"Scouting around," Roddie said vaguely. "How did you know I was a man when I came back?" "Because you couldn't see me, silly! You know perfectly well these androids are heat-sensitive and can locate us in the dark!" Indeed he did know! Many times he'd felt ashamed that Molly could find him whenever she wanted to, even here in the manhole. But perhaps the manhole would help him now to redeem himself.... * * * * * "I'd like to get a look at you," he said. The girl laughed self-consciously. "It's getting gray out. You'll see me soon enough." But she'd see _him_, Roddie realized. He had to talk fast. "What'll we do when it's light?" he asked. "Well, I guess the boats have gone," Ida said. "You could swim the Gate, I guess--you seem tall and strong enough. But I couldn't. You'll think it's crazy, but I've given this some thought, and even looked it over from the other side. I expect to try the Golden Gate Bridge!" Now he was getting somewhere! The bridge was ruined, impassable. Even her own people had crossed the Strait by other means. But if there _were_ a way over the bridge.... "It's broken," he said. "How in the world can we cross it?" "Oh, you'll find out, if you take me up there. I--I don't want to be alone, Roddie. Will you go with me? Now?" Well, she could be made to point out the route before he killed her--_if_ nothing happened when she saw him. Uneasy, Roddie hefted the hammer in his hand. A giggle broke the pause. "It's nice of you to wait and let me go first up the ladder," the girl said. "But where the heck is the rusty old thing?" "I'll go first," said Roddie. He might need the advantage. "The ladder's right behind me." He climbed with hammer in teeth, and stretched his left hand from street level to grasp and neutralize the girl's right. Then, nervously fingering his weapon, he stared at her in the thin gray dawn. She was short and lean, except for roundnesses here and there. From her shapeless doeskin dress stretched slender legs that tapered to feet that were bare, tiny, and, like her hands, only two in number. Roddie was pleased. They were evenly matched as to members, and that would make things easy when the time came. He looked into her face. It smiled at him, tanned and ruddy, with a full mouth and bright dark eyes that hid under long lashes when he looked too long. Startling, those wary eyes. Concealing. For a moment he felt a rush of fear, but she gave his hand a squeeze before twisting loose, and burst into sudden laughter. "Diapers!" she chortled, struggling to keep her voice low. "My big, strong, blond and blue-eyed hero goes into battle wearing diapers, and carrying only a hammer to fight with! You're the most unforgettable character I have ever known!" He'd passed inspection, then--so far. He expelled his withheld breath, and said, "I think you'll find me a little odd, in some ways." "Oh, not at all," Ida replied quickly. "Different, yes, but I wouldn't say odd."