CHAPTER 76

THE MORNING

A steady stream of foot traffic was flowing past the park that morning. Several pairs of eyes noticed a ROZZUM robot running out from the trees. They watched as she looked around and then started marching along the sidewalk with the rest of the crowd.

Roz had lost the RECOs back in the woods, but she knew they wouldn’t stop searching for her. She needed to blend in with the normal robots on the street. So when she came upon a work crew marching toward a construction site, she tried to join the end of the line. But the crew immediately halted and turned to face her.

Our robot stepped backward, away from the crew, and bumped into a young woman. “I am sorry!” said Roz, gently grasping the woman’s shoulder.

“Get your hands off me! Whose robot is this? There’s something wrong with her!”

Everyone stopped and stared. Humans pointed. Automobiles slowed. There were whispers about a defective robot on the loose. And then the white triangular airship appeared. It floated out from between tall buildings and headed for our robot. Roz lurched forward and backward, again and again, trying to think of a plan, until a voice suddenly squawked behind her.

“Follow us, Mama!”

Brightbill and Strutter swooped past, and the robot went racing after them. She wove through the crowd, sprinted down streets, leaped across intersections. Horns blared and humans screamed and robots shuffled out of the way.

The birds made one last turn and fluttered into a narrow side street. A group of tomcats were there, lurking in the shadows. They crouched and licked their lips and dreamed of feasting on the goose and the pigeon. Then the robot came stomping up, and the cats hissed and scattered in every direction.

Strutter pointed to a heavy circular panel set in the pavement and said, “Lift that up.” Roz lifted the panel. Beneath it was a ladder that descended into a deep, dark hole.

“Climb down there,” said Strutter. “A friend of mine is expecting you.”

The robot looked from the pigeon to the goose.

“Do what she says, Ma!” cried Brightbill. “There’s no time to waste!”

“But how will I find you again?” said Roz.

“Just go!”