49 THE GOOD-BYES

CHAPTER 49 THE GOOD-BYES That evening was full of sad good-byes. The first good-bye was between the flock and their young leader. The other geese wanted to help Roz and Brightbill get home. But the journey would be dangerous, and Brightbill refused to put his flock at risk. He demanded they return to the island without him. The geese could feel their instincts urging them onward, and they knew Roz and Brightbill would look after each other, so they said their good-byes and took off into the night sky. The next good-bye was between the robot and the cows. Roz marched into the pasture one last time as the herd gathered around. "I guess this is it," said the robot. "Thank you all for being so kind to me." Annabelle sniffled and said, "I really hate good- byes.But I'm glad you're going home where you belong. I just wish there was some way I could be

第四十九章告别那天晚上充满了悲伤的告别。 第一次告别是在鸟群和他们年轻的领袖之间。 其他的鹅想帮助罗兹和布莱特比尔回家。 但是这趟旅程很危险，布莱特比尔拒绝让他的羊群冒险。 他要求他们在没有他的情况下回到岛上。 鹅们能感觉到它们的本能在催促它们前进，它们知道罗兹和布莱特比尔会互相照顾，所以它们道别后就飞向夜空。 接下来是机器人和奶牛之间的告别。 当牛群聚集在一起时，罗兹最后一次大步走进牧场。 “我想就是这样了，”机器人说。 “谢谢你们对我这么好。” 安娜贝尔抽泣着说：“我真的很讨厌再见。但我很高兴你回到了属于你的家。 我只希望能有办法

helpful." "Actually, there is something you can do." Roz unsnapped a pocket of her tool belt and took out the Transmitter. "You can hold on to this for me. Hopefully it will take a few days for Mr. Shareef to realize I am gone." Annabelle smiled as the robot gently tucked the small device under her collar. Lily and the other calves suddenly swarmed around Roz and nuzzled her legs. They all had tears in their eyes. Tess wanted to lighten the mood, but she couldn't think of anything funny to say. The other cows called out to their friend. "We'll miss you, Roz!" "Get home safely!" "Don't forget about us!" Roz waved to the herd. She said a silent good-bye to all the farm machines, parked in the shed. Then she followed the driveway out to the fields, with Brightbill on her shoulder and the children at her side. The last good-bye was the hardest of all. Everyone was quiet as they walked through the silvery moonlight, past rows and rows of sprouting crops, and out to the farthest corner of the farthest field. Roz

有帮助。”“实际上，你可以做一些事情。” 罗兹打开工具带的一个口袋，拿出了发射器。 “你可以帮我拿着这个。 希望过几天，谢里夫先生才会意识到我不见了。” 当机器人轻轻地把这个小装置塞到她的项圈下时，安娜贝尔笑了。 莉莉和其他幼崽突然围着罗兹，用鼻子蹭她的腿。 他们都热泪盈眶。 苔丝想使气氛轻松些，但是她想不出什么有趣的话来。 其他的奶牛向它们的朋友喊了起来。 “我们会想你的，罗兹！”“平安回家！”“别忘了我们！”罗兹向牛群挥了挥手。 她向停在小屋里的所有农用机器默默告别。 然后她沿着车道向田野走去，布莱特比尔在她肩上，孩子们在她身边。 最后的告别是最艰难的。 他们穿过银色的月光，走过一排排正在发芽的庄稼，走到最远的田野的最远的角落，每个人都很安静。 警察

turned and faced Jaya and Jad. She looked past them, back to the distant lights of the farm buildings. "I have prepared the farm for my departure," said Roz. "It will take care of itself for a while, but not forever." "We can manage things, at least until we get another robot," said Jad. "This place won't be the same without you, but we'll be okay." "What will you tell your father?" said Roz. "That's for us to worry about," said Jaya. "You just worry about getting home." Roz glanced down at the tool belt strapped across her chest. "Would you like this back?" "No we would not!" said Jad. "It was a gift just for you!" said Jaya. The girl pulled her brother and her robot into a big, tight hug. Beneath the sounds of the crickets were the sounds of the children crying.

转过身来面对贾亚和杰德。 她越过他们，回头望向远处农场建筑的灯光。 “我已经为我的离开准备好了农场，”罗兹说。 “它会自己照顾自己一段时间，但不是永远。” 贾德说：“至少在我们得到另一个机器人之前，我们可以管理事情。” “没有你，这个地方就不一样了，但我们会没事的。” “你要对你父亲说什么？” “那是我们该担心的事，”贾亚说。 “你只要担心回家就行了。” 罗兹瞥了一眼绑在她胸前的工具带。 “你想要回这个吗？”“不，我们不会！”杰德说。 “这是给你的礼物！” 女孩把哥哥和机器人紧紧地搂在怀里。 在蟋蟀的叫声下面是孩子们的哭声。

"How will we know you've made it home?" said Jad. "We need to know how your story ends!" said Jaya. The robot muttered some animal words to her son and then said to the children, "If a goose ever visits this farm and presents you with a feather, you will know that I am home." The children smiled through their tears and waited for their friends to leave. But the robot didn't move. More than anything, Roz wanted to go home. And yet she was conflicted. She cared about this family, and this farm, and now she was abandoning them. The robot lurched forward, then backward, again and again, as her computer brain struggled with all of these thoughts and feelings. Finally, the children gave her the gentle push she needed. "Roz, we order you to run away." And the robot did as she was told.

“我们怎么知道你已经回家了？”杰德说。 “我们需要知道你的故事的结局！” 机器人对她的儿子咕哝了几句动物的话，然后对孩子们说：“如果有一只鹅来这个农场，给你们一根羽毛，你们就会知道我在家。” 孩子们含泪而笑，等待着他们的朋友离开。 但是机器人没有动。 最重要的是，罗兹想回家。 然而她很矛盾。 她在乎这个家庭，这个农场，现在她要抛弃他们。 机器人蹒跚着向前，然后向后，一次又一次，因为她的计算机大脑与所有这些想法和感觉作斗争。 最后，孩子们轻轻地推了她一把。 “罗兹，我们命令你逃跑。” 机器人照她说的做了。