Robots and Empire (Page 78)

"We can’t leave that decision to the candidate. We have to – "

"Come, Dr. Amadiro, this is no way to begin a relationship. Since you’ve had me under observation every moment since I left you last, I can’t believe you haven’t studied my record thoroughly. As a result, you must know I qualify. If, for any reason, you felt I did not qualify, you would have no hope whatever that I would be ingenious enough to work out a plan for the destruction of our particular Carthage and I wouldn’t be back here at your call."

For an instant, Amadiro felt a fire blaze within him. For that instant, he felt that even Earth’s destruction was not worth enduring this hectoring attitude from a child. But only for that instant. Then his sense of due proportion was back and he could even tell himself that a person so young, yet so bold and so icily sure of himself, was the kind of man he needed. Besides, he had studied Mandamus’s record and there was no question that he qualified for the Institute.

Amadiro said evenly (at some cost to his blood pressure), "You are right. You qualify."

"Then enroll me. I’m sure you have the necessary forms in your computer. You have but to enter my name, my school, my year of graduation, and whatever other statistical trivia you require and then sign your own name."

Without a word in reply, Amadiro turned to his computer. He entered the necessary information, retrieved the form, signed it, and handed it to Mandamus. "It is dated today. You are a fellow of the Institute."

Mandamus studied the paper, then handed it to one of his robots, who placed it in a small portfolio which he then placed under his ann.

"Thank you," said Mandamus, "it is most kind of you and I hope I will never fail you or cause you to regret this kind estimate you have given me of my abilities. That, however, leaves one more thing."

"Indeed? What?"

"Might we discuss the nature of the final reward – in case of success only, of course. Total success.

"Might we not leave that, more logically, to the point where total success is achieved or is reasonably close to being achieved?"

"As a matter of rationality, yes. But I am a creature of dreams as well as of reason. I would like to dream a little.

"Well," said Amadiro, "what is it you would like to dream?"

"It seems to me, Dr. Amadiro, that Dr. Fastolfe is now by no means well. He has lived long and cannot stave off death for many more years."

"And if so?"

"Once he dies, your party will become more aggressive and the more lukewarm members of Fastolfe’s party will find it expedient to change allegiance, perhaps. The next election, without Fastolfe, will surely be yours."

"It is possible. And if so?"

"You will become the de facto leader of the Council and the guide of Aurora’s foreign policy which would, in fact, mean the foreign policy of the Spacer worlds in general. And if my plans flourish, your direction will be so successful that the Council will scarcely fail to elect you Chairman at their earliest opportunity."

"Your dreams soar, young man. And if all you foresee were to come true, what then?"

"You would scarcely have time to run Aurora and the Robotics Institute, too. So I ask that when you finally decide to resign from your present position as the head of the Institute, you be prepared to support me as your successor to the post. You could scarcely expect to have your personal choice rejected."

Amadiro said, "There is such a thing as qualification for the post."

"I will qualify."

"Let us wait and see."

"I am willing to wait and see, but you will find that well before complete success is ours, you will wish to grant this request of mine. Please grow accustomed to the idea, therefore."

"All this before I hear a word," murmured Amadiro. "Well, you are a member of the Institute and I will strive to grow accustomed to your personal dream, but now let us have an end to preliminaries and tell me how you intend to destroy Earth."

Almost automatically, Amadiro made the sign that indicated to his robots that they were not to remember any part of the conversation. And Mandamus, with a small smile, did the same for his.

"Let us start then," said Mandamus.

But before he could speak further, Amadiro moved to the attack.

"Are you sure you’re not pro-Earth?"

Mandamus looked startled. "I am coming to you with a proposal to destroy Earth."

"And yet you are a descendant of the Solarian woman in the fifth generation, I understand."

"Yes, sir, it is on public record. What of that?"

"The Solarian woman is, and has been for a long time, a close associate – friend – protegee – of Fastolfe. I wonder you do not sympathize with his pro-Earth views, therefore."

"Because of my ancestry?" Mandamus seemed honestly astonished. For a moment, what might have been a flash of annoyance or even anger seemed to tighten his nostrils, but that vanished and he said quietly, "An equally longtime close associate – friend – protegee – of your own is Dr. Vasilia Fastolfe, who is Dr. Fastolfe’s daughter. She is a descendant in the first generation. I wonder she does not sympathize with his views."

"I have in the past also wondered," said Amadiro, "but she doesn’t sympathize with them and, in her case, I have ceased wondering."

"You may cease wondering in my case, too, sir. I am a Spacer and I want to see the Spacers in control of the Galaxy."

"Very well, then. Go on with the description of your plan."

Mandamus said, "I will, but – if you don’t mind – from the beginning.

"Dr. Amadiro, astronomers agree that there are millions of Earthlike planets in our Galaxy, planets on which human beings can live after necessary adjustments to the environment but without any need for geological terraforming. Their atmospheres are breathable, an ocean of water is present, the land and climate is suitable, life exists. Indeed, the atmospheres would not contain free oxygen without the presence of ocean plankton at the very least.