Written with chalk -- on the piece of seagreen slate that lay on small table beside the door -- were these words:

"I hope that someday my farm will be useful to others. My son is putting on his boots as I write these sentences of farewell."

In search of the trail to the lake, Helen headed into the redwood forest. Just before she entered the woods, she looked back. There was no trace of Wimmiebon's machines. Twenty predator robots that were the pride of his lab, were buried forever in the swamp that protected Janet's farm.