Just as it was also possible that the Three Laws had been a significant factor, that once the ebony had embarked on a course of logic, it had followed it rigorously to an end predestined for tragedy.
"Tell me," Derec said, making an effort to stand up straight, "do you ever take the initiative when it comes to identifying problems?"
"If you mean can I pinpoint a potential glitch before central is aware, then the answer is yes. Those occasions, however, are quite rare and often quite obvious."
"They're obvious if you're not central.”
“Sir?"
"And do you ever take the initiative in solving problems?"
"I have, and central has had to fine-tune them, too.”
“But not all the time."
"I see I must be exact about this. Central has only fine-tuned three out of forty-seven of my solutions. Have I satisfied you so far with my answers, sir?"
"Forty-seven? That's a lot of problems, and those are only the ones you found on your own."
"Robot City is young, sir. There will doubtlessly be many glitches in the system before the city is operating at one hundred percent efficiency."
"And you're certainly going to do your bit, aren't you?”
“I can do nothing else, sir."
Derec nodded. "I see. By the way, what's your name?”
“Canute."
"Tell me, Canute, how would you rate-efficiency-wise-a robot that deliberately took it upon itself to disconnect a comrade?"
"Sir, it would have to be seriously examined. Though of course it is possible that the First or Second Law would permit such an action. ".
"Are you aware that someone, presumably a robot, brutally disconnected Lucius last night? Damaged him beyond all hope of repair?"
"Of course I am aware. News travels fast over the comlink."
"So you heard about it from other robots first?"
"Sir, why not ask me outright if I was the robot responsible? You know I am forbidden to lie."
Canute's words were like a bucket of cold water thrown into Derec's face. Their forthrightness startled him. "I-I-how did you know I was leading up to that?"
"It seemed obvious from your line of questioning.”
“I see you have advanced deductive abilities.”
“It is a prerequisite for my line of work."
Hmmm. I think you just may be the kind of robot I need,Derec thought. Putting aside his feelings for Lucius with a force of will, he thought of Ariel, and of the possibility that Canute, who made its intuitive leaps from a solidly practical framework, would be just the one to help him diagnose and cure her disease. Once its mental frames of reference could be adjusted, that is.
The trick would be to get it to readjust-to admit the gravity of its error-without causing positronic burnout in the process. For in that eventuality, Canute wouldn't be able to repair a paper clip.
So the direct approach was out. Besides, Derec had a promise to keep.
"Canute, you may find this hard to believe, but I've been looking for a model like you."
"Sir?"
"Yes, I have a specific type of building in mind that I'd like to see erected nearby. I'd also like it as permanent as possible. I think its presence will do much to enrich life here in Robot City."
"Then I am eager to do whatever you ask. What type of building did you have in mind?"
"An open-air theatre-a playhouse. I'll give you the details later, but I want to see functional elaboration in the design. I want you to generate your notions of some of the details.In fact, I insist on it. Understand?"
"Yes," said Canute, lowering its head slightly. "May I ask why you want to have a theatre erected?"
"Have you ever heard of Hamlet?"
Chapter 6. The World Of The Play
Canute was right about one thing: news travels fast at comlink speed. Returning from Circuit Breaker Square to his quarters, Derec hadn't even gotten through the door before Mandelbrot began talking.
"Master, where have you been? I have been besieged by requests to assist you in your latest project. I fear that, lacking sufficient information, I was forced to tell everyone to wait. I hope that was all right."
"It was," said Derec, lying down on the couch. "Where's Ariel?"
"She went to her room. She mumbled something about mopping up on her Shakespeare."
"I think you mean brushing up.”
“If you say so."
"You're not very comfortable with human idioms, are you, Mandelbrot?"
"I can be neither comfortable nor uncomfortable conversing with them. But I take you to mean it is sometimes difficult for me to translate their peculiar surface meanings in practical terms. For instance, how do you brush up someone who is ancient history? In that respect, I do sometimes have problems communicating. But about this project…"
"All right, I'll tell you. But wait-where's Wolruf?”
“With Miss Ariel. I think Wolruf is performing some task. Forgive me if I am again misphrasing it, but she is being Miss Ariel's line coach."
"Ssh. Quiet. Listen."
And Derec heard, very softly, through the closed door, Ariel speaking the words, "Oh, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown! The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue, sword; the expectancy and rose of the fair state, the glass of fashion and the mould of form, the observed of all observers, is, er, ah-"
"Kwei-it," said Wolruf in a low volume that wasn't hushed enough to be called a whisper, but was probably as close to one as she could manage.
"Quite, quite down!" Ariel finished enthusiastically.
"Hmm, it seems my second bit of casting is almost complete," said Derec.
"Casting, master?" said Mandelbrot. "You are having a cast made? Have you injured yourself?"
"No, not at all," Derec replied, laughing.
"I must say, it seemed you were hiding your suffering awfully well."
"It's my hobby. Listen, tell me what you would do with the robot that dismantled Lucius." The sudden shock of the image of the robot lying there, behind the closed door to his office, sent a tremor of loss and grief through Derec's veins. And of terror, too. He'd never before thought robots were things that could die. He'd always assumed they were immortal in a way that life could never be.
"Forgive me, master, but I would think nothing of it. I would merely follow your instructions."
"And what if I wasn't around to give you instructions? What if you had to decide when you were on your own?"
"First, I would solicit the robot's explanation, and learn of any justifications for its actions, if any, it may have had, particularly as they involved its interpretation of the Three Laws."
"But there is no law against a robot harming another robot."
"Of course, and the robot in question may have been operating on instructions from a human. But I gather such is not the case here.”
“Well, yes…”
“So after having received the explanation, I would take the safest course and have the robot closed down until the proper repairs could be administered, or until instructions could be received from human sources."
"That could take a long time, particularly here on Robot City."
"No harm would be done. Upon reactivation, if that is what is decided upon, the robot would behave as if it had just been shut down for a tune-up the day before."
"Hmm. But what if there was something you needed from the robot?"
"Then that would depend on what you needed, and how badly you needed it."
"I'm glad you feel that way, not that you can feel, I know, but it makes me feel better to know your logic circuits concur with some of this…" And he explained to Mandelbrot his theory that a creative robot with a scientific bent might be able to make a diagnostic breakthrough to help Ariel.