"In the period between my disassembly as two separate entities, and my arrival here and subsequent reassembly as a single sentience, the machinations of my kind were under prearranged plan, driven by their own limited ability. You understand; I consider--and rightly--that these lesser machines are to me as a trained animal is to the human. During this interval, both Harry Vinson and Narina Varada were capable of circumventing the plans I designed for them. At the present time, both of them have escaped--and not long before I was finally re-assembled, they succeeded in completely removing the control I had over the flying boat in which they escaped. In fact," said the machine almost ruefully, "I had no chance to exert control. In parts, I was as helpless as any human might be when cut into pieces." "Good. On the other hand, any man should be able--" "Don't be ridiculous," said the machine. "Man's mind is a mire of irrationality and illogic. Again and again your finest logic becomes worthless, for it is based upon irrational premises, and you are unaware of this. When your logic works upon rational assumptions, the results are often excellent; but you constantly defeat yourselves because you try to build solid structures on shadowy foundations. My plans have gone well despite the combined minds of men--even when I was unable to direct. Only Harry Vinson and Narina Varada succeeded in having their will against my more rational logic." "Superior, aren't you?" sneered Jason Charless. "Not at all. I know my ability to the nth degree and possess no false modesty. I am also aware of my limitations--and I must study my circumventors." Jason Charless thought this over silently. Harry and Narina had something that the machine lacked, some factor that the machine needed. As a simple adding machine cannot be made to compute in higher mathematics, so this monstrous machine must be incomplete until the missing abilities were added. It struck Charless that Narina Varada and Harry Vinson must--at all cost--be kept from the presence of the machine-- "Whatever their actions, it will be but a matter of time. I would prefer that I study them, however, and this means that they must be alive. So the sooner the better. Do as I tell you; go aloft where you will find an aircraft ready to fly. Take it and tell your people and explain. Then have them send me Narina Varada and Harry Vinson." Charless believed this to be a trick, and he was suspicious until he was in the plane and far away. 5 Harry Vinson looked at the tiny grayish metal block and shook his head. "You name it," he said to the girl. Narina leaned against the bulkhead, her slender feet braced against the gentle swell of the sea. "I cannot," she said. Vinson combed the myriad of thin wires with his fingers. "It must be some sort of controlling mechanism, that's certain."