IV
Rested, although no nearer a definite plan for resubjugation of the telepuppet team, Stewart cautiously watched the robots from behind an outcropping. To this concealed vantage point he had led Carol, Director Randall and McAllister while the automatons had been occupied with recharging.
"You're going to try some more voice commands on the OC?" Carol's voice came softly through the earphones as she squirmed to find more comfort within the folds of her oversized sheath.
"We're not doing anything," Stewart said firmly, "until that thing is well occupied with transmission."
McAllister's boot came in contact with something hard and he bent down to inspect it. "Say, what's this?"
Randall went over to see. "A burnt-out telepuppet, obviously."
Stewart had a look too. "It's an Algae Detector. But, since there's no water around here, it hasn't had a chance to exercise its function. Electronic atrophy must have set in."
"It's riddled with drill holes," McAllister noted. "Looks like one of those other puppets worked it over."
Stewart examined the thing. The pilot was right.