8 An animal is made 
　  
　　Arobot can do many different things from taking care of a baby to building a spaceship．It can do anything except think．The Star Zoo computer was the only one that could think． 
　　Well， our family robot could build a robot animal， easily． That was no problem． 
　　First we had to choose what animal to make， so we went round the Star Zoo to look at all．the animals．Hee-Haw carried me and Hoo-Woo came with us．The robot followed． 
　　I don't know how many rooms the Star Zoo had； I couldn't count them all．Some rooms were filled with water where there were big fish and small fish．There were horrible monsters walking under the water and I felt a little afraid again． 
　　Some rooms were covered in snow and all the animals there had while fur．There were dry rooms， hot wet rooms， forest rooms…And animals and birds and trees and flowers！ 
　　There were more living things than I had ever dreamt of！ 
　　I sat on Hee-Haw's back as the donkey walked on．We went through a door into a room full of strange life， then we went through another door and into another room，It was like a dream．In a dream， things change suddenly，without reason．It was like that． 
　　We went back to the computer．I didn't know which animal to choose and neither did the robot．Hee-Haw and Hoo-Woo didn't understand the problem；they weren't intelligent in the human way． 
　　So I asked the computer． 
　　'Watch humans，'the computer said．'Humans enjoy playing with animals．Find an animal which enjoys playing with humans．' 
　　So we went to see the humans． 
　　The humans in the Star Zoo couldn't speak． I sat down and watched them while the humans played up in the trees，swam in the pool and played games in the grass．They played all the time． 
　　Most other animals didn't play with the humans．But finally I saw one animal come through the grass to play． It liked playing with humans！ 
　　The humans played with the animal for an hour．The animal and the humans enjoyed playing together． 
　　'That's the animal you must make，'I told the robot． 
　　The robot watched the animal and touched it and measured everything．In the end it was ready to build a robot just like that animal． 
　　'What do you need to build it？'I asked． 
　　'Plastic，'the robot answered．'I will use real fur on the outside．But I need some metal．Where can I find metal？' 
　　There was only one thing in the Star Zoo made of metal－the computer！ 
　　The computer told the robot to take off two small pieces of metal from its back． 
　　The robot worked fast．Sometimes it needed a special tool．Then it opened its stomach because the tools were kept inside the body there． 
　　First，the robot made a plastic body which it covered with soft plastic，like a skin．Then it used fur to cover the skin． 
　　I left before the robot finished because I was worried about Buff．I didn't want him to die． 
　　Buff still wouldn't eat or drink But the worst thing was， he was still crazy．His mind wasn't getting better… 
　　If Buff stays in the Star Zoo，I thought，he'll die． 
　　I talked to him but he didn't answer．I knew he wanted to kill me．He wanted to kill all living things． 
　　The robot finished its work and showed me a little animal．It looked，and sounded，and played like the real animal． I took it to the computer． 
　　'Yes，it looks just like the animal，'the computer said．'It's very small-a baby animal．'the computer told me its name． It checked the animal，then said to the robot，'Make it warm．' 
　　The little animal was cold． 
　　So the robot made the baby animal warm， like the real animal．We were ready． 
　　The robot put Buff to sleep，then put the spacesuit on him and carried him to the spaceship． 
　　I was leaving the Star Zoo for the second time．Would our plan succeed， I wondered？ Before I went through the door，I looked back at all the life that existed only here in the Star Zoo，and in no other place in all the Galaxy！  
　 
8 造出了一只动物 
　  
　　从照看婴儿到制造飞船，机器人能做许许多多不同的工作。除了思维，它无所不能。星际动物园的电脑是唯一能思维的。 
　　没问题，我的家用机器人可以造一个机器动物，轻而易举。没有问题。 
　　我们先得选择制造什么动物，于是我们在星际动物园走了一圈，把所有动物都看一看。“嘻嗬”驮着我，“呼呜”陪着我们。机器人跟在后面。 
　　我弄不清星际动物园有多少房间，我无法全数过来。有的房间装着水，里面养着大鱼和小鱼。水下面还有可怕的怪物在行走，让我又觉得有点害怕。 
　　有的房间被雪覆盖，所有的动物长着白色的皮毛。有干燥的房间、湿热的房间、森林房间……以及动物、鸟、树，还有花！ 
　　这儿的动物比我所想象的多得多！ 
　　我坐在“嘻嗬”的背上，驴子继续往前走。我们穿过一扇门，进入一个满是千奇百怪的生命的房间。然后，我们穿过另一扇门进入另一个房间。象在做梦一样。在梦中，事物变幻莫测，讲不清道理。就象是那样。 
　　我们回到电脑那儿。我还是不知道该选择哪种动物，机器人也不知道。“嘻嗬”和“呼呜”不明白是怎么回事；它们没有人类这样的智慧。 
　　于是我问电脑。 
　　“看看人类。”电脑说，“人类喜欢和动物玩，找一只喜欢陪人类玩的动物。” 
　　于是我们去看人类。 
　　星际动物园的人不会说话。我坐在地上观察他们，他们在树上玩耍，在池子里游泳，在草地上玩游戏。他们总是在玩乐。 
　　多数其他的动物都不和人玩。但最后我看见有只动物从草地里跑出来玩。它喜欢和人玩！ 
　　那些人和这只动物玩了一个小时。这只动物喜欢和那些人在一起玩。 
　　“你得制造一个那样的动物。”我吩咐机器人。 
　　机器人观察这只动物，抚摸它，上下都做了测量。最后，它准备好了，可以制造一个跟这只动物一样的机器动物。 
　　“你需要用什么制造它？”我问。 
　　“塑料，”机器人回答，“外面我打算用真皮毛。可我需要些金属。我能在哪儿找点金属？” 
　　星际动物园里只有一样东西是用金属做的——电脑！ 
　　电脑让机器人从它的后背上取下两小块金属。 
　　机器人干活儿很快。有时它需要一些专门的工具。于是它就打开自己的肚皮，因为工具是放在身体里边的。 
　　首先，机器人做了一个塑料躯干，外面包上类似皮肤的软塑料。然后它又用皮毛盖住皮肤。 
　　机器人还没有完工我就离开了，因为我担心牛子。我不希望他死。 
　　牛子还是不肯吃喝。但最糟糕的是他还在发狂。他的头脑还是没有好转…… 
　　我想，要是牛子呆在星际动物园，他会死的。 
　　我跟他说话，可他不回答。我知道他想杀死我。他想把所有活的东西都杀死。 
　　机器人完成了工作，把一只小动物给我看。它的样子、声音和玩相都很象真动物。我把它带到电脑那儿。 
　　“好，它和真动物一模一样。”电脑说，“它非常小——是只小动物。”电脑告诉了我它的名字。它检查了这只动物，然后对机器人说：“给它体温。” 
　　这只小动物是冷的。 
　　所以机器人就让它身体象真动物一样温暖。我们准备好了。 
　　机器人让牛子入睡，然后替他穿上太空服，并把他背到飞船上。 
　　我又要离开星际动物园了。我在想，我们的计划能成功吗？出门之前，我回头看了一眼——只有星际动物园才存在生命，银河系其他地方都没有！ 
　　　    


 