"We suspect some remote section of South America; the entire Air Force is even now sectoring the entire continent. Africa will come next."
"Even more serious," added the Under-Secretary, "small raids have been made at various factories and central intelligence has deduced that they plan on leaving Earth. In one instance they took nothing but seeds and fertilizers and tools suitable for colonization-farming."
"Still, they could hardly hope to escape Earth without the new fuel unless they'd developed one of their own," argued Stone.
"How long did it take you and your assistant?" asked the Under-Secretary.
"Approximately two and one-half years."
"Did any of the roboes assist in any matter, other than testing finished fuels or doing menial tasks?"
"No, only Donald and myself have ever seen any portion of the formula only recently perfected. And, it's entirely safe within the inner room you were recently in."
"Strange, that the roboes haven't raided this, of all places."
"Not so strange," broke in the general with self-satisfaction, "when you consider that the entire area is bristling with the latest in our weapons. Even a machine has better sense than that."
"I wondered why your soldiers had so thoroughly ripped apart my grounds," commented Stone bitterly.