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.""Concerning what, friend Daneel?""I cannot help but wonder if indeed we have actually passed the crisis thatPartner Elijah spoke of so many decades ago.Is it, in actual fact, too latefor Spacer retaliation?""Why do you have these doubts, friend Daneel?"I have been made doubtful by the behavior of Dr.Mandamus in the course ofhis conversation with Madam Gladia."Giskard's gaze was fixed on Daneel for a few moments, and in the quiet theycould hear leaves rustling in the cool breeze.The clouds were breaking andthe sun would make its appearance soon.Their conversation, in its telegraphicfashion, had taken little time and Gladia, they knew, would not yet bewondering at their absence.Giskard said, "What was there in the conversation that would give you causefor uneasiness?"Daneel said, I have had the opportunity, on four separate occasions, toobserve Elijah Baley's handling of a puzzling problem.On each of those fouroccasions, I have noted the manner in which he managed to work out usefulconclusions from limited-and even misleading-information.I have since alwaystried, within my limitations, to think as he did."It seems to me, friend Daneel, you have done well in this respect.I havesaid you tend to think like a human being."You will have noticed, then, that Dr.Mandamus had two matters he wished todiscuss with Madam Gladia.He emphasized that fact himself.One was the matterof his own descent, whether from Elijah Baley or not.The second was therequest that Madam Gladia see a Settler and report on the event afterward.Ofthese, the second might be viewed as, a matter that would be important to theCouncil.The first would be a matter of importance only to himself."Giskard said, "Dr.Mandamus presented the matter of his descent as being ofimportance to Dr.Amadiro as well.""Then it would be a matter of personal importance to two people rather thanone, friend Giskard.It would still not be a matter of importance to theCouncil and, therefore, to the planet generally.""Proceed, then, friend Daneel."Page 59ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Yet the matter of state, as Dr.Mandamus himself referred to it, was takenup second, almost as an afterthought, and was disposed of almost at once.Indeed, it seemed scarcely something that required a personal visit.It mighthave been handled by holographic image by any official of the Council.On theother hand, Dr.Mandamus dealt with the matter of his own descent first,discussed it in great detail, and it was a matter that could have been handledonly by him and by no one else.""What is your conclusion, friend Daneel?""I believe that the matter of the Settler was seized upon by Dr.Mandamus asan excuse for a personal conversation with Madam Gladia, in order that hemight discuss his descent in privacy.It was the matter of his descent andnothing else that truly interested him.-Is there any way you can support thatconclusion, friend Giskard?"Aurora's sun had not yet emerged from the clouds and the faint glow ofGiskard's eyes was visible.He said, "The tension in Dr.Mandamus's mind wasindeed measurably stronger in the first part of the interview than in thesecond.That may serve as corroboration, perhaps, friend Daneel."Daneel said, "Then we must ask ourselves why the question of Dr.Mandamus'sdescent should be a matter of such importance to him."Giskard said, "Dr.Mandamus explained that.It is only by demonstrating thathe is not descended from Elijah Baley that his road to advancement is open.Dr.Amadiro, upon whose goodwill he is dependent, would turn against himabsolutely if he were a descendant of Mr.Baley.""So he said, friend Giskard, but what took place during the interview arguesagainst that.""Why do you say so? Please continue thinking like a human being, friendDaneel.I find it instructive."Daneel said gravely, "Thank you, friend Giskard.Did you note that not onestatement that Madam Gladia made concerning the impossibility of Dr.Mandamus's descent from Partner Elijah was considered convincing? In everycase, Dr.Mandamus said that Dr.Amadiro would not accept the statement."Yes and what do you deduce from that?""It seems to me that Dr.Mandamus was so convinced that Dr.Amadiro wouldaccept no argument against Elijah Baley an ancestor that one must wonder whyhe should have bothered to ask Madam Gladia about the matter.He apparentlyknew from the start that it would be pointless to do so.Page 60ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Perhaps, friend Daneel, but it is mere speculation.Can you supply apossible motive for his action, then?""I can.I believe he inquired as to his descent, not to convince animplacable Dr.Amadiro but to convince himself."In that case, why should he have mentioned Dr.Amadiro at all? Why not simplyhave said, "I wish to know."A small smile passed over Daneel's face, a change of expression of which theother robot would have been incapable [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]