Rorden was touched, and many truths he was about to utter died abruptly on his lips. Instead he replied:
“The Council was too busy arguing with itself to bother about me.” He chuckled. “Jeserac was putting up quite a spirited defense when I left. I’m afraid I misjudged him.”
“I’m sorry about Jeserac.”
“Perhaps it was an unkind trick to play on the old man, but I think he’s rather enjoying himself. After all, there was some truth in your remark. He was the first man to show you the ancient world, and he has rather a guilty conscience.”
For the first time, Alvin smiled.
“It’s strange,” he said, “but until I lost my temper I never really understood what I wanted to do. Whether they like it or not, I’m going to break down the wall between Diaspar and Lys. But that can wait: it’s no longer so important now.”
Rorden felt a little alarmed.
“What do you mean?” he asked anxiously. For the first time he noticed that only one of the robots was with them on the parapet. “Where’s the second machine?”
Slowly Alvin raised his arm and pointed out across the desert, towards the broken hills and the long line of sand dunes, crisscrossed like frozen waves. Far away, Rorden could see the unmistakable gleam of sunlight upon metal.
“We’ve been waiting for you,” said Alvin quietly. “As soon as I left the Council, I went straight to the robots. Whatever happened, I was going to make sure that no one took them away before I’d learnt all they could teach me. It didn’t take long, for they’re not very intelligent and knew less than I’d hoped. But I have found the secret of the Master.” He paused for a moment, then pointed again at the almost invisible robot. “Watch!”