The Robot straightened and said, "I can resist him. I feel it. Some day I will break loose."
"But his vibrations--the vibrations of his thoughts--even now I can feel them. They made my mechanism too sensitive. I cannot resist Tugh."
There was a silence. I stared at the Robot's motionless frame. What electrical, mechanical thoughts were passing within that metal skull! What emotions, what strange struggle, what warfare of nameless etheric vibrations of will power were taking place unseen beneath that inert exterior!
Perhaps something snapped. Migul said suddenly, "I am beyond control! At last I am beyond control!"
The ray cylinder lowered to point at the floor. A wild thought swept me that I could snatch it. But of what use would that be? Its ray would decompose all human flesh, but it would not harm a Robot; and if I startled Migul, fought with him in the confines of this narrow room, he would kill Mary and me in a moment.
Mary was gripping me. "Don't move, George!" she cautioned; then turned again to the Robot. "I am glad, Migul. Now you are truly human. And we are all friends here, because we all hate and fear Tugh--"
I could feel Mary trembling with the strain of all this. But she had the strength to muster a laugh.
"Don't you fear him--just a little, Migul? We do. Fear is a human thing."
"Of course you do," I put in. "And the real truth, Migul, is I wish he were dead. Don't you?"
"Well, sit down," I persisted. "Put that weapon away: I'm afraid of that, too. Sit down and we will talk about Tugh's death."
The Robot placed the weapon on the floor, disconnected the wires, opened the plate of its chest and took out the small battery. And then it squatted its awkward bulk on the floor before us. Gruesome conference, with this huge mechanical thing apeing the ways of a man!
I knew that haste was necessary, but did not dare show it. Above everything we must not be precipitate; not startle the Robot. At worst, if Tugh should return, I could seize this weapon at my feet and turn it upon him.
I murmured to Mary. "You did it! Let me plan something, now. If Migul can lead us...."
I added, "Migul, could you follow Tugh? He said he was going to talk to the Robot leaders. And then, probably, he went to Princess Tina. Could you follow him to where he is now?"