Naiade oil painting

"See Threepio," the muted voice continued to call, "come in, See Threepio." Itwas Luke's voice and it issued softly in between buzzings from the small handcomlink resting on the deserted computer console. Save for the intermittent pleading,the gantry office was silent. A tremendous explosion drowned out the muffled pleadings. It blew the officedoor clean across the room, sending metal fragments flying in all directions. Severalof them struck the comlink, sending it flying to the floor and cutting off Luke's voicein midtransmission. In the wake of the minor cataclysm four armed and ready troopers enteredthrough the blown portal. Initial study indicated the office was deserted—until adim, frightened voice was heard coming from one of the tall supply cabinets near theback of the room. "Help, help! Let us out!" Several of the troopers bent to inspect the immobile bodies of the gantry officerand his aide while others opened the noisy cabinet. Two robots, one tall andhumanoid, the other purely mechanical and three-legged, stepped out into the office.The taller one gave the impression of being half unbalanced with fear. "They're madmen, I tell you, madmen!" He gestured urgently toward thedoorway. "I think they said something about heading for the prison level. Theyjust left. If you hurry, you might catch them. That way, that way!" Two of the troopers inside joined those waiting in the hallway in hustling offdown the corridor. That left two guards to watch over the office. They totallyignored the robots as they discussed what might have taken place.