"I have been commanded to do so."
"By them?" Amco motioned toward the rows of corpse like beings.
"Yes," radiated the teleo-electronic man. "I was told to destroy anything that might intrude on the dreams of the sleepers. It's very doubtful that they anticipated intrusion from something already dead. Why are you here?"
The thought penetrated Amco's mind that no thought processes he might have could be given up to the robot according to Amco's desires. His mind was completely open to the robot. He wanted to have a few thoughts to himself, but—
"Only the dead have that privilege," said the robot.
And then the logical, the only realization Amco could maintain, flooded his brain: "But you cannot kill me. I am already dead."
"My mind isn't dialectical," radiated the robot. "My mind lacks that human characteristic. You say you are from two million years in the past, and because of that, you are already dead and that I cannot kill you again. Such reasoning means nothing to my type of thinking apparatus. It couldn't become an obsession with me. My orders are to destroy you. I will carry out that order. If you are already dead, it won't matter. If you aren't then—well—you soon will be."
Amco, analyzing his emotions, found only a mild excitement. As an example of the world he had left, he proved its great need for change.
"Try to reason," said Amco. "That command was given you to provide for the advent of aliens bent on harmful intent. I have no such intentions."