Chapter 17 Rafalyi was not happy with the progress he was making on his exploration of the alien city. The initial overflight had greatly intrigued him with its view of a city devoid of living beings, yet still functioning perfectly. There were robots everywhere keeping the processes of life in operation, but no sign of the inhabitants. Rafalyi wondered whether it was possible for the robots to turn against their creators, kill them all, and continue on as though nothing had happened. He sent his scoutship to make forays over other nearby cities, but the findings were still the same: municipalities deserted except for the machines that kept them running. The image that haunted him the most, though, was the bombed-out section of the nearby city. None of the other cities had been touched