the Night Watch

the Night Watch
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
"No doubt about it, we're doomed," he recited mournfully as Artoo rightedhimself, returning to full activation. "Do you think they'll melt us down?" Hebecame silent for several minutes, then added, "It's this waiting that gets to me."Abruptly the far wall of the chamber slid aside and the blinding white glare of aTatooine morning rushed in on them. Threepio's sensitive photoreceptors were hardpressed to adjust in time to prevent serious damage. Several of the repulsive-looking jawas scrambled agilely into the chamber, stilldressed in the same swathing and filth Threepio had observed on them before.Using hard weapons of an unknown design, they prodded at the machines. Certainof them, Threepio noted with a mental swallow, did not stir. Ignoring the immobile ones, the jawas herded those still capable of movementoutside, Artoo and Threepio among them. Both robots found themselves part of anuneven mechanical line. Shielding his eyes against the glare, Threepio saw that five of them werearranged alongside the huge sandcrawler. Thoughts of escape did not enter his mind.Such a concept was utterly alien to a mechanical. The more intelligent a robot was,the more abhorrent and unthinkable the concept. Besides, had he tried to escape,built-in sensors would have detected the critical logic malfunction and melted everycircuit in his brain. Instead, he studied the small domes and vaporators that indicated the presence ofa larger underground human homestead. Though he was unfamiliar with this type ofconstruction, all signs pointed to a modest, if isolated, habitation. Thoughts of beingdismembered for parts or slaving in some high-temperature mine slowly faded. Hisspirits rose correspondingly.