[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Infinity, February 1957.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
A kind of peace had endured for a century and people had forgotten what
anything else was like. They would scarcely have known how to react had
they discovered that a kind of war had finally come.
Certainly, Elias Lynn, Chief of the Bureau of Robotics, wasn't sure
how he ought to react when _he_ finally found out. The Bureau of
Robotics was headquartered in Cheyenne, in line with the century-old
trend toward decentralization, and Lynn stared dubiously at the young
Security officer from Washington who had brought the news.
Elias Lynn was a large man, almost charmingly homely, with pale blue
eyes that bulged a bit. Men weren't usually comfortable under the stare
of those eyes, but the Security officer remained calm.
Lynn decided that his first reaction ought to be incredulity. Hell, it
_was_ incredulity! He just didn't believe it!
He eased himself back in his chair and said, "How certain is the
information?"
The Security officer, who had introduced himself as Ralph G.
Breckenridge and had presented credentials to match, had the softness
of youth about him; full lips, plump cheeks that flushed easily,
and guileless eyes. His clothing was out of line with Cheyenne but
it suited a universally air-conditioned Washington, where Security,
despite everything, was still centered.