can
see in your minds what you are intending to say, that you must arrest
me--"

Prof. Tomlin found his voice. "George, we will all have to testify that
you killed with that force or whatever it is you have. But it will be
self-defense, which is justifiable homicide--"

George turned to the professor. "How little you know your own people,
Professor Tomlin. Can't you see what the issue will be? It will be
claimed by the state that I am not a human being and this will be
drummed into every brain in the land. The fine qualities of the man I
was compelled to destroy will be held up. No, I already know what the
outcome will be. I refuse to be arrested."

* * * * *

Prof. Tomlin stood up. "Men," he said to the policemen, "do not arrest
this--this humanoid. To try to do so would mean your death. I have been
with him long enough to know what he can do."

"You taking his side, Professor?" the police sergeant demanded.

"No, damn it," snapped the Professor. "I'm trying to tell you something
you might not know."

"We know he's gone too damned far," the sergeant replied. "I think it
was Dick Knight that he killed. Nobody in this town can kill a good guy
like Dick Knight and get away with it." He advanced toward the robot,
drawing his gun.

"I'm warning you--" the Professor started to say.

But it was too late. There was another blinding, scorching flash, more
burned grass, more smell of seared flesh.

The police sergeant disappeared.

[Illustration]

"Gentlemen!" George said, standing. "Don't lose your heads!"

But he was talking to a retreating group of men. Newsmen walked quickly
to what they thought was a safe distance. The radio men silently packed
their gear. The TV cameras were rolled noiselessly away.

Prof. Tomlin, alone on the porch with the robot, turned to him and said,
"Much of what you have told me comes to have new meaning, George. I
understand what you mean when you talk about people being willing to
work for your so-called Seventh Order."

"I knew you were a better than average man, Professor Tomlin," the
humanoid said, nodding with gratification.

"This is where I get off, George. I'm warning you now that you'd better
return to your ship or whatever it is you came in. People just won't
stand for what you've done. They don't like murder!"

"I cannot return to my ship," George said. "I destroyed it when I
arrived. Of course I could instruct some of you how to buil