“S-s-some what? Say that again.”
“Three thugs,” Narcissus repeated patiently. “The leader was a thin, tall man hi a checkered suit with yellow hair and a gold front tooth. The others—”
“I don’t want a description,” Gallegher snarled. “Just tell me what happened?”
“Well, that’s all. They wanted to kidnap you. Then they tried to steal the machine. I chased them out. For a robot, I’m pretty tough.”
“Did they hurt the machine?”
“What about me?” Narcissus demanded plaintively. “I’m much more important than that gadget. Have you no curiosity about my wounds?”
“No,” Gallegher said. “Have you some?”
“Of course not. But you could have demonstrated some slight curiosity—”
“ Did they hurt that machine? ”
“I didn’t let them get near it,” the robot said. “And the hell with you.”