“By presenting the humanoid shape,” Suzi was saying, “I am able to draw the ore scout’s attention and activate its attack pattern. Then, by removing the image, I am able to effectively disappear as a target. Apparently the scout is directed to search for the target for a given period of time before resuming its pursuit of the sand crawler. The periodic interruptions in my transmission occur when the scout starts to abandon its search, thereby making it necessary to display the target once more. Excuse me.”

It occurred to Hosato that Suzi was flirting with disaster. The slicer would destroy her completely if it touched her even once. If she were slow in turning, or…

“Suzi!” he said desperately. “Do you know if the central computer has a learning capacity. If it does, a repeated pattern could be detected and the target image changed.”

“That’s right!” Rick supplied. “The computer does have that capacity.”

“Even if that capacity exists,” Suzi’s reply came, “in my opinion it has not received sufficient data to effect such a change.”

A warning bell went off in Hosato’s mind. Something that had been drilled into his head time and time again during his training.

“Suzi!” he warned. “Never underestimate your opponent. Don’t make plans that hinge on his incompetence or inability to react.”

There was no response.

“Suzi?” he repeated.

“We’re out of range now,” Rick said over his shoulder.

“Suzi. Status check!”

Silence.

“Shall I stop and wait for the robot?” Rick asked.

Hosato didn’t reply.

“I said, shall I—”

“No,” said Hosato, his hand holding the silent radio dropping listlessly to his side. “There’s no use waiting. Push on for Ravensteel.”

“We’ve got to stop them!”

Sasha’s delirious meanings from the crew area echoed Hosato’s own thoughts.

“That’s an interesting story, Hosato.”

The Ravensteel security chief’s tone matched his indolent sprawl in the office chair.

Hosato’s alarm and annoyance with the situation grew. Something was wrong. He had realized that when their arrival at Ravensteel was met by armed guards, guards who had not lowered their weapons when Hosato announced who he was and his affiliation with Ravensteel.

“That’s my report,” he corrected. “If you’ll get in touch with one of the executives in charge of this mission, I’ll be glad to repeat it for him.”

“I’ve already contacted those parties.” The man smiled. “They’ve delegated full authority in this matter to me.”

Hosato was suddenly aware again of the armed guard standing behind his chair. “Very well, then,” he said with forced casualness. “What else do you want to know?”

The man, Gedge, leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. “You could start by explaining what it is you want from Ravensteel.”

Hosato was stunned by the statement. “I… I don’t understand,” he managed at last.

“Oh, come now, Hosato.” Gedge winked knowingly. “What are you after, really. More money?”

Hosato reminded himself again of the guard and held his temper in check.

“Actually,” he said levelly, “I had the ridiculous idea Ravensteel might be interested in helping. It would be in their best interest, you know.”

Gedge’s gaze never wavered, and neither did his smile.

“Ravensteel is interested only in pleasing its customers and its stockholders,” he recited.

“All of whom are human,” Hosato supplied. “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. The robots are killing all humans—women, children, everybody. I don’t see any reason why Ravensteel would be exempted, unless…”

A thought suddenly occurred to him. This man was far too unruffled and sure of himself.

“unless Ravensteel is controlling them,” he finished thoughtfully.

Gedge dropped his eyes and chuckled to himself.

“Hosato,” he said, reestablishing eye contact, “you’re really quite amusing. Now, tell me, what are we supposed to be controlling them to do?”

Hosato’s anger flashed'. Tve been telling you!” he snarled. “To—”

“—run amok and kill people,” Gedge interrupted'. That’s right, I keep forgetting.”

His eyes hardened, and he half-rose from his desk as he glared at Hosato. “I keep forgetting because it isn’t true. Mc. Crae Enterprises is functioning today as normally as it was yesterday and the day before.”

“What?” Hosato exclaimed.

“That’s right, Hosato. We checked your story, ridiculous as it was. Mc. Crae is taking orders, making shipments, and conducting tours just like they always have.”

“But that’s impossible!”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Gedge smiled. “At the very least, it makes a rather substantial contradiction to your story.”

“Wait a minute,” Hosato began excitedly. “It’s the robots. It’s got to be. Has anyone human from Mc. Crae been in contact with the outside world since yesterday?”

“As a matter of fact, we tried. Would you like to see the tapes?”

Gedge keyed a reference number into his desk-robot and swiveled the viewscreen so Hosato could watch. The very human features of a uniformed Mc-. Crae security guard blinked into view.

“Security,” the face said briskly.

“Gedge from Ravensteel here,” came Gedge’s voice. “Let me talk with Sasha.”

“She is unavailable,” the guard responded. “May I be of assistance?”

“Perhaps,” Gedge’s voice continued smoothly. “One of our ore scouts malfunctioned and got away from us. The last time we saw it, it was headed your way. We’d like permission to cross over onto your property and reclaim it.”

“Under no circumstances are Ravensteel personnel allowed on Mc. Crae property,” the guard recited. “We will conduct a search of our own and notify you of the results.”

“I want to talk to Sasha,” Gedge insisted stubbornly. “She’d let us—”

“She is on a priority mission at this time,” the guard interrupted. “Until her return, I am in temporary command. Mc. Crae rules are very specific on the point of trespassers. We will conduct our own search, and if any Ravensteel personnel are found on Mc. Crae property, they will be fired on as saboteurs.”

The screen blinked out as the guard broke the connection.

“That doesn’t prove anything,” Hosato insisted. “You know as well as I do, transmissions and displays can be phonied electronically. Hell, Suzi could do that!”

“Who. Oh, yes, your robot. Well, I don’t know much about that. Your people were always better than us at radios and transistors and stuff like that.”

The casual dismissal in his voice gave more impact to the racial slur than would have been gained with sarcasm.

“But what it comes down to, Hosato, is, I don’t believe your cock-and-bull story. More importantly, neither does the executive board. We think you sold out to Mc. Crae.”

A tiny spark of fear replaced Hosato’s anger. He began to wonder if he would be alive at the end of his meeting.

“How am I supposed to have sold out?” he asked quietly.

“You’re good, Hosato. I’ll admit that. A specialist.” Gedge waved a casual hand at Hosato’s gear and weapons arrayed on his desk. “Did you know that any one of a dozen on my team would have tried your mission. For no extra pay. No, you probably wouldn’t. You’re the outside specialist they went to instead.”

Hosato was about to repeat his question, then held his silence.

“Fifteen thousand with no results guaranteed.” Gedge shook his head in mock admiration. “I don’t mind admitting, Hosato, I’d be willing todo nothing for a lot less than that.”

He laughed at his own joke before continuing.

“So there you were, no loyalties to Ravensteel, no career to worry about, nothing to inspire you to finish the mission except more money. Now, the Mc. Crae security system is tight, maybe the best except for ours. There’s no way you could crack that system without risking your life, and with fifteen thousand in your packet, why should you?”