[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
very noticeable, but it caught Daneel's attention.
He said in a low voice, "Are you in discomfort, friend Giskard?"
Giskard replied, "It has been necessary for me to wipe out astonishment, apprehension, and even
attention in a number of men and women-and in one youngster, which was harder still. I had no time to
make completely certain I was doing no harm."
"It was important to do so. We must not be stopped."
"I understand that, but the Zeroth Law does not work well with me. I have not your facility in that
respect." He went on, as though to distract his own attention from his discomfort, "I have often noted that
hyperresistance in the positronic pathways makes itself first felt in the matter of standing and walking and
next in speech."
Daneel tapped the door signal. He said, "It is the same in my case, friend Giskard. Maintaining balance
on two supports is difficult under the best of circumstances. Controlled imbalance, as in -walking, is even
more difficult. I have heard once, that there were early attempts made to, produce robots with four legs
and two arms. They were called "centaurs. They worked well but were unacceptable because, they were
basically inhuman in appearance."
"At the moment," said Giskard, "I would appreciate four legs, friend Daneel. However, I think my
discomfort is passing."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
D.G. was at the door now. He looked at them with a broad smile. He then glanced in each direction
along the corridor, whereupon his smile vanished and was replaced with a look of the utmost concern.
"What are you doing here without Gladia? Is she-"
Daneel said, "Captain, Madam Gladia is well. She is in no danger. May we enter and explain?"
D.G. glowered as he gestured them inside. His voice gained the hectoring tone one naturally assumes
toward misbehaving machines and he said I "Why have you left her alone? What circumstances could
possibly permit you to leave her alone?"
Daneel said, "She is no more alone than any person is on Earth-and no more in danger. If you will
question her later on the I matter, I believe s he will tell you that she cannot be effective here on Earth as
long as she is trailed by Spacer robots. I believe she will tell you that what guidance and protection she
needs should be supplied by you, rather than by robots. It is what we believe she wishes-at least for
now. If, at any time, she wishes us back, she will have us."
D.G.'s face relaxed into a smile again. "She wants my protection, does she?"
"At the moment, Captain, we believe- she is quite anxious for your presence, rather than for ours."
D.G.'s smile became a grin. "Who can blame her? -I'll get myself ready and go to her apartment as soon
as I can."
"But first, sir---"
"Oh," said D.G., "there is a quid pro quo?"
"Yes, sir. We are anxious to discover as much as we can about the robot who fired the blaster at the
balcony last night."
D.G. looked tense again. "Do you anticipate further danger for Madam Gladia?"
"None at all of that kind. The, robot, last night, did not fire at Lady Gladia. Being a robot, he could not
have. He fired at friend Giskard."
"Why should he have done that?"
"It is what we would like to find out. For that purpose, we wish you to call Madam Quintana,
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Undersecretary of Energy, and state that it would be important and would please you and the
government of Baleyworld-if you would care to add that, for her to allow me to ask her a few questions
on that subject. We wish you to do whatever seems best to persuade her to agree to such an interview."
"Is that all you want, me to do? Persuade a reasonably important and busy, official to submit to cross
examination by a robot?"
Daneel said, "Sir, she may agree if you are earnest enough in the request. In addition, since she may be
located a distance away, it would be helpful if you would hire a darter on our behalf to take us there. We
are, as you can imagine, in haste."
"And are those little things all?" asked D. G
"Not quite, Captain," said Daneel. "We will need a driver and please pay him well enough so that he will
consent to transport friend Giskard, who is an obvious robot. He may not mind me."
D.G. said, "I hope you realize, Daneel, that what you ask is completely unreasonable."
Daneel said, "I had, hoped not, Captain. But since you tell me it is, there is nothing more to say. We
have no choice, then, but to return to Madam Gladia, which will make her unhappy, for she would rather
be with you."
He turned to leave, motioning Giskard to accompany him, but D.G. said, "Wait. There"s a public
communication contact just down the hallway. I can only try. Remain here and wait for me."
The two robots remained standing. Daneel said, "Did you have to do much, friend Giskard?"
Giskard seemed well balanced on his legs now. He said, "I was helpless. He was strongly opposed to
dealing with Madam Quintana and as strongly opposed to getting us a darter. I could not have altered
those feelings without damage. When, however, you suggested returning to Madam Gladia, his attitude
changed suddenly and dramatically. You were anticipating that, I take it, friend Daneel?"
"I was."
"You scarcely need me, it would seem. There is more than one way of adjusting minds. However, I
ended by doing something. The captain's change of mind was accompanied by a strong favorable
emotion toward Madam Gladia. I took the opportunity of strengthening that."
"That is the reason you are needed. I could not have done that."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"You will be able to yet, friend Daneel. Perhaps quite soon."
D.G. returned. "Believe it or, not, she will see you, Daneel. The darter and driver will be here in a
moment-and the sooner you leave, the better. I will be heading toward Gladia's apartment at once."
The two robots stepped outside in the hallway to wait.
Giskard said, "He is very happy."
"So it would seem, friend Giskard," said Daneel, "but I fear -the easy part is over for us. We have easily
arranged to have Madam Gladia grant us leave to move about on our own. We have then, with some
difficulty, persuaded the captain to make it possible for us to see the Undersecretary. With her, however,
it may be that we will come to a dead end."
The driver took one look at Giskard and his courage seemed to fail him. "Listen," he said to Daneel, "I
was told I'd be paid double to take a robot, but robots aren't allowed in the City and I could get in plenty
of trouble. Money isn't going go help me if I lose my license. Can't I just take you, mister?"
Daneel said, "I am a robot, too, sir. We are now in the City and that is not your fault. We are trying to
get out of the City and you will be helping us. We are going to a high government official who, I hope,
will arrange that and it is your civic duty to help us. If you refuse to take us, driver, you will be acting to
keep robots in the City and that may be considered to be against the law."
The driver's face smoothed. He opened the door and said gruffly, "Get in!" However, he carefully closed
the thick translucent partition that blocked him off from his passengers.
Daneel said quietly, "Was much required, friend Giskard?"
Very little, friend Daneel. Your statement did most of the necessary work. It is astonishing that a
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]