Browsing Dakota translation

23.

There was a big robot and a little being on it. Hoborg realized that these folks would pass him if he did not act quickly so he took off his belt from around his waist and made a lasso. He figured that it still was not long enough to reach this passing land mass, so in act of desperation he gouged a chunk of his chest out and rolled it into a great snake that extended the end of his belt. This contraption was long enough to lasso the land, which halted when the cord went taut. The big robot pointed to Hoborg's chest and said, ''Meeee Bil. Meeee Bil.''

24.

Hoborg waved and answered, ''Meeee Hoborg. I am Hoborg.''

25.

The smaller being (slightly smaller than Hoborg, but one fiftieth the size of Bil) pointed to Hoborg's chest and said, ''Me think hims pointing your torso, big ouch!''

26.

Hoborg had not realized that his guts were oozing out of the large fissure he had created in his chest. ''Good Quater! What am I going to do?''

27.

The small being took off his own belt and instructed Bil to carry him down to where Hoborg was. The being jumped into Bil's hand and he walked over to where Hoborg sat, about to pass-out. ''Me Willie,'' the stranger said as he tied his belt over Hoborg's chest, clamping the severed sections together, and closing up the self-inflicted injury.

28.

Hoborg placed his hand on Willie's shoulder, ''Hello, Willie, I am Hoborg and you just saved my life!''

29.

Willie did not seem to acknowledge this statement. Hoborg figured Willie was not altogether sane, but he was grateful just the same.

30.

After a few days of rest, Hoborg decided it was best to continue on his journey. Hoborg asked Bil and Willie if they wanted to join him. Bil just said, ''Meeeeeee Bil. Meeeee Bil,'' and Willie mumbled a bunch of gibberish to himself.

31.

Hoborg liked their company, but he figured that they did not want to come along so he tearfully said good-bye. Hoborg was surprised to find that when he walked, Bil and Willie followed him. Hoborg did not question them, he just grew happy inside and continued toward the Klay.

32.

Big Robot Bil (Hoborg found out his full name because it was engraved on the back of his foot) proved most useful for carrying Willie and Hoborg and the little red-roofed house over canyons too steep to climb. Hoborg noticed, while being carried by Big Robot Bil, that Bil's chest had a switch inside it marked ''good'' at the present setting and ''bad'' on the other setting. Hoborg dared not find out what the ''bad'' setting did, but he thought it must be a poorly thought-out attempt at dealing with the same problems he had when he was planning the making of beings that were capable of doing right and wrong.