"You will be told in due time; as soon as you are strong enough to walk."
"But—"
"Suffice it for the present to tell you that we intend to replace man as the ruling entity of the planet—and possibly someday the universe."
"Replace us?" shouted Jason.
"Easy, easy. Recall that always the higher forms of life replace the lower as ruling element. Since we are admittedly of a higher intellect, we see only fact."
"Who admits this?" asked Charless quietly. "Yourselves?"
"You—man—does!" was the answer.
"Like hell."
The machine made no answer but there was the unmistakable sound of a chuckle. Then the metal hands were removed and the machine said: "You may come with me; I believe we are ready, now."