PETER AND THE ROBOT

Actually thought Peter, that is what I will do, I'll go for a nice long walk. I'll go to the rock mound on the hill where you can see all over the valley. It's a good day to go there and I haven't been since last Autumn.

Pulling on his woolly jumper and putting on his favourite running shoes he briefly popped into the kitchen.
"Hello dear", said Mary his adopted mum as he came skidding into the big kitchen. She wore her cooking apron and Peter could smell the aroma of his favorite cookies that she had just taken out of the oven. There was white flour in her hair and on her cheeks. It looked quite funny. "Where are you off in such a hurry then"? she asked wiping her hands on her apron.
"I thought I'd go for a walk to the rock mound" he said. "I built a fort and put a flag on the top last autumn and I want to see if it is still there".
"Well after all the wind and rain during the winter it will be a mighty fort indeed if it is still there," she said watching him looking at the cookies. "You had better take something to eat then," she said putting some cookies into a paper bag, which she handed to him.

"Thank you Mum", said Peter taking them and he headed out the door into the bright sunshine. "And be careful," Mary called after him. She always said that.

So off went Peter along the narrow path that led away from the house and into the pumpkin fields. It was a well-worn trail and still a bit muddy from the winter rain. As he left the fields the trail led into a small wooded area that had a creek running through it. To cross the creek you had to go over a rickety old wooden bridge. Peter had to be very careful because some of the planks were either rotten or had fallen into the creek. But he knew exactly where to walk as he had crossed it many times before. When he reached the other side he continued on his way until he left the wood. Climbing over a fence he followed an old gravel road as it twisted and turned upwards through the hills. At long last he saw the rock mound perched high at the top of the highest hill. Peter was too far away to see if his flag was still there so he hurriedly left the road and started the long climb up the side of the hill. It was very steep and he soon became very hot so he stopped to take a breath and to munch on one of his cookies.

Peter was very anxious to get to the top and could feel his excitement growing with each step. At long last he reached the base of the rock mound and looking up he saw that his flag was gone. Only the crooked stick which he had stuck into the rocks was left and even that was leaning over as if about to fall at any moment. If only he had thought to bring a new flag he thought. However, it seemed that the remains of his fort was still intact and all it needed was a little bit of patching up here and there. But that could wait as he sat down to rest and take in the view of the valley below. He could see his farm house a long way in the distance with a thin line of smoke coming from the chimney. Beyond the farmhouse stretched the road that led to the little town called White Chalk. It was called White Chalk because all the rocks in the area were snow white and sometimes people would come to the town just to buy them for their gardens.

Peter took another cookie out of his bag and began munching away. Mary had really done herself proud this time, they were really scrumptious. He was feeling quite happy when suddenly he heard a voice behind him. "Umm hello, is somebody there"? the voice said hesitantly. Peter almost dropped his cookie. He turned around but couldn't see anyone.
"Who's there"? Peter asked.
"Oh thank goodness", said the voice. "I was afraid no one would ever come here."
Peter jumped to his feet and climbed on to the fort wall and looked in. "Wow" he said. What he saw was really quite amazing. There was a robot sitting in the middle of the fort with two glowing yellow eyes that blinked rapidly and he was sitting just like a very old man or a very tired person would. The robot's head moved so it could look straight at Peter.
"I need some help," it said.
"Who are you, where have you come from," asked Peter.
"Oh I'm just a Robot that no one wants anymore."
"What do you mean?" asked Peter. So the Robot began to explain how he got there. "I use to belong to a rich man in the city but he bought a new Robot and sold me to a horrible man that was going to dismantle me for spare parts. One night when he was asleep I escaped and just walked and walked. I didn't know where I was going so I just kept walking. Then I saw this flag waving in the wind high up on the hill and I thought it would be a good place to hide and rest. Now I've rested far too long, my batteries are low and the dampness of the ground has made me rusty."
Peter took a closer look at the Robot. He was right, the once shiny Robot was now covered in red rust patches and leaking oil seemed to spill from every joint, and loose wiring poked out from several parts of its body. The poor Robot, he was in a bad way and he must have been resting there most of the winter, and now couldn't move.
"I don't think I have much longer before my batteries are completely flat," said the Robot.
"Well," said Peter scratching his head, "It look's like you need some oil, your wiring replaced and then a battery charge to get you mobile again. My Father has a big barn with plenty of oil cans, lots of spare wiring and an electric charger for his tractor battery." The Robot's eyes seemed to glow a little brighter at being told this.
"Oh do you think it's possible, I mean could you take me there? Could you please"?
"You are much too big to carry", said Peter "I wouldn't be able to lift you."

Amid a whirring noise, clicks and squeaks the Robot made a tremendous effort to get up. It's arms and legs slowly began to move and finally with what must have been quite an ordeal the Robot slowly managed to struggle to his feet.
"We have to go down there," said Peter pointing to the barn next to the farm house.
"Oh my," said the Robot "It's a long way. It won't be easy."
"No but there is no other choice," said Peter who backed slowly down the rock mound as the Robot clambered out of the fort and began to follow him.

"Be careful," said Peter. "This is a very steep hill." But no sooner had he warned the Robot when there was a great crashing sound behind him.
"Whoa," said the Robot as its tired limbs failed and it fell forwards. "Whoa." It said in surprise and gathering speed tumbled past Peter. Peter watched in horror, helpless as the Robot tumbled over and over down the hill. He scrambled down after it almost falling himself and expecting to see the worst but amazingly the Robot was sitting up its eyes blinking rapidly.
"Are you alright?" gasped Peter.
"Yes, I think so," said the Robot. "I don't appear to have come off too worse for wear. I think the softness of the ground helped a lot". However, when the Robot got to his feet his left arm was hanging limply at his side with even more wires poking out than before.
"Can you continue on?" asked Peter. "Yes," said the Robot. "I'm sorry if I frightened you.
"That's alright," said Peter. "I think we should hurry though before your batteries give up completely."
So with the Robot clanking along behind Peter they made their way towards the house. Peter was concerned about the Robot being able to climb the fence but indeed it proved no obstacle for the Robot. He simply ejected a pair of scissor like blades from his side and snipped the wire fence so he could walk through.
"When I get better I promise to return and fix the fence," said the Robot. They reached the rickety bridge which Peter quickly crossed.
"You need to be very very careful," Peter said. Once again Peter was amazed to see beams of light filtering from the Robot's eyes. He was scanning the bridge for it's weaknesses so he knew where he should avoid stepping, and although it creaked and groaned under the Robot's weight he made it safely across.
"I am feeling very very weak now," said the Robot.
"Just a little bit further, we are nearly there," said Peter. "Along this path and across the field, please don't give up." So with all his remaining strength the Robot battled on behind Peter and finally they stumbled into the barn where the Robot collapsed onto some soft hay in the corner.
"You rest for now, I have to go into the house," said Peter.
"Thank you," said the Robot which was all he could manage to say, he was so very very tired from his journey. Peter couldn't wait to tell his Mother that he had made a new friend. Just as Peter and Mary were leaving the house his Father ran out of the barn. He looked frightened, like he had seen a ghost.
"Whatever is the matter?" asked Mary quite concerned.