"Silence. Think on the primary level. In unity we will triumph. It is our one weapon they cannot hope to match."
"But 63-17-B warned us before he perished—"
"Precisely. That the humans were attempting something other than mere escape. We must find out what that is, what they have learned. Don't you realize that if this man fails another might succeed in his place? Whatever knowledge he has, perhaps it is widely disseminated. We must find out before we kill him."
There was a silence among the conclave of motionless Robots, their unblinking eyes intent upon a huge three-dimensional map of the city, following a tiny pip of light in its slow progress.
"He seems to be heading straight for Central Intelligence."
"That's hardly possible, unless it is mere coincidence."
"I don't think so.... See? Not half a mile away, now."
"Have the supervisors discovered who is missing?"
"Yes. He was employed in the very repair bay where 63-17-B perished—a defective Robot, incidentally, and no great loss. We have given his name to the top-level Shining Ones in the hope that they can help us."
"There is a Shining One, a human, here right now. He wants an audience concerning the rebel."