"Here we are," Julie said, after awhile, coming to a halt before a door. She tapped carefully with the flashlight according to a prearranged signal. The door slid open slightly, emitting a finger of light from the room's glowtube. A man's face appeared to survey the corridor briefly, then the door went wide.
They entered a large room and the door slid into place behind them. Arthur strained his eyes, blinded temporarily by the light. Unfamiliar faces stared at him, about twenty of them. Men and women of all ages. He started suddenly. There, grinning pleasantly at him, was Austen, the young fellow from the office.
"Are we all here?" Julie wanted to know.
"Yes, we were waiting for you," a voice said.
Arthur whirled. "You?"
"Everything okay, Dunlop?" Samson asked, smiling.
"Simply great," he answered, a little weakly.
"What kept you?" Samson asked Julie.
"He was delayed by a robot."
"What?"