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Will escorted John to the smelter and deposited the saddlebags in a holding room for the silver bars. Taking the foreman aside, he explained the need for secrecy. The smelter man assured him of the parcel's safety and the two rode out of the heavily graveled yard. John turned in the direction of his ranch, leaving Will to seek a separate trail. He didn't hesitate long, but turned toward the tunnel to the lab.
He had never been through the dark hole before, though he found it easily by following Rob's prior directions. The gelding hated the blackness of the tunnel, but finally emerged and after crossing the lush meadow, was reined up at the lab. Ray answered the entry request by opening the door at once. Will greeted Ray warmly and gazed about the lab.
"I wondered when you'd show up," Mike said knowingly. "I’ve done an awful lot of thinking about you and Rob. Early on, I decided you was awful different from the rest of us here in the valley and yet, you was both cut from the same bolt of cloth. I still don't know the answers, but I can tell from the insides of this room that you are big. I don't worry, though, Rob will tell me what he can when he can."
"Mike, you are all that Rob said you were and more," Will told him. "I sure don't blame him, for the risk he took in bringing you here."
Mike grinned and sat up in the waterbed. He wanted to talk and somehow he did not find it easy to talk with Ray. The floor of the lab shook suddenly with a tremor from the earth. Soon after the shudder, came the booming sound of thunder and Ray checked the scanner, intently.
"Will, that was not thunder. There is a small, storm system that is moving through the Talaga River valley, but that explosion was not from a lightning strike. My instruments recorded a gauge factor, equaling that of a Thermal Filtron bomb. It came from the area where Rob and I laid out the exact outline of the lab, in the identical metal particles as this vessel. I believe I should go and examine the scene for further proof. May I ask you to remain here until I return? Rob needs to be advised of this and if it is true, you could inform him of the news."
"Yes, certainly I'll stay. It is imperative that we learn the cause of the blast. Mike and I have plenty to talk of while you are gone. We might find a bottle of bourbon to share," he laughed.
Ray rode the Talaga bottoms until he reached the site of the dummy Time Lab. Here he drew his horse to a walk and began checking the area. There was little left to inspect. All the ore so carefully poured into the Lab's outline had been vaporized. The ground was still exceptionally warm from the bomb's tremendous heat. Crystallized grains of sand and gravel lay about, in sparkling layers. A violent shudder went through the robot’s body and he knew the taste in his mouth was the taste of fear. He had just discovered another human emotion with which he must deal. He was gratified to see the addition of this emotion, but the timing of the acquisition left something to be desired. He wheeled the gelding toward the start of the return trip; he had seen everything of interest at the blast site.
* * * *
Today, Ralph decided to ride to town. The sun was near three hours from down, when he reined up to Mike's saloon. First off, he wanted a beer and then, he intended to talk to Bryan. He was still stung that the Company had let him stew in jail for most of a week. He knew that the judge had ordered the lawman to turn him loose; he overheard that from his cell. It was his belief that Bryan was still trying to punish him and he decided the time had come to make some changes.
Nila handed him a glass of beer and he downed it in two gulps. She drew him another and stood by, waiting to see if he inhaled it as well. This time he drank it slowly and spent several moments in deep thought. Curiosity caused Nila to watch him closely. It was plain to see that he had a load on his mind. At last, she gave up and went to talk with another customer. If he had a problem, she decided it was going to remain his alone. He showed no desire at all for conversation and she didn't intend to try drawing him out.
Moments later, he slammed the glass mug against the bar rail and the sound of his boots striking the floor, echoed up in the rafters of the bar. He wanted to see Bryan before he changed his mind. If the Company didn't think more of him than they had shown lately, then he wanted no more of the Company. He simply couldn't make his point any plainer.
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