Asimov's Future History Volume 5

by Isaac Asimov

  “We have learned that three other humans are present on the planet of Robot City,” Ariel began. “We must speak with Keymo. These humans may endanger us.”

  Derec did not wait any longer. He pulled the boot just loose enough to get a hold of the free edges of dianite. When he began to pull gently, it ripped apart without much noise.

  Inside the dome, everything was different. The floor was crammed with machinery, some of it even larger than the pieces he had seen entering a while before. Other units were quite compact.

  He noted thankfully that the spaces between many of them offered him room to maneuver without being in anyone’s line of sight, at least as long as Ariel kept Security 1K occupied. As carefully as he could, he crawled and scooted through the dark passages between machines, away from the robots he could see working here and there. This gradually moved him to a side of the building where he was able to peek out across the floor.

  Now that the new machines had been installed, the crew in the dome was down to normal numbers again. They seemed more crowded in the smaller space remaining to them, but, as usual, they were efficiently concentrating on their tasks. That single-minded dedication helped Derec move unnoticed.

  He caught sight of the security seat on its high perch. From where he was now, he could not see if Ariel was still keeping Security 1K busy, but that console was too inviting to pass up. Still moving cautiously, he reached the bottom of the perch.

  The lift was a smaller version of those he had seen on the asteroid, and a version of the tunnel booths. A smaller lever lowered the entire seat, and, once he was in it, a button on the arm raised it. The seat moved up until it was just beneath the ceiling he had observed on his first visit. At the summit, he found himself looking out over the entire floor, with a complex array of controls and displays in front of him.

  Not a single robot looked up at him. To one side, Security 1K stood with his back to the interior of the building, still talking with Ariel. Derec concentrated on the displays.

  Very little of it meant anything to him. However, he was sure that the performance of every machine was being monitored here, as well as the wall of the dome. Both areas were construed as matters of security, apparently.

  The console also had a computer terminal. Unlike his, this one had the VoiceCommand still hooked up.

  He leaned down and spoke softly.

  “Central computer.”

  “Acknowledged.” The voice was loud and made him jump.

  “Lower your volume to match mine. Convert all the symbols on these monitors to full Standard terms.”

  A moment later, Derec was reading the monitors in amazement. As he had deduced earlier, Keymo had destroyed the Key to Perihelion in the process of having it analyzed. The robot was now overseeing the manufacture of many keys based on the same principle. The most startling monitor read, “Upper Level: Final integration of individual units and cooling. Interface with hyperspace, designated danger zone.

  Integration equipment producing vacuum effect of air out of dimension. Air movement, heat production, hyperspace controlled by drive unit.”

  He had to read it several times before he got it. The keys were being completed on the upper level in some kind of dangerous interface with hyperspace, which probably explained why it was removed from the rest of the facility. Apparently the manufacturing process created a vacuum that drew air into hyperspace.

  His heart began to pound with excitement. “Where is the entrance to the upper level? And how do I get through it?”

  “It opens directly above the security console. The seat will lift to that level. The dome surface can also be opened directly to and from the outside if necessary.”

  “Open the ceiling. This is, uh, a security matter.” My security, anyway, he thought. He held his breath as he watched the ceiling. The computer assumed that the voice speaking into this console held sufficient authority to give this order, and did not require further identification. So far, the best thing about security on Robot City was its relative laxity. In a community of responsible positronic robots, the security measures had rarely been given a true challenge.

  The dianite in the ceiling opened and he drove the seat on up through the hole.

  Chapter 5

  A HAND ON A KEY

  ARIEL HAD ONLY two ideas for keeping Security 1K occupied. When it stood it front of her and started to step out, she forced herself to stand her ground. As she had expected, the influence of the First Law prevented it from forcing her aside, though in an emergency she doubted that it would have hesitated.

  The robot remained just inside the dianite wall, watching her from the darkness of its horizontal eyeslit.

  “I need to see Keymo,” she said. All she had in mind was to present a First Law problem and to speak as slowly and as long as she could. Derec would have to do the rest by getting inside and getting a key, if he could, as quickly as possible.

  “You may not enter this facility. Keymo is occupied.” If possible, its voice was even more formal than the usual robot speaking voice. “May I help you?”

  “This is a First Law problem.” She started to say more, then remembered that she was stalling.

  The robot waited until it was clear that she was not going to explain without prompting. “What is this problem?”

  “A total of five humans are in Robot City.”

  “Yes? You are the one called Katherine?”

  “I used to be. My real name is Ariel.”

  “Another is called Derec.”

  “That’s right.”

  “What is the First Law problem?”

  Ariel smiled to herself. That was the kind of stalling she wanted. What she had to do was be just a little illogical or unclear, forcing it to ask questions for clarification.

  “Three other humans are here.”

  “Who are they?”

  “We don’t know.”

  “Who is in danger?”

  “Derec and I are in potential danger.”

  “What danger is this?”

  “Well—humans don’t have to obey the First Law. So these other three could be dangerous to us.”

  “In what way?”

  “Uh, I’m not sure.”

  “There is no clear danger.” The robot took a step backward as a prelude to resealing the wall.

  “How much experience have you had with humans?” She called quickly. “Do you know their history with each other?”

  “No.” It stopped where it was, now more shadowed inside the dome. “I have had only two previous experiences with a human.”

  “So! You don’t know how they fight all the time? And have a history of wars and killing each other?”

  “Some human history is available in the central computer library. In what way does this relate to the First Law problem?” The robot stepped forward again to its previous spot.

  “Well, unknown humans are generally considered dangerous. You can never tell what they’ll do or why.”

  “For what reason?”

  “Just because they’re unknown. We have to be careful. This is a normal part of being human, especially when you’re traveling around in unfamiliar places.”

  “You consider unidentified humans to be dangerous until more information is available?”

  “Yes! Yeah, that’s it.”

  “No humans are in this facility. What do you need with Keymo for your First Law problem?”

  “Keymo is in charge of making teleportation devices. This is the only way we know of to leave Robot City.”

  “You are in no clear danger. Therefore, no First Law problem pertains. Teleportation devices are not required.”

  “We could be killed or injured by surprise. This has happened to people many times. Your failure to help now is a First Law violation.”

  Ariel saw the robot hesitate, and suddenly realized that she might win this argument, let alone succeed in stalling. “Keymo is in charge of this facility, correct? Let Keymo decide.”

  The
robot looked at her. “I am equipped to make decisions of this kind. Keymo does not have greater authority to judge and resolve a First Law problem than I have.”

  “So you agree that this is a First Law problem. “ She made it statement, not a question.

  ‘That is not clear.”

  “But Keymo does have authority over the Key to Perihelion and the other keys. You don’t have that.

  Since the resolution of the problem requires my getting a hold of the Key—or, keys, rather—Keymo is the one I must consult.”

  “You have not proven that you are in danger.”

  Shuddering with frustration, she drew in a long, deep breath. “Listen to me! I believe we may be in danger! I know a lot more about people than you do! You don’t know enough about humans to judge if we’re in danger!” She stared at him in fury, breathing hard.

  At last the robot stepped back, making room for her. “We shall consult Keymo.”

  She smiled with relief and followed him inside the building. The robot led her through a winding route around machines of various sizes and types, none of which were familiar to her. She wanted to look around for Derec, but was afraid to be obvious about it. He could easily be lost among all the units here.

  Within the range of the cautious glances she took, he was nowhere in sight.

  Keymo was standing over its console on the floor when they approached.

  “This human claims to have a First Law problem,” said Security 1K. “One that only you can resolve.”

  “You are the one called Katherine?”

  “I used to be. My new name is Ariel.”

  “I understand. My designation was recently changed, also. What is the nature of this First Law problem?”

  “Here we go again,” she muttered to herself. “Look—how much do you know about human history?

  About how humans kill each other all the time and fight wars and stuff?”

  Derec looked up apprehensively as the seat carried him into the dimmer light of the second story. He was most worried about being challenged by a robot up here, but as the seat clicked into place and the dianite solidified beneath it, he found himself standing behind a curved metal screen. On one side, pale orange light glowed from a doorway in the screen. Otherwise, the entire length of the short wall—the area with lift access—was screened off.

  He slid out of the seat and carefully peeked around the edge of the doorway.

  Only one robot was in the area. It stood in the foreground watching as a tray was extended toward it from inside a block housing about two meters high. The tray held an array of shining silver rectangles about five centimeters by fifteen—exactly the appearance of the original Key of Perihelion.

  Derec guessed that the unit expelling the tray had just completed the final integration and cooling. As he watched, the robot picked up one key by itself and slid it into a slot in another unit. It then studied the readouts. It looked like a testing procedure.

  Another wall, which sealed off the bulk of this level, was just beyond the block housing. Derec heard a muted hum from beyond it. The pale orange light was thrown by a series of monitors high on this wall, and cast a series of faint, overlapping shadows.

  At the moment, he had nothing to do but watch. If his entry had been unnoticed downstairs, he was not pressed for time. Getting a key by stealth might be easier up here than by launching into another frustrating debate about the Laws.

  Apparently, the entry into hyperspace was behind the big wall. It did not look especially strong, but the minimalist engineering characteristic of the Avery robots made all appearances deceiving. He would not have been surprised to find the barrier very solid and the sound beyond it absolutely deafening.

  The robot took the key from the testing unit, or whatever it was, then punched a button and set it down on the tray. It stood with its back to Derec as it picked up another key and inserted it. At no time had the robot looked away from the readouts and keys, or moved its feet from their positions.

  With the sound from beyond the wall as camouflage, Derec thought he just might be able to move without being noticed. He kept an eye on the robot as he slid around the edge of the doorway and crept behind it. The robot continued to watch the monitors.

  The key that had already been tested glinted alone at one end of the tray. Derec stood directly behind the robot, waiting to see the robot’s pattern of movement again. When the next key was ejected, the robot laid it next to the previous one and inserted a third into the unit it faced.

  Derec reached very slowly for one of the tested keys, keeping his eyes on the robot for any sign of unexpected movement. The robot did not look away from the readouts. Derec picked up one of the keys and slowly began to withdraw his arm.

  Just as he noticed that his arm was throwing a faint shadow across the monitors, the robot whirled and grabbed his throat in a hard squeeze. He began to choke, his tongue out and his eyes bulging.

  A second later, the pressure was immediately released on his throat, but as he bent forward, gasping, the robot took a firm, though gentler, grip on his arm. He still held the key behind his back.

  “Humans are more fragile than robots,” said the robot apologetically. It was quivering with the internal trauma caused by a potential violation of the First Law. “I did not realize immediately that the First Law pertained. Not until I turned and saw you. You are unharmed?” Its speech was slow.

  Derec nodded, swallowing. “Yeah.”

  The robot was still shaking and hesitant. “Identify yourself and your purpose here.”

  “My name is Derec. And I’m okay, so don’t short-circuit yourself. Uh—”

  “Security 1K did not notify me of your entry. This is a restricted area. Show your clearance.”

  “I don’t have any. I’ll just go.” Derec turned, but the robot did not relinquish his arm.

  “Return the key in your hand.”

  Derec couldn’t think of an argument, so he held out the key, smiling weakly. The robot took it. Then the robot looked at a light blinking on one of the monitors.

  “We shall go downstairs,” it said. “I believe your presence here has been noted. In any case, that warning light summons all who are up here to report to Keymo.”

  “You might take a key with you.” Derec reached around the robot for one. As he had expected, the robot grasped his arm. Derec feigned a shot of pain, wincing theatrically and twisting around so that he backed into the tray. As the robot pried one key out of his hand, he reached behind him with the other hand and palmed the other key that had already been tested.

  Without further conversation, the robot escorted Derec around the screen to the security seat. It had Derec sit down, while it stood on some kind of bar beneath the seat. The floor opened, and they rode down together. Derec could see Security 1K standing with Ariel at Keymo’s desk.

  She gave him a questioning look as he was half pulled over to the console. He suppressed a smile with considerable effort. These robots were too sharp to miss any hint of collusion between them. He broke eye contact with her.

  Before Keymo could speak, Derec decided to throw the robot off guard by taking the offensive.

  “How did you know I was up there?”

  “Both my console and the security console register heat generation and weight on each floor. However, I did not notice your presence immediately, as I had been distracted by discussions of possible imperatives under the Laws of Robotics.” Keymo nodded toward Ariel and Security 1K. Then it addressed the robot still holding Derec’s arm. “Process 12K, you may release your grip. Report what transpired in your jurisdiction.”

  “The human came up behind me and reached for one of the finished keys,” said the robot from the upper floor. “He did this twice. I retrieved the key in both cases and retrieved them. When I first apprehended him, I did not know that the First Law pertained to the situation. I almost harmed him.”

  “We are speaking aloud for your benefit,” Keymo said to Derec and Ariel. “On this ma
tter of the First Law, you should be informed of our discussion. Derec, you are unharmed?”

  “Uh, yeah. I’m okay.” Derec, now free of Process 12K’s grasp, moved away from him slightly. He had been feeling the key in his hand, and remembering the way it worked. Carefully, he shifted it around, pushing each corner of the key in turn. A button appeared on the last corner, on the side facing him.

  Now he had to get Ariel to grip the key, or at least hold onto him, so he could push the button. With the robots so close, they wouldn’t get more than one chance. Wherever the key took them would be an escape from the immediate scene; he would have to gamble that it was set for a safe place. After that, they could plan their next move.

  “Ariel has claimed that a First Law problem exists,” said Keymo. “Do you agree that you two are in danger from unknown humans present on the planet?”

  “Uh—” Derec caught her slight nod. “Yeah. You bet. We have no idea who they are.”

  “Neither of you has presented any specific danger or any evidence of one,” said Keymo. “Do you have any evidence of danger that she does not possess?”

  “Well...no.” Derec shrugged slightly and started shuffling his feet. He leaned a little closer to Process 12K. As he had hoped, Process 12K moved away slightly. Derec stepped in front of him, so that only Security 1K stood between Ariel and him. “I agree with her, though. People can be very dangerous

  —especially strangers. We would be a lot safer getting off this planet.”

  “You will have more contact with humans off this planet than you have here,” said Keymo. “Most of them will, of course, be strangers, and therefore dangerous by your description. Here you have an entire population of robots that cannot allow you to come to harm.”

  “Only if you can protect us,” said Ariel.

  “Elsewhere,” said Keymo, “you will have only yourselves to rely upon for safety.”

  “Now listen to her,” said Derec. He reached in front of Security 1K to take her arm and pulled her to him. “The two of us are isolated here....” He was just talking as a distraction, while he got an arm around her and pulled one of her arms behind her back. He placed her hand, behind both their backs, on the key with his.