The Wild Robot Escapes: Chapters 1–23

Clouds of dust billowed up behind the truck as it drove past fields and fences.

In the hazy distance, enormous barns loomed above the plains.

But this one was smaller and shabbier than the rest. Out front was a crooked sign that read Hilltop Farm.

You might remember her old life on a remote, wild island.

They meandered up the driveway and romped around with their dog until they noticed Roz.

“A robot!” said the girl, running up.
“It’s about time we got one,” said the boy.
“She’s refurbished,” said the man.

“She’s the cheapest one I could find, but she’ll make a decent farmer.”

A fence lined this part of the driveway, and behind the fence was a sprawling, rolling pasture, lush with tall grass and a few leafy trees, where a herd of cows was grazing.

A fence lined this part of the driveway, and behind the fence was a sprawling, rolling pasture, lush with tall grass and a few leafy trees, where a herd of cows was grazing.

Broken-down farm machines and piles of junk were strewn across the grounds.

The creature marched down the center aisle, her footsteps echoing through the cavernous space, until she found an empty corner.

In the wilderness, I camouflaged my body to survive. In the robot factory I camouflaged my personality to survive. I pretended to be a perfectly normal robot.

The Drone was a small flying machine with a special camera attached to its underside.

Roz was more content than she had ever expected to be. Most of her time was spent outdoors, with animals, under the wide-open sky. Even while laboring in the fields she could always stop to smell the flowers, look up at the clouds, feel the cool air drifting out from the trees.

Some flocks choose to fly early in the season, others straggle far behind. And it was one of those straggling flocks that caught the attention of our robot.

The robot slumped with disappointment.

Roz belonged with her son and her friends on her island. She was determined to find her way back there, but how?

A minute later, Jad ran in, flushed and out of breath.

She heard a grunt, and the sounds of hay bales being shoved aside.

Her only chance of ever returning home was if Jaya and Jad could find it in their hearts to help her escape. But this was a delicate situation. If Roz tried too hard, the children might say something to their father. If she didn’t try hard enough, she might be stuck on that farm forever.

Cows grazed in the pasture.

Wind rustled through the tall grass.

Children romped around with their dog.

Crows cawed from the fields like a gang of hecklers.

“You must hate your new life,” said Annabelle. “I can’t say that I blame you. Farming looks like such grueling work.”

The farm machines powered along, doing their jobs as usual, but they needed to be maintained and monitored. Eventually, the machines started breaking down, and the farm started falling to pieces.

Up from the ground emerged native weeds, flowers, woody brambles.

But then some creatures came skulking around who were not helpful at all.

And then she found the carcass. A deer had recently been killed and eaten.

Any minute now, he would hobble out to his truck and come racing down the driveway to check on her.

It wasn’t long before Roz found more signs of trouble. Furry faces poking out from the bushes. Musky smells lingering in the fields.

Seven beastly shapes bounded over the fence and into the pasture.

She was a big animal, but the wolves knew what to do. They kept biting her, kept taunting her, kept wearing her down.

The robot activated her headlights, and shafts of light beamed out from her eyes.

“Of course I’ll be okay,” the cow panted. “I’m old, but I’m feisty. Those wolves don’t scare me.”