Garry looked where Patch pointed, and he too found it hard to believe his eyes. There _was_ someone or something moving around. “I see it!” Garry said. “Come on, let’s go down and get a closer look!” “I just hope it isn’t in as bad shape as we are!” Patch exclaimed. They hurried as fast as they dared over the bumpy ground, heading straight for the person or thing that was moving about in seemingly aimless fashion on the plain below. “He sees us!” Patch said. “He’s coming toward us!” Swiftly the distance closed between the boys and the lone stranger. And then Garry and Patch received the surprise of their lives. “Katrinka!” they shouted together, not believing what they saw. “It can’t be!” Patch cried in amazement. “Garry, we must be seeing a mirage or something! How could Katrinka...?” “It’s Katrinka all right!” Garry said, as the robot drew close enough to be fully recognized. “But I don’t understand it. I don’t understand it at all! Katrinka crashed with the _Carefree_ and poor Ben! But even if she didn’t crash, how is it she’s wandering around out here on the moon?” “And what could make her start moving toward us?” Patch asked, as the mystery deepened. “You’ll never make me believe she’s _really_ human, although at times it seemed that she was.” The big robot stopped in front of the boys and remained still. Garry and Patch felt almost as if they should say “Hello,” because indeed it was like meeting an old friend. After a few moments of remaining stock still, Katrinka turned and started shuffling off with great long strides. “What’ll we do, Garry?” Patch asked. “Follow her? But that would be silly! She’s still an unthinking machine.” “I don’t know, Patch. This whole thing seems very strange, although it may be that she was merely thrown clear when the _Carefree_ crashed and somehow her works were activated by the jolt. And yet I have the feeling that she almost knows what she’s doing, as if she wants us to follow her.” “Now you’re talking spooky,” Patch said. “You don’t really believe that Katrinka can _think_!” “I don’t know what to believe,” Garry replied. “But I sure would like to follow her a little way to see just what she’s going to do next.” “But our air, Garry! We don’t have enough to waste on playing ‘follow the leader’!” “Just a little way, Patch. Who knows—this might even lead to something important.” “I think you’re way off base, Garry, but I’ll admit I’m curious too. Let’s go.” Katrinka had already gained some distance on them while they were debating what to do, and she did not wait for them. They started running to catch up and presently did so. But the robot traveled at such a fast pace that they still had to move in long, antelopelike jumps to keep up.