Prof. Tomlin coughed, embarrassed.
"Never mind," George said. "I see what you were going to say. Well, to get back, I learn most quickly through proximity. I will live here with you until my mission is complete. I will spend all of your waking hours with you. At night, when you are asleep, I will go through your library. I need nothing. I want nothing.
"I seek only to learn."
"You seem to have learned a lot already," Prof. Tomlin said.
"I have been on your planet for a few hours, so naturally I understand many things. The nature of the facts I have learned are mostly superficial, however. Earth inhabitants capable of thought are of only one type, I see, for which I am grateful. It will make the job easier. Unfortunately, you have such small conscious minds, compared to your unconscious and subconscious.
"My mind, in contrast, is completely conscious at all times. I also have total recall. In order to assimilate what must be in your unconscious and subconscious minds, I will have to do much reading and talking with the inhabitants, since these cerebral areas are not penetrable."
"You are a—a machine?" Prof. Tomlin asked.
George was about to answer when Brentwood Police Department Car No. 3 stopped in front of the house and two policemen came up the walk.
"Professor Tomlin," the first officer said, "your wife phoned and said there was—" He saw the robot and stopped.
Prof. Tomlin got to his feet.