Я, Робот

           Hermotherhadjoinedthem."Yes,itis,Gloria.Isn’titnice–softandfurry.It’sverygentle.Itlikeslittlegirls."

           "Canheplaygames?"

           "Surely.Hecandoanynumberoftricks.Wouldyouliketoseesome?"

           "Rightaway.IwantRobbietoseehim,too.-Robbie!"Shestopped,uncertainly,andfrowned,"I’llbethe’sjuststayinginhisroombecausehe’smadatmefornottakinghimtothevisivox.You’llhavetoexplaintohim,Daddy.Hemightnotbelieveme,butheknowsifyousayit,it’sso."

           Weston’slipgrewtighter.Helookedtowardhiswifebutcouldnotcatchhereye.

           Gloriaturnedprecipitouslyandrandownthebasementsteps,shoutingasshewent,"Robbie-ComeandseewhatDaddyandMammabroughtme.Theybroughtmeadog,Robbie."

           Inaminuteshehadreturned,afrightenedlittlegirl."Mamma,Robbieisn’tinhisroom.Whereishe?"TherewasnoanswerandGeorgeWestoncoughedandwassuddenlyextremelyinterestedinanaimlesslydriftingcloud.Gloria’svoicequaveredonthevergeoftears,"Where’sRobbie,Mamma?"

           Mrs.Westonsatdownanddrewherdaughtergentlytoher,"Don’tfeelbad,Gloria.Robbiehasgoneaway,Ithink."

           "Goneaway?Where?Where’shegoneaway,Mamma?"

           "Nooneknows,darling.Hejustwalkedaway.We’velookedandwe’velookedandwe’velookedforhim,butwecan’tfindhim."

           "Youmeanhe’llnevercomebackagain?"Hereyeswereroundwithhorror.