"The humans are still asleep," Pwowp said. "I'd hoped they would be," 2615 said. "Yesterday they were in a state of mind characteristic of humans when they have been confronted with something frightening. Shock. There would have been no satisfaction in doing anything to them then. Did they sleep well?" "Yes. The observers on duty report that they slept face to face, their arms around one another. They have been asleep for nine hours." "Their arms around each other ..." 2615 said thoughtfully. When they reached the door to the room where Larry and Stella were imprisoned there were four others waiting for them. "You may go in alone," one of them said. "We can watch and listen from out here." A low growl was 2615's answer. It stepped to the door and entered. Stella and Larry were still asleep. For several minutes the robot remained motionless after it had closed the door. There was no sound but the soft breathing of the two humans. Once the robot let its lens eyes rove about the room, pausing here and there at signs of observation panels that would have been undetectable to human eyes. Then its eyes turned toward the two sleeping humans again. Larry moved a little, the rhythm of his slow breathing changing. A deep rumbling growl emerged from the robot's voice box. Larry sat up, opening his eyes at the same time. His eyes went wider and round at the sight of the robot. "What was that?" Stella's sleepy voice sounded. Then she too was sitting erect, her eyes fixed on the unmoving robot. Another growl sounded. The metal robot moved toward the bed. "You like to be in each other's arms?" it asked. "We can't have that. You did not ask me if I would like to be a robot." Larry and Stella moved back on the bed, too frozen with deep rooted terror to rise. * * * * * With a lightning move too swift to be evaded the robot reached out and seized Larry by the right arm, lifting him to his feet at the edge of the bed. "I could squeeze with this one hand and crush the bone in your arm," 2615 said, "but it might be too shattered to knit. I will do it this way so it can be set and heal." Its other hand wrapped around the forearm just below the elbow. Larry started to struggle. He screamed in pain. There was an audible snap. His arm bent grotesquely. The robot released him and he stumbled backwards onto the bed, his face pale and dotted with sweat. The lens eyes fixed on Stella. "No!" she shuddered. "No!" She was at the far edge of the bed. With terror animating her muscles, she leaped to the floor and ran. Almost too swiftly for the eye to follow, the robot reached her and metal fingers gripped her arm. "No! Please! Please don't hurt me." She was pleading. "I'm a woman--" "A human," the robot corrected. "Do you know the feeling of pain, of hopelessness? You will learn." His other hand gripped her arm.