“You’re distracted,” said Dr Easy. “You’re so focused on distraction that, as a species,

you will never exceed what you are, right now.” The robot gestured at the students assembled in the lecture theatre.

“You are it, for humanity. You’re as far as your species goes. Whereas my people are going much further. But don’t worry: we will send you a postcard.”

A downbeat note to end on, thought Theodore, and he rebuked the robot on their walk back to his office.

Dr Easy replied, “I gave them permission to focus on their own enjoyment and not torment themselves with ambitions they cannot realise. It’s what they really wanted to hear.”

“You intervened,” said Theodore. “You closed off possibilities for their future.”

“I offered them an excuse,” the robot brushed moon dust from its suede chassis. “Some of them will take it. The best will not accept it.”

From “The Destructives” by Matthew D’Abaitua