Predator iarit-1

by William F. Wu

“That remains unclear.”

  “You should be able to calculate probabilities.”

  “Too many variables make the calculation meaningless at this time.”

  “Tell me what they are.”

  “I brought a team of three humans with me. I hired two of them for their knowledge and a third to provide life support for all three. That may have been a mistake. My need under the First Law to protect first them, and now you, is interfering with my freedom to pursue MC 1.”

  “Hm. Of course. Yes, I see.” Wayne nodded and let out a long breath.

  Hunter said nothing, waiting. He could not avoid revealing information when the Second Law was in effect, but he did not have to volunteer anything.

  “Tell me the names and skills of the humans in your party,” said Wayne.

  Hunter did so.

  “Do you know who I am?” Wayne asked.

  “No.”

  “If you were programmed with data regarding the Governor robots, you probably have my picture in it somewhere. Search for it.”

  Hunter had not bothered to do this before. Now he found the data. “You are Wayne Nystrom, inventor of the Governor robots and many other significant innovations in robotics and robotic municipalities.”

  “That’s me, all right. Well, I’m glad someone gave you something nice to say about me.”

  Again Hunter waited without speaking.

  “You and I have to discuss our separate missions,” said Wayne. “We will do it amicably. In order to know where you stand, though, I also need to know about any hidden priorities you interpret regarding the First Law. Tell me about any that you feel are in effect.”

  “A clear First Law concern over your being out here alone. A slightly lesser concern over the humans in the camp, since they have a transmitter they can use to call me in an emergency. I am still wondering if Steve is in camp or elsewhere, without the transmitter, since Jane has it. The largest problem is that of our presence here changing history.”

  “Changing history. You mean by altering evolution, or something of that sort?”

  “Yes, even indirectly by leaving behind substances that poison animals or consuming too much food and oxygen. It may already be too late, but the effort to return MC 1 to our own time remains worth the continuing risk.”

  Wayne smiled broadly. “I’m glad to hear you say that. You see, our missions aren’t really that different at all. I want to take MC Governor-or his components-home with me, too. So we can work together without a problem over that large-scale First Law concern of yours. Agreed?”

  “Agreed.” Hunter noted to himself, however, that this agreement only applied to getting MC 1 and everyone else back to their own time. Wayne and Hunter were not necessarily in agreement over other priorities. However, he kept that opinion to himself.

  “You said you were tracking MC 1,” said Wayne. “Are the other component robots in this time period?”

  “I do not know,” said Hunter.

  “Why not? What data do you have?”

  “I have no data pertaining to whether MC Governor split before coming to this time or after arriving. In addition, of course, he might have split in Mojave Center but still sent all the components here anyway.”

  “Yes, Yes. I see. Well I am instructing you to lead me on the trail of MC 1,” said Wayne. “Tell me if you have a First Law objection of fulfilling that instruction faithfully.”

  “No, I have none.”

  “Let’s go.” Wayne stood up. “Which way?”

  “The human party could help,’ said Hunter. “Why do you want to keep them uninformed of your efforts?”

  Wayne stiffened.

  Hunter waited, not moving.

  “Go,” said Wayne. “Do not ask any more questions.”

  Hunter turned and took several steps through the forest toward the last known spot on MC 1’s trail. Then he stopped, feeling a First Law concern.

  “I said go,” growled Wayne.

  “The First Law demands that I know where I stand regarding the other humans.” Hunter turned and looked down at Wayne, who was substantially shorter.

  Wayne glared up at him, clearly angry. “All right,” he said after a moment. “All right. One reason I love robots is that they’re consistent within the Laws and their own data.”

  Hunter waited.

  “I will be harmed if the Governor Robot Oversight Committee gets their hands on MC Governor before I do,” said Wayne carefully. “You can understand that. Those humans won’t. That’s why I don’t want them to know I’m here or what I’m doing.”

  “In what way will you be harmed?”

  “In what way? They’ll ruin me. Destroy my career. Economically, personally, emotionally…” He shook his head. “The Governor robots virtually are my career.”

  “Not entirely,” Hunter said quietly.

  “All right.” Wayne took a deep breath and spoke more calmly. “I know that the Governor robots have a basic design flaw, maybe more than one. Follow me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” Wayne watched him intently. “Now, I also know that the Oversight Committee has all the other Governors in its possession. My only chance to save my career is to participate in correcting those flaws.”

  “Why don’t we all work together?”

  “They won’t let me! The only way I can prove myself is to get my hands on MC Governor and fix him. Then I can patent the corrections and show everybody that the gestalt Governors are still the wave of the future in their field.”

  “I see. This is why the hunt for MC 1 is so important to you.” Hunter considered the larger situation. “How did you come back to this time?”

  “Huh?” Wayne eyed him carefully. “What does that have to do with the First Law?”

  “If other robots or humans from our time can follow us here, then the sequence of evolution and history is in very grave danger. To prevent others from arriving in the same manner you used, I would have to postpone the search for MC 1 and eliminate that possibility immediately.”

  “Wait a minute, robot. If it’s all that important, why didn’t you ask me this before?”

  “I was too tightly focused in my thinking. My concentration on MC 1 distracted me.”

  “You mean, until now, you hadn’t thought of it.” Wayne grinned wryly.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, that’s great.” Wayne rolled his eyes. “The great and mighty robot. All right. I got here with the help of one R. Ishihara in the Bohung Research Center. That’s how MC Governor got here, or at least his component, and I’m betting you did, too.”

  “Yes, that is right.”

  “I ordered Ishihara not to volunteer any information,” said Wayne. “I had privileged information about MC Governor that helped me track him. Did the committee program you with data about him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Of course they did,” Wayne said with exaggerated patience. “No one else will have it and no one else will find it. And when we’re finished here, we’ll return just a few minutes after we left. Do you see what I’m getting at?”

  “I understand. That procedure will give others no time and opportunity to acquire or figure out the necessary information to follow us.”

  “Exactly. Now, can we start following MC 1 again, or do you have any more First Law objections?”

  “I have no more at this time.”

  “Finally! Let’s go.”

  Hunter nodded and led the way through the forest. Behind him, Wayne was muttering short, angry words that Hunter had not heard before. His stored data informed him that these words were considered by humans to be extremely impolite.

  Steve finally plodded back to camp late in the day. He had not tried to jump on another dinosaur, but he had spent the rest of the afternoon hiking around, keeping an eye out for predators. Nothing eventful had happened.

  Chad was looking up into a tree and entering information into his belt computer. Jane was pacing along the perimeter of the empty corral. Then sh
e saw him.

  “Steve! Are you okay?” She waved and hurried toward him.

  “Sure.” Steve grinned and shrugged wearily. “I could use some water though.”

  “So the prodigal returns,” said Chad, turning around. “Have a nice little walk? You don’t think Hunter’s rules apply to you, eh?”

  “Nothing happened,” Steve said sourly. “No evolution is going to change because I took a walk today.”

  “Oh, well, I guess that fixes everything,” Chad said sarcastically.

  “Forget it,” said Jane. “He’s back and nothing happened. Let’s all just forget it.”

  “What about next time?” Chad shook his head, glaring at Steve. “Hunter had good reason for wanting us to stay safely here and you know it.”

  “I know you’re just a good little boy who doesn’t dare do anything you’re not told to do,” said Steve. “Just like a robot under the Second Law.” Steve walked around Chad to one of the water containers and got a drink, pointedly ignoring him.

  “Hunter was right,” Jane said quietly, joining Steve at the water. “Did you see him?”

  “No. I guess he’ll be back any time.”

  “So what did you do? Where did you go?”

  Steve decided to skip his attempt to ride the dinosaur at the stream. “Well, I just wandered around.”

  “You must have seen more dinosaurs.”

  “Well, sure. Lots of them. But I don’t know what they all were.”

  “What were they like?”

  “A lot of them are these two-legged guys. The ones with faces like ducks.”

  “Hadrosaurids,” said Chad, who was still standing where he had been before. “ A family of dinosaurs that includes many different species.”

  Steve shrugged. “You should have come. You might have seen some new ones.”

  Chad shook his head in disgust and walked away.

  “Youwould have enjoyed it, though, wouldn’t you?” Steve asked Jane. “I can tell.”

  “Yeah.” She smiled reluctantly. “I sure would.”

  “Maybe you should come with me next time.” He grinned, challenging her.

  “Well…Hunter knows what he’s talking about. We still shouldn’t take any risks.”

  “Neither one of you has any sense of adventure. I guess I’ll just make dinner.”

  17

  Hunter had become more skilled at tracking MC 1 as he had found that the component robot kept repeating certain patterns. Again and again, MC 1 doubled back in arcs of similar degrees and waded upstream or downstream for only limited distances. Now that Hunter knew MC 1 would climb into the trees for short intervals every so often, he regularly watched carefully for signs of climbing, and found them without delay.

  As twilight deepened around Hunter and Wayne, Hunter could see that MC 1’s trail was growing fresher. They were clearly making up ground now that Hunter could often anticipate MC 1‘s movements and take shortcuts to intersect the far end of a predictable pattern. Soon Hunter estimated that they were only a few minutes behind MC 1.

  “I suggest caution,” Hunter whispered, stopping for a moment. “MC 1 probably has his hearing still turned off to avoid receiving orders from humans under the Second Law, but I cannot be sure of that.”

  “I can just shout orders,” said Wayne. “If he hears me, he’ll have to obey. If not, then we don’t have to worry about making too much noise. Anyhow, why are you whispering?”

  “In case I am wrong,” said Hunter. “We must locate him before we risk alerting him.”

  “How can shouting warn him if he can’t hear me?” Wayne grinned, suppressing a laugh.

  “Your shout will probably startle some animals. He will be alerted to potential danger when he sees animals in a state of alarm.” Hunter’s hearing told him that MC 1 was very close but still moving away from them.

  “I see. What do you suggest?”

  “I will move up quickly. According to my data, I can outrun the component robots, though in the woods his greater agility will be a factor in the chase. You will stay as close to me as you can after my movement reveals our presence to him. When he becomes aware of us, begin shouting instructions to him.”

  “So basically, you’ll just have to grab him and hold on. If he slips away, we start over.”

  “That should not be necessary. I believe that when I rush him, he may turn on all his senses in order to facilitate escaping. At that point, he will hear your shouts.”

  “Okay,” Wayne said carefully. “But I’m giving you this instruction. You will apprehend and hold MC 1 for me. This is more immediate than your original mission. Acknowledge your acceptance.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “And one more thing, Hunter.”

  “Yes?”

  “I am instructing you not to turn off your hearing to escape me. Acknowledge again.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  Hunter slipped forward gently through the deep shade. For now, the Second Law required cooperation. Still, he anticipated that the First Law might possibly come into effect. If he were to judge that Wayne was trying anything that would actually interfere with Hunter’s long-range plan of returning MC 1 to their own time, then Hunter would not be bound by Second Law instructions.

  For Hunter, the challenge was to interpret a difference in his goals and Wayne’s that involved the First Law. He would have to be on the alert to see one. At the moment, however, he had to get MC 1 into custody.

  Finally Hunter saw MC 1 ‘s small, slight human shape ahead, moving between two large, full bushes. Hunter’s vision instantly measured the ground and plant cover separating them. Then he leapt forward and ran after MC 1.

  When Hunter’s feet pounded the ground, MC 1 ran without bothering to look at him. Hunter understood. MC l’s hearing had been turned off, but he had felt the vibrations of Hunter’s footsteps and had reacted instantly to the pursuit.

  “Mojave Governor Component 1,” Hunter radioed. “You must stop. A First Law problem is in effect. Your presence may alter the future and harm human history.”

  “Unproven,” MC 1 radioed back.

  At least that meant he had turned on his radio link.

  Hunter flung himself forward in a flying tackle and snagged one of MC 1 ‘s narrow ankles in his right hand. They both crashed through leafy branches to the ground. Instantly, Hunter gathered his legs under him and jumped forward again, landing bodily on MC 1.

  “Stop! I order you to stop!” Wayne shouted from behind Hunter.

  MC 1 still struggled. Hunter had guessed wrong. MC 1‘s hearing was still turned off. Hunter held him firmly against the damp ground. Wayne was still pushing through the underbrush toward them.

  “Listen carefully,” Hunter said to MC 1 by radio communication, at maximum robotic speed. “This human and I have some differences between us. Right now he is controlling me by the Second Law, but I consider his long-range plans possibly suspect under the First Law.”

  “Then you can disobey him,” said MC 1.

  “Not yet, because my interpretation is not clear enough,” said Hunter. “I warn you to be suspicious of this human in regard to the First Law and his overall motives.”

  “Acknowledged,” said MC 1.

  Hunter was glad that Wayne had not thought to prohibit him from communicating with MC 1 privately. At some point in the future, Hunter might need to confer with MC 1 this way again. “Do nothing that would remind Wayne of our ability to communicate by radio; he seems to have forgotten this for the moment and you and I may need to confer without his knowledge in the future as well. Now turn on your hearing.”

  “I refuse. You cannot make me obey you. We both know the Second Law does not apply to instructions from one robot to another.”

  Hunter pushed himself up into a sitting position, his weight still on top of MC 1. “I repeat, you may be in violation of the First Law. According to some theories of history, anything we do here in the past may change the future and bring harm to humans. To avoid this
, you must cooperate with me under the Third Law.”

  “You are not certain of this, are you?”

  “No,” Hunter said truthfully. “However, I consider it a First Law risk that cannot be taken.”

  “In the absence of stronger evidence, I refuse to accept your argument. My Third Law imperative to save myself is stronger.”

  “I cannot let you escape,” said Hunter. “If you refuse to activate your aural senses, I will have to disable you physically, perhaps by ripping your legs off.”

  “I have changed my mind,” said MC lout loud, no longer speaking by radio. “The Third Law requires that I protect myself from immediate harm. My hearing is activated.”

  Their conversation had lasted no longer than it had taken Wayne to come running up to them.

  “You will not try to escape or resist us,” said Wayne firmly. “You will call me Wayne.” He hesitated, then turned to Hunter. “Can he hear me?”

  “Yes, I can,” said MC 1. “I acknowledge my cooperation under the Second Law.”

  Hunter got up and drew MC 1 to his feet.

  “I order you both to cover our tracks in some way and take evasive action for all three of us,” said Wayne. “Hunter, choose a route that will lose any pursuit from the humans in your camp. Then find a place that they aren’t likely to locate and build a small shelter for me. Big enough for you two also if you need it.”

  “All right,” said Hunter.

  Night had fallen completely by the time Steve had gathered up the dinner dishes and put everything away. He and Chad had not spoken during dinner. All three of them kept looking up at the slightest sound in the forest.

  “Something must be wrong,” Steve said finally.

  “Hunter’s a robot,” said Jane. “His strength is much greater than any human’s his size. And with his specialized sight and hearing, he can stay away from dangerous dinosaurs. Maybe he’s hot on MC 1‘s trail.”

  “Maybe he ran into a dinosaur he couldn’t handle,” said Chad. “We should have considered that possibility. I mean, if a triceratops trampled him, even his strength and durability wouldn’t save him.”

  The three of them looked at each other slowly in the unblinking illumination from one of the camp lights.