“There can’t be a great deal of work for them to do now,” Alvin continued innocently. Theon looked a little startled, but Alvin carefully avoided his friend’s eye. The old man answered guilelessly.
“No,” he replied sadly, “Shalmirane is very different now.”
Alvin paused in sympathy: then, very quickly, he began to talk. At first the old man did not seem to grasp his proposal: later, when comprehension came, Alvin gave him no time to interrupt. He spoke of the great storehouses of knowledge in Diaspar, and the skill with which the Keeper of the Records could use them. Although the Master’s machines had withstood all other enquirers, they might yield their secrets to Rorden’s probing. It would be a tragedy if the chance were missed, for it would never come again.
Flushed with the heat of his own oratory, Alvin ended his appeal:
“Lend me one of the machines-you do not need them all. Order it to obey my controls and I will take it to Diaspar. I promise to return it whether the experiment succeeds or not.”
Even Theon looked shocked, and an expression of horror came across the old man’s face.
“I couldn’t do that!” he gasped.
“Rut why not? Think what we might learn!”
The other shook his head firmly.
“It would be against the Master’s wishes.”