The bathroom was next to the study, the wall between them soundproofed by a ceiling-high bookshelf in the study filled with thousands of books. On the other side was the master bedroom, with a closet with sliding panels that opened both on the bedroom and the bathroom. These sliding panels were partly open, so that Dr. MacNare and Alice could talk. "Did you lock the study door?" "Of course," Dr. MacNare said. "But I'll check before we leave." "How is Adam taking being alone tonight?" Alice called. "Okay," Dr. MacNare said. "Damn!" "What's the matter, Joe?" "I forgot to get razor blades." The conversation died down. Alice MacNare finished dressing. "Aren't you ready yet, Joe?" she called. "It's almost a quarter to eight." "Be right with you. I nicked myself shaving with an old blade. The bleeding's almost stopped now." Alice went into the living room. Paul had turned on the TV and was sprawled out on the rug. "You be sure and stay home, and be in bed by nine thirty, Paul," she said. "Promise?" "Ah, Mom," he protested. "Well, all right." Dr. MacNare came into the room, still working on his tie. A moment later they went out the front door. They had been gone less than five minutes when there was a knock. Paul jumped to his feet and opened the door. "Hi, Fred, Tony, Bill," he said. The boys, all nine years old, sprawled on the rug and watched television. It became eight o'clock, eight thirty, and finally five minutes to nine. The commercial began. "Where's your bathroom?" Tony asked. "In there," Paul said, pointing vaguely at the doorway to the hall. Tony got up off the floor and went into the hall. He saw several doors, all looking much alike. He picked one and opened it. It was dark inside. He felt along the wall for a light switch and found it. Light flooded the room. He stared at what he saw for perhaps ten seconds, then turned and ran down the hall to the living room. "Say, Paul!" he said. "You never said anything about having a real honest to gosh robot!" "What are you talking about?" Paul said. "In that room in there!" Tony said. "Come on. I'll show you!" The TV program forgotten, Paul, Fred, and Bill crowded after him. A moment later they stood in the doorway to the study, staring in awe at the strange figure of metal that sat motionless in a chair across the room. Adam, it seems certain, was asleep, and had not been wakened by this intrusion nor the turning on of the light. "Gee!" Paul said. "It belongs to Dad. We'd better get out of here." "Naw," Tony said with a feeling of proprietorship at having been the original discoverer. "Let's take a look. He'll never know about it." They crossed the room slowly, until they were close up to the robot figure, marveling at it, moving around it. "Say!" Bill whispered, pointing. "What's that in there? It looks like a white rat with its head stuck into that kind of helmet thing." They stared at it a moment. "Maybe it's dead. Let's see." "How you going to find out?"