by Isaac Asimov
“I do.” Ishihara nodded toward the equipment beyond the transparent wall. “He wanted me to make modifications in this and show him how to use it.”
“What were these modifications?”
“They make this system theoretically capable of sending microscopic targets backward in time.”
Hunter was surprised. Nothing in his data suggested a possibility of this kind. “You said theoretically. It has not been tested?”
“Not when MC Governor first asked me.”
“He used it, then?”
Ishihara said nothing.
“Yes, yes, you agreed not to volunteer anything. What were the circumstances when you last saw him?”
“MC Governor ordered me to leave the premises while he remained here.”
“Are you saying that, to your knowledge, he did not leave this room in a normal manner?”
“I am.”
“Then show me the controls and calibrations on this equipment and explain what they mean. Begin with a summary of how this works.”
“Come with me.” The transparent wall slid soundlessly up into the ceiling; Ishihara was obviously controlling it through his comlink. He led Hunter into the other chamber. On the sphere’s console, the power was still on.
“Do you routinely leave this equipment turned on?”
“No.”
“How does it work?”
“The miniaturization is accomplished by striking the target with an intense spray of subatomic particles. The result is a gradual and proportional shrinkage of the target.”
“In what way did you modify this?”
“By altering the content and concentration of the spray, and utilizing the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics, the equipment can send the target back in time.”
“According to standard chaos theory, that’s impossible. Chaotic systems are clearly irreversible.”
“This system also utilizes the uncertainty principle of chaotic dynamical systems. That is, calculations under chaos theory by definition involve chance. These modifications cross the random nature of chaotic calculations with those of the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics, bringing the two systems together.”
“Show me your modifications.”
As Ishihara did so, Hunter studied both the miniaturization system and the new theoretical time travel capability. By the time the explanation had ended, Hunter understood both. He took several moments to attempt a theoretical calculation.
The result showed Hunter an apparent contradiction in their effects. To be sure, he ran several more. All exhibited the same problem.
“Ishihara, according to the two theories you gave me, I think the time travel program is going to interfere with the miniaturization.”
“How so?”
“According to my results, the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics remains inherently incompatible with events as interpreted by chaos theory. I see that the effects can be compounded by this technology, but the results are going to neutralize each other. If the miniaturization is done first with a spray designed under one set of calculations, then the second spray will neutralize some of the effects of the first one. Specifically, the time travel will make the miniaturization temporary.” Hunter went on to give him an example of his calculations.
“I see your point.”
“So as a result of all this, MC Governor will have begun a slow countdown to enlargement back to normal size as the flaw in the program causes the atoms to begin drawing energy from his environment and returning his atomic structure to normal.”
“I agree,” said Ishihara. “That is an important observation. I will add it to the permanent data on this subject.”
“Now I have to know where MC Governor went, Ishihara. You must tell me.”
“What difference does this make?”
“I think MC Governor went back into time to hide from the committee that employed me to find him. I surmise that the First Law required him to miniaturize himself first to avoid actions that might change history and harm humans. Is this consistent with your observations of him?”
“Yes, it is.”
“However, since the miniaturization is temporary, he will resume normal size at a certain point, almost certainly without prior warning. From then on, he is definitely in danger of harming humans by altering history. I must find him and return him to our own time. This should be a clear enough First Law imperative for you to help me.”
“I agree. What do you want me to do?”
“If I go into the past after him, I must bring him back. Is this possible?”
“I will have to study this matter.”
“All right. You consider how to do that and I will make some more calculations.”
Hunter studied the data he had gathered about the two processes this system contained. MC Governor’s miniaturization would collapse in geometric stages of two, so once, the process began, it would accelerate rapidly. His examination of the time travel gate showed him where the most recent use of the gate had sent its subject in time.
“The Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era, about sixty million years ago, in what is now western North America,” Hunter said thoughtfully. “When dinosaurs roamed the earth. So that is where MC Governor went.”
“It makes sense,” said Ishihara. “No humans existed in that time to harm. Nor were there any to give him orders under the Second Law.”
“A perfect hiding place,” said Hunter. “As long as he remains microscopic.”
“Hunter, I have reviewed my data on your question. I believe a device can be made that would trigger the time travel function even from the past. It will draw the funnel created by the particle shower down on it and, therefore, on the individual within the radius of the funnel. The shower, of course, will return you to our time.”
“How long will it take you to make this device?”
“I am not sure. With the First Law priority, I can devote all my time to it. However, this is a new invention. It could take only a day or so, but unforeseen problems may extend the time. And you realize that you will be the experimental subject. If it fails, you will only learn of the failure when you are trapped in the past.”
“I understand. The First Law supersedes the Third in this matter; I will have to take the risk.” Hunter thought a moment. “I believe that a team of humans to accompany me would be wise. If the trip is very risky, however, the First Law will not let me take them.”
“Once I have made this device, I can estimate how risky it is,” said Ishihara. “If you are agreeable, I will begin gathering further data and materials at once.”
“Yes, of course. If you have a problem gathering equipment, contact me directly. I have been given unusual authority with the city computer, and I can requisition materials with emergency priority. I am going to visit MC Governor’s office.”
Hunter checked his internal map of Mojave Center again to find MC Governor’s office. Once he had started on his way, he used his radio link with the city computer to access a nationwide list of professionals in various fields. Planetwide and interplanetary lists were also available, but time was important, so the closer he could find willing experts, the sooner they were likely to arrive.
First Hunter had the computer combine the lists, then identify candidates by their fields, availability, and conditions of employment. His first choice was a roboticist at the University of Michigan. She was a young woman named Jane Maynard, who was looking for field research regarding robots. The second was Chad Mora, a young paleontologist whose recent degree had not yet led to any work. Hunter had made these selections by the time he arrived at the office.
When he reached MC Governor’s office, he found the door locked, but ordered the city computer to open it. Inside, he immediately realized that the office had never been intended for regular use. The walls were bare and the only furniture was a chair and a desk with nothing on it. Still, a quick look at the city computer’s architectural image of the office ide
ntified all the functional areas. By this time, Hunter was eager to hire his team as soon as possible.
“Computer,” Hunter ordered. “Reach any member of the Governor Robot Oversight Committee. Give that member this request for employment in my project.” He sat down in the chair to wait, aware that humans were sometimes out of touch, unlike those robots who carried their communication devices as part of their design.
“Hunter? R. Ishihara here.” He was radioing directly.
“Yes, Ishihara.”
“I have a list of highly sophisticated technical parts that I need to build the device that will bring you back from the past. The city computer reports that all the parts are present in the city, but a number of them are already in use.”
“Are they in crucial areas involving the First Law?”
“I believe that all of them can be successfully substituted or temporarily discontinued without creating a First Law problem,” said Ishihara. “However, I am not certain.”
“Give me the list.”
Ishihara did so.
“I will contact the city computer. If there is a further problem, I will have it locate and purchase the parts elsewhere.” Hunter broke that connection and contacted the city computer again.
“Please give top priority transfer to R. Ishihara of the following list of parts. If necessary, remove them from current operating locations.” Hunter transferred the list. “Verify that none of these is in irreplaceable positions under the First Law.”
“Verified,” said the computer. “All parts can be provided. Many are in inventory. Of the remainder, substitution and removal from current operating locations can begin immediately.”
“Begin transfer of the parts to R. Ishihara as soon as possible.”
6
WHILE HUNTER WAITED, he studied the Late Cretaceous Period in what was now Alberta, Canada, the place where MC Governor had gone. He also reviewed his data on MC Governor’s disappearance. During this review he noticed that Dr. Nystrom, the inventor of the Governor robots, had spoken to the committee from Mojave Center shortly after MC Governor’s disappearance; apparently he had lost his temper and discontinued the call abruptly. The committee had already judged that Dr. Nystrom knew nothing of value about the mystery. Still, Hunter ordered the city computer to page Dr. Nystrom.
Then, having nothing else to do, he shut down most of his system to save energy. He left open only his communication links. Just under three hours later, the city computer contacted him again.
“R. Hunter, you have a call from Dr. Redfield.”
“Accepted.” Hunter instantly returned to normal operating level. “Hello, Dr. Redfield.”
“Hi! Good news, Hunter.” She smiled brightly. “Our funding was good enough to hire the two people you wanted. They’re on their way.”
“Very good. I have made some limited progress here. Can you give me an expected time of arrival?”
“The city computer has their charter information. If I remember right, they’re due on the same flight tomorrow morning. You can call them at home or in flight if you need earlier contact.”
“I doubt that will be necessary.”
She smiled wryly. “Both of them were willing to join the project, but we had to pay a number of unusual expenses for them to leave home that soon. They will also need briefing when they arrive.”
“That will not take long. The information they will need is minimal.”
“Hunter …” Dr. Redfield hesitated. “The committee assigned you to the job in all confidence, and we still have that. And we all realize that a roboticist might be necessary in your work. But I’ve been wondering —”
“Yes?”
“Are you sure you need a paleontologist?”
Hunter, with his robotic speed, considered his answer carefully. He could see that this was a reasonable question, but he did not want to report any more details of his search for MC Governor than necessary. Setting a precedent of that sort could become a distraction in the future.
“Yes,” he said simply.
Steve Chang sat on a rock in front of his four-meter-square shack on the slope of an unnamed mountain. It was one of a ridge of mountains that ran across the southern edge of the valley in the high desert below him. In the distance the waning red rays of twilight glinted off the solar collectors and water pipes that led down into the new underground city.
With mild curiosity, he had watched it under construction. Robots driving large machinery had dug out a huge hole and then built a big cube inside it with patient but inexorable energy. As long as they didn’t bother him up here, he didn’t care what they did.
This evening he was sorting some new rocks he had gathered during the last few days in a big yellow bucket. He tossed the white quartz into one large pile on his left. The blue-green rocks went to his right. Someday, when he got around to it, he would sit down at the computer inside his shack and access a library to find out what kind of rock the blue-green ones were. They probably bore copper, but he didn’t really care. He collected them because he liked them.
For the last several minutes, however, he had also been watching a small helicopter down on the pad next to the underground city. Flights came and went occasionally, but this one was now flying toward the bluff where he sat. That was very rare.
Steve went on sorting rocks as the helicopter buzzed up the slope, skimming the tops of the occasional joshua trees, grease plants, and outcroppings of bare rock. Finally he stopped to watch in astonishment. Now roaring in his ears, the helicopter slowed and came to a gentle landing in a spot of open sand only fifteen meters away.
“They must be lost,” Steve muttered to himself. “Or had a mechanical failure.” He remained seated.
The engine shut off and three figures climbed out of the helicopter. The leader was a tall, brawny, blond, blue-eyed guy with heroic leading man looks. A pretty young woman walked behind him, holding her long brown hair out of her face as it was blown by the still-spinning propeller. Another young man of average height and weight came last.
All three of them wore new, stylish clothes. Steve was wearing his usual short sleeved western shirt, worn blue jeans, and beat-up cowboy boots. Up on this bluff, though, they were the ones who looked out of place.
“I am R. Hunter,” said the blond leader. “You are Steve Chang, I believe.”
“How would you know that?” Steve demanded.
Hunter looked startled at his rudeness. “I have a dossier with your portrait on my internal video. My companions are Jane Maynard, roboticist, and Chad Mora, paleontologist.”
“Yeah?” Steve ignored them. “What do you want?”
“I need your help,” said Hunter. “I came to offer you employment.”
“Looks like you could use a little money,” said Chad, grinning. “I didn’t think people still lived like this.”
“If I wanted a job, I wouldn’t be here,” growled Steve. “I own this plot of land and you came uninvited. Go away.”
Hunter turned and started to walk back to the helicopter. Steve grinned. He had expected more of an argument, but of course, under the Second Law, a robot had to obey a direct order to leave.
“Wait a minute,” said Jane to Hunter. The robot hesitated, now at least able to make some interpretations of his own. “Steve, I just want to know if it’s really true that you can mountain climb, camp, rock climb, canoe … all the outdoor activities Hunter told us about.”
“Yeah. What of it?” Steve asked more mildly, flattered that she was interested.
“Everyone I know is highly specialized and lives in cities. I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
Steve shrugged. “I just happen to like the desert.”
“He’s a real throwback,” sneered Chad.
“Shut up, Chad,” said Jane. “Steve, I’ve never seen a place like yours. Would you show me around?”
Steve knew very well that she was just trying to get on his good side, but he didn’t get much female company up on thi
s ridge. With a reluctant grin, he got to his feet. “There isn’t much to see, but come on in.”
“You have a computer, at least,” said Jane, following him inside. “And electricity.”
“Yeah.” Steve shrugged. “I built the shack with modem insulation because it does get pretty cold up here in the winter. I have an old solar-powered generator and a windmill in the back for additional power.”
“This is basically an office with a bed in it,” said Jane. “Very practical. But where does your water come from?”
“I have five acres of this slope. In the winter, it snows up here, and I have collectors that take the runoff down into an underground tank. I only need about four liters a day, on average, and I have a two thousand liter tank. So that’s more than enough for a year.”
“What if the snowfall is short?” Jane asked.
“I can buy bottled water if necessary, even on a daily basis.” He shrugged casually, but he was really enjoying showing her how he lived.
“Where do you get your money? Odd jobs down in the desert towns?”
“I could do that, but I haven’t had to lately. I use my computer to follow major stock exchanges. I have some money invested, and I make just enough to survive on what I can earn.”
Chad laughed. “Oh, he’s a financial expert, eh?”
Steve felt his face grow hot with anger. “I’m self-sufficient up here. That’s more than most people ever manage.”
“Or want.” Chad rolled his eyes.
“What do you want here?” Steve demanded, glaring at all three of them. “Get to the point or get out.”
“A computer analysis of individuals with certain skills turned up your name,” said Hunter.
“Let me,” Jane interjected. “Steve, the three of us are going on a trip. But we need to hire someone who can take care of our camp and equipment. Hunter suggested taking another robot, but I objected. I think we need a human who can exercise personal judgment without reference to the Laws of Robotics.”