Isaac Asimov's - Robots in Time 4 - Dictator

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ISAAC ASIMOV’S
ROBOTS
IN TIME
by
WILLIAM F. WU
THE LAWS OF ROBOTICS
1.
A robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict
with the First Law.
3.
A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the
First or Second Law.
ISAAC ASIMOV’S
ROBOTS
IN TIME
DICTATOR
WILLIAM F. WU
Copyright © 1994
Databank by Matt Elson
This is dedicated to
Alfred Bohung Wu,
my cousin, who is even more overeducated than I am
Special thanks are due in the writing of this novel to Dr. William Q. Wu and Cecile F. Wu, my
parents, for indulging my lifelong interest in history; Ricia Mainhardt; John Betancourt and Byron
Preiss; and Bridgett and Marty Marquardt.
1
R. Hunter eased his muscular six and a half feet into the office chair. As usual, he looked
northern European, with short blond hair and blue eyes, though he could change his shape and
appearance at will. The humans on his team were all due to meet him here shortly.
Jane Maynard, the roboticist, and Steve Chang, the team’s general assistant, were having
breakfast. Hunter had wanted them to have a solid night’s sleep. The team had returned only
yesterday from the German rebellion against the Roman Empire in A.D. 9. During the evening, Hunter
had arranged to hire an expert historian named Judy Taub for their next mission. She had arrived a
short time ago and was taking a few free minutes to see the sights around Mojave Center before
rejoining Hunter.
Hunter was a robot who had been especially designed and built to lead the search for Mojave Center
Governor, the missing Governor robot. MC Governor, by contrast, was an experimental gestalt robot
who was supposed to be running the underground desert city of Mojave Center. Instead, he had
separated into his six component gestalt humaniform robots and vanished.
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Each of the gestalt robots had fled back in time to a different era. Hunter and his team of humans
had made three journeys in pursuit of them and had returned the first three components to the
office of MC Governor, where they stood merged and shut down, waiting for the other three.
However, Hunter had to report to the Governor Robot Oversight Committee on his progress after each
mission. He had already requested that the city computer call the four members of the Committee
for him.
“Hunter, city computer calling. I have the Governor Robot Oversight Committee on a conference call
for you.”
“Please connect me.”
Split portrait shots of the four faces of the Committee members appeared on Hunter’s internal
video screen. Everyone exchanged greetings. Then Hunter began his report.
“MC 3 has been joined to MC 1 and MC 2,” said Hunter.
“I can hardly believe it,” said Dr. Redfield, the tall blonde. “So fast? You’re doing a very fine
job.”
“It is not complete yet, of course,” said Hunter soberly. “I cannot guarantee that the remaining
searches will not take longer.”
“I understand,” said Dr. Redfield.
“Where did you locate MC 3?” Dr. Chin shook long black hair out of her face.
“In central Europe,” said Hunter. He hoped he would never have to tell them about the time travel
device and so always tried to be vague in his answers to the Committee. Since he was performing
his duties acceptably, they had not argued with him. “Naturally, all three gestalt robots that are
in custody have been placed in a secure location.”
“You’re as efficient as usual,” said Professor Post, his smile bright in his black beard. “What
information do you have about your next mission?”
“For MC 4, I have a lead in Eastern Europe at this time,” said Hunter.
“Eastern Europe?” Dr. Chin raised her eyebrows. “So close to the site of MC 3’s hiding place?”
“This is the information I have,” said Hunter carefully. “I assume it is correct.”
“You have remained on a very tight schedule,” said Dr. Khanna, a native of India. “You have
retrieved one missing gestalt robot each day since you began. I look forward to seeing the
completion of your duties. Personally, however, I would still like a report on your activities to
date.”
“As I said before, no guarantee of consistent future results can be made,” said Hunter. He
deliberately answered only Dr. Khanna’s first concern.
“Come now,” said Dr. Khanna. “Suppose we do not ask for a guarantee, but merely a prediction. Do
you have any reason to believe that the next mission, for instance, will be more difficult than
the previous ones?”
“I consider each mission to be a blank slate,” said Hunter. “The specific answer to your question
is ‘no,’ but I have virtually no knowledge of what I shall face.”
“You’re very cautious, as always,” said Dr. Chin. “I’m sure that’s fine with us. Good luck.”
“Yes, Hunter,” said Dr. Redfield quickly. “We are not pressuring you.”
“I should begin the next mission,” said Hunter. “If you have no more questions, I shall get
started.”
“Of course,” said Professor Post. “Good hunting.”
“I am not ready to sign off,” said Dr. Khanna suddenly. “I still wish to hear a report on your
activities to date. Is there some reason you will not give it?”
“I am seeking the highest efficiency possible,” Hunter said carefully. Privately, that meant
concealing the existence of time travel; he felt that widespread knowledge of it would harm
humanity as a whole, so his adherence to the First Law would not allow him to reveal it.
“Come on, Dr. Khanna,” said Dr. Chin wearily. “We should let him get back to work. Good-bye,
Hunter.”
Dr. Khanna disconnected abruptly, without speaking.
As Hunter broke his connection, Steve and Jane came into the office.
“Morning, Hunter,” said Steve cheerfully. “What’s next on the agenda?”
“Good morning,” said Jane, with a smile. Highlights in her long brown hair brightened the little
room. “I guess we’re all ready.”
“Good morning,” said Hunter. He looked past Jane and saw that Judy Taub was also coming to the
door of the office.
“Judy Taub, Steve Chang and Jane Maynard.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Judy was short, with curly brown hair. She shook hands with them both. “The
history of the old Soviet Union is my field. The Stalin regime, including of course World War II,
is my particular specialty.”
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“This will be the most recent period we’ve visited,” said Jane. “Its society will be the most
complex, I imagine.”
“If they didn’t have robots, our search is going to be about the same no matter what,” said Steve.
“I arranged for all three of you to have your inoculations this morning,” said Hunter. “You have
taken them?”
“Yes,” said Judy.
“Of course,” said Jane.
“Yeah.” Steve nodded. “Hunter, have you briefed Judy already?”
“I have briefed her about Mojave Center Governor and the gestalt robots. Also, of course, I told
her we are going back to Moscow in 1941.”
“And he swore me to secrecy,” Judy added, with an easy grin. “About the time travel. But it’s
exciting. I can hardly wait to try it.”
“I have not yet explained the miniaturization of the component robots to her,” Hunter added.
“Perhaps Jane can do it most efficiently.”
“Miniaturization?” Judy turned to Jane.
“I suppose the easiest way to explain the miniaturization is in terms of the Laws of Robotics,”
said Jane. “The Third Law of Robotics says, ‘A robot must protect its own existence, as long as
such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.’ “
“Yes, I know the principle, if not the exact wording,” said Judy. “But what about this
miniaturization?”
“The reasoning behind it goes like this,” said Jane. “MC Governor is the only one of the
experimental Governor robots that did not shut down due to a malfunction. The Governor Robot
Oversight Committee needs Hunter—and us—to restore MC Governor so they can figure out what caused
the malfunction of the others.”
“Yes, Hunter told me that part.”
“But the Third Law drove MC Governor to split into his component robots and flee to avoid being
dismantled during the investigation.”
“Yeah...that’s why they ran away to different times in history. Go on.”
“Well, the component robots also used the time travel process to miniaturize themselves to
microscopic size,” Jane said, watching for Judy’s reaction.
“Really? I didn’t know that was possible.” Judy looked around at them all in surprise.
“Well, it wasn’t, until MC Governor developed the process himself. The component robots apparently
wanted to avoid receiving any instructions from humans. Even MC 1, who went back to the dinosaur
age, was anticipating that he would survive into the human era. The Second Law of Robotics says,
‘A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict
with the First Law.’ “
“So when they became microscopic, they were invisible to humans,” Steve added. “That was the
important part to the component robots.”
“And so no one would give them any orders. Okay.” Judy nodded. “Then what?”
“The process was flawed,” said Jane. “Each gestalt component robot returns to his full, normal
size eventually. When he does, the Laws of Robotics will drive him to behave in certain
ways—saving humans from harm, following their instructions, and saving themselves when they
can—and so each robot runs the risk of changing history.”
“A very strong likelihood, in Hunter’s opinion,” Steve added with a grin.
Hunter nodded but waited patiently for Jane to finish her explanation.
“Yes, I see,” said Judy. “The First Law, in particular. I remember it now. The First Law says, ‘A
robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.’ “
“Very good,” said Jane. “That’s one reason it’s so urgent for us to go back and get these robots
before they change anything.”
“Only one reason? Are there more?”
“Yes,” said Hunter. “This must remain private among us, because we hope to undo this event. Have
you heard on the news about the explosion in Russia?”
“I heard something on my flight here early this morning—trouble in Moscow?”
“Yes,” said Hunter. “More than ordinary trouble. A nuclear explosion has occurred.”
“A nuclear explosion?” Judy’s eyes widened suddenly. “And that has something to do with our trip
back to Moscow in 1941?”
“Exactly,” said Hunter. “We have learned that when the gestalt robots return to the approximate
time at which they left, an instability created by their flawed miniaturization causes them to
explode with nuclear force.”
“The approximate time? Not the exact time?”
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“The gestalt robots left a couple of days ago,” said Hunter. “Apparently the instability is so
unpredictable that a few days’ worth of uncertainty is involved.”
“I see. Now I definitely get the picture.” She nodded gravely. “Somehow or other, you figured out
that the next component robot will return to full size in 1941. So we’re going back there to get
him before he can change history—and before he can explode in our own time.”
“You got it,” said Steve.
“But why did these component robots go all over the world?” Judy asked. “Why bother? Why not just
go microscopic right where they were? If they expected to remain that way, what difference would
it make? No human could find them anyway.”
“Each component robot specialized in certain areas within MC Governor to run the city,” said Jane.
“I believe their specialities influenced their choice of where to hide, even though they never
expected to participate in human affairs again.”
“How was MC 4 influenced?”
“I found out that MC 4 was in charge of ethics and morality as applied to the society of Mojave
Center. I believe he was drawn to this era because of the tyranny of both Stalin and Hitler.”
“I agree,” said Hunter. “Judy, is this review sufficient for now?”
“Uh—yes. I’m still absorbing it all.”
“We should move to the Bohung Institute,” said Hunter. “During the night, I arranged to have our
period clothing and belongings prepared. I left them there for Judy to examine. You have completed
your sleep courses in the pertinent languages?”
“Yes,” said Jane.
“Let’s go,” said Steve.
Hunter called for a Security vehicle and drove it through the smooth, clean streets of Mojave
Center. Broad avenues and narrower side streets ran throughout the underground city, connected by
ramps to different levels. Robots drove various sorts of vehicles up and down the streets on their
maintenance duties; human pedestrians strolled quietly past the shops and office buildings. The
city continued to function normally, its occupants unaware of Hunter’s mission.
Hunter stopped outside the front doors of the Bohung Institute. The entire Bohung Institute had
been closed and guarded by a detail of Security robots under Hunter’s orders. Inside the
Institute, Hunter led the team to Room F-12.
This was a large room designed primarily to house an opaque sphere about fifteen meters in
diameter. The remainder of the room was lined with countertops. The counters were occupied by
computers, monitors, a communications console, and miscellaneous office items.
“Judy is fluent in both Russian and German,” said Hunter. “However, I have not yet asked—Steve and
Jane, were your sleep courses in those languages effective last night?”
“Sure,” said Steve, with a smirk. “la.”
“Da,” said Jane. “They worked fine.”
“Good. I took the data from the city computer myself.” Hunter pointed to the clothes and shoes
neatly piled on the counter. “Judy, would you look at those for authenticity before we dress?”
“Of course.”
“And we shall all take back a certain amount of Soviet currency from that time,” said Hunter. “I
shall pass it out when everyone is dressed.”
One by one, Judy shook out the heavy winter clothing. Hunter and Steve had brown wool slacks and
long black wool coats, with white cotton shirts, singlets, socks, and underwear. Judy and Jane had
dark blue wool dresses, long black coats, scarves, and white cotton underwear. Gloves, black
leather belts, and shoes completed their wardrobe.
“The styles are good,” said Judy, peering closely at the stitching. “We can’t take synthetics,
though. Cotton thread?”
“Yes,” said Hunter.
“Same with the shoelaces?”
“Yes.”
She nodded and turned to Hunter. “The only oddity is that none of the clothes have labels. A label
would give the size of the clothing, maybe with a stamped or stenciled number.”
“How important is that?” Hunter asked. “Our earlier missions took place at times when such labels
were not used.”
“I doubt anyone will notice,” said Judy. “If they do, we must all remember to say that we didn’t
notice, or that they came off in the laundry.”
“Simple enough,” said Steve.
“How about the jewelry?” Jane pointed to three decorative metal lapel pins lying in a tray.
Judy picked one up. “This is more than just a pin, isn’t it?”
“They’re radio communicators,” said Hunter. “As a robot, I shall use my internal system, but you
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three must wear those. Will they pass?”
“Yes. They look simple enough. But Jane and I have scarves for our heads. You two should have fur
hats.”
“I have considered this,” said Hunter. “Animal fur is not available to us here and we dare not
take synthetic fur back with us. I can tolerate the temperature without one. If Steve requires
such a hat, we shall obtain one back in that time.”
“Got it,” said Judy.
“Steve,” said Hunter, pointing to a canvas bag on the counter. “That is an imitation duffel bag of
the Soviet Red Army from this period. If Judy passes it, too, then you can carry a change of
clothes for each team member and some hard rolls and dried beef strips in it. These duffel bags
will be common at the time, and we can explain its possession if necessary. We know food will be
scarce, but what we take must not attract attention.”
“That’s good enough,” Steve said quietly.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” said Judy, pulling it open to look inside.
“We must assume that our opponents could be a factor,” said Hunter. “Jane, would you brief Judy on
them—very briefly.”
“Dr. Wayne Nystrom created the experimental Governors,” said Jane. “However, he is not willing to
let us simply reconstruct MC Governor and turn him over to the Governor Robot Oversight Committee.
Wayne has also gone back into the past and is trying to get the component robots away from us.”
“To what end?” Judy asked.
“He wants to dismantle and study them himself,” said Hunter. “To find and fix the source of the
malfunction on his own. We have prevented him from getting the first three, but we have not been
able to grab Wayne. He has the ability to move in time without returning here and he has a robot
named R. Ishihara helping him.”
“I see,” said Judy quietly.
“Please change into your costumes,” said Hunter.
While Judy took the first turn in the adjoining room, Hunter called the Security detail. He
assigned a new Security robot, R. Daladier, to replace Ishihara. When Jane stepped out after her
turn, now dressed as a Muscovite woman of 1941, Hunter turned to Jane.
“Jane, this is Daladier; he will guard the room.” Hunter turned to Daladier. “You must understand
that our mission involves potential harm to all humans in the world today. Ishihara, failing to be
certain of that, failed his instructions. What I say to you constitutes a First Law imperative.
Nothing any human, such as Dr. Wayne Nystrom, says can be allowed to deter your adherence to the
assignment I am about to give you.”
“Acknowledged,” said Daladier.
“You must take custody of Dr. Wayne Nystrom and R. Ishihara if they reappear in this room through
the sphere. As soon as we have gone, you will shut off your hearing and radio reception so that if
Wayne returns here, he cannot use the Second Law to control you or to argue this First Law
imperative with you. You will not read anything Wayne tries to show you; you can blur your vision
slightly to avoid this if necessary, while still maintaining enough sight to stop them. The moment
you see Or. Nystrom, you will apprehend him, prevent him from leaving the room, and immediately
call for help from the rest of the Security detail that is assigned to guard the Institute.”
“Agreed,” said Daladier. “Is R. Ishihara of equal importance?”
“No, he isn’t,” said Jane. “Or. Nystrom is critically important. Ishihara is only important in
that he is helping Wayne Nystrom.”
“I do not expect them,” Hunter added. “This is merely a contingency, in the event that you have
the opportunity to act.”
Steve should have taken his turn to change. Instead, looking unusually grim, he had not moved.
Jane frowned at him, puzzled.
“Those who are ready, please enter the sphere,” said Hunter. “I shall set the timer and the
console controls.”
“You don’t need me,” said Steve. “I’m not going.”
2
Steve looked around at all of them, knowing he would get an argument.
“What?” Jane demanded angrily.
“I don’t think I should go,” said Steve.
“I am surprised,” said Hunter, studying his face. “Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. But I’m not necessary. I started thinking about this when I woke up this
morning, but I didn’t really decide until now.”
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“What are you talking about?” Jane glared at him. “Decide what?”
“You don’t need me this time. Look, in the Late Cretaceous, maintaining our camp out in the wild
was critical to survival. I made a real contribution. On the trip to Jamaica, well, I went because
I had agreed to—you could have managed without me.”
“Not after Rita took off on her own,” said Jane.
“And last time, as I think back on the trip to Roman Germany, we spent most of our energy trying
to find each other after we split up. I don’t think I added anything.”
“Not true,” said Hunter. “You helped carry our belongings and accompanied Jane, allowing us to
divide the team when it seemed advisable.”
“Well, anyhow, you really don’t need me in a more recent human era like 1941.” Steve turned to
Judy. “Aren’t all the necessities for human life going to be available in Moscow at that timer’
“Well, generally. But it’s in the middle of a war, where everyone has hardships—some of them
severe.” She shrugged. “It’s hard to say exactly what life will be like for us on a given day.”
“I can’t help with that. Anything that’s happened because of wartime conditions is beyond my help,
anyway. And Hunter can protect everyone. He can also carry the duffel bag more easily than I can.”
Jane looked at Hunter helplessly.
“It is true that your duties have changed with each mission,” said Hunter. “However, your help has
sometimes occurred in situations that were not predictable beforehand. You understand the
challenges and the constraints under which the team works. I believe we still need your
participation.”
Steve shook his head. “I doubt it. You can keep Jane and Judy with you and concentrate on MC 4 and
Wayne. I’d like to take my pay for the earlier trips and go on home.”
“How can you just walk away like this?” Jane shouted. “We’ve all been working together. And you
didn’t say anything at breakfast this morning to me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was still thinking about it,” said Steve, surprised at her vehemence.
“You’re betraying all of us.” She turned her back angrily and folded her arms.
“You hired me, remember? I didn’t take any special oath of loyalty. It’s a job. And you don’t need
me to do it.” Steve turned to Hunter. “You remember when you came up to my place on the mountain?”
“Of course,” said Hunter.
“You needed someone familiar with the outdoors to make and maintain camp for your team in the age
of dinosaurs. That was your basis for hiring me.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“You don’t need that in Moscow in 1941. And you didn’t really need it in Jamaica.”
“We needed you in Port Royal!” Jane whirled around again, making her long coat swirl. “Don’t you
remember what we did together—sneaking up on pirate ships and getting into those sword fights? And
jumping off to row ashore? What if I’d been alone, Steve?”
“You wouldn’t have been in that situation without me to start with,” said Steve. “I’m glad I
helped. But you know every mission is different.”
“Your skills could have been necessary in Germany of A.D. 9, as well,” said Hunter. “The
wilderness had many dangers. You did accompany Jane at important times. We did not utilize most of
your skills, I admit, but we might have needed them.”
“All right, granted,” said Steve. “But not in Moscow. Not in the time you’re going to visit now.”
“You’ve been part of this team!” Jane insisted angrily. “Your companionship and experience are
part of this team, too. How can you do this?”
Steve just shook his head. “I don’t like the idea of being tied down. Hunter, send someone up to
my shack with my pay. Judy, nice to meet you. Good luck, Hunter. Bye, Jane.” He turned toward the
door.
“Where are you going now?” Hunter asked.
“Back home, of course.”
“How will you get there?”
“That’s my worry.” Steve slipped out the door of the room. The door closed behind him and his
footsteps sounded quickly down the hall.
Hunter watched Steve go, reviewing his past behavior quickly. Nothing Steve had said or done
recently had revealed any desire to quit the team. He was as startled as Jane.
“What are we going to do?” Jane asked quietly.
“How important is he?” Judy asked. “As the newcomer, I don’t really know what’s going on.”
“He is essentially correct,” said Hunter. “The tasks for which I originally hired him are no
longer necessary. We shall go.” He hoisted the duffel bag and passed out some of the Soviet
currency to Jane and Judy. “First I shall tend the console and then I shall help you both into the
sphere.”
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Jane and Judy looked at each other in surprise. Hunter was aware that as humans, their emotions
did not shift instantly. However, he saw no reason to delay their departure further.
In a moment, Hunter had set the timer in the console. After Jane and Judy were safely inside the
big sphere with the duffel bag, he climbed inside and shut the door. As always, the interior was
dark and crowded. Then the sphere vanished.
All three of them tumbled onto cold, hard ground in near darkness. The barest hint of sunset was
still visible in the west. The sky was clear and the moon threw a gentle light. Their breath
frosted in the icy air.
Hunter turned up his hearing and infrared vision to scan the immediate area for danger. They were
in open, barren land a short distance from the edge of Moscow. No one was near them. “We are safe
for the moment.”
“Where are we?” Judy got to her feet, brushing off her coat. “My ears are cold already.” She
untied her scarf from her neck and moved it over her head, knotting it under her chin.
Jane imitated her.
“We are on the outskirts of Moscow,” said Hunter. “I brought us here to avoid appearing right in
front of the local people.” He pointed. “The city is blacked out because of the war, but if you
look that way, you can see some light leaking out of the shades of windows here and there.”
“I see them,” said Judy.
“Are you warm enough?” Hunter asked.
“Yeah. And walking will help,” said Judy.
“I’m okay,” said Jane. “But I wish Steve had come.”
“The walk will not be as long as it looks,” said Hunter. He shouldered the duffel bag and they
started.
“Hunter, have you discussed the chaos theory of history with Judy?”
“Not yet,” said Hunter.
“I’m familiar with it,” said Judy, in a derisive tone. “But I just don’t buy it. Not every little,
tiny event is going to change the sweep of major historical trends.”
“In our experience, that has proved to be true of the most insignificant events,” said Hunter.
“I don’t want to hear about any rigid rules,” said Judy. “Now, obviously, we won’t assassinate
Stalin or Hitler; we probably couldn’t do it if we tried. Anything less than that is not likely to
change the course of World War II from where we stand.”
“You sound like Steve on this subject,” said Jane. “Except that you know your history.”
“Only large-scale changes can alter the flow of history,” said Judy. “I see nothing wrong with an
aggressive involvement with events while we’re here.”
“I admit that the most extreme chaos theory of history has not been supported by our actions,”
said Hunter. “In our first three missions into the past, we clearly caused certain changes by our
very presence and behavior, even though the changes were all very minor. No identifiable changes
occurred in our own time.”
“Exactly my point,” said Judy.
“Our remaining problem is this,” Hunter added. “None of us knows exactly when the threshold of
change will be crossed. At some point, the sheer weight of the small changes may precipitate a
major one. So we must remain very concerned about this principle.”
“I just don’t see how the three of us alone can bring about that much change,” said Judy. “The
threshold is pretty high, if you ask me.”
“I shall point out an example pertaining to Egypt,” said Hunter. “During the Napoleonic Wars, a
battle was fought in Egypt between the British and French. The French defeat was significant but
not ultimately decisive. However, a French soldier digging a trench unearthed the Rosetta stone,
which led to the later translation of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. That translation in turn
gave archaeologists the ability to read important writings, illuminating many centuries of
history.”
“Yeah, I know about that,” said Judy.
“I didn’t,” said Jane. “What you’re saying is that the chaotic result of the French campaign was
extremely important in ways that had nothing to do with the war.”
“Yes,” said Hunter.
“We might argue that the Rosetta stone, or something similar, would have been found within a few
decades anyway,” said Judy. “Or that making these translations of hieroglyphics did not, after
all, make a real difference in the development of society and industry in our own time at all.”
“Isn’t that an odd argument for a historian?” Jane asked. “To suggest that learning about history
isn’t important?”
“Wait a minute.” Judy laughed. “I’m just saying that importance is relative.”
“I submit the following,” said Hunter. “Many young people who will enter positions of importance
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in the Cold War that follows World War II were present in the Battle of Moscow. Altering which of
them live or die could change the course of the Cold War, theoretically bringing about the global
nuclear war that was in fact just barely avoided during the second half of the twentieth century.”
“Well, I can see that argument. But maybe the individuals wouldn’t matter that much. Maybe the
situation dictated decisions, not the individuals. Sometimes that happens.”
“Our immediate concern is MC 4,” said Jane.
“Yes,” said Hunter. “I believe that when MC 4 returns to full size, the First Law will drive him
to interfere with the war if he can.”
Jane nodded. “With MC 4’s background in ethics and morality, his interpretation of the First Law
will probably have him focus on individuals who make decisions.”
“Judy, where would that take him?” Hunter asked.
“You’re saying he will attempt to interfere with those who give the orders and carry out the mass
destruction,” Judy said slowly. “That could take him almost anywhere. Immense suffering takes
place on both sides, on all levels. These two regimes both operated on fear and power emanating
from the top. Decisions to cooperate and obey orders had to be made all the way down the command
structure to the bottom.”
“Sounds horrible,” said Jane.
“It was,” said Judy. “Or, I should say, it is.”
They walked in silence for a while. As they drew closer, Hunter observed the buildings of Moscow.
Clearly, the city was not under attack tonight.
“We must find shelter for the night,” he said. “Judy, where would this be most likely?”
“Well, let me think a minute. We’re in the first week of December 1941. By this time, the German
advance has been close to Moscow for several months. It has stalled right now, but Moscow has been
bombarded. Many people have fled the city and others have been displaced by the destruction.”
“Are you saying that shelter will be difficult to find?” Hunter asked.
“No. Actually, thousands of people are living in schools and empty warehouses. Soviet factories
have been moved east across the Ural mountains to get them away from the Germans, so lots of big
buildings are empty. We should be able to join a crowd of people in one of them. After all, it’s
only early evening. Everyone will still be awake.”
“Good.”
By the time the team had entered the city streets, Hunter could see that the city was still active
in its relative darkness. Crowds of people were trudging home on the sidewalks from their daily
responsibilities, a few laughing and talking but most quiet and exhausted. From behind all the
drapes and shades in the windows, hints of light revealed that people were inside.
Jane wrinkled her nose. “What’s the smell? Something’s burning?”
“Coal,” said Judy. “They burn it to heat buildings. The smoke always smells like that.”
“Yuck.”
Judy nudged Hunter and pointed down one block, where a big truck with an open back had stopped. A
large group of people, mostly women, were climbing down and going into the entrance of a building.
Hunter changed direction and led his companions down to the entrance.
Two dour men of average height but substantial girth stood by the doors in heavy overcoats and
scarves, watching the crowd stream inside.
“We should pose as a family,” said Judy quietly. “They will view us better that way.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Given our looks, let’s present you and Jane as brother and sister; I’ll be a cousin. And you must
have some reason for not being in the army.”
“What reason will work?”
“Can you affect an exaggerated limp?”
“Yes, I understand.” Hunter nodded and began to limp on his left leg. “This will fit perfectly
with our possession of the military duffel bag. And it is time for us to switch to speaking
Russian.”
3
When the team reached the entrance to the darkened building, one of the men guarding it moved to
block his way. “Yes, comrade? I have not seen you before.”
“Our home is destroyed,” said Hunter. “We need a place to stay.” He hefted the duffel bag on the
strap. “We have no other belongings now but this.”
“Where was this home?” The other man glared suspiciously at him.
“To the west of Moscow,” said Judy quickly. “On a collective farm. Overrun by the Germans, now.”
Hunter could see that she had been caught off guard by the question. He did not respond, concerned
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that he might contradict something she would say. She still had the best chance of answering to
the guard’s satisfaction.
“The Germans have been in their positions for weeks. Where have you been until tonight?”
“A warehouse,” said Judy. “It was too crowded. They threw us out.”
“You are husband and wife?” The guard looked back and forth between them.
“No,” said Hunter. He nodded toward Jane. “This is my sister.”
“Yes,” said Jane. “Our parents died in the war.”
“I’m his cousin,” Judy added.
“And where did your parents die?” Jane hesitated. “I was so upset when it happened...” She turned
to Judy uncomfortably.
“We were on the run,” said Judy, with more confidence now. “They were killed somewhere along the
highway from Minsk, near Smolensk.”
“And where exactly was your collective farm?”
“Just south of Smolensk.”
“What was it called?”
“The Smolensk Collective Number Two.” The guard studied her face for a moment, apparently without
more questions.
“You sustained an injury, comrade,” said the other man, more patiently. “What happened?”
“My cousin was wounded in the Battle of Leningrad,” Judy said proudly. “He was nearly killed. When
he could walk, they sent him home to take care of us.”
“Welcome, comrade,” said the second man. “Let them in, Yevgeny. We cannot have them freeze all
night.”
The first man nodded and stepped aside.
Hunter led his team inside. They found themselves in a very large, single room that took up the
entire ground floor. Two stories high, with windows that had been painted black, it was already
crowded. A few people had brought chairs or cots, but most were spreading blankets on the bare
wooden floor to mark their personal territory.
“Looks like a warehouse,” said Judy. “It probably housed industrial materials that were shipped
east with the factory equipment.”
“People are favoring the sides and the front,” said Hunter. “The back corners are not taken yet.
Let us move there quickly and take one for its relative privacy.”
Hunter patiently picked his way through the crowded room to the right rear corner. It was far from
the heating vents, but not too cold. He set down the duffel bag.
“Over there,” said Judy, pointing across the room. “Look. An old woman is passing out blankets to
some people.”
“We should get some for the two of you,” said Hunter.
“You stay here,” said Judy. “Protect our space. I’ll get them.”
“Take Jane,” said Hunter. “I shall watch you carefully from here.”
“Oh, I don’t think we’re in immediate danger.” Judy headed for the blankets and Jane followed her.
Hunter observed that his concern was overstated. Under stress, humans could be short-tempered and
violent, but the people here had fallen into a regular routine, beaten down by the hardships of
war and exhaustion. From what Judy had said, this society itself also regimented them severely.
Judy and Jane returned with some blankets.
“They’re wool,” Judy said, handing one to Hunter. “Scratchy, but clean and heavy.”
“I’m not complaining,” said Jane. “It’s the only padding we’ll have on the floor, too.”
“Use mine for your padding as well.” Hunter gave his back to Judy.
Judy and Jane spread out the blankets to sit on. Hunter sat down on the bare floor and leaned back
against the cold wall. He saw that no one was close enough to overhear him if he spoke quietly.
“Judy, where would MC 4 go in order to prevent the most harm with the least effort?”
“Well...” Judy glanced around. Then she whispered, switching to English. “He might try to stop the
NKVD—the Soviet secret police. They act paranoid, and are irrationally cruel to everyone. Their
own people are their primary target. They are always hunting out potential security risks to the
government, but that often means execution or lifetime imprisonment for people who merely ask for
information or express an opinion. And for talking about them, English is even better than
Russian. We can’t chance being understood.”
“Are they actually a greater danger than the upcoming battle itself?” Hunter shifted to English,
leaning close to her and lowering his own voice to a whisper.
“The battle will cause a lot of suffering,” said Judy. “But the Soviets will win the Battle of
Moscow. It’s their first major victory of the war.”
“Are you sure it’s safe to speak English?” Jane whispered, glancing around. “If we’re heard,
they’ll know we aren’t Russian peasants.”
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“For the NKVD, yes,” said Judy. “We’re better off raising suspicion than being overheard clearly.”
“On this subject, then, we shall risk it,” whispered Hunter. “However, Judy, the Soviets do not
know they are going to win. MC 4 mayor may not know; I cannot assume his motives or information in
choosing to come here. Jane has surmised that he has come here because of his responsibility for
ethics in Mojave Center, but we have no certainty. So my question about the danger from the NKVD
still stands.”
“All right,” said Judy. “I’ll give you the whole picture. Despite their impending counterattack,
the Soviets are still on the defensive because this is their territory. As they see it, they must
either surrender to Nazi cruelty or run. If they flee, they expect to suffer even more from the
winter and the pursuing enemy than if they fight. The Russian people are caught between Stalin,
Hitler, and the Russian winter. Those are unbelievably horrible options.”
“You are saying what?” Hunter asked.
“I’m saying that the Russians don’t feel they have much of a choice about whether to fight. So MC
4 can’t go to Stalin, or the Soviet generals, and talk them out of the violence. And if he tries
to persuade the NKVD to be more reasonable, they’ll throw him in prison or blow his electronic
brains out.”
“The German army is the aggressor on the military front, then,” said Jane. “Maybe he’ll try to
stop them.”
“He doesn’t really need to,” said Judy. “Since the Soviets are going to drive them back anyhow. By
this time, the German army is almost frozen in place.”
“What happened to them?” Hunter asked. “How could they get this far and then fail without being
defeated?”
“They were handled with tremendous incompetence by Hitler. And one of the top German generals
refused to issue winter clothing to his troops. He was afraid they would lose confidence in his
personal guarantee that they would take shelter in Moscow before the winter turned cold.”
“That’s crazy,” said Jane.
“That’s right,” said Judy grimly. “If it weren’t for the suffering of all the ordinary people
caught in the middle, I’d say these two regimes—Hitler’s and Stalin’s—simply deserved each other.”
“Suppose MC 4 convinced the Germans to turn away from Moscow,” said Hunter.
“I don’t see how,” said Judy. “Hitler’s not at the front, and he makes the ultimate strategic
decisions.”
“Please consider the supposition.”
“Well—if the battle doesn’t take place, that would be a change of some magnitude,” she said
slowly. “But I can’t see it reversing the course of the war. The Soviets will still have the
initiative on this front.”
“Perhaps the German command should not be our first priority,” said Hunter. “I brought us here
because the data in the sphere console told me that Moscow, not the German lines to the west, was
MC 4’s destination. The site of the nuclear explosion confirmed it.”
“MC 4 may move quickly once he returns to full size,” said Jane. “We don’t know if he would choose
to stay in Moscow or not.”
“The center of the recent explosion in our own time was in Moscow,” Hunter added. “Of course, MC 4
could have moved around a great deal between now and our own time, once he had the advantages of
normal human size. For now, we will remain in Moscow and try to learn if anyone of MC 4’s
description has been noticed.”
Judy nodded.
“Do we have a plan of action?” Jane asked.
“I do not want to separate the team,” said Hunter. “As you know, we have had reason to regret
doing so in each of the previous missions.”
“And without Steve, one of us would be alone,” Jane added, shaking her head.
“Dinnertime,” said Judy, nodding toward the front.
Much of the crowd had lined up to receive meager rations of bread, boiled potatoes, and water from
the long table. The remainder were still arranging their personal belongings at various places
around the floor. Only a few had already been served.
Hunter stood up. “We must join the line.”
“Time to switch back to Russian,” said Jane.
Hunter led them to the rear of the line, where they waited patiently. They passed through the
line, receiving their dinner of thin soup and a hard roll in an odd assortment of dishes. Then
they returned to their corner to eat.
Jane and Judy sat in the corner itself. Hunter placed himself where his body would block the view
of them from the other occupants of the room. Then he slipped some of their dried meat out of the
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