Я, Робот

           AndRobbiecowered,holdinghishandsoverhisfacesothatshehadtoadd,"No,Iwon’t,Robbie.Iwon’tspankyou.Butanyway,it’smyturntohidehowbecauseyou’vegotlongerlegsandyoupromisednottoruntillIfoundyou."

           Robbienoddedhishead–asmallparallelepipedwithroundededgesandcornersattachedtoasimilarbutmuchlargerparallelepipedthatservedastorsobymeansofashort,flexiblestalk–andobedientlyfacedthetree.Athin,metalfilmdescendedoverhisglowingeyesandfromwithinhisbodycameasteady,resonantticking.

           "Don’tpeeknow–anddon’tskipanynumbers,"warnedGloria,andscurriedforcover.

           Withunvaryingregularity,secondsweretickedoff,andatthehundredth,upwenttheeyelids,andtheglowingredofRobbie’seyesswepttheprospect.Theyrestedforamomentonabitofcolorfulginghamthatprotrudedfrombehindaboulder.HeadvancedafewstepsandconvincedhimselfthatitwasGloriawhosquattedbehindit.

           Slowly,remainingalwaysbetweenGloriaandhome-tree,headvancedonthehidingplace,andwhenGloriawasplainlyinsightandcouldnolongereventheorizetoherselfthatshewasnotseen,heextendedonearmtowardher,slappingtheotheragainsthislegsothatitrangagain.Gloriaemergedsulkily.

           "Youpeeked!"sheexclaimed,withgrossunfairness."BesidesI’mtiredofplayinghide-and-seek.Iwantaride."

           ButRobbiewashurtattheunjustaccusation,soheseatedhimselfcarefullyandshookhisheadponderouslyfromsidetoside.