"There's nothing that can stick him, but if, by accident, something sharp had gotten in his bed and if he were also hungry, he would sound like this." The Sitta hunched down and swiveled its head, giving an imitation. "You see? I do nothing but watch babies. It's built into me." Inside the house, the child's tone changed, became querulous, listening. Interrogatively, it offered a single yowl. "My analysis was correct. It wanted attention. The parents left so hurriedly, they forgot to give me permission. When I didn't come to investigate, the child stop--" The wail burst forth with renewed vigor. The robot rotated its head and the alert look flashed on and off. It stuttered, "I know w-what I'm doing. But I--I can tell only what has happened to my charge, n-never what _will_!" The Sitta rumbled bewilderedly. "Anticipation is beyond my capacity. The child _is_ hurt and hungry. Please come in and help me." Triumphantly, Amantha followed the robot into the house toward the nursery. She whispered to Ethan, "Sittas ain't smart. I reckon he never heard a bunch of babies together. If one cries, they all do." The Sitta barred the path. "You seem sincere and are obviously an expert. But before you go in, understand this--attempt no harm to the being in there. I'm linked." "You'll be unlinked if you don't stop acting balky," warned Amantha. She ducked under his arm and darted toward the crib. "By linked, I mean that if anything happens that I require aid to handle, an alarm rings in Sittas Circle and help is on the way. Meanwhile, I can put out fires or carry him unharmed through concrete walls." "Go ahead, run through a wall," invited Amantha abstractly, snatching up the child. "The darling's wet, too. Fetch me a diaper." The robot fetched at her command. And when the child was quiet, even cooing, but with a sharp undertone of protest, Amantha settled back. "Now we've got to feed him." "They didn't give me special instructions and I can't originate. If you hadn't come, I'd have had to contact a doctor." Amantha handed the child to Ethan. "You hold him." She went into the kitchen. Ethan tossed the child up. "Here we go," he bellowed. "Free fall. Got to start early to make a spaceman out of you." The Sitta stared at them, puzzled, as the infant shrieked with fear or joy. "Now if only Jimmy was here to see us," said Ethan, grinning proudly. Jimmy didn't come back soon enough. The police arrived first. * * * * * Ethan wandered to the window. The ground was far below. He didn't want to think of what was outside the door. "Don't mind jail myself--been in a few." He looked at Amantha. "Just for raising hell. Never thought I'd be responsible for putting _you_ behind bars." [Illustration] "It wasn't you," said Amantha, her back straightening. "Curious about it myself." Wisps of hair straggled over her face. "I mean why didn't we think of it on Mars? Didn't we know what they'd do?"