"I can see them," said the Eldest Keeper, peering through the glasses. Then he handed them back to Dodeth. "Let's get back down to the car. I want to find out what's going on around here."
At the car, the Eldest Keeper just scowled for a moment, looking very worried. By this time, the other two cars had pulled up nearby, discharging their cargo of two more Keepers apiece. While the Eldest Keeper talked in low tones with his colleagues, Dodeth stalked over to one of the pesticide robots who was prowling nearby.
"Found anything useful?" he asked sarcastically, knowing that sarcasm was useless on a robot.
"I'm not looking for anything useful, sir. I'm looking for the animals we are supposed to destroy."
"You come over and tell the Eldest Keeper that," Dodeth said.
"Yes, sir," the robot agreed promptly, rolling along beside Dodeth as he returned to where the Keepers were waiting.
"What's going on here?" the Eldest demanded curtly of the robot. "Why haven't you destroyed the animals?"
"Because we can't find them, sir."
"What's your name?" the Eldest snapped.
"Arike, sir."