by Ed Naha
“Thanks for watching MediaBreak.” Jess grinned. “And next time you see a cop . . . smile.”
Emma shut off the television and walked to the window. “Is he still out there?”
“Uh-huh,” Emma answered. “Still just sitting there. On the hill.”
“Well,” her husband said. “Let’s leave him be. I feel kinda safer knowing that he’s way out here on patrol.”
Emma nodded and turned out the living room light.
Outside the house, far off in the distance, a policeman sat high on a hillside, a large dog at his side. Stars twinkled high above him in the late night sky. He gazed at the moon suspended in space.
Someday, perhaps, the machine and the man in him would merge. Some day he might be at peace with himself. For now, however, he was in turmoil. He had no home. There was no other being on the entire planet he could share his feelings, his thoughts with. He was one of a kind.
The dog next to him stirred. He extended a powerful steel hand and patted the dog gently on its head. The dog snuggled up to Robo’s leg and wagged his tail.
Robo continued to stroke the dog’s ears. Maybe some day he would feel whole. Maybe someday he would feel less a freak. Maybe someday he could call himself a man.
He gazed at the moon and remembered his family. He saw Jan’s loving eyes. Jimmy’s smiling face.
Maybe someday . . .
A single tear dribbled out of his human eye and cascaded down his flesh-and-steel cheek.
Abruptly, he stood and faced the lights of the city far off in the distance.
Somewhere, there was a crime happening.
He whistled to the dog and the two of them made their way down the hill toward the awaiting TurboCruiser.
Today, tonight, he was a cop.
A cop with a job to do.
He revved the engines of the Cruiser up and headed back for Detroit, leaving the moon far behind.
Table of Contents
Back Cover
Back Cover
Movie
Titlepage
Copyright
Dedication
PART 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
PART 2
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
PART 3
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27