Marin took the authorization to the engineer. On the way, he privately revised his specifications upward. If he couldn't get as many as he wanted, he might as well get a better one.
In two days, the machine was ready.
It was delivered in a small crate to the warehouse. The crate was opened and the machine leaped out and stood there, poised.
"A cat!" exclaimed the quartermaster, pleased. He stretched out his hand toward the black fuzzy robot.
"If you've touched anything a mouse may have, get your hand away," warned the biologist. "It reacts to smell as well as sight and sound."
Hastily, the quartermaster withdrew his hand. The robot disappeared silently into the maze of stored material.
In one week, though there were still some mice in the warehouse, they were no longer a danger.
he executive called Marin into his office, a small sturdy building located in the center of the settlement. The colony was growing, assuming an aspect of permanency. Hafner sat in his chair and looked out over that growth with satisfaction.