia, Jen Graham, Allegra Green, Virginia Lawther, Lisa Moraleda, Emilie Polster,CarolScatorchio,AndrewSmith,VictoriaStapleton,andMeganTingley.
DavidCaplanwas the creativedirector responsible formaking thisbookasbeautiful aspossible.Andasyoucansee,henailedit.
AlvinaLinghasbeenexpertlyeditingmybookssincetheverybeginningofmycareer.Andthat’sreallyimpressivebecause Icanbeadifficultpersontoworkwith. I’maperfectionistwith a serious lack of confidence, which gets complicated, especially when I’m tryingsomething completely new, likewritingmy first children’s novel. ButAlvina is unflappable,andshehasenduredmyupsanddownswithasuperhumanlevelofgrace.
ToallwhohavehelpedandtoleratedmeasImadethisbook,thankyou.
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
PETERBROWNistheauthorandillustratorofmanybelovedchildren’sbooks,includingMyTeacherIsaMonster!(No,IAmNot.),Mr.TigerGoesWild,ChildrenMakeTerriblePets,andThe Curious Garden. He is a New York Times bestselling author and the recipient of aCaldecott Honor (forCreepy Carrots!), aNew York Times Best Illustrated Children’s BookAward,andaChildren’sChoiceBookAwardforIllustratoroftheYear.TheWildRobot ishismiddle-gradedebut.Peter’swebsiteispeterbrownstudio.com.
Contents
COVERTITLEPAGEWELCOMEDEDICATION
CHAPTER1:THEOCEANCHAPTER2:THEOTTERSCHAPTER3:THEROBOTCHAPTER4:THEROBOTHATCHESCHAPTER5:THEROBOTGRAVESITECHAPTER6:THECLIMBCHAPTER7:THEWILDERNESSCHAPTER8:THEPINECONESCHAPTER9:THEMOUNTAINCHAPTER10:THEREMINDERCHAPTER11:THEROBOTSLEEPSCHAPTER12:THESTORMCHAPTER13:THEAFTERMATHCHAPTER14:THEBEARSCHAPTER15:THEESCAPECHAPTER16:THEPINETREECHAPTER17:THECAMOUFLAGEDINSECTCHAPTER18:THECAMOUFLAGEDROBOTCHAPTER19:THEOBSERVATIONSCHAPTER20:THELANGUAGEOFTHEANIMALSCHAPTER21:THEINTRODUCTIONCHAPTER22:THENEWWORDCHAPTER23:THEWOUNDEDFOXCHAPTER24:THEACCIDENTCHAPTER25:THEEGGCHAPTER26:THEPERFORMERCHAPTER27:THEGOSLINGCHAPTER28:THEOLDGOOSECHAPTER29:THEBEAVERSCHAPTER30:THENESTCHAPTER31:THEFIRSTNIGHTCHAPTER32:THEDEERCHAPTER33:THEGARDENCHAPTER34:THEMOTHERCHAPTER35:THEFIRSTSWIM
CHAPTER36:THEGOSLINGGROWSCHAPTER37:THESQUIRRELCHAPTER38:THENEWFRIENDSHIPCHAPTER39:THEFIRSTFLIGHTCHAPTER40:THESHIPCHAPTER41:THESUMMERCHAPTER42:THESTRANGEFAMILYCHAPTER43:THEGOSLINGTAKESOFFCHAPTER44:THERUNAWAYCHAPTER45:THEDEADROBOTSCHAPTER46:THEFIGHTCHAPTER47:THEPARADECHAPTER48:THENEWFOOTCHAPTER49:THEFLIERCHAPTER50:THEBUTTONCHAPTER51:THEAUTUMNCHAPTER52:THEFLOCKCHAPTER53:THEMIGRATIONCHAPTER54:THEWINTERCHAPTER55:THELODGERSCHAPTER56:THENEWLODGESCHAPTER57:THEFIRECHAPTER58:THECONVERSATIONSCHAPTER59:THESPRINGCHAPTER60:THEFISHCHAPTER61:THEROBOTSTORIESCHAPTER62:THERETURNCHAPTER63:THEJOURNEYCHAPTER64:THESPECIALROBOTCHAPTER65:THEINVITATIONCHAPTER66:THECELEBRATIONCHAPTER67:THESUNRISECHAPTER68:THERECOSCHAPTER69:THEDEFECTIVEROBOTCHAPTER70:THEHUNTBEGINSCHAPTER71:THEFORESTASSAULTCHAPTER72:THEMOUNTAINRUMBLECHAPTER73:THECHASECHAPTER74:THECLICKCHAPTER75:THELASTRIFLECHAPTER76:THEBROKENROBOTCHAPTER77:THEMEETINGCHAPTER78:THEFAREWELLCHAPTER79:THEDEPARTURECHAPTER80:THESKY
ANOTEABOUTTHESTORYACKNOWLEDGMENTSABOUTTHEAUTHORCOPYRIGHT
Copyright
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