The Wild Robot, #1
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown
Contents
CHAPTER 70: THE HUNT BEGINS
Overview
Brightbill tries to disable the RECO robots while the geese distract them, but discovers they have no simple shutdown buttons. The RECOs quickly overpower the flock, realize Roz has escaped, arm themselves with rifles, and begin a systematic island-wide hunt.
This shifts the conflict from a chaotic rescue attempt into a dangerous pursuit, raising the stakes for Roz and all the animals helping her.
Summary
As Brightbill's flock keeps the RECO robots distracted, Brightbill slips behind the intruders and searches for shutdown buttons. Brightbill remembers how he once shut Roz down with a click and hopes to stop the RECOs the same way, but the robots have only smooth surfaces and no easy off switches.
The RECOs fight back with brutal strength. Giant hands swat the geese out of the air, and Loudwing is caught by the foot and thrown to the ground. The injured goose crawls into the weeds while the rest of the flock scatters into and over the trees.
After scanning the area, the RECOs discover that Roz has escaped. The three robots return to the airship, disappear inside, and come back out carrying silver rifles, turning the chase into an armed hunt.
The RECOs then separate without speaking and begin a coordinated search. RECO 1 heads toward the southern tip of the island, RECO 2 climbs the mountain, and RECO 3 enters the forest, spreading danger across the island as the hunt for Roz begins.
Who Appears
- BrightbillSearches for shutdown buttons on the RECOs while trying to protect Roz.
- RECO robotsOverpower the geese, arm themselves with rifles, and begin hunting Roz.
- LoudwingGoose from Brightbill's flock, grabbed and thrown down by a RECO.
- RozEscaped robot whose absence triggers the RECOs' armed search.
- Brightbill's flockDistracts the RECOs but is swatted away and forced to scatter.