What's this about slippers?" Stephanie's mom said, walking in." Dad's just saying he could never lead the resistance against a robot army because he wears slippers."" This is very true," her mum said." Then it's decided," Stephanie's father said. "When the robot army makes itself known, I will be one of the first traitors to sell out the human race."" Wow," said Stephanie." Now that's an about-turn," said her mum." It's the only way," said her dad. "I have to make sure my family survives. The two of you and that other one, the small one--""Alice."" That's her. You're all that matter to me. You're all I care about. I will betray the human race so that the robot army spares you. And then later, I will betray you so that the robot army spares me. It's a dangerous ploy, but someone has to be willing to take the big risks, and I'll be damned if I'm about to let anyone else gamble with my family's future."" You're so brave," Stephanie's mum said." I know," said her dad, and then quieter, "I know.

The Dying of the Light