“If the First Law required you to perform the transplant, how can you blame yourselves?” Ariel asked. “That seems like a real contradiction. One that I wouldn’t expect from the logical mind of a robot.”
“The logical contradiction has only become evident now,” said Surgeon 1. “In the sequence of events as they unfolded, the First Law has made clear requirements of us, including our elimination. “
Derec looked at them helplessly, unable to think of an argument against their destruction that they had not countered already.
“Postpone your trip to the repair center,” Ariel suggested. “If you think it’s required, you can do it later. Right now, we really need your help, like we said.”
“That’s right,” said Derec quickly. “How about this? The First Law requires that you help us catch Jeff and, I don’t know -stop him somehow. Then you can destroy yourselves.”
The three robots hesitated long enough to reveal that this argument had carried some weight.
“Isn’t it your responsibility to help clean up the mess?” Ariel added, with a triumphant smile. “The Second Law requires that you follow our orders to help. Since you have never directly violated any of the Laws, including the First, you’re reliable enough for us.”
“This is acceptable to me,” said Research 1. “We shall retain the option of having our brains destroyed later, in any case.”
“I find it acceptable, also,” said Surgeon 1. “Unnecessary destruction of our brains would be an inefficient handling of material, energy, and experience. We should logically establish the necessity of this move beyond any doubt, with as much gathering of relevant evidence as possible.”
“Whew,” said Surgeon 2. The robot looked at Derec. “That is the human vernacular appropriate to the occasion, is it not?”
“Sure is.” Derec laughed in relief. “Okay. That problem is solved. Next problem. We want information from this guy about getting off the planet. You just want to make sure he can’t violate any of the Laws. What’s our plan of action?”
“You will have to take the lead in direct confrontation,” said Research 1. “ Any plans will have to take this into account. “
“What do you mean?” Ariel asked.
“Since we know that Jeff has a human brain,” said Surgeon 1, “we are subject to the Laws when dealing with him. We could not disobey his instructions, for instance, if he told us to leave him alone. Or worse, to forget that he exists at all.”
“Hold it,” said Ariel, holding up a hand. “You’re upset about his breaking the laws because he’s a robot, but now you say you have to obey the Laws where he’s concerned because he’s human. Aren’t you contradicting yourselves?”
“No,” said Research 1. “In regard to the Laws, he is both human and robot. We cannot deny him the combination of traits that we ourselves gave him. All the advantages are therefore his. This makes him very powerful.”
“What about that pattern search you told me you started?” Derec asked. “How were you going to catch him when you located him?”
“Our only hope was to talk him into cooperating. We could not use violence in contradiction to the Laws. However, he will at some point be in danger to his health. At that point, of course, we would be able to force our aid on him.”
“What kind of danger?” asked Ariel. “He’s got a robot body.”
“His robot body is powered by a standard energy system,” said Surgeon 2. “However, his organic brain requires nutrition and oxygen. We installed a container of vital nutrients and synthetic hormones in the lower portion of his head, and part of his neck, and a routing system to his brain. These chemicals are delivered to his brain through its existing circulatory system by synthetic blood. Oxygen is also delivered this way, supplied by the breaths he will take from time to time.”
“Understood so far,” said Derec. “Go on.”
“He can’t eat in the normal human sense. So his nutrient pack must be refilled at certain intervals. He does not know this.”
“He doesn’t? Why didn’t you tell him?” Ariel demanded.
“He ran away before we started briefing him. We wanted to test him first. We did not know he would leave before we could inform him of this.” Surgeon 2 looked at Research 1. “Since our tests were not complete, we do not know precisely how successful the transplant has been.”
“That is true,” said Research 1. “There are considerable unknowns regarding his health. That is why an interpretation of the First Law allows us to help you find him.”
“I’ve been thinking about a question Ariel asked me a while ago,” said Derec. “Do you think Jeff came here, to our residence, for a reason? Or was it just a random visit?”
“The odds against a human, such as he is, making a random visit to the only human dwelling in the city are too high to take seriously,” said Surgeon 2.
“Your use of human food smells to attract fellow humans here may have influenced him,” said Research 1. “He is not yet in need of nutrition. However, previous habits and the stimulation of the pleasure center in his brain by the food aromas may have created a desire to experience the smell and taste of human food.”
“I don’t suppose it would work a second time,” said Ariel. “Getting away seemed awfully important to him. If he can’t eat anyway, he wouldn’t really need to come back here.”
“A logical assumption,” said Research 1.
“All right, hold it,” said Derec. “I’d like to go at this in a straight line, if you don’t mind. As I see it, we have three problems. In order to get a hold of this guy Jeff, we have to locate him and identify him and grab him. Is this pattern search of yours going to capture him? How does it work?”
“It employs the entire robot population of Robot City,” said Research 1. “However, they do not have to leave their duties. We have set up a net of testing around the perimeter of the city, moving inward, that goes from one robot to the next. No robot will work with any other or allow any other to pass, unless the other robot can demonstrate the use of his comlink. Since Jeff does not have this ability, he will eventually be identified.”
“We could have built a radio system into his body,” said Surgeon 1. “It seemed an unnecessary contradiction to his human identity, so we chose not to do so.”
“Good thing,” said Derec. “It sounds like your search could take a long time, though. If he’s smart, and wants to escape notice, he can keep away from your search until the very last minute. And if he’s lucky, he might sneak through the ring as it closes. “
Surgeon 2 shook its head. Unlike most Avery robots, he seemed to like these gestures. “It is not a ring, but a solid circle. Even if he moves out into the previously tested area without being identified, he will still be challenged by every robot who sees him. The testing will not cease until we report that he has been detained.”
Derec nodded in approval. “Not bad. I still say it will take a while, unless he gets careless.”
“Agreed,” said Research 1. “It could take an extended period of time, but it will identify him without fail. Chances of his capture will be maximized if we have one of you, the humans, on hand t:» detain him, however. Otherwise, the Second Law will allow him to order us away unless a First Law imperative instructs us to override his orders.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Ariel turned her hands palm up and looked around at the three robots. “We can’t order him around any more than you can. And he’s stronger than you are.”
The robots were silent.
“We’ll worry about that later,” Derec decided. “The first job is to get him identified. Maybe we can think of a way to shortcut the search process.”