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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.

Lookingforyournextadventure?Readytograbthelatestandgreatestinmiddle-gradereading?Wanttostayupdatedwithnewsaboutyourfavoriteauthors?

Findreadingguides,downloadableactivities,videos,andmore!VisitLBKidsonline:lb-kids.comTwitter.com/lbkidsPinterest.com/lbkids

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

Thisbookisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,andincidentsaretheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously.Anyresemblancetoactualevents,locales,orpersons,livingordead,iscoincidental.

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Firstebookedition:April2016

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