Robots and Empire (Page 45)

She said to the robot quickly, with a note of compulsion, edging her voice, "Where are your masters?"

It was useless, however, to try to hurry or alarm a robot or to catch it off-guard. It said, without any sign of perturbation. "They are gone, madam."

"Where have they gone?"

"I don’t know, madam. I was not told."

"Which of you knows?"

There was a complete silence.

Gladia said, "Is there any robot on the estate who would know?"

The robot said, "I do not know of any, madam."

"Did the masters take robots with them?"

"Yes, madam."

"Yet they didn’t take you. Why do you remain behind?"

"To do our work, madam."

"Yet you stand here and do nothing. Is that work?"

"We guard the estate from those from outside, madam."

"Such as we?"

"Yes, madam."

"But here we are and yet you still do nothing. Why is that?"

"We observe, madam. We have no further orders."

"Have you reported your observations?"

"Yes, madam."

"To whom?"

"To the overseer, madam."

"Where is the overseer?"

"In the mansion, madam."

"Ah." Gladia turned and walked briskly back to D.G. Daneel followed.

"Well?" said D.G. He was holding both weapons at the ready, but put them back in their holsters as they returned. Gladia shook her head. "Nothing. No robot knows me. No robot, I’m sure, knows where the Solarians have gone. But they report to an overseer."

"An overseer?"

"On Aurora and the other Spacer worlds, the overseer on large estates with numerous robots is some human whose profession it is to organize and direct groups of working robots in the fields, mines, and industrial establishments."

"Then there are Solarians left behind?"

Gladia shook her head. "Solaria is an exception. The ratio of robots to human beings has always been so high that it has not been the custom to assign a man or woman to oversee the robots. That job has been done by another robot, one that is specially programmed."

"Then there is a robot in that mansion" – D.G. nodded with his head – "who is more advanced than these and who might profitably be questioned."

"Perhaps, but I am not certain it is safe to attempt to go into the mansion."

D.G. said sardoncially, "It is only an – other robot."

"The mansion may be booby-trapped."

"This field may be booby-trapped."

Gladia said, "It would be better to send one of the robots to the mansion to tell the overseer that human beings wish to speak to him."

D.G. said, "That will not be necessary. That job has apparently been done already. The overseer is emerging and is neither a robot nor a ‘him.’ What I see is a human female."

Gladia looked up in astonishment. Advancing rapidly toward them was a tall, well-formed, and exceedingly attractive woman. Even at a distance, there was no doubt whatever as to her sex.

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D.G. smiled broadly. He seemed to be straightening himself a bit, squaring his shoulders, throwing them back. One hand went lightly to his beard, as though to make sure it was sleek and smooth.

Gladia looked at him with disfavor. She said, "That is not a Solarian woman."

"How can you tell?" said D.G.

"No Solarian woman would allow herself to be seen so freely by other human beings. Seen, not viewed."

"I know the distinction, my lady. Yet you allow me to see you."

"I have lived over twenty decades on Aurora. Even so I have enough Solarian left in me still not to appear to others like that."

"She has a great deal to display, madam. I would say she is taller than I am and as beautiful as a sunset."

The overseer had stopped twenty meters short of their position and the robots had moved aside so that none of them remained between the woman on one side and the three from the ship on the other.

D.G. said, "Customs can change in twenty decades."

"Not something as basic as the Solarian dislike of human contact," said Gladia sharply. "Not in two hundred decades." She had slipped into her Solarian twang again.

"I think you underestimate social plasticity. Still, Solarian or not, I presume she’s a Spacer – and if there are other Spacers like that, I’m all for peaceful coexistence."

Gladia’s look of disapproval deepened. "Well, do you intend to stand and gaze in that fashion for the next hour or two? Don’t you want me to question the woman?"

D.G. started and turned to look at Gladia with distinct annoyance. "You question the robots, as you’ve done. I question the human beings."

"Especially the females, I suppose."

"I wouldn’t like to boast, but – "

"It is a subject on which I have never known a man who didn’t."

Daneel interposed, "I do not think the woman will wait longer. If you wish to retain the initiative, Captain, approach her now. I will follow, as I did with Madam Gladia."

"I scarcely need the protection," said D.G. brusquely.

"You are a human being and I must not, through inaction, allow harm to come to you."

D.G. walked forward briskly, Daneel following. Gladia, reluctant to remain behind alone, advanced a bit tentatively.

The overseer watched quietly. She wore a smooth white robe that reached down to mid-thigh and was belted at the waist. It showed a deep and inviting cleavage and her nipples were clearly visible against the thin material of the robe. There was no indication that she was wearing anything else but a pair of shoes.