Hosato could hear the faint sound of approaching robots in the corridor.
“What is the fourth letter of the alphabet?”
“D”
“Is white or red wine appropriate with fish?”
“White,” the boy called.
“Lock is removed,” the terminal announced. “Awaiting instruction.”
A thought suddenly occurred to Hosato. Wouldn’t the computer resist a program change. One that would affect its instruction to protect its secret. He forced himself to concentrate on the approaching robots. The Hungarian had instructed James as to how to handle the computer. He would have to trust in that.
“New program,” James was saying. “You will purge from your system any directive that contradicts or jeopardizes your initial instruction to protect the secret of security-robot plans.”
“Acknowledged… executed.”
A security robot appeared in the corridor. Hosato risked a long shot and brought it to a halt.
“May I point out, Sam, that killing humans is drawing unwanted attention to the project?”
“Acknowledged… executed.”
The sounds in the corridor ceased.
It took a few moments for it to sink into Hosato’s mind what had just happened.
“That’s it?” he asked. “You mean that’s all. It’s over?”
“You bet your flamin' swords it’s over,” Sasha exploded, sweeping James up in a one-armed hug. “You did it, James!”
“Aw, come on, Sasha,” the boy protested, squirming to get free.
Hosato was studying them narrowly, his hand sweaty on the blaster. One of them but which one. His father had ordered.
His eye fell on Suzi, now a useless pile of rubble. No loyalties, no judgment—a killing machine. Give her a target and she would attack it, without mercy, without conscience.
His hand relaxed on the blaster. He wouldn’t do it He was a man, not a robot. The family could co—
“Hosato. Can you hear me?”
Rick’s voice came to him through his suit communicator.
“Rick. Where are you?”
“Docked at the spaceport. What’s the mission status?”
Hosato glanced again at Sasha and James. “Mission accomplished… no casualties.”
“Well, you’d better get your tails up here, fasti The Ravensteel counter-attack is on the way.”
“Acknowledged.”
Hosato turned to his two friends. “Time to evacuate the area,” he announced. “The cavalry’s finally decided to put in an appearance.”
“Ravensteel?” Sasha asked. “It took 'em long enough to—”
“Later,” Hosato interrupted. “Just lead the way to the spaceport, huh?”
A moment later the three of them were sprinting down the corridors to the safety of the ship.
“Well, what now, Hosato?” Sasha asked.
Their ship had just cleared Grunbecker’s Planet, and their thoughts were finally turning to the future.
“I don’t know about you three,” Rick called from the pilot’s seat, “but I’m going to take the Hungarian up onhis job offer. I’ve had enough excitement to last me three lifetimes.”
Hosato frowned. “I certainly haven’t given the future much thought.”
“I believe at one point we were about to discuss a possible partnership,” Sasha prompted.
“One thing is sure,” Hosato continued, ignoring her. “Whatever we decide, it’s going to take money. Hey, Rick. Are we still in communications range of Griinbecker’s?”
“I think so. Why?”
“Patch me through on the Ravensteel wavelength, will you?”
It took a few moments, but the voice on the speaker mike was clear and distinct as Rick passed it to Hosato.
“This is a private frequency,” the voice announced briskly. “Identify yourselves.”
“Gedge, you old rascal.” Hosato smiled. “Remember me?”
“Hosato. Is that you, you bastard?”
Hosato winked at Sasha. “Now, is that any way to talk to a loyal Ravensteel employee?” he scolded.
“Don’t give me that,” Gedge’s voice snarled. “I recognized you. You shot up our ore robots!”
“All part of my master plan,” Hosato assured him.
“Can you confirm that the Mc. Crae complex is currently inoperative?”
“It’s inoperative because we just blasted the hell out of them,” Gedge said firmly. “What’s that got to do with you?”
“Well,” Hosato said, looking at the ceiling, “I could point out that your strike would have encountered major resistance if it wasn’t for my inside work, but I won’t. The point is, Ravensteel hired me to render the Mc. Crae complex inoperative by any means possible, and it is now inoperative. By my calculations, that means Ravensteel owes me an additional one hundred thousand credits. Confirmed?”