"It was Faw-Faw," I said. The honesty of childhood!
"Of course it was." My father smiled with pleasure at my robot. "He's a better teacher than I imagined. Now I don't feel so bad about leaving again."
My mother came in.
"Leaving again?" I said to her. Was I sad, Faw-Faw? Did I cry?
"The experiments aren't completed," my mother answered. "Your father and I will have to stay at least another six months."
Father said: "But it's worth it, son. There may be a whole army of Faw-Faws some day!"
"A whole army...." My mother looked frightened. "It's dreadful, Richard, dreadful...."
"Laura—"
"Metal soldiers. Robot killers—"
My father looked displeased. "This is no time for that kind of talk. You knew full well what my assignment was about. I'm not ashamed of it." He looked at me sternly. "And don't you be either. Some day you may be carrying on my work. Do you know that?"