Eyes behind almost opaque lead-glass goggles, head and body encased in a multi-layered suit each ply of which was copiously smeared with thick lead paint, Stone studied the raging monster of the heavens from the closest viewpoint any human being had ever attained--and lived. Even he, protected as he was, could peer but briefly; and, master physicist though he was and astronomer-of-sorts, yet he was profoundly awed at the spectacle. Twice that terrifying mass was circled. Then, air-temperature again bearable and lethal radiations stopped, the grueling acceleration was reduced to a heavenly one-and-one-half gravities and the vast fleet remade its formation. The automatons and the sun between them had taken heavy toll; but the gaps were filled, men were transferred to equalize the losses of personnel, and the course was laid for distant Earth. And in the Admiral's private quarters two men sat together and stared at each other. "Well, that's that--so far, so good," the physicist broke the long silence. "But is their power really broken?" asked Martin, anxiously. "I don't know," Stone grunted, dourly. "But the pick of them--the brainiest of the lot--were undoubtedly here. We beat them...." * * * * * Martin interrupted. "_You_ beat them, you mean," he said. "With a lot of absolutely indispensable help from you and your force. But have it your own way--what do words matter? _I_ beat them, then; and in the same sense I can beat the rest of them if we play our cards exactly right." "In what way?" "In keeping me entirely out of the picture. Believe me, Martin, it is of the essence that all of your officers who know what happened be sworn to silence and that not a word about me leaks out to anybody. Put out any story you please except the truth--mention the name of anybody or anything between here and Andromeda except me. Promise me now that you will not let my name get out until I give you permission or until after I am dead." "But I'll have to, in my reports." "You report only to the Supreme Council, and a good half of those reports are sealed. Seal this one." "But I think...." "What with?" gruffly. "If my name becomes known my usefulness--and my life--are done. Remember, Martin, I _know_ robots. There are some capable ones left, and if they get wind of me in any way they'll get me before I can get them. As things are, and with your help, I can and I will get them all. That's a promise. Have I yours?" "In that case, of course you have." And Admiral Alan Martin and Doctor Ferdinand Stone were men who kept their promises.