"My ankle!" he screamed, with terror smashing at his mind. He managed to find two thick lengths of branch that would serve as crutches. Then he started hobbling awkwardly toward the river.
For an hour he forced himself on urgently along the river bank, now feeling knife-like pains slicing up through his body. The effort of moving was beginning to exhaust him.
He fell down, and rested a moment. He heard a tree crash in the forest ahead. He heard someone shout.
A human voice!
He began to sob, softly at first, then uncontrollably. A human voice! It had never been so sweet a sound.
He climbed painfully to his feet, crashed on through the undergrowth. The density of trees ended abruptly and he stopped. Around the scout ship in the clearing beyond, robot dredges were digging the foundations for buildings. Gray-uniformed men were setting up new-type atomic artillery at the perimeters.
Arak Miller drew a deep breath. "I'm saved," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm going to be a free man!" He tottered on the edge of hysteria, but controlled himself with a mighty effort of will.
He took a step forward to reach the clearing. Then he stopped.
Something was wrong.