"I'm not concerned with the manner in which government officials conduct their offices," came the curt reply. However, accustomed as he was to the scientist, Don thought he detected a slight note of nervousness.
The other pressed relentlessly, "We checked all of your acquaintances, Doctor; none could say definitely when your wife first gave birth to Shiela. In fact, several were even surprised to hear that you had a child."
"We never had many close friends; my work made that impossible."
"But where did she go to school? Obviously she has a good education."
The scientist's lips tightened; he shot a look of appeal at Don before looking at the general again. "My wife and I both instructed...." He broke off suddenly, squaring his shoulders. "It's no use going any further," he told the other; "you're pretty certain of the truth and it was bound to come out sooner or later."
The general nodded with satisfaction, "Good, I'm glad that you've come to your senses. Do you want me to tell them?"
"Tell us what?" Don asked.
"That this 'Shiela' was one of the first roboes to be constructed, even before the rebel Primo." Don's horrified gaze swung to Dr. Stone who nodded his head in the affirmative. "So there's no doubt in my mind now that she obtained the missing key in, ah, some manner or the other and has gone to the rebels with the formula they needed."
Hours after the disclosure that Shiela was not true flesh and blood, Don was still pacing the darkness in the garden.