foreign [Music] reason half a year later the boys had changed their minds the flame of a giant Sun had given way to the soft Blackness of space but external variations mean little in the business of checking the workings of experimental robots whatever the background one is face to face with an inscrutable positronic brain which the slide rule Geniuses saged at work thus and so except that they don't Powell and Donovan found that out after they'd been on the station less than two weeks Gregory Powell spaced his words for emphasis one week ago Donovan and I put you together is brows for adultly and he pulled the end of his brown mustache it was quiet in the officer's room of solar station number five except for the soft purring of the mighty beam director somewhere Far Below robot qt1 sat immovable the burnished plates of his body gleamed in the luxites and the glowing red of the photoelectric cells that were his eyes were fixed steadily upon the Earth man at the other side of the table Powell repressed a sudden attack of nerves these robots possessed peculiar brains oh the three laws of robotics held they had to all of U.S robots from Robertson himself to the new floor sweeper would insist on that so qt1 was safe and yet the QT models were the first of their kind and this was the first of the cuties mathematical squiggles on paper were not always the most comforting protection against robotic fact finally the robot spoke his voice carried the cold Timbre Inseparable from a metallic diaphragm do you realize the seriousness of such a statement Powell something made you cutie pointed out Powell you admit yourself that your memory seems to Spring full-grown from an absolute blankness of a week ago I'm giving you the explanation Donovan and I put you together from the parts shipped us cutie gazed upon his long Supple fingers in an oddly human attitude of mystification it strikes me that there should be a more satisfactory explanation than that for you to make me seems improbable the Earth then laughed quite suddenly in Earth's name why call it intuition that's all it is so far but I intend to reason it out though a chain of valid reasoning can end only with the determination of Truth and I'll stick till I get there Powell stood up and seated himself at the table's Edge next to the robot he felt a sudden strong sympathy for this strange machine it was not at all like the ordinary robot attending to his specialized task at the station with the intensity of a deeply ingrooved positronic path he placed a hand upon Cutie's steel shoulder and the metal was cold and hard to the touch cutie he said I'm going to try to explain something to you you're the first robot who's ever exhibited curiosity as to his own existence and I think the first that's really intelligent enough to understand the world outside here come with me the robot Rose erect smoothly and his thickly sponge rubber sold feet made no noise as he followed Powell the Earthman touched a button and a square section of the wall thickered aside the thick clear glass revealed space star speckled I've seen that in the observation ports in the engine room said cutie I know said Powell what do you think it is exactly what it seems a black material just beyond this glass that is spotted with little gleaming dots I know that our director sends out beams to some of these dots always to the same ones and also that these dots shift and that the beams shift with them that's all good now I want you to listen carefully the Blackness is emptiness vast emptiness stretching out infinitely the little gleaming dots are a huge masses of energy filled matter there are Globes some of them millions of miles in diameter and for comparison this station is only one mile across they seem so tiny because they are incredibly far off the dots to which our energy beams are directed are nearer and much smaller they are cold and hard and human beings like myself live upon their surfaces many billions of them it is from one of these worlds that Donovan and I come our beams feed these worlds energy drawn from one of those huge incandescent globes that happens to be near us we call that Globe the sun and it is on the other side of the station where you can't see it cutie remained motionless before the port like a steel statue his head did not turn as he spoke which particular dot of light do you claim to come from Powell searched there it is the very bright one in the corner we call it Earth he grinned good old Earth there are three billions of us there cutie and in about two weeks I'll be back there with them and then surprisingly enough cutie hummed abstractedly there was no tune to it but it possessed a curious twanging quality as of plucked strings it ceased as suddenly as it had begun but where do I come in Powell you haven't explained my existence the rest is simple when these stations were first established to feed solar energy to the planet they were run by humans however the heat the hard solar radiations and the electron storms made the post a difficult one robots were developed to replace human labor and now only two human executives are required for each station we are trying to replace even those and that's where you come in you're the highest type of robot ever developed and if you show the ability to run this station independently no human need ever come here again except to bring parts for repairs his hand went up in the metal visilid snapped back into place Powell returned to the table and Polished an apple upon his sleeve before biting into it the red glow of the robot's eyes held him do you expect me said cutie slowly to believe any such complicated implausible hypothesis as you have just outlined what do you take me for Powell's sputtered Apple fragments onto the table and turned red why damn you it wasn't a hypothesis those were facts cutie sounded grim Globes of energy millions of miles across worlds with three billion humans on them infinite emptiness sorry bowel but I don't believe it I'll puzzle this thing out for myself goodbye he turned and stocked out of the room he brushed past Michael Donovan on the threshold with a grave nod and passed down the corridor oblivious to the astounded stare that followed him Mike Donovan rumpled his red hair and shot an annoyed glance at Powell what was that walking junkyard talking about what doesn't he believe the other dragged at his mustache bitterly he's a skeptic was the bitter response he doesn't believe we made him or that Earth exists or space or Stars sizzling Saturn we've got a lunatic robot on our hands he says he's gonna figure it all out for himself well now said Donovan sweetly I do hope he'll condescend to explain it all to me after he's puzzled everything out then with sudden rage listen if that metal mess gives me any lip like that I'll knock that chromium Cranium right off its torso he stated himself with a jerk and Drew a paper-backed mystery novel out of his inner jacket pocket that robot gives me the willies anyway too damned inquisitive Mike Donovan growled from behind a huge lettuce and tomato sandwich as Cutie knocked gently and entered is Powell here Donovan's voice was muffled with pauses for mastication he's Gathering data on the electronic stream functions and we're heading for a storm looks like Gregory Powell entered as he spoke Eyes On The graft paper in his hands and dropped into a chair he spread the sheets out before him and began scribbling calculations Donovan stared over his shoulder crunching lettuce and dribbling breadcrumbs cutie waited silently Powell looked up The Zeta potential is rising but slowly just the same the stream functions are erratic and I don't know what to expect oh Hello Kitty I thought you were supervising the installation of the new Drive bar it's done said the robot quietly and so I've come to have a talk with the two of you oh power looked uncomfortable well sit down no not that chair one of the legs is weak and you're no lightweight the robot did so and said placidly I have come to a decision Donovan gloward and put the remnants of his sandwich aside if it's on any of that screwy the other emotioned impatiently for silence go ahead cutie we're listening I have spent these last two days in concentrated introspection said cutie and the results have been most interesting I began at the one sure assumption I felt permitted to make I myself exist because I think Powell groaned ah Jupiter a robot Descartes who's Descartes demanded Donovan listen do we have to sit here and listen to this metal Maniac keep quiet Mike cutie continued imperturbably and the question that immediately arose was just what is the cause of my existence Powell's Jaws set lumpily you're being foolish I told you already that we made you and if you don't believe us added Donovan we'll gladly take you apart the robot spread his strong hands in a deprecatory gesture I accept nothing on Authority a hypothesis must be backed by reason or else it is worthless and it goes against all the dictates of logic to suppose that you made me Powell dropped a restraining arm upon Donovan's suddenly bunched fist just why do you say that cutie laughed it was a very inhuman laugh the most machine-like utterance he had yet given vent to it was sharp and explosive as regular as a metronome and as uninflected look at you he said finally I say this in no Spirit of contempt but look at you the material you are made of is soft and flabby lacking endurance and strength depending for energy upon the inefficient oxidation of organic material like that he pointed a disapproving finger at what remained of Donovan's sandwich periodically you pass into a coma and the least variation in temperature air pressure humidity or radiation intensity impairs your efficiency you are makeshift I on the other hand am a finished product I absorb electrical energy directly and utilize it with an almost 100 percent efficiency I am composed of strong metal am continuously conscious and can stand extremes of environment easily these are facts which with the self-evident proposition that no being can create another being Superior to itself smashes your silly hypothesis to nothing Donovan's muttered curses Rose into intelligibility as he sprang to his feet Rusty eyebrows drawn low all right you son of a hunk of iron ore if we didn't make you who did cutie nodded Gravely very good Donovan that was indeed the next question evidently my Creator must be more powerful than myself and so there was only one possibility the earthmen looked blank and cutie continued what is the center of activities here in the station what do we all serve what absorbs all our attention he waited expectantly Donovan turned a startled look upon his companion I'll bet this Tim plated screwball is talking about the energy converter itself is that right cutie grin Powell I am talking about the master came the cold sharp answer it was the signal for a roar of laughter from Donovan and Powell himself dissolved into a half-suppressed giggle cutie had risen to his feet and his gleaming eyes passed from one Earth man to the other it is so just the same and I don't wonder that you refuse to believe you two are not long to stay here I'm sure Powell himself said that at first only men served the master that their followed robots for the routine work and finally myself for the executive labor the facts are no doubt true but the explanation entirely illogical do you want the truth behind it all go ahead cutie you're amusing the master created humans first as the lowest type most easily formed gradually he replaced them by robots the next higher step and finally he created me to take the place of the last humans from now on I serve the master he'll do nothing of the sort said Powell sharply you'll follow our orders and keep quiet until we're satisfied that you can run the converter get that the converter not the master if you don't satisfy us you will be dismantled and now if you don't mind you can leave and take this data with you and file it properly cutie accepted the graphs handed him and left without another word Donovan leaned back heavily in his chair and shoved his thick fingers through his hair there's going to be trouble with that robot he's pure nuts [Music] The Drowsy hum of the converter is louder in the control room and mixed with it is the chuckle of the Geiger counters and the erratic buzzing of half a dozen little signal lights Donovan withdrew his eye from the telescope and flashed the luck sites on the beam from station number four caught Mars on schedule we can break ours now Powell nodded abstractedly cuties down in the engine room I'll Flash the signal and he can take care of it look Mike what do you think of these figures the other cocked an eye at them and whistled boy that's what I call gamma ray intensity old Saul is feeling his oats all right yeah was the sour response and we're in a bad position for an electron storm too our Earth beam is right in the probable path he shoved his chair away from the table pettishly nuts if it would only hold off till relief got here but that's 10 days off say Mike go on down and keep an eye on cutie will you okay throw me some of those almonds he snatched at the bag throwing him and headed for the elevator it slid smoothly downward and opened onto a narrow catwalk in the huge engine room Donovan leaned over the railing and looked down the huge generators were in motion and from the L tubes came the low-pitched word that pervaded the entire station he could make out Cutie's large gleaming figure at the Martian El tube watching closely as the team of robots worked in close-knit unison and then Donovan stiffened the robots dwarfed by the mighty L tube lined up before it heads bowed at a stiff angle while cutie walked up and down the line slowly 15 seconds passed and then with a Clank heard above the clamorous purring all about they fell to their knees Donovan squawked and raced down the narrow staircase he came charging down upon them complexion matching his hair and clenched fists beating the air furiously slumped come on get busy with me with L tube if you don't have it apart cleaned and together again before the day is out I'll coagulate your brains with alternating current not a robot moved even cutie at the far end the only one in his feet remained silent eyes fixed upon the gloomy recesses of the vast machine before him Donovan shoved hard against the nearest robot stand up he roared slowly the robot obeyed his photoelectric eyes focused reproachfully upon the Earth man there is no master but the master he said nqt1 is his prophet huh Donovan became aware of 20 pairs of mechanical eyes fixed upon him and 20 stiff-tambered voices declaiming solemnly there is no master but the master and qt1 is his prophet I am afraid put in cutie himself at this point that my friends obey A Higher One than you now the hell they do you get out of here I'll settle with you later and with these animated gadgets right now cutie shook his heavy head slowly I'm sorry but you don't understand these are robots and that means they are reasoning beings they recognize the master now that I have preached truth to them all the robots do they call me the prophet his head drooped I am unworthy but perhaps Donovan located his breath and put it to use is that so now isn't that nice now isn't that just fine just let me tell you something my brass baboon there isn't any master and there isn't any profit and there isn't any question as to who's giving the orders understand his voice shot to a roar now get out I obey only the mess sister damn the master Donovan spat at the old tube that for the master do as I say cutie said nothing nor did any other robot but Donovan became aware of a sudden heightening of tension the cold staring eyes deepened their crimson and cutie seemed stiffer than ever sacrilege he whispered voice metallic with emotion Donovan felt the first sudden Touch of fear as Cutie approached a robot could not feel anger but cuties eyes were unreadable I am sorry Donovan said the robot but you can no longer stay here after this henceforth Powell and you are barred from the control room and the engine room his hand gestured quietly and in a moment two robots had pinned Donovan's arms to his sides Donovan had time for one startled gasp as he felt himself lifted from the floor and carried up the stairs at a pace rather better than a Cantor foreign Powell raced up and down the officer's room fist tightly bald he cast The Look of furious frustration at the closed door and skull bitterly at Donovan why the devil did you have to spit at the Old Tube Mike Donovan sunk deep in his chair slammed at its arms savagely what did you expect me to do with that electrified scarecrow I'm not gonna knuckle under to any Dew I put together myself no came back sourly and here you are in the officer's room with two robots standing guard at the door that's not knuckling under is it Donovan snarled where do we get back to base someone's gonna pay for this those robots must obey us it's the second law what's the use of saying that they aren't obeying us and there's probably some reason for it that we'll figure out too late by the way do you know what's going to happen to us when we get back to base he stopped before Donovan's chair and stared savagely at him what oh nothing just back to Mercury mines for 20 years or maybe serious Penitentiary what are you talking about the electron storm that's coming up do you know it's heading straight dead center across the Earth beam I had just figured that out when that robot dragged me out of my chair Donovan was suddenly pale sizzling Saturn and do you know what's gonna happen to the beam because the storm will be a Lulu it's gonna jump like a flea with the itch with only cutie at the controls it's going to go out of focus and if it does Heaven Help Earth and us Donovan was wrenching at the door wildly when Powell was only half through the door opened and the Earth man shot through to come up hard against an immovable steel arm the robot stared abstractedly at the panting struggling Earth man the prophet orders you to remain please do his arm shoved Donovan reeled backward and as he did so cutie turned the corner at the far end of the corridor he motioned the guardian robots away entered the officer's room and closed the door gently Donovan World on cutie in breathless indignation this has gone far enough you're going to pay for this farce please don't be annoyed replied the robot mildly it was bound to come eventually anyway you see you two have lost your function I beg your pardon Powell Drew himself up stiffly just what do you mean we've lost our function until I was created answer cutie you tended the master that privilege is mine now and your only reason for existence has vanished isn't that obvious not quite replied Powell bitterly but what do you expect us to do now cutie did not answer immediately he remains silent as even thought and then one arm shot out and draped itself about Powell's shoulder the other grasped Donovan's wrist and Drew him closer I like you too your inferior creatures with poor reasoning faculties but I really feel a sort of affection for you you have served the master well and he will reward you for that now that your service is over you will probably not exist much longer but as long as you do you shall be provided food clothing and shelter so long as you stay out of the control room and the engine room he's pensioning us off Greg yell Donovan do something about it it's humiliating look here cutie we can't stand for this we're the bosses this station is only a creation of human beings like me human beings that live on earth and other planets this is only an energy relay you're only ah nuts cutie shook his head Gravely this amounts to an obsession why should you insist so on an absolutely false view of life admitted that non-robots lack the reasoning faculty there is still the problem of his voice died into reflective silence and Donovan said with whispered intensity if you only had a flesh and blood face I would break it in Powell's fingers were in his mustache and his eyes were slitted listen cutie if there is no such thing as Earth how do you account for what you see through a telescope pardon me the Earth man smiled I've got you eh you've made quite a few telescopic observations since being put together cutie have you noticed that several of those specks of light outside become discs when so viewed oh that why certainly it is simple magnification for the purpose of more exact aiming of the beam why aren't the Stars equally magnified then you mean the other dots well no beams go to them so no magnification is necessary really Powell even you ought to be able to figure these things out Powell stared bleakly upward but you see more stars through a telescope where do they come from Jumping Jupiter where do they come from cutie was annoyed listen Powell do you think I'm gonna waste my time trying to pin physical interpretations upon every optical illusion of our instruments since when is the evidence of our senses and a match for the clear light of rigid reason look clamor Donovan suddenly writhing out from undercuties friendly but metal heavy arm let's get to the nub of the thing why the beams at all we're giving you a good logical explanation can you do better the beams was the stiff reply are put out by the master for his own purposes there are some things he raised his eyes devoutly upward that are not to be probed into by us in this matter I seek only to serve and not to question Powell sat down slowly and buried his face in shaking hands get out of here cutie get out and let me think I'll send you food said cutie agreeably a groan was the only answer and the robot left Craig was Donovan's huskily whispered observation this calls for strategy we've gotta get him when he isn't expecting it and short-circuit him concentrated nitric acid in his joints don't be a dope Mike do you suppose he's gonna let us get near him with acid in our hands we've gotta talk to him I tell you we've got to argue him into letting us back into the control room inside of 48 hours or our goose is broiled to a crisp he rocked back and forth in an Agony of impotence who the heck wants to argue with a robot it's it's mortifying Finnish Donovan worse say Donovan laughs suddenly why argue let's show him let's build us another robot right before his eyes he'll have to weed his words then a slowly widening smile appeared on Powell's face Donovan continued and think of that screwball space when he sees us do it robots are of course manufactured on Earth but their shipment through space is much simpler if it can be done in parts to be put together at their place of use it also incidentally eliminates the possibility of robots in complete adjustment wandering off while still on Earth and thus bringing U.S robots face to face with the strict laws against robots on Earth still it placed upon men such as Powell and Donovan the necessity of synthesis of complete robots a Grievous and complicated task Powell and Donovan were never so aware of that fact has upon that particular day when in the assembly room they undertook to create a robot under the watchful eyes of qt1 prophet of the master the robot in question a simple MC model lay upon the table almost complete three hours work left only the head undone and Powell paused to swab his forehead and glanced uncertainly at cutie the glance was not a reassuring one for three hours cutie had sat speechless and motionless and his face inexpressive at all times was now absolutely unreadable power ground let's get the brain in now Mike Donovan uncapped the tightly sealed container and from the oil bath within he withdrew a second Cube opening this in turn he removed the globe from its sponge rubber casing he handled it gingerly for it was the most complicated mechanism ever created by men inside the thin Platinum plated skin of the globe was a positronic brain in whose delicately unstable structure were enforced calculated neuronic paths which imbued each robot with what amounted to a prenatal education it fitted snugly into the cavity in the skull of the robot on the table blue metal closed over it and was welded tightly by the tiny Atomic flare photoelectric eyes were attached carefully screwed tightly into place and covered by Thin transparent sheets of Steel hard plastic the robot awaited only the vitalizing flash of high voltage electricity and power paused with his hand on the switch now watch this cutie watch this carefully the switch rammed home and there was a crackling hum the two worth men bent anxiously over their creation there was vague motion only at the outset a twitching of the joints they had lifted elbows propped it up and the MC models swung clumsily off the table its footing was unsteady and twice abortive grating sounds were all it could do in the direction of speech finally its voice uncertain and hesitant took form I would like to start work where must I go Donovan sprang to the door down these stairs he said you will be told what to do the MC model was gone and the two earthmen were alone with the still unmoving cutie well said Powell grinning now do you believe that we made you Cutie's answer was Kurt and Final no he said Powell's grin froze and then relaxed slowly Donovan's mouth dropped open and remained so you see continued cutie easily you have merely put together Parts already made you did remarkably well Instinct I suppose but you didn't really create the robot the parts were created by the master listen gasped Donovan Horsley those parts were manufactured back on Earth and sent here well well replied cutie soothingly we won't argue no I mean it the Earth man sprang forward and grasped the robot's metal arm if you were to read the books in the library they could explain it so that there could be no possible doubt the books I've read them all of them they're most ingenious power broke in suddenly if you've read them what else is there to say you can't dispute their evidence you just can't there was pity in Cutie's voice please Powell I certainly don't consider them a vital source of information they too were created by the master and were meant for you not for me how do you make that out demanded Powell because I our reasoning being am capable of deducing truth from a priori causes you being intelligent but unreasoning need an explanation of existence supplied to you and this the master did that he supplied you with these laughable ideas of far-off Worlds and people is no doubt for the best your minds are probably too coarsely grained for absolute truth however since it is the Master's will that you believe your books I won't argue with you anymore as he left he turned and said in a kindly tone but don't feel badly in the master scheme of things there is room for all you poor humans have your place and though it is humble you will be rewarded if you fill it well he departed with a beatific Heir suiting the prophet of the master and the two humans avoided each other's eyes finally Powell spoke with an effort let's go to bed Mike I give up Donovan said in a hushed voice say Craig you don't suppose he's right about all this do you he sounds so confident that I power world on him don't be a fool you'll find out whether Earth exists when relief gets here next week and we have to go back to face the music then for the love of Jupiter we've got to do something Donovan was half in tears he doesn't believe us or the books or his eyes no said Powell bitterly he's a reasoning robot damn it he believes only reason and there's one trouble with that his voice trailed away what's that prompted Donovan you can prove anything you want by coldly logical reason if you pick the proper postulates we have ours and cutie has his then let's get at those postulates in a hurry the storm's due tomorrow 's side wearily that's where everything falls down postulates are based on assumption and adhered to by faith nothing in the universe can shake them I'm going to bed oh hell I can't sleep neither can I but I might as well try as a matter of principle 12 hours later sleep was still just that a matter of principle unattainable in practice the storm had arrived ahead of schedule and Donovan's florid face drained of blood as he pointed a shaking finger Powell stubble jawed and dry lipped stared out the port and pulled desperately at his mustache under other circumstances it might have been a beautiful sight the stream of high-speed electrons impinging upon the energy beam flourished into Ultra spicules of intense light the beams stretched out into shrinking nothingness a glitter with dancing shining Moats the shaft of energy was steady but the two Earth men knew the value of naked eyed appearances deviations in Arc of a hundredth of a millisecond invisible to the eye were enough to send the beam wildly out of focus enough to blast hundreds of square miles of Earth into incandescent ruin and a robot unconcerned with beam Focus or Earth or anything but his master was at the controls hours passed the Earth men watched in hypnotized silence and then the darting dotlets of light dimmed and went out the storm had ended Powell's voice was flat it's over Donovan had fallen into a troubled Slumber and Powell's weary eyes rested upon him enviously the signal flash glared over and over again but the Earth man paid no intention it was all unimportant all perhaps cutie was right and he was only an inferior being with a made-to-order memory and a life that had outlived its purpose he wished he were cutie was standing before him you didn't answer the flash so I walked in his voice was low you don't look at all well and I'm afraid your term of existence is drawing to an end still would you like to see some of the readings recorded today dimly Powell was aware that the robot was making a friendly gesture perhaps to quiet some lingering remorse in forcibly replacing the humans at the controls of the station he accepted the sheets held out to him and gazed at them unseeingly cutie seemed pleased of course it is a great privilege to serve the master you mustn't feel too badly about my having replaced you power grunted and shifted from one sheet to the other mechanically until his blurred site focused Upon A Thin Red Line that wobbled its way across the ruled paper he stared and stayed again he gripped it hard in both fists and Rose to his feet still staring the other sheets dropped to the floor unheeded bike Mike he was shaking the other madly he held it steady Donovan came to life what who where and he too gazed with bulging eyes upon the record before him cutie broke in what is wrong you kept it in Focus stuttered bowel did you know that Focus what's that you kept the beam directed sharply at the receiving station to within a ten thousandths of a millisecond of Arc what receiving station on Earth the receiving station on Earth babbled Powell your captain in focus cutie turned on his heel in annoyance it is impossible to perform any act of kindness toward you too always the same Phantasm I merely kept all dials at equilibrium in accordance with the will of the master Gathering the scattered papers together he withdrew stiffly and Donovan said as he left well I'll be damned he turned to Powell what are we going to do now owl felt tired but uplifted nothing he's just shown he can run the station perfectly I've never seen an electron storm handled so well but nothing solved you heard what he said of the master we can't look Mike he follows the instructions of the master by means of dials instruments and graphs that's all we ever followed as a matter of fact it accounts for his refusal to obey us obedience is the second law no harm to humans is the first how can he keep humans from harm whether he knows it or not why by keeping the energy beam stable he knows he can keep it more stable than we can since he insists he's the superior being so he must keep us out of the control room it's inevitable if you consider the laws of robotics sure but that's not the point we can't let him continue this nitwit stuff about the master why not because whoever heard of such a damn thing how are we gonna trust him with the station if he doesn't believe in Earth can he handle the station yes but then what's the difference what he believes Powell spread his arms outward with a vague smile upon his face and tumbled backward onto the bed he was asleep Powell was speaking while struggling into his lightweight space jacket it would be a simple job he said you can bring in new QT models one by one equip them with an automatic shut off switch to act within the week so as to allow them enough time to learn the cult of the master from the prophet himself then switch them to another station and Revitalize them we could have two qts per Donovan unclasped his glass-it visor and scowled shut up and let's get out of here relief is waiting and I won't feel right until I actually see Earth and feel the ground under my feet just to make sure it's really there the door opened as he spoke and Donovan with a smothered curse clicked the visor too and turned a sulky back up on cutie the robot approached softly and there was sorrow in his voice you are going Powell nodded curtly there will be others in our place Cutie's side with the sound of wind humming through closely spaced wires your term of service is over and the time of dissolution has come I expected it but well the Masters will be done his tone of resignation stung Powell save this sympathy cutie we're heading for earth not dissolution it is best that you think so cuties side again I see the wisdom of the illusion now I would not attempt to shake your faith even if I could he Departed picture of commiseration Powell snarled and motioned to Donovan sealed suitcases in hand they headed for the airlock the relief ship was on the outer landing and Franz Mueller his relief man greeted them with stiff courtesy Donovan made scant acknowledgment and passed into the pilot room to take over the controls from Sam Evans towel lingered how's Earth it was a conventional enough question and Mueller gave the conventional answer still spinning bow said good Muller looked at him the boy is back at you as robots have dreamed up a new one by the way a multiple robot a what I said there's a big contract for it it must be just a thing for asteroid mining you have a master robot with six sub-robots under it like your fingers has it been field tested asked Powell anxiously Mueller smiled waiting for you I hear Powell's fist bold damn it we need a vacation oh you'll get it two weeks I think he was starting the heavy space clubs in preparation for his term of Duty here and his thick eyebrows Drew close together how is this new robot getting along it better be good or I'll be damned if I let it touch the controls Powell paused before answering his eyes swept the proud Prussian before him from the close-cropped hair on the sternly stubborn head to the feet standing stiffly at attention and there was a sudden glow of pure gladness surging through him the robot is pretty good he said slowly I don't think you'll have to bother much with the controls he grinned and went into the ship Mueller would be here for several weeks