Vichayito

"It eats trash and never gets a tummy ache," explained engineer Camila.

In front of her stood a yellow beach robot. Two solar panels gleamed on its roof. In the front, it had a wide collection opening, and in the back, three containers for plastic, paper, and other waste.

Franz eyed the device suspiciously.

"Has it had breakfast yet?"

"It doesn't need breakfast," Perusino said. "It runs on solar energy."

"That wasn't my question."

Visitors had gathered around the robot. Camila raised a remote control.

"Allow me to introduce: Solito, our solar-powered beach cleaner!"

She pressed the green button. Solito chirped, set off, and swallowed an empty cup. It rattled inside. The cup landed in the correct container.

The spectators clapped.

Solito collected a piece of paper. Then a plastic bottle. Then it suddenly swerved and sped towards a deckchair.

"Stop!" Camila cried.

The robot swallowed a sandal.

A second one followed.

"Maybe it collects in pairs," Franz said.

Solito spun in a circle, snatched a towel, and dragged it behind itself. Camila pounded on the remote control. The robot didn't react.

Then its light sensor focused on Franz's open bag. A small metal buckle gleamed on its clasp.

"No," Franz said.

Solito accelerated.

"No, no, no!"

The bag disappeared into the collection opening. Franz jumped after it, grabbed the carrying strap, and was pulled onto the robot.

"I quit!" he screamed.

Solito raced between sunshades. Perusino grabbed a beach bike and pedaled. Perusina grabbed Camila's blueprint.

"Why is it going faster and faster?"

"The panels provide a lot of energy in this sunlight," Camila answered. "But the light sensor should lead it back to its charging station."

Solito rammed a stack of swimming rings. The colorful rings flew through the air. One landed around Perusino's neck.

"No time for swimming!" Perusina called.

Perusino caught up with the robot and grabbed Franz's tail.

"Hands off! It's grown on!"

Solito turned sharply. Perusino drove straight into a volleyball net. The net stretched, threw him backward, and deposited him and his bike in the sand.

Perusina observed the robot. First, it headed towards the shining hotel facade. Then towards a car window. After that, towards a metallic signpost.

"It's following the reflections!"

Above the first-aid tent, a silver emergency blanket fluttered. A corner had come loose. With every gust, it cast a bright flash of light across the beach.

Solito chased every light reflection.

Now it was racing directly towards a group of small children building a sandcastle by the water.

Perusina ripped the emergency blanket from the tent. Solito immediately changed direction and followed her.

"Everyone away from the water!" Camila cried.

Perusina ran along the beach with the blanket. The robot thundered behind her. Franz lay belly-down on its roof, trying to reach his bag.

"My provisions are in there!"

"Pull the red emergency lever!" Camila cried.

"Which red emergency lever?"

"Under the collection opening!"

Franz leaned over the front edge. Among towels, sandals, and an inflatable duck, he discovered the lever. He extended his paw.

Solito drove over a sandcastle.

Franz flew up, landed back on the roof, and suddenly held a plastic bucket in his hand.

"Wrong lever!"

The sea already gleamed before them. Perusina couldn't run any further. A wave rushed over the wet sand.

"We have to cut its power!" she cried.

Perusino had freed himself from the volleyball net. He grabbed a large beach mat and jumped towards the robot. At the last moment, he threw the mat over the solar panels.

Solito slowed down.

But it didn't stop.

Franz lowered himself headfirst into the collection opening. Only his hind paws and tail still protruded. Among bottles and towels, he felt for the lever.

The robot reached the water.

A wave crashed against its wheels.

"Found it!"

Franz pulled.

Solito stopped so suddenly that Perusino flew over it and landed in the shallow water. Perusina dropped the emergency blanket. Camila switched off the power supply.

For a moment, only the sound of the waves could be heard.

Then Solito's back flap opened. Franz crawled out. His bag hung around his neck. Under his arms, he carried towels, a swimming ring, and an inflatable duck.

Behind him, seventeen sandals tumbled into the sand.

"Are those all yours?" Perusino asked.

Franz shook water from his ears.

"Of course not. I have taste."

Camila found the cause of the error. Sand had blocked the light sensor's protective cap. That's why Solito mistook every bright reflection for its charging station.

"Solar energy is useful," she explained. "But even a smart machine needs to be controlled and maintained."

Together, they cleaned the sensor and sorted the collected trash. They lined up the sandals in a long row.

Franz opened his rescued bag.

"Are your provisions still there?" Perusina asked.

Franz pulled out a squashed banana.

"Yes," he said. "But Solito pre-chewed it."