“See if you can make it five minutes.We want to get out of here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Anson was true to his word. Fiveminutes later he walked into my office, a puzzled look on his face.Iwas used to bafflement from the gold robot but Anson usually woreanexpression of scientific certainty. He eased down into a chair.
“These are very strange creatures,sir. Unlike any I’ve ever seen before.”
“Nonsense, you’ve seen everything.”
“No, not everything.”
“They looked rather ordinary to me.What do you find ‘strange’ about them? Or what’s strange aboutthe one we have?”
Anson gave a quizzical look. “For onething, he doesn’t want to be sent back. He has asked if he couldstay with us.”
I took a long swallow of the bourbon.“He what?”
“Wants to stay. That’s what hesaid.”
“But we are inferior creatures wh
