39 THE ALLIES

CHAPTER 39 THE ALLIES Jaya and Jad would do anything to have their own mother back. So they understood how happy Brightbill and Roz must have felt in that moment. But they also understood that this happy moment couldn't last forever. Brightbill couldn't live on the farm, and Roz couldn't be her true self around their father. Life seemed so unfair. The children knew what needed to happen. "Roz, you need to go home," said Jaya. "You need to be with your family and your friends on your island," said Jad. "I wish I could go home, but your father would never allow it," said Roz. "Just run away!" said the girl. "I ran away once—it was easy! But then I started feeling hungry, so I came home and made myself a sandwich." "Running away might be easy for you, but not for me," said Roz. "Your father can track my

movements. If he sees me trying to escape, he will think I am defective, and he will send me away to be destroyed." An uncomfortable question popped into Jaya's mind. "Roz, don't take this the wrong way," she began, "but is it possible that you are defective?" "Don't say that, Jaya!" cried her brother. "No, it is okay," said the robot. "I have asked myself that same question. I do not feel defective. I feel… different. Is being different the same as being defective?" "I don't think so," said Jaya. "Or else we're all a little defective." "You saved my life, and now I'm going to save yours," said Jad, with a look of determination in his eyes. "I know you can only access farming information, Roz. So let us handle the research. There has to be a way for you to safely escape. But we'll need time to figure out a plan." The robot exchanged a few animal words with her son. And then she said to the children, "Brightbill must soon lead his flock back to their wintering grounds. However, he can return here in the spring." The boy slowly nodded. "We should have you

ready by then." The girl looked concerned. "Roz, even if you safely escape from the farm, how will you get all the way home to your island?" "Leave that to Brightbill and me," said the robot. "Together, we will find our way home. I have faith in the two of us. And I have faith in the two of you."