"You mean you cannot? Your orders do not make it possible?" "No, I will not." And, as though it considered my understanding insufficient, it added, "I do not choose to tell." Acting of its own volition! This thing--this machinery--was so perfect it could do that! I steadied my voice. "Oh, but I think I know. Is it Tugh who controls you?" That expressionless metal face! How could I hope to surprise it? Mary was struggling to repress her terror. She raised herself upon an elbow. I met her gaze. "George, I'll try," she announced. She said firmly: "You will not hurt me?" "No." "Nor my friend here?" "What is his name?" "George Rankin." She stammered it. "You will not harm him?" "No. Not now." "Ever?" "I am not decided." She persisted, by what effort of will subduing her terror I can well imagine. "Where did you go when you left me in 1935?" "Back to your home in 1777. I have something to accomplish there. I was told that you need not see it. I failed. Soon I shall try again. You may see it if you like." "Where are you taking us?" I put in. Irony was in its answer. "Nowhere. You both speak wrongly. We are always right here." "We know that," I retorted. "To what Time are you taking us, then?" "To this girl's home," it answered readily. "To 1777?" "Yes." "To the same night from when you captured her?" "Yes." It seemed willing to talk. It added, "To later that night. I have work to do. I told you I failed, so I try again." "You are going to leave me--us--there?" Mary demanded. "No." I said. "You plan to take us, then, to what Time?" "I wanted to capture the girl. You I did not want. But I have you, so I shall show you to him who was my master. He and I will decide what to do with you." "When?" "In 2930." * * * * * There was a pause. I said, "Have you a name?" "Yes. On the plate of my shoulder. Migul is my name." I made a move to rise. If I could reach that row of buttons on its chest! Wild thoughts! The Robot said abruptly, "Do not move! If you do, you will be sorry." I relaxed. Another nameless time followed. I tried to see out the window, but there seemed only formless blurs. I said. "To when have we reached?" The Robot glanced at a row of tiny dials along the table edge. "We are passing 1800. Soon, to the way it will seem to you, we will be there. You two will lie quiet. I think I shall fasten you." It reared itself upon its stiff legs; the head towered nearly to the ceiling of the cage. There was a ring fastened in the floor near us. The Robot clamped a metal band with a stout metal chain to Mary's ankle. The other end of the chain it fastened to the floor ring. Then it did the same thing to me. We had about two feet of movement. I realized at once that, though I could stand erect, there was not enough length for me to reach any of the cage controls. "You will be safe," said the Robot. "Do not try to escape."