Read I, Robot for Free Online Page A

odorless, and perfectly silent.
    "I'm going to go to the toilet and then make myself a cup of coffee," Arturo said.
    "I would be happy to assist in any way possible."
    "I can wipe myself, thanks," Arturo said. He washed his face twice and tried to rinse away the flavor left behind by whatever had shat in his mouth while he was unconscious. There was a splayed toothbrush in a glass by the sink, and if it was his wife's — and whose else could it be? — it wouldn't be the first time he'd shared a toothbrush with her. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he misted some dentifrice onto his fingertip and rubbed his teeth a little.
    There was a hairbrush by the sink, too, with short mousy hairs caught in it. Some of them were grey, but they were still familiar enough. He had to stop himself from smelling the hairbrush.
    "Oh, Ada," he called through the door.
    "Yes, Detective?"
    "Tell me about your hair-don't, please."
    "It was a disguise," she said, giggling. "Mom did it for me."

----
    Natalie got home an hour later, after he'd had a couple of cups of coffee and made some cheesy toast for the brat. Benny did the dishes without being asked.
    She stepped through the door and tossed her briefcase and coat down on the floor, but the robot that was a step behind her caught them and hung them up before they touched the perfectly groomed carpet. Ada ran forward and gave her a hug, and she returned it enthusiastically, but she never took her eyes off of Arturo.
    Natalie had always been short and a little hippy, with big curves and a dusting of freckles over her prominent, slightly hooked nose. Twelve years in Eurasia had thinned her out a little, cut grooves around her mouth and wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Her short hair was about half grey, and it looked good on her. Her eyes were still the liveliest bit of her, long-lashed and slightly tilted and mischievous. Looking into them now, Arturo felt like he was falling down a well.
    "Hello, Artie," she said, prying Ada loose.
    "Hello, Natty," he said. He wondered if he should shake her hand, or hug her, or what. She settled it by crossing the room and taking him in a firm, brief embrace, then kissing his both cheeks. She smelled just the same, the opposite of the smell of robot: warm, human.
    He was suddenly very, very angry.
    He stepped away from her and had a seat. She sat, too.
    "Well," she said, gesturing around the room. The robots, the safe house, the death penalty, the abandoned daughter and the decade-long defection, all of it down to "well" and a flop of a hand-gesture.
    "Natalie Judith Goldberg," he said, "it is my duty as a UNATS Detective Third Grade to inform you that you are under arrest for high treason. You have the following rights: to a trial per current rules of due process; to be free from self-incrimination in the absence of a court order to the contrary; to consult with a Social Harmony advocate; and to a speedy arraignment. Do you understand your rights?"
    "Oh, Daddy ," Ada said.
    He turned and fixed her in his cold stare. "Be silent, Ada Trouble Icaza de Arana-Goldberg. Not one word." In the cop voice. She shrank back as though slapped.
    "Do you understand your rights?"
    "Yes," Natalie said. "I understand my rights. Congratulations on your promotion, Arturo."
    "Please ask your robots to stand down and return my goods. I'm bringing you in now."
    "I'm sorry, Arturo," she said. "But that's not going to happen."
    He stood up and in a second both of her robots had his arms. Ada screamed and ran forward and began to rhythmically pound one of them with a stool from the breakfast nook, making a dull thudding sound. The robot took the stool from her and held it out of her reach.
    "Let him go," Natalie said. The robots still held him fast. "Please," she said. "Let him go. He won't harm me."
    The robot on his left let go, and the robot on his right did, too. It set down the dented stool.
    "Artie, please sit down and talk with me for a little while.