"You!" cried Avery. He lunged forward, grabbed Rothman by the shoulder and jerked him to his feet. "This—will teach you—not to make—mistakes—"
He smashed his fist into Rothman's face.
Still MacPherson could not move, could not even shout. He could only listen to Avery.
"And this will teach you—not to set up matrices—that don't multiply—that burn up—the world—"
Again Avery struck and knocked Rothman to the floor.
Breaking through his paralysis, MacPherson clutched Avery by the shoulder, but Avery kicked at the man on the floor, again and again.
"Avery!" shouted MacPherson. "Snap out of it, man! It's all over! The test is finished. We're still here. Rothman was wrong, just as we always knew he was!"