Asimov's Future History Volume 5

by Isaac Asimov

  “Absolutely. One of mine, one of hers. They kept rather out of the way, though. They didn’t tag along in what Gladia called Aurora fashion. She wanted Solarian solitude, she said. So I obliged, though at first I got a crick in my neck looking around to see if Brundij was with me.”

  “And which robot accompanied Gladia?”

  “It wasn’t always the same one. Whichever he was, he held off, too. I didn’t get to talk to him.”

  “What about Jander?”

  Some of the sunniness left Gremionis’ expression at once.

  “What about him?” he asked.

  “Did he ever come along? If he did, you would know, wouldn’t you?”

  “A humaniform robot? I certainly would. And he did not accompany us – not ever.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Completely certain.” Gremionis scowled. “I imagine she thought him far too valuable to waste on duties any ordinary robot could perform.”

  “You seem annoyed. Did you think so, too?”

  “He was her robot. I didn’t worry about it.”

  “And you never saw him when you were at Gladia’s establishment?”

  “Never.”

  “Did she ever say anything about him? Discuss him?”

  “Not that I recall.”

  “Didn’t you consider that strange?”

  Gremionis shook his head. “No. Why talk about robots?” Baley’s somber eyes fixed on the other’s face. “Did you have any idea of the relationship between Gladia and Jander?”

  Gremionis said, “Are you going to tell me that there was sex between them?”

  Baley said, “Would you be surprised if I did?”

  Gremionis said stolidly, “It happens. It’s not unusual. You can use a robot sometimes, if you feel like it. And a humaniform robot – completely humaniform, I believe –”

  “Completely,” said Baley with an appropriate gesture. Gremionis’ lips curved downward. “Well, then, it would be hard for a woman to resist.”

  “She resisted you. Doesn’t it bother you that Gladia would prefer a robot to you?”

  “Well, if it comes to that, I’m not sure that I believe this is true – but if it is, it’s nothing to worry about. A robot is just a robot. A woman and a robot – or a man and a robot – it’s just masturbation.”

  “You honestly never knew of the relationship, Mr. Gremionis? You never suspected?”

  “I never gave it any thought,” insisted Gremionis.

  “Didn’t know? Or did know, but paid it no mind?”

  Gremionis scowled. “You’re pushing again. What do you want me to say? Now that you put it into my head and push, it seems to me, if I look back, that maybe I was wondering about something like that. Just the same, I never felt anything was happening before you started asking questions.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. Don’t badger me.”

  “I’m not badgering you. I’m just wondering if it were possible that you did know that Gladia was regularly engaging in sex with Jander, that you knew that you would never be accepted as her lover as long as that was so, that you wanted her so much that you would stop at nothing to eliminate Jander, that, in short, you were so jealous that you –”

  And at that moment, Gremionis – as though some tightly coiled spring, held back with difficulty for some minutes, had suddenly twitched loose – hurled himself at Baley with a loud and incoherent cry. Baley, taken completely by surprise, pushed backward instinctively and his chair went over.

  51.

  THERE WERE STRONG arms upon him at once. Baley felt himself lifted, the chair righted, and was aware that he was in the grip of a robot. How easy it was to forget they were in the room when they stood silent and motionless in their niches.

  It was neither Daneel nor Giskard who had come to his rescue, however. It was Gremionis’ robot, Brundij.

  “Sir,” said Brundij, his voice just a bit unnatural, “I hope you are not hurt.”

  Where were Daneel and Giskard?

  The question answered itself at once. The robots had divided the labor neatly and quickly. Daneel and Giskard, estimating instantly that an overturned chair offered less chance of harm to Daley than a maddened Gremionis, had launched themselves at the host. Brundij, seeing at once that he was not needed in that direction, saw to the welfare of the guest.

  Gremionis – still standing, his breath heaving – was completely immobilized in the careful double – grasp of Baley’s robots.

  Gremionis said, in very little above a whisper, “Release me. I am in control of myself.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Giskard.

  “Of course, Mr. Gremionis,” said Daneel with what was almost suavity.

  But although their arms released their hold, neither moved back for a period of time. Gremionis looked right and left, adjusted the smoothness of his clothing, and then, deliberately, sat down. His breathing was still rapid and his hair was, to a small extent, in disarray.

  Baley now stood, one hand on the back of the chair on which he had been sitting.

  Gremionis said, “I am sorry, Mr. Baley, for losing control. It is something I have not done in my adult life. You accused me of being j – jealous. It is a word no respectable Auroran would use of another, but I should have remembered you are an Earthman. It is a word we encounter only in historical romances and even then the word is usually spelled with a ‘j,’ followed by a dash. Of course, that is not so on your world. I understand that.”

  “I am sorry, too, Mr. Gremionis,” said Baley gravely, “that my forgetfulness of Auroran custom led me astray in this instance. I assure you that such a lapse will not happen again.” He seated himself and said, “I don’t know that there is much more to discuss –”

  Gremionis did not seem to be listening. “When I was a child,” he said, “I would sometimes push against another, and be pushed, and it would be awhile before the robots would take the trouble to separate us, of course –”

  Daneel said, “If I may explain, Partner Elijah. It has been well – established that total suppression of aggression in the very young has undesirable consequences. A certain amount of youthful play involving physical competition is permitted – even encouraged – provided no real hurt is involved. Robots in charge of the young are carefully programmed to be able to distinguish the chances and level of harm that may take place. I, for instance, am not properly programmed in this respect and would not qualify as a guardian of the young except under emergency conditions for brief periods. – Nor would Giskard.”

  Baley said, “Such aggressive behavior is stopped during adolescence, I suppose.”

  “Gradually,” said Daneel, “as the level of harm that may be inflicted increases and as the desirability of self – control becomes more pronounced.”

  Gremionis said, “By the time I was ready for higher schooling, I, like all Aurorans, knew quite well that all competition rested on the comparison of mental capacity and talent –”

  “No physical competition?” said Baley.

  “Certainly, but only in fashions that do not involve deliberate physical contact with intent to injure.”

  “But since you’ve been an adolescent –”

  “I’ve attacked no one. Of course I haven’t. I’ve had the urge to do so on a number of occasions, to be sure. I suppose I wouldn’t be entirely normal if I hadn’t, but until this moment, I’ve been able to control it. But then, no one ever called me – that before.”

  Baley said, “It would do no good to attack, in any case, if you are going to be stopped by robots, would it? I presume there is always a robot within reach on both sides of both the attacker and the attacked.”

  “Certainly. – All the more reason for me to be ashamed of having lost my self – control. I trust that this won’t have to go into your report.”

  “I assure you I will tell no one of this. It has nothing to do with the case.”

  “Thank you. Did you say that the interview is over?”
r />   “I think it is.”

  “In that case, will you do as I have asked you to do?”

  “What is that?”

  “To tell Gladia I had nothing to do with Jander’s immobilization.”

  Baley hesitated. “I will tell her that that is my opinion.”

  Gremionis said, “Please make it stronger than that. I want her to be absolutely certain that I had nothing to do with it; all the more so if she was fond of the robot from a sexual standpoint. I couldn’t bear to have her think I was j – j – Being a Solarian, she might think that.”

  “Yes, she might,” said Baley thoughtfully.

  “But look,” said Gremionis, speaking quickly and earnestly. “I don’t know anything about robots and no one – Dr. Vasilia or anyone else – has told me anything about them – how they work, I mean. There is just no way in which I could have destroyed Jander.”

  Baley seemed, for a moment, to be deep in thought. Then he said, with clear reluctance, “I can’t help but believe you. To be sure, I don’t know everything. And it is possible – I say this without meaning offense – that either you or Dr. Vasilia – or both – are lying. I know surprisingly little about the intimate nature of Auroran society and I can perhaps be easily fooled. And yet, I can’t help but believe you. Nevertheless, I can’t do more than tell Gladia that, in my opinion, you are completely innocent. I must say ‘in my opinion,’ however. I am sure she will find that strong enough.”

  Gremionis said gloomily, “Then I will have to be satisfied with that. – If it will help, though, I assure you, on the word of an Auroran citizen, that I am innocent.”

  Baley smiled slightly. “I wouldn’t dream of doubting your word, but my training forces me to rely on objective evidence alone.”

  He stood up, stared solemnly at Gremionis for a moment, then said, “What I am about to say should not be taken amiss, Mr. Gremionis. I take it that you are interested in having me give Gladia this reassurance because you want to retain her friendship.”

  “I want that very much, Mr. Baley.”

  “And you intend, on some suitable occasion, to offer yourself again?”

  Gremionis flushed, swallowed visibly, then said, “Yes, I do.”

  “May I then give you a word of advice, sir? Don’t do it.”

  “You may keep your advice, if that’s what you’re going to tell me. I don’t intend ever to give up.”

  “I mean do not go through the usual formal procedure. You might consider simply” – Baley looked away, feeling unaccountably embarrassed –” putting your arms around her and kissing her.”

  “No,” said Gremionis earnestly. “Please. An Auroran woman would not endure that. Nor an Auroran man.”

  “Mr. Gremionis, won’t you remember that Gladia is not Auroran? She is Solarian and has other customs, other traditions. I would try it if I were you.”

  Baley’s level gaze masked a sudden internal fury. What was Gremionis to him that he should give such advice? Why tell another to do that which he himself longed to do?

  13: Amadiro

  52.

  BALEY GOT BACK to business, with a somewhat deeper baritone to his voice than was usual. He said, “Mr. Gremionis, you mentioned the name of the head of the Robotics Institute earlier. Could you give me that name again?”

  “Kelden Amadiro.”

  “And would there be some way of reaching him from here?” Gremionis said, “Well, yes and no. You can reach his receptionist or his assistant. I doubt that you’ll reach him. He’s a rather standoffish person, I’m told. I don’t know him personally, of course. I’ve seen him now and then, but I’ve never talked to him.”

  “I take it, then, he doesn’t use you as a clothes designer or for personal grooming?”

  “I don’t know that he uses anyone and, from the few occasions when I’ve seen him, I can tell you he looks it, though I’d rather you didn’t repeat that remark.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, but I’ll keep the confidence,” said Baley gravely. “I would like to try to reach him, despite his standoffish reputation. If you have a trimensic outlet, would you mind my making use of it for that purpose?”

  “Brundij can make the call for you.”

  “No, I think my partner, Daneel, should – that is, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind at all,” said Gremionis. “The outlet is in there, so just follow me, Daneel. The pattern you must use is 75 – 30 – up – 20.”

  Daneel bowed his head. “Thank you, sir.”

  The room with the trimensic outlet was quite empty, except for a thin pillar toward one side of the room. It ended waist – high in a flat surface on which there was a rather complicated console. The pillar stood in the center of a circle marked off on the light green floor in a neutral gray. Near it was an identical circle in size and color, but on the second one there stood no pillar.

  Daneel stepped to the pillar and, as he did so, the circle on which it stood glowed with a faint white radiance. His hand moved over the console, his fingers flicking too quickly for Baley to make out clearly what it was they did. It only took a second and then the other circle glowed in precisely the same way. A robot appeared on it, three – dimensional in appearance but with a very faint flicker that gave away the fact that it was a holographic image. Next to him was a console like that next to which Daneel stood, but the robot’s console also flickered and was also an image.

  Daneel said, “I am R. Daneel Olivaw” – he faintly emphasized the “R.” so the robot would not mistake him for a human being – “and I represent my partner, Elijah Baley, a plainclothesman from Earth. My partner would like to speak with Master Roboticist Kelden Amadiro.”

  The robot said, “Master Roboticist Amadiro is in conference. Would it be sufficient to speak to Roboticist Cicis?”

  Daneel looked quickly in Baley’s direction. Baley nodded and Daneel said, “That will be quite satisfactory.”

  The robot said, “If you will ask Plainclothesman Baley to take your place, I will try to locate Roboticist Cicis.”

  Daneel said smoothly, “It would perhaps be better if you were first to –”

  But Baley called out, “It’s all right, Daneel. I don’t mind waiting.

  Daneel said, “Partner Elijah, as the personal representative of Master Roboticist Han Fastolfe, you have assimilated his social status, at least temporarily. It is not your place to have to wait for –”

  “It’s all right, Daneel,” said Baley, with enough emphasis to preclude further discussion. “I don’t wish to create delay by a dispute over social etiquette.”

  Daneel stepped off the circle and Baley stepped on. He felt a slight tingle as he did so (perhaps a purely imaginary one), but it quickly passed.

  The robot’s image, standing on the other circle, faded and disappeared. Baley waited patiently and eventually another image darkened and took on apparent three – dimensionality.

  “Roboticist Maloon Cicis here,” said the figure in a rather sharp, clear voice. He had the close – cut bronze hair that alone sufficed to give him what Baley thought of as a typical Spacer look, though there was a certain un – Spacerlike asymmetry to the line of his nose.

  Baley said quietly, “I am Plainclothesman Elijah Baley from Earth. I would like to speak with Master Roboticist Kelden Amadiro.”

  “Do you have an appointment, Plainclothesman?”

  “No, sir.”

  “You will have to make one if you wish to see him – and there’s no time slot available for this week or next.”

  “I am Plainclothesman Elijah Baley of Earth –”

  “So I have been given to understand. It doesn’t alter the facts.”

  Baley said, “At the request of Dr. Han Fastolfe and with the permission of the World Legislature of Aurora, I am investigating the murder of Robot Jander Panell –”

  “The murder of Robot Jander Panell?” asked Cicis so politely as to indicate contempt.

  “Roboticide, if you prefer, then. On Earth, the des
truction of a robot would not be so great a matter, but on Aurora, where robots are treated more or less as human beings, it seemed to me that the word ‘murder’ might be used.”

  Cicis said, “Nevertheless, whether murder, roboticide, or nothing at all, it is still impossible to see Master Roboticist Amadiro.”

  “May I leave a message for him?”

  “You may.”

  “Will it be delivered to him instantly? Now?”

  “I can try, but obviously I can make no guarantee.”

  “Good enough. I will make several points and I will number them. Perhaps you would like to make notes.”

  Cicis smiled faintly. “I think I will be able to remember.”

  “First, where there is a murder, there is a murderer, and I would like to give Dr. Amadiro a chance to speak in his own defense –”

  “What!” said Cicis.

  (And Gremionis, watching from the other side of the room, let his jaw drop.)

  Baley managed to imitate the faint smile that had suddenly disappeared from the other’s lips. “Am I too fast for you, sir? Would you like to make notes after all?”

  “Are you accusing the Master Roboticist of having had anything to do with this Jander Panell business?”

  “On the contrary, Roboticist. It is because I don’t want to accuse him that I must see him. I would hate to imply any connection between the Master Roboticist and the immobilized robot on the basis of incomplete information, when a word from him might make everything clear.”

  “You are mad!”

  “Very well. Then tell the Master Roboticist that a madman wants a word with him in order to avoid accusing him of murder. That’s my first point. I have a second. Could you tell him that the same madman has just completed a detailed interrogation of Personnel Artist Santirix Gremionis and is calling from Gremionis’ establishment. And the third point – am I going too fast for you?”

  “No! Finish!”

  “The third point is this. It may be that the Master Roboticist, who surely has a great deal on his mind that is of much moment, does not remember who Personnel Artist Santirix Gremionis is. In that case, please identify him as someone living on the Institute grounds who has, in the last year, taken many long walks with Gladia, a woman from Solaria who now lives on Aurora.”