He kicked savagely at the sand.
"I sure as hell would like to know where they go," he said.
"There've been quite a few of them leaving lately," said Scott. "As if the building were a hive and they were new swarms of bees. Maybe they're going out to start new living centers. Maybe they're going to build more buildings...."
He stopped and stared straight ahead of him, his eyes unseeing. Going out to start new living centers! Going out to build new buildings! Shining metallic buildings!
Like a cold wind from the past it came to him, a picture of that last night on Earth. He heard the whining wind on Mt. Kenya once again, the blaring of the radio from the machine shop door, the voice of the newscaster.
"Austin Gordon ... Congo Valley ... strange metallic city ... inhabited by strange metallic insects!"
The memory shook him from head to foot, left him cold and shivery with his knowledge.
"Hugh!" he croaked. "Hugh, I know what it's all about!"
His brother stared at him: "Take it easy, kid. Don't let it get you. Stick with me, kid. We're going to make it all right."