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creatures from another civilization, creatures who left various artifacts behind them. I know you are such an artifact. Is it not so?"
    "It is correct."
    "I know, further, that you are a fantastically sophisticated death machine. You were designed to destroy anything from a single virus to an entire planet. Is that not correct?"
    "It is so."
    "You were left behind. And with no one to understand your function, you chose to disguise yourself and lead this simple existence. True?"
    "True. How is it that you learned of me and obtained the necessary command key?"
    "My employer knows many things. He taught me the ways of the Road. He told me of you. He provided the key."
    "And now that you have found me and used it, what is it you wish of me?"
    "You said that I am not the first such traveler you have encountered. I know this, for I know the other man's identity. His name is Red Dorakeen, and soon he will be seeking you on this branch. I have need of a very large sum of money, and I will be paid it for killing him. I always prefer working through intermediaries, however — human or mechanical — in matters of violence. You are to be my agent in this matter."
    "Red Dorakeen is my friend."
    "So I was told. All the less reason for him to suspect you in this. Now — ” He rummaged in his pack and withdrew a slim metal case. He opened it and adjusted a pair of knobs. A beeping sound emerged from the unit. "He recently had a windshield replaced," John said, setting the case atop a rock. "When this was done, a small broadcast unit was concealed in his vehicle. Now I have but to wait until he enters this branch, and I can track him with this, striking wherever I choose."
    "I do not wish to be your agent in this matter."
    John rose from his meal, crossed the area between them, and struck the pot Mondamay had been turning, squashing it out of shape.
    "Your wishes are not important," he stated. "You have no choice but to obey me."
    "That is true."
    "I order you not to attempt to warn him in any way. Do you understand?"
    "I do."
    "Then do not argue with me about it. You will do as you are told, to the fullest of your ability."
    "I will."
    John returned to the tray and continued eating.
    "I would like to dissuade you from this," Mondamay stated after a time.
    "No doubt."
    "Do you know why your employer wishes him killed?"
    "No. That is his affair. It does not concern me."
    "There must be something very special about you, to have warranted your selection for such exotic employment."
    John smiled.
    "He considered me qualified."
    "What do you know of Red Dorakeen?"
    "I know what he looks like. I know that he will probably be coming this way."
    "You are obviously some sort of professional whom your employer has gone to great lengths to recruit . . . "
    "Obviously."
    "Have you not wondered why? What is it about your intended victim which requires such consideration?"
    "Oh, he wanted me to handle it because the victim may already be aware that he is being hunted."
    "How did this come about?"
    "Recently, in his personal time-line, there has been one attempt on his life."
    "How is it that it failed?"
    "Crude, poorly managed, I understand."
    "What became of the would-be assassin?"
    The man in purple raised his eyes to glare at Mondamay,
    "Red killed him. But I assure you there is no comparison to be made between that person and myself."
    Mondamay remained silent.
    "If you are trying to frighten me, to cause me to feel it could happen to me also, you are wasting your time. There are very few things I fear."
    "That is good," said Mondamay.
    John remained with Mondamay for the better part of a week, breaking fifty-six delicately wrought pots before discovering that this did not disturb his mechanical servant. Even when he ordered the robot to break them personally, he obtained no equivalent of an emotional response, and so gave up on that avenue as a source of pain to his captive. Then, one afternoon, the bleeping machine emitted a sharp buzzing note.