"The weight of necessary fuel to another planet would make it impossible for a space ship to take off."
"Rocket fuel, yes. But what of the cosmic drive that father and you have been working on. Isn't it practically perfected now?"
Stiffening, he asked, "Shiela! What in the world do you know about that? Why, even Stone himself wouldn't have mentioned it to you."
She smiled brightly, laughter dancing from sparkling eyes. "So, it is true then."
As the realization that he had been tricked into the admission soaked in, Don's lower jaw dropped. He glanced quickly around, "I've said nothing," he told her, "and make sure that you don't repeat it. General Adams would like nothing better than an excuse to order me court-martialed."
"But he couldn't; you're a civilian!"
"Don't forget that all civil rights have been suspended until the roboes have been exterminated." Shiela's eyes dropped suddenly and she became sad.
"Do you actually hate the roboes now?" she asked softly.
Don was amazed, "Of course not; after all I helped to create them, you know. I've the greatest respect and admiration in the world for them. I still believe that they could have helped to advance man faster and further than he ever can himself."