[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

He reached across the table with his uninjured hand and took her arm in his
fingers, squeezing it gently.
 Forgive me, Hari said softly.  I really don t know what it is I do, or why,
anymore.
Page 196
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
87.
The high-security wing of the Special Service Detention Center stretched in a
half circle around the eastern corner of the Imperial Courts Holding Area,
fully ten thousand available cells, of which no more than a few hundred were
occupied during any normal time. Thousands of security-interest code prisoners
filled the cells in the wake of the riots, which had been used as an excuse by
the Specials to round up ringleaders of many troublesome groups around
Trantor.
Lodovik remembered many such troubled times, and the advantage both the
Specials and the
Commission of Public Safety had taken in similar situations to reduce
political friction on Trantor and the orbiting stations. Now, he occupied one
of these cells himself--cataloged as  unidentified --And placed under charge
of Linge Chen.
His cell was two meters on a side, windowless, with a small info screen
mounted in the center of the wall opposite the entrance hatch. The screen
showed mild entertainments designed to soothe. To
Lodovik, at this stage of his existence, such diversions meant nothing.
Unlike an organic intelligence, he did not require stimulus to maintain normal
function. He found the cell disturbing because he could easily conceive of the
distress it might cause a human being, not for any such direct effect on
himself.
He had used this opportunity to think through a number of interesting
problems. First in the list was the nature of the meme-mind that had occupied
him, and the possible results of the blast of mentalic emotion delivered by
Vara Liso. Lodovik was reasonably convinced that his own mentality had not
been harmed, but since that moment, he had not had any communication from
Voltaire.
Next in the list was the nature of his treason toward Daneel s plan, whether
or not it was justified, and whether he could find any way around the logical
impasse of his liberation from the strict rule of the
Three Laws.
He had killed Vara Liso. He could not convince himself it would have been
better to do otherwise. In the end, Plussix s plan to use Klia Asgar to
discourage Hari Seldon had failed--so far as he knew--and Daneel had been
there to protect Seldon.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The robots, it seemed, had been completely ineffectual in the center of Vara
Liso s mental storm.
Yet she had not directed a blast at him--in essence, had left the opening that
resulted in her own death.
Had she used Lodovik to end her own misery? Lodovik was curious what Voltaire
would have thought...
In all probability both the Calvinian and the Giskardian robots had been
captured and their work stopped.
Seventy-five other unidentifieds from the warehouse district were being kept
in cells nearby.
Lodovik knew very little about them, but surmised they were a mix of the
surviving groups of Calvinian robots and the mentalic youngsters gathered by
Kallusin and Plussix.
Lodovik assumed they would all be dead within a few days.
 Lodovik Trema.
The voice came from the info screen, which also served as a comm link with his
jailers. He looked up and saw the shadowy features of a bored-looking female
guard on the small display.  Yes.
 You have a visitor. Make yourself presentable.
The screen went blank. Lodovik remained sitting upright on his small cot. He
Page 197
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
was certainly presentable enough.
The hatch gave a harsh warning beep and slid open. Lodovik stood to greet his
visitor, whoever it might be. A camera eye in the ceiling hummed slightly as
it followed his motion.
In his private office, Linge Chen stood in a slowly changing
discipline-exercise posture, watching the informer s display from the comer of
one eye. He smoothly and gracefully shifted to another position, so that he
could face the screen directly. This was a moment of high interest...
Daneel entered Lodovik Trema s cell. Lodovik showed no surprise or
discomfiture, somewhat to
Chen s disappointment.
For the most fleeting of moments, the two former allies exchanged
machine-language greetings
(also being captured and interpreted by Chen s listening devices) and Daneel
provided a cursory situation update. Thirty-one robots and forty-four humans
from the warehouse of Plussix s Calvinians, including
Klia Asgar and Brann, were in custody. Linge Chen had released Hari Seldon;
Farad Sinter was dead.
Obviously, Daneel had reached an understanding with the Chief Commissioner.
 Congratulations on your victory, Lodovik said.
 There has been no victory, Daneel said.
 Congratulations then on having foiled the Calvinians.
 Their goals may yet be achieved, Daneel said.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Lodovik resumed his seat on the cot.  Your update does not explain how this
could be so.
 There was a time when I thought it would be necessary to destroy you, Daneel
said.
 Why not do so now? If I survive, I am a danger to your plan. And I have
proved that I can be destructive to humans.
 I am constrained by the same blocks that would have prevented me before,
Daneel said.
 What could possibly block you?
 The Three Laws of Susan Calvin, Daneel said.
 Given your abilities to ignore the Three Laws in favor of the Zeroth Law, the
fate of a mere robot should not trouble you, Lodovik said, his tone polite,
conversational. There was a visible difference between Daneel and Lodovik,
however--their expressions. Daneel maintained a pleasantly blank look.
Lodovik s brow was furrowed.
 Yet I
am blocked, Daneel said.  Your arguments have provoked much thought, as has
the existence of humans like Vara Liso...and Klia Asgar. Your nature, however,
is what would ultimately block any effort on my part to destroy you, or would
at least result in a painful and possibly damaging conflict.
 I am eager to understand how this could be so.
 In your case, I cannot invoke the Zeroth Law to overcome the three original
laws. There is no compelling evidence that your destruction will benefit
humanity, nor reduce the suffering of humanity. It might, in fact, do the
reverse.
 You find my opinions compelling?
 I find them part of a larger and completely compelling scenario, which has [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]