William Wu - Emperor

“I can’t believe we’re arguing endlessly about this in the middle of the night on the edge of Mongolia,” said Marcia. “Where are we going to sleep? And when?”

“Why can’t we do what Wayne did?” Steve asked suddenly. “However he managed to do it.”

“What, exactly?” Hunter asked.

“We’ve already figured out that Wayne has somehow rigged his belt unit to move him and Ishihara in time without returning to the institute.”

“That is the case,” said Hunter.

“Well, can’t you adjust our unit the same way?” Steve asked. “If Wayne could do it, you must be able to. Then we can all return, even with the horses, because the sphere won’t be involved at all.”

“Yes, I assume I can figure it out,” said Hunter. “However, I do not want to further develop time travel technology. If humans gain wide use of it, they will do irreparable harm to themselves.”

“You mean that’s the only reason you haven’t done it already?” Marcia asked in amazement.

“Yes. The First Law imperative.”

“I don’t get it.” Steve sighed loudly. “Hunter, the technology already exists; we agreed a long time ago Wayne knows how to do it.”

“Even so, the more this knowledge is confined, the better off humans will be.”

“Hunter, look,” Steve said impatiently, “the faster we grab Wayne and MC 5, the better off humans will be. How about that line of argument?”

“It is also logical.”

“Good,” said Steve. “Hunter, the time travel technology is going to be a problem no matter what we do tonight. You acknowledge that? “

“Yes, of course.”

“Then suppose you figure out how to make us competitive with Wayne now, and we worry about how to handle the secret of time travel after we’ve finished our missions?”

“This has some logic, too,” said Hunter.

“Now that Wayne has a two-day head start on us, I’d say it’s extremely logical.”

“All right.” Hunter said nothing more, remaining completely motionless.

“What’s wrong?” Marcia asked, staring at Hunter’s immobile form.

“I don’t think anything is wrong,” said Steve. He understood that if a robot paused long enough for humans to notice, it meant he had a substantial amount of data to process. “He’s probably studying the design of the sphere and the belt unit. Then he has to figure out what changes to make.”

“Yes,” said Hunter. “I see how to do it now. However, I require several minutes, at least, to alter the belt unit. I suggest you dismount, as well. Moving the horses with you on them is potentially dangerous.”

“That’s true,” said Steve. “We don’t want them falling on us.” He dismounted. Until now, he had remained mounted in case they were going to continue riding.

Marcia did so, as well, and hugged herself with both arms. “I’m really cold.”

Hunter also dismounted and gave his reins to Steve.

“We’ve had two very long days,” said Steve. He watched Hunter as the robot opened the belt unit.

The shape of Hunter’s right index finger stretched and reformed itself so that the end became a very finely shaped tool. Then he worked with it on the intricate insides of the unit. In less than a minute, he closed the unit and returned his finger to its normal shape.

“You finished already?” Steve asked.

“Yes, but I must test it first on myself.”

“Wait a minute,” said Steve. “You mean you’re going without us?”

“Not to Khanbaliq.”

“Huh? Where are you going, then?”

“I will simply jump about ten meters and half a minute into the future. Please remain where you are.” Hunter walked a short distance away from Steve and Marcia. “The range of field may have changed without my realizing it. I want to make sure you are not carried with me.”

Steve watched as Hunter vanished. For a long moment in the waning moonlight, Steve and Marcia stood silently holding the reins of their horses. A slight breeze rustled the trees.

Then Hunter appeared ten meters away, stumbling to catch his balance.

“It worked,” said Marcia, with obvious relief. “Are you okay, Hunter?”

“I am fine,” said Hunter, as he walked toward them. “However, I will take the horses to Khanbaliq first. If they stumble or fall, I will have the best chance to avoid them. Then I will return for you.”

“Okay.” Steve held out his reins. “What time are we jumping to?”

“Just one minute forward. That way, you will have time to get plenty of sleep.” Hunter took the reins of all four horses and led them away from Steve and Marcia.

“ And where are we going?” Marcia asked. “I mean, will we land outside the city again? And have another long ride back to the inn?”

“No. I recall a small stand of trees at the city market, not far from the inn by horseback ride. At this hour, I expect no one to be on the street there.”

“Good,” said Marcia, yawning.

Hunter and the animals vanished.

Then, almost instantly, Hunter reappeared.

“That was quick.” Steve grinned.

“Not to me,” said Hunter, walking up to them. “All the horses stumbled but did not fall. No one saw us arrive. I took the time to see that no one was coming from any direction, and to tie them to a tree. We will return only a moment after I left, again unseen by others.”

“Sounds great to me,” said Steve. He yawned, too. “Now?”

“Now,” said Hunter.

Jane slept most of that first day back in the village near Khanbaliq. After the exhausting night out on the road by the Great Wall, she slept soundly even in the room with Wayne and Ishihara. On waking, she found Wayne gone but Ishihara sitting on the floor by the door of the room.

As soon as she stirred, the robot looked at her.

“How long have I been asleep?” Jane asked, sitting up. She stretched. The air in the room was hot and stuffy now; she had been sweating in her sleep.

“Eight hours, seventeen minutes, and twelve seconds,” said Ishihara.

“So, I guess it must be the middle of the afternoon by now, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me where Wayne is.”

“He rose about an hour ago. I believe he was hungry. He is somewhere in the village.”

“Look, I need a trip to the latrine and I’m hungry, too. You know these are First Law concerns, even if it’s not an emergency yet. What can you do about them?”

“I will make sure you have all your necessities,” said Ishihara. “I must escort you, however. I have been instructed not to let you leave.”

“Well, at the moment, that will do. I also want some water to wash up a little.”

“Come with me.”

Jane followed Ishihara outside.

In the shade near the door, a number of elderly villagers glanced up at her curiously as they threshed rice in small, hand-held wicker strainers.

Ishihara paused. “Food, please, for her.”

An old woman nodded and got up. She hurried inside the house. The others returned to their work.

“She will need a few minutes to prepare it.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Ishihara led her to the latrine and then to the village well, where he raised a bucket of cool water for her.

“You may wash in it safely,” said Ishihara. “Do not drink it unless it has been boiled. Some water inside has already been boiled for Wayne.”

“All right.”

“I wish I had my change of clothes,” Jane muttered. “And a hairbrush.”

Ishihara said nothing.

When Jane had washed her face and hands, and smoothed out her hair with her fingers, she glanced around. Some small children were running and laughing together as they played; others had stopped to stare at her. She smiled at them, then looked out at the fields surrounding the village, where she saw older children and adults working.