THE COSMIC COMPUTER

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converter, they weren't fitted with anticollision repulsors, and,
working under close human supervision, they all had audiovisual pickups.
It took some time to get adequate screens set up outside the collapsium.

Finally, they were ready. Their two supervisors went up to the ceiling,
one controlled by Conn and the other by Matsui. The larger, egg-shaped
shop-labor supervisors were still moving in irregular orbits; those of
the workers still able to receive commands were trying to obey them, and
the rest were jammed in a swarm at the other end.

First one, and then the other of the labor-boss robots were captured.
They were by now at the end of what might, loosely, be called their
wits. They weren't used to operating without orders, and had been
sending out commands largely at random. Now they came to a stop, and
then began[Pg 125] moving in tight, guided circles; one by one, the
worker robots still able to heed them were brought to ground and turned
off. That left the swarm at the door. The worker-robots under direct