The City and the Stars Page 0,89

the robot felt anything resembling human emotions now that it was returning to the ancient home of the Master, after so many aeons?

In all his dealings with it, since the Central Computer had released the blocks that made it mute, the robot had -never shown any sign of feelings or emotion. It had answered his questions and obeyed his commands, but its real personality had proved utterly inaccessible to him. That it had a personality Alvin was sure; otherwise he would not have felt that obscure sense of guilt which afflicted him when he recalled the trick he had played upon it-and upon its now dormant companion.

It still believed in everything that the Master had taught it; though it had seen him fake his miracles and tell lies to his followers, these inconvenient facts did not affect its loyalty. It was able, as had many humans before it, to reconcile two conflicting sets of data. Now it was following its immemorial memories back to heir origin. Almost lost in the glare of the Central Sun was a vale spark of light, with around it the fainter gleams of yet smaller worlds. Their enormous journey was coming to it end; in a little while they would know if it had been in vain.
Chapter Twenty

The planet they were approaching was now only a few million miles away, a beautiful sphere of multicolored light. There could be no darkness anywhere upon its surface, for as it turned beneath the Central Sun, the other stars would march one by one across its skies. Alvin now saw very clearly the meaning of the Master's dying words: "It is lovely to watch the colored shadows on the planets of eternal light."

Now they were so close that they could see continents an oceans and a faint haze of atmosphere. Yet there was som thing puzzling about its markings, and presently they realiz that the divisions between land and water were curious regular. This planet's continents were not as Nature had le them-but how small a task the shaping of a world mu have been to those who built its suns!

"Those aren't oceans at all!" Hilvar exclaimed suddenly "Look-you can see markings in them!"

Not until the planet was nearer could Alvin see clear what his friend meant. Then he noticed faint bands and lines along the continental borders well inside what he had take to be the limits of the sea. The sight filled him with a sudden doubt, for he knew too well the meaning of those lines. had seen them once before in the desert beyond Diaspar, they told him that his journey had been in vain.

"This planet is as dry as Earth," he said dully. "Its water has all gone-those markings are the salt beds where seas have evaporated."

"They would never have let that happen," replied Hilvar "I think that, after all, we are too late."

His disappointment was so bitter that Alvin did not trust himself to speak again but stared silently at the great world ahead. With impressive slowness the planet turned benea the ship, and its surface rose majestically to meet them. No they could see buildings-minute white incrustations eve where save on the ocean beds themselves.

Once this world had been the center of the Universe. Now it was still, the air was empty and on the ground were no of the scurrying dots that spoke of life. Yet the ship was still sliding purposefully over the frozen sea of stone-a sea which here and there had gathered itself into great waves that challenged the sky.

Presently the ship came to rest, as if the robot had at last traced its memories to their source. Below them was a column of snow-white stone springing from the center of an immense marble amphitheater. Alvin waited for a little while; then, as the machine remained motionless, he directed it to land at the foot of the pillar.

Even until now, Alvin had half hoped to find life on this planet. That hope vanished instantly as the air lock opened. Never before in his life, even in the desolation of Shalmirane, had he been in utter silence. On Earth there was always the murmur of voices, the stir of living creatures, or the sighing of the wind. Here were none of these, nor ever would be again.

"Why did you bring us to this spot?" asked Alvin. He felt little interest in the answer, but the momentum of his quest still carried him on even when he had lost