William Wu - Emperor

“No. I do not believe he can make it.”

“Well…we still have to distract Hunter somehow.”

“I must remind you that I cannot allow any plan that would harm or allow harm to the human members of Hunter’s team.”

“I know, I know,” Wayne said with exaggerated resignation. “Telling me that is hardly necessary. Besides, I don’t want to hurt anybody.”

“Another rider is coming up behind us,” Ishihara whispered. “I hear light hoofbeats. If we are planning a ruse of some kind, perhaps we do not want to be seen here.”

Wayne led their mount into the trees by the side of the road, ducking low under the branches. In the darkness, they did not have to move far to hide themselves. They waited silently. Their horse lowered his head to graze.

Several minutes passed before Wayne heard slow, plodding hoofbeats. Finally the combined silhouette of a small mount and a smaller rider came slowly up the road in the moonlight. Wayne tensed, waiting for the single rider to pass.

“Xiao Li,” Ishihara said loudly. “It is the boy Xiao Li.”

Xiao Li’s shadow jerked in surprise. However, Wayne understood that Ishihara was now worried. They had induced Xiao Li to take an unnecessary risk in following them. Wayne yanked on the reins to pull his horse away from what he was grazing on, and they returned to the road. In the moonlight, Wayne saw that Xiao Li was riding bareback on a donkey, using only a halter and reins.

Ishihara spoke to Xiao Li in Chinese. The boy relaxed, recognizing them. After a moment of conversation, Ishihara switched back to English.

“His relatives pooled their cash from the morning’s market sales,” said Ishihara. “They bought this donkey for him. All the peasants want to help us. They are absolutely trusting that we will take care of Xiao Li.”

“But you told them they couldn’t come with us,” said Wayne. “What happened? Are the others coming?”

“No. Apparently the villagers decided just to send Xiao Li. They told him to help us out with little errands or anything else he can do for us.”

“Well, we’ll have to take care of him, of course. And maybe we can think of a way for him to help, too.”

“I am alarmed by this. I am afraid that we have caused too much change regarding that village already.”

“I don’t see what we can do at the moment,” said Wayne. “We obviously can’t send the him away all alone. And we can’t just turn around and ride all night back to Khanbaliq tonight, either, on this poor horse of ours. Xiao Li will be safest staying with us.”

“Yes, that is true.”

“Look, I may have an idea,” said Wayne. “But I want to ask you some questions to find out if your interpretation of the First Law will make it objectionable.”

“Proceed.”

“All right. Will separating Hunter from his human team members harm them?”

“Not necessarily. Of course, that depends on the circumstances.”

“Not in and of itself.”

“No.”

“Will sending Hunter on a diversionary errand be objectionable, in and of itself?” Wayne asked

“Again, not necessarily.”

“Good. I thought so. Then I instruct you to think up a diversion that will separate Hunter from his team and still be acceptable to you.”

“I do not have a precise plan yet, but I can describe the condition our diversion must meet.”

“All right. What is it?”

“After we distract Hunter and send him away, I must be in a position to watch over his team, so that I can protect those humans, instead of Hunter.”

“Uh, what about me? And Xiao Li?”

“Ideally, you will not be in danger or very far away. But I must know that you are safe, too.”

“Okay. Let’s see what we can come up with. Suppose Xiao Li goes into the inn and tells another story to Hunter. It worked to get them all up here. Maybe we can split them up somehow that way.”

“Hunter has the ability to radio his team for help,” said Ishihara. “We will have to take that into consideration also. What should Xiao Li say?”

“As a roboticist, I think the best way to engage Hunter in action will be to repeat what I attempted before-kidnap one of the members of his team. As a robot, do you agree?”

“Yes,” said Ishihara. “The First Law requires him to take action, and if I am present to prevent harm to the victim, I can accept this.”

“All right. Then, to satisfy you under the First Law, I suggest that you conduct the kidnapping.”

“I must agree to the overall circumstances, as well. What will they be?”

“I’m not sure yet, but we’ll need Xiao Li to speak to Hunter inside the inn…Tell you what-ask the man in the stable to go inside and see if some other guests will come outside. Maybe we can enlist their help.”

Hunter ate lightly at dinner, just enough to maintain his appearance as a human. Since his energy came from the sun, he did not require food. Even after his team finished dinner, they remained at the table, drinking hot tea.

Marcia had been lecturing them on areas of Mongol and Chinese history that were not immediately pertinent. No one else had spoken for some time. Hunter noticed that the hostler came in and requested that the guests at the other tables go outside with him; Hunter supposed that some minor problem with their horses had developed. Since the hostler had not addressed their table, Hunter gave no importance to the matter.

Steve sat with his arms folded, his cup of hot tea on the table in front of him.

“Most people think the Mongols overwhelmed their enemies by sheer numbers,” Marcia was saying. “That’s not true at all. In fact, they were often outnumbered in their military campaigns. They won through speed and efficiency.”

“Nobody cares,” Steve muttered. “And it doesn’t make any difference to our mission.”

“Well, pardon me.” Marcia straightened in her chair. “Perhaps I was mistaken. I thought you might want to learn something for a change.”

Steve rolled his eyes and started to get up.

Hunter heard the front door open and saw Steve suddenly freeze in place. When Hunter turned, he recognized the boy from the market coming inside. The boy glanced around and then shyly walked toward them.

“That’s the same kid, isn’t it?” Steve asked quietly, sitting down again. “I mean, I’m not confusing him with someone else, am I?”

“That’s him,” said Marcia, folding her arms.

“Yes, it is,” said Hunter.

Xiao Li stopped in front of Hunter and bowed politely. He started to speak, but nervously fumbled for words. His face was flushed and he glanced uncomfortably around the table.

“May I help you?” Hunter asked. “I am surprised to see you here, so far from Khanbaliq.”

“My family followed you up here from the city,” Xiao Li said carefully. “They captured the man you wanted.”

“Really? Where are they now?” Jane asked. “Are they outside?”

“They are down the road,” said Xiao Li, turning to address her. “At first we told the man to come with us and he did. Then someone must have said something he did not like, because he tried to run away. My family has grabbed him, but he is much stronger than he looks. I rode up here on my donkey to find you.”

Hunter noticed that the boy’s speech was slow and very mannered, as though he was repeating something he had memorized. That would make sense if the villagers had sent him on ahead with this message. Further, his explanation fit the Laws of Robotics. Initially, if MC 5 had understood he was being ordered to cooperate and come with the villagers, he would have been required to obey. Later, he might have made an interpretation under the First Law from something he saw or heard that gave him the freedom to flee.