Я, Робот
Robbie
Then,withintenfeetofthegoal,Robbie’spaceslowedsuddenlytothemerestofcrawls,andGloria,withonefinalburstofwildspeed,dashedpantinglypasthimtotouchthewelcomebarkofhome-treefirst.
Gleefully,sheturnedonthefaithfulRobbie,andwiththebasestofingratitude,rewardedhimforhissacrificebytauntinghimcruellyforalackofrunningability.
"Robbiecan’trun,"sheshoutedatthetopofhereight-year.oldvoice."Icanbeathimanyday.Icanbeathimanyday."Shechantedthewordsinashrillrhythm.
Robbiedidn’tanswer,ofcourse-notinwords.Hepantomimedrunninginstead,inchingawayuntilGloriafoundherselfrunningafterhimashedodgedhernarrowly,forcinghertoveerinhelplesscircles,littlearmsoutstretchedandfanningattheair.
"Robbie,"shesquealed,"standstill!"–Andthelaughterwasforcedoutofherinbreathlessjerks.
–Untilheturnedsuddenlyandcaughtherup,whirlingherround,sothatforhertheworldfellawayforamomentwithablueemptinessbeneath,andgreentreesstretchinghungrilydownwardtowardthevoid.Thenshewasdowninthegrassagain,leaningagainstRobbie’slegandstillholdingahard,metalfinger.
Afterawhile,herbreathreturned.Shepusheduselesslyatherdisheveledhairinvagueimitationofoneofhermother’sgesturesandtwistedtoseeifherdressweretorn.
SheslappedherhandagainstRobbie’storso,"Badboy!I’llspankyou!"
