23 THE RIFLE

CHAPTER 23 THE RIFLE The wolves returned the very next morning. Shortly after dawn, they leaped from the trees and started chasing a poor calf through the pasture. Roz managed to drive them off, but that night, they returned again. The herd came stampeding into the barn as the wolves laughed and trotted back to the fields. The cows were in shock. They refused to leave the barn. If this continued, the herd would produce less milk, the farm would lose money, and Mr. Shareef would send Roz back to the factory. Something had to be done. Knock, knock, knock. The dog barked and the children opened the door. "How'd you get all those scrapes?" said Jaya. "Is everything okay?" said Jad. "I must speak with your father," said Roz. Mr. Shareef came to the door and Roz explained the problem. At the first mention of wolves, he sent

第二十三章步枪第二天早晨，狼群又来了。 天亮后不久，他们从树上跳下来，开始在牧场上追逐一头可怜的小牛。 罗兹设法赶走了他们，但那天晚上，他们又回来了。 当狼群笑着跑回田野时，牛群跑进了谷仓。 奶牛们受到了惊吓。他们拒绝离开谷仓。 如果这种情况持续下去，牛群产出的牛奶就会减少，农场就会赔钱，谢里夫先生就会把罗兹送回工厂。 必须做点什么。敲，敲，敲。 狗叫了一声，孩子们打开了门。 “你这些擦伤是怎么来的？” “一切都好吗？”杰德说。 “我必须和你父亲谈谈，”罗兹说。 谢里夫先生来到门口，罗兹解释了问题所在。 一听到狼的消息，他就派人

his children to their rooms. But the dog stayed. Oscar had no idea what the man and the robot were discussing, and his tail happily wagged as he stood beside them. However, his tail stopped wagging when Mr. Shareef handed Roz a rifle. The dog had seen the rifle in action, and it frightened him to his core. He scurried into the bushes and hid there, whimpering, while the conversation went on. "What do you mean you can't fire a rifle?" the man yelled. "Roz, you're a farmer now, and sometimes farmers have to kill animals!" It was the first time Mr. Shareef had ever yelled at Roz. She waited patiently as words and spittle flew from his mouth. "My farm and my family are in danger! Roz, I order you to kill those wolves!" "I cannot follow that order because I am not programmed to be violent." Mr. Shareef let out a heavy sigh. He knew Roz was right. But when he reached for the weapon, she wouldn't let go. The man stared at the robot. The robot stared at the dog. The dog stared at the rifle. Oscar was still whimpering and hiding in the

他的孩子们回到了他们的房间。 但是狗留下了。奥斯卡不知道男人和机器人在讨论什么，它站在他们身边，高兴地摇着尾巴。 然而，当谢里夫先生递给罗兹一支步枪时，他的尾巴就不摇了。 狗看到了来复枪的动作，吓得他魂飞魄散。 他急忙跑进灌木丛，躲在那里，呜咽着，而谈话还在继续。 “你说你不会用步枪是什么意思？”那人喊道。 “罗兹，你现在是农民了，有时农民不得不杀动物！”这是谢里夫第一次对罗兹大喊大叫。 她耐心地等着，看着他滔滔不绝地说着话，吐出唾沫。 “我的农场和我的家人正处于危险之中！”罗兹，我命令你杀死那些狼！”“我不能遵从这个命令，因为我生来就没有暴力倾向。” 谢里夫先生重重地叹了口气。 他知道罗兹是对的。但当他伸手去拿武器时，她不肯放手。 那人盯着机器人。 机器人盯着狗看。 狗盯着步枪看。 奥斯卡还在呜咽，躲在

bushes. Just the sight of the rifle had sent him into a panic. It was hard to believe that such a fearful animal was related to wolves. But dogs are related to wolves, thought the robot, and her computer brain began buzzing with activity. She thought of dogs and wolves and rifles. She thought of Shadow, the wolf leader, and the long, straight scar on his side. And then she had an idea. "Although I cannot fire the rifle," said Roz, "I believe it can help me solve the wolf problem." Mr. Shareef frowned. He didn't know what the robot was getting at, but he was happy to let her handle the wolves by herself. "Fine, try it your way," he said. "Just don't lose any cows or else we might have to lose a robot too."

灌木丛中。一看到来复枪，他就惊慌失措。 很难相信这种可怕的动物与狼有亲缘关系。 但是狗和狼是有关系的，机器人想，于是她的电脑大脑开始嗡嗡作响。 她想到了狗、狼和步枪。 她想起了领头狼的影子，以及他身上那条又长又直的伤疤。 然后她有了一个主意。“虽然我不会开枪，”罗兹说，“但我相信它能帮我解决狼的问题。” 谢里夫先生皱起了眉头。他不知道机器人是什么意思，但他很高兴让她自己对付狼。 “好吧，试试你的方法，”他说。 “只是不要失去任何奶牛，否则我们可能也会失去一个机器人。”