Astounding Stories of Super-Science April 1931, by Astounding Stories is part of HackerNoon’s Book Blog Post series. You can jump to any chapter in this book here. The Exile of Time - Chapter IV: The Fight with the Robot
Patrolman McGuire quite evidently had not passed through Patton Place since we left it; or at least he had not noticed the broken window. The house appeared as before, dark, silent, deserted, and the broken basement window yawned with its wide black opening."I'll leave the car around on the other street," Alten said as slowly we passed the house. "Quick—no one's in sight; you three get out here."We crouched in the dim entryway and in a moment, he joined us.I clung to Mary Atwood's arm. "You're not afraid?" I asked."No. Yes; of course, I am afraid. But I want to do what we planned. I want to go back to my own world, to my Father.""Inside!" Alten whispered. "I'll go first. You two follow with her."I can say now that we should not have taken her into that house. It is so easy to look back upon what one might have done!We climbed through the window, into the dark front basement room. There was only silence, and our faintly padding footsteps on the carpeted floor. The furniture was shrouded with cotton covers standing like ghosts in the gloom. I clutched the loaded rifle which Alten had given me. Larry was similarly armed; and Alten carried a revolver."Which way, Mary?" I whispered. "You're sure it was outdoors?""Yes. This way, I think."We passed through the connecting door. The back room seemed to be a dismantled kitchen."You stay with her here, a moment," Alten whispered to me. "Come on, Larry. Let's make sure no one—nothing—is down here."I stood silent with Mary, while they prowled about the lower floor."It may have come and gone," I whispered."Yes." She was trembling against me.It seemed to me an eternity while we stood there listening to the faint footfalls of Larry and Alten. Once they must have stood quiet; then the silence leaped and crowded us. It is horrible to listen to a pregnant silence which every moment might be split by some weird unearthly sound.Larry and Alten returned. "Seems to be all clear," Alten whispered. "Let's go into the back yard."The little yard was dim. The big apartment house against its rear wall loomed with a blank brick face, save that there were windows some eight stories up. Only a few windows overlooked this dim area with its high enclosing walls. The space was some forty feet square, and there was a faded grass plot in the center.We crouched near the kitchen door, with Mary behind us in the room. She said she could recall the cage having stood near the center of the yard, with its door facing this way....Nearly an hour passed. It seemed that the dawn must be near, but it was only around four o'clock. The same storm clouds hung overhead—a threatening storm which would not break. The heat was oppressing."It's come and gone," Larry whispered; "or it isn't coming. I guess that this—"And then it came! We were just outside the doorway, crouching against the shadowed wall of the house. I had Mary close behind me, my rifle ready.
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