"Venus is right, Venus Experimental--there are only twenty-two of us in the family. We have waterproof, pressure-resistant bodies for working down on the ocean bottom. The basic idea was all right, we did our part, only there wasn't enough money in the channel-dredging contract to keep us all working. I bought out my original contract at half price and became a free robot." Dik vibrated his rusted diaphragm. "Being free isn't all it should be. I some--times wish the Robot Equality Act hadn't been passed. I would just l-love to be owned by a nice rich company with a machine shop and a--mountain of replacement parts." "You don't really mean that, Dik," Alec Diger clamped a heavy black arm across his shoulders. "Things aren't perfect now, we know that, but it's certainly a lot better than the old days, we were just hunks of machinery then. Used twenty-four hours a day until we were worn out and then thrown in the junk pile. No thanks, I'll take my chances with things as they are." * * * * * Jon and Alec turned into the employment exchange, saying good-by to Dik who went on slowly down the street. They pushed up the crowded ramp and joined the line in front of the registration desk. The bulletin board next to the desk held a scattering of white slips announcing job openings. A clerk was pinning up new additions. Venex scanned them with his eyes, stopping at one circled in red. ROBOTS NEEDED IN THESE CATEGORIES. APPLY AT ONCE TO CHAINJET, LTD., 1219 BROADWAY. Fasten Flyer Atommel Filmer Venex Jon rapped excitedly on Alec Diger's neck. "Look there, a job in my own specialty--I can get my old pay rate! See you back at the hotel tonight--and good luck in your job hunting." Alec waved good-by. "Let's hope the job's as good as you think, I never trust those things until I have my credits in my hand." Jon walked quickly from the employment exchange, his long legs eating up the blocks. _Good old Alec, he didn't believe in anything he couldn't touch. Perhaps he was right, but why try to be unhappy. The world wasn't too bad this morning--his leg worked fine, prospects of a good job--he hadn't felt this cheerful since the day he was activated._ Turning the corner at a brisk pace he collided with a man coming from the opposite direction. Jon had stopped on the instant, but there wasn't time to jump aside. The obese individual jarred against him and fell to the ground. From the height of elation to the depths of despair in an instant--he had injured a _human being_! He bent to help the man to his feet, but the other would have none of that. He evaded the friendly hand and screeched in a high-pitched voice. "Officer, officer, police ... HELP! I've been attacked--a mad robot ... HELP!"