Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 53 — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PARTING clicked. Tears, therefore the child needed comforting or was in pain. The child was not in pain. Reaction: Try to comfort the child. Sit child on lap, rest one arm gently on the child’s shoulders. As quick as thought, the robot did these things with a tenderness which a mother would have envied. Pamela snuggled up to him. ““You’re so big and strong,” she confided to him. “Don’t let them take you away,” she commanded. “I want you for always and always.”’ The robot remained im- passive, and soon Pamela was asleep in his arms. _ It was the evening of the tenth day. Samuel Warburton was in his study, speaking to his daughter: “I’m sorry, Parnela, that this parting has to take place. You will un- derstand more what this is for when you are older. Do you remember when your pet rabbit died? Well, this is much the same. Robots have to die, too, in the same way as people and animals have 117 to die. It’s the natural order of things .. .”’ His voice tailed away. He cleared his throat noisily and re-commenced: ““Tomor- row morning, Pamela, after breakfast, you must go down to the basement and wish Tinlid a last ‘Goodbye.’ Then I will come down for him, and ... .”” he paused and sighed, “. . . I’m afraid you will never see him again.”’ Pamela’s sobs were pitiful to hear. It was useless to try and comfort her. No, she didn’t want any other robot; she didn’t care, and _ she hated everybody and, and... For once her father did not scold her. He called quietly to his wife, and together they put Pamela to bed. None of the household got much sleep that night. It was morning. It was the fatal morning. It was the day when Tinlid, poor Tinlid, must go, never to: retains. a. Pamela crept down the stairs to the basement. The house upstairs was in a comicloooks.con